Get Started
Please use our easy guides on how to get your business on the web.
How
to get started On the Internet
If you are not familiar with the Internet and hosting
services, please read through this section to familiarise yourself on what is involved in
hosting a web site.
What is the Internet?
A worldwide network of computers that have the ability to exchange information and display
web pages.
The Internet can be used to:
advertise your business via a web site
provide support to clients
purchase products
e-commerce (to set up a storefront to sell goods and services)
retrieve information
send and receive e-mail
play games
do research
send and receive faxes
check and buy stocks
make travel arrangements
find entertainment
chat with others via chat rooms
What is a web site?
The web site is a collection of pages that can include graphics, animation, banners, text,
etc.
The Home Page is the first page or main page of the web site. Other pages link to this
page. It can be looked at as being the table of contents page and/or welcome page.
What is Web Hosting?
This service is provided by an Internet Service Provider like us (Ehost.co.za) who has the
ability to display web pages on the Internet. We provide storage space for your web pages
on our computer servers.
You use an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program to transfer the web pages you (or someone
else) have created from your PC to the computers of the Internet Service Provider.
Your Internet Service Provider will provide you with a password to log into their computer
that will enable you to transfer the web pages to their computer.
What is a domain name?
A domain Name is the unique name that identifies an Internet site. Domain Names always
have 2 or more parts, separated by dots. The part on the left is the most specific, and
the part on the right is the most general indicating the country of origin (e.g. .za for
South Africa) and type (e.g. .org for non-profit organisations)
Examples of a domain name are www.yahoo.com or www.ehost.co.za.
A domain name is an address on the Internet. Almost like a residential address. When you
type http://www.yahoo.com into your browser's address box you are taken to
http://www.yahoo.com that is the web site of Yahoo.
You can usually register your domain name at the firm you choose to host your site on. The
name belongs to you and you can move it to any hosting company. A domain name can be
registered at the following web page - www.ehost.co.za
Which steps are needed to
get a web presence?
You will have to decide:
1. with which Internet Service Provider you/your company are going to
host your web site
2. which domain name to obtain
3. if you are going to design the web site yourself or let someone else
do it for you.
On deciding on a hosting company, make sure you are comfortable with the way you will be
able to administer your account. Is it easy to log-in, do they provide a well laid-out
area (control panel) enabling you to transfer your web site from your PC to their servers,
can you create your own email addresses, etc?
After you have chosen your host, the question of registering a "domain name"
would come up. When obtaining a domain name you have to consider whether you are targeting
your web site at the local market and thus a local address (.co.za) would do. If you are
more interested in the international market you could try to obtain a .com or .net name,
although the most popular names have been taken.
If you plan to sell goods or services on the web, and you're not familiar with building
web sites, we would highly recommend that you get a professional web designer or
web-designing house to do it. Once you are familiar with web design and most of the
aspects that goes with it, you may decide to do it yourself. It would also be wise to
consult them on what you plan to do. They should be able to give you ideas on how to make
your venture a success.
If you consider doing transactions over the Internet and obtain credit card details from
clients, you'll have to use of a "secure server" for transfer of the credit card
and client information. A "secure server" is a server (machine connected to the
Internet that serves web pages) that protects details sent by a web user over the Internet
by encrypting the data. If you plan on using a secure server, make sure that your hosting
company gives you this option.
You have to be registered as a "credit card merchant" - most businesses are - in
order to receive the credit card information and process it. A number of businesses
specialise in linking your store to your bank and handle transactions electronically. In
the beginning you may decide to receive the credit card details of the client and process
it manually through your "speed point" or credit card machine. When the sales
volumes start to grow you may decide to join a firm that processes the credit card
electronically.
After your site is designed and ready it will have to be uploaded (transferred) to the
server on which you've rented space.
You are now ready to start promoting your web site.
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