Got a Domain name, but what’s next?

Got a Domain name, but what’s next?
By Clare Lawrence 15th August 2004

Have you got a domain name, but not sure what to do next? Well read on.

Registering your own domain name is a great start to getting a web presence, but to get established on the Internet you need a few more things.

Most domain registration companies will post up a holding page, often called domain parking. Usually these are a little more than an ad for the registrar, but some offer business card sits that show your basic details such as company name and contact details.

Once you’ve got a domain you need to sort out a hosting package; hosting is basically space on a web server. Packages vary in price from a few dollars to $100’s of dollars. Most small businesses and personal sites can be hosted on packages costing less then $100 per year.

So if you’ve got hosting and a domain name then the last step is to sort the website. Basically there are three options.

DIY – This is easier than you might think. Try MS FrontPage if you are familiar with the MS Office suite and its components such as MS PowerPoint you’ll find FrontPage easy to use.

Templates – These are ready-made websites which just need text adding and vary in price from free to $200.

Website designers – Using a web designer is the most professional and expensive option. If you’re looking for a quality solution it may be your best option.