Web site help

[kerryb]

Ok I have put it off long enough. I am now ready for a company web site.
I know absolutely nothing about how to go about starting one. So fire away guys. Push your products, but just be prepared to answer a lot of questions and show me why I should use you.
Everyone else any and all help would be appreciated.
What software is the best?
What web hosting company should I use?
.com,.net what does it matter?
I am ready to learn.
I am going all out this year. New web site. I am really pushing my new IPM program. Looking to triple what I did last year . So lets get started.

[UNIONTURF]

First and this is first!!! Do not post your planned domain name anywhere! Some jackass will go pay $15 and buy it and then try to sell it to you.

Go to www.netsol.com, check and see if what you want is avalable, register it and then discuss the name.

I had designed my site for years but decided to hire a pro, heck we preach the hire a pro thing all the time and here I also think it's a good idea. My website is below and the designer has a link at the bottom.

www.unionturf.com

[kerryb]

Thanks Ray, very very nice.

[Lawn Tek]

Go to www.register.com I paid about 80.00 for my domain name , and one years hosting . I built my own site in about four hours . It now cost me 5.00 per month . I have no formal computer training .

[wojo23323]

Here's my site www.southsidegrounds.com . I had it professionally done last july. The link is on the bottom. Also one of the sponsors on this site does web sites. www.willowhost.net .

[AltaLawnCare]

I'm going to do one this year too. So to add to the questions..
Here Chuck is talking about size..what does this mean...number of "pages" in the site, size of graphics?
Willow Host, 6.95 per month package (http://www.willowhost.net/index_unix1.html)

And how do some people have an email address at "name"."name of their website", instead of @AOL, or EarthLink, etc. ?

[wojo23323]

And how do some people have an email address at "name"."name of their website", instead of @AOL, or EarthLink, etc. ?

I'm not sure of the correct terms for it, but when you get a website, you get e-mail addresses for the site. The amount of addresses can be unlimited or just one. Depends on who hosts your site. I only have 2 e-mail address john@southsidegrounds.com and info@southsidegrounds.com . That seems enough for me.

[Chuck]

Ok I have put it off long enough. I am now ready for a company web site.
I know absolutely nothing about how to go about starting one. So fire away guys. Push your products, but just be prepared to answer a lot of questions and show me why I should use you.
Everyone else any and all help would be appreciated.
What software is the best?
What web hosting company should I use?
.com,.net what does it matter?
I am ready to learn.
I am going all out this year. New web site. I am really pushing my new IPM program. Looking to triple what I did last year . So lets get started.


Kerry b,

Willowhost.net has a green guy special on hosting we can also register your domain name for you and design your site.

Chuck

[kerryb]

OkChuck lets get down to brass tacks. Whats first?

[Lawngodfather]

Choose what you want as your domain. (Have fun) I think the phone number might be a good domain name as you should be able to stay on dotcom.......

Then figure what kind of info you want on the site

Then what kind of layout, what pics, imabges etc......

[UNIONTURF]

The problem with a phone number as a domian is not easy to remember. My ld domain was Kirbycuttin.com, the MAIN reason I changed my business name was to make it easier for people to remember. I can say Unionturf.com and it is very easy to remember.

The ease of memory, there is another forum with a complicated name and I an never remember what or where it is, make the name an easyone.

[gusbuster]

My site is hosted by willowhost.net.

Believe me, I've been one pain in the but about questions on what's going on ect....
This forum, at least last time I checked,is hosted on willowhost.net

A question was asked about email.... depends on your package you want. Just remember 2 of them will automatically be taken, webmaster and the root name(owner). On my site I use various aliases plus my dad and wife have email accounts through my site. I would Highly recommend willowhost.net

By the way, I did my own site. Even without much knowledge I built myself. I do intend to re-do my site in the next month or so.

[Lawngodfather]

Yes Ray, that would be great "IF" the domain is still available.

[kels]

I did this for a living before lawn service, your price would vary on the type site you wanted, if you just want a brochure on the internet you should be able to get it for less than $1,000 or if you need back end programming for customers to log in and view prices, schedule, etc.. and be able to control content through an admin section then it can get into some money.

1st step is to register a domain name, and yes .com is the best one to have because by default everyone will just type .com before they remember .net or any other one.

2nd step is to find a web host

3rd step is to figure out what you and your customers will do on your site

4th find a designer/programmer that can accomplish this.

good luck.