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Know Internet basics before establishing Web presence

Posted online

by Jennie Haymes

for the Business Journal

Individuals and businesses alike are posting their views and their news on the Internet. This range includes anything from information about products and services they sell, to genealogical history and personal opinions on just about anything.

The Internet opens the doors to boundless resources. If you're looking for a job, information about a particular medicine your doctor has prescribed, want an update on new government scandals or one just interested in finding out about tomorrow's weather, you can find it all on the Internet.

With all this information available, people are scampering to understand how it's all done, asking questions like "What is an ISP?" "What is a browser, anyway?" and "What is HTML?"

An Internet service provider, or ISP, is a company that provides access to the World Wide Web via phone lines designed to communicate with your computer. Once connected to these lines, a program called a browser is used to browse the many sites on the Internet. A couple of common browsers are Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.

It is important to understand the services provided by an ISP. Ask for a glossary of terms, or print one off of the Internet. Understanding various terms will help you be prepared when selecting an Internet service provider.

Once you get past the initial time investment of learning how to get on the Internet and browsing the Web, you might find yourself ready to post your own set of facts. The programming language most commonly used on the Internet is called HTML, which stands for hypertext markup language.

There are several HTML editors on the market. Some of these programs are so similar to desktop publishing programs such as Microsof Word or Publisher, that many people who use these programs consider themselves Web site designers.

While it is true that some individuals have mastered the act of posting some sort of information on a Web page for a personal Web site, developing a Web presence for a business is a completely different story.

Some Internet service providers offer design services. You should have some sort of expectation of what you would like your business site to accomplish. The most obvious: to own a Web site that will generate revenue for your company, either through direct sales on the Internet or through increased awareness of your company's target market.

Although some of this newfound opportunity is driven by the type of products and services your business sells, site design and marketing are vital in keeping the customer's attention and making sure the customer will return to the site.

An Internet domain name, sometimes referred to as your Internet address, is an alpha name associated with a set of numbers. This name must be registered with Internic, which monitors and controls all domain names registered on the World Wide Web in the United States.

Once registered, the domain name is effective for two years. It is usually recommended to register a domain name before beginning work on a Web site for your business. Most ISPs will register your domain name, and the fees can vary.

It is important to make sure your name and address is registered with Internic as the owner. It is the owner who actually owns the Web site domain name and who has the ultimate control over it as far as Internic is concerned.

It is a popular practice with some ISPs to register domain names showing the ISP as the owner, ultimately controlling the site's future.

After your domain name is registered and you have an idea of what you would like your Web site to do and say, then locating a qualified, competent person or company to design the site is the next step. With all the possibilities at hand, having a Web presence designed is becoming more affordable each day.

Your corporate image is the driving force behind your company's sales volumes.

When deciding on a design company, have your list of questions ready. Be sure to ask for a list of addresses of Web sites that the company has designed so you can look at them and determine what the design company is capable of doing. Ask for a list of references and call them. It is a sound business move to interview some of their clients to see if they are satisfied with the work performed, if the work was done in a timely fashion and whether their sites are working for them.

A server on the Internet must host your domain. This service is usually provided by the ISP, however there are some companies who specialize in hosting Web sites. The company hosting the site provides the opportunity for your visitors to see what you have posted to the Web.

(Jennie Haymes is marketing manager for Atlas Communications

www.atlascomm.net

in Springfield.)

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