Want to Create a Website?
You know how to
surf the web, how to use email and you are pretty good with Text Editors.
So what comes
next? You would like to create a website. Nothing complicated, just a few page
website with some text and photos. I know. You searched google and all you
found was websites with »geek« words like html, php, ajax and others that put
you in a bad mood. Please don't misunderstood: some technical expressions are
important and necessary to understand, but we will explain them so anyone will
understand.
We are here to
teach you how to create a website the easy way. With plain words and
interesting examples.
How does a
website work?
Well I am sure
you are using a Web Browser for reading this page. Browser takes you to any
place on Internet you want by typing a URL in the address bar on the top of the
screen.
There are many browsers like Internet Explorer, Opera and
Firefox. I use all of them, but most of the time I use Firefox. When you type in a web address, browser
connects with web server (place where websites live) and server responds by
sending desired files to the browser.
What is HTML,
PHP, ASP?
Because I don't
want you to be scared by these words I will tell you what you need to know. All
three are computer languages. Since we will be creating a beginner website, we don't need to learn any of them. But if anyone asks you what they mean, you can
tell them programmers use them for coding websites.
What is URL?
Uh! Another scary
expression. URL stands for "uniform resource locator" and is nothing more and
nothing less than a ordinary domain name that you type in your Web Browser.
See, nothing to be afraid of.
What do I need to
create a website?
You need 4
things:
Website Editor: website editor is your
working space for creating a website. If you wanted to create a website from
scratch, you would need a HTML editor like Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 . But we will use an
online editor, since we won`t do any coding. Online Editor is a piece of
software that you don't need to install on your computer. You use it in your web
browser. It is extremely easy to use, all you need is click and point.
Web Space: you need some space to store your web page. There
are lots of hosting providers, but a beginner website doesn't really need all
those extras. 50 Mb of space is enough for 90% of websites. When you buy web
space, you also get your own email account.
Domain Name: domain name is a unique address of your new
website. Some beginners want to save money not buying a domain name, but this
is a mistake. It is very easy to obtain one and also very cheap.
Text and Photos: you will need some text for your website. You
can prepare it in your Text Editor or write it directly in Online Editor.
Adding Graphics to your website will make your pages more pleasant for your
visitors.
How do I get
started?
First you need to
reserve a domain name. Registering a domain name is a simple task and only
takes you 5 minutes. Once you know the name you want to register, check if its
available. Don`t register it yet, because we will register
it together with hosting and get a discount.
Why buying in
bundle is better for beginners?
If you buy domain
name, web space and Online Builder with the same provider, there is no
additional work required. Everything is prepared to start creating your website.
Plus providers often give you a discount.
Get yourself a
Website Tonight package
This is the best
option to create a website for beginners. For a small fee you get Online
Builder, Web Space, Email account and Domain name.
How to order Website Tonight with a Discount?
Note: follow these rules and you will get your domain name for only $1.99
- Go to Hosting
Residence.
- Click on offer "Domain
Names for $1.99".

- Enter chosen domain
name.

- If domain name is
available click continue.
- Enter your
personal information (don't worry - they have a secure page).

- At Registration
and Checkout options select "Customize my order" and click continue.

- At Customization screen
add Website Tonight.

- Proceed to your
order page.
- At checkout
you will see your domain name is discounted to $1.99

Once you place
your order you will receive a confirmation email with further instructions.
Note: You could
also get yourself another solution, but we will demonstrate how to create a
website with Website Tonight, because our experience tells it is the best choice for beginners.
Now the fun part
begins: Create a website you will be proud of!
Introduction to
Website Tonight
Website Tonight
is like a solid, turnkey house. All you
have to do is put furniture in it. You have lots of options and elements ready
to insert: text, photos, forms, flash intros and more. It is all up to you. But
no matter what you want to do, everything is very easy to do and well
documented. In case you need support, there is a team waiting for your
questions 24/7.
Setting up your
Website Tonight account
Before you can
add text to your site, you need to complete the setup wizard. This wizard walks
you through selecting template, page layout and color scheme. There are hundreds variations of Web Templates you can use. Check them out (flash presentation)
Screenshot from Website Tonight: Selecting Template

Screenshot from Website Tonight: Choosing Page Layout

Adding and
Editing Text
Each Page has
several blocks. When you click on a block the border colors blue (see image below). Now paste
your text or write directly in this box. You can change fonts, text size or completely
delete text in this block. When you finish, click ok and your changes are saved. Isn't this a really easy way to create a website?

Adding and
Editing Images
Add some images and photos to enhance your website. You can upload your own images, or use the ones that are built in the Website Tonight. Last time i checked, there was about 8000 images. I really love these
guys, because images are so beautiful and sorted in categories. When you need a photo you just
select it and boom! It is inserted. No need to search for photos on internet or
buy them and then download to computer, resize, upload to server and so on.
Working with images is really, really simple.

Adding Tables and
other Elements
Working with
tables is one of the most time consuming things about website design. But not
with Website Tonight. You only tell computer what kind of table you want and it
creates it for you. No coding required. And there are plenty of other elements
too. You will save lots of time by using these tools.
Publishing your
beginner website
There is no need
to upload anything, since all materials are already online. Once you finish
editing your pages, click on Publish button within your Website Tonight account.
Your site instantly becomes available to your visitors.

Now check out how a completed website made with Website Tonight looks like:
http://www.delellisdevelopment.com/
Thats it! If you
have read this page carefully, you are now capable to create a website on your
own! Many Easy Site Guide visitors have created their first websites with this
guide and they love it.
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