"Hey, i want a website of my own"

If you have some pictures or paintings to show, or just want to blog, the best thing to do is get your own space, without annoying ads and with a nice domainname. "Okay, i am convinced" :)

Step 1. Pick a domainname
Think of a domainname and check if its available. Using some WHOIS-site, e.g. WHOIS.NET for .COM domains or using SIDN for .NL domains, you can try some possiblities and choose one. There is no need to register the domainname yet.

Step 2. Hosting
Find a hostingprovider where you can store your websitefiles and who can register your domainname for you. Be sure it matched your requirements concerning available space (100MB or more is a good minimum), graphical toolkits (for use with gallery's)allowed scripting languages(PHP) and databases (MySQL).

Step 3. Buy hosting and domainname
After creating an account with the hosting company, order the hostingspace together with the linked domainname.

Step 4. Tools for building website
Some hosting companies provide tools for making a static site. But probably you want more...The easiest way to start with a dynamic website is to install some framework or portal. Samples are Wordpress, Drupal, Joomla. Most have a community, making all kind of layouts (called themes) which you can use on your site.

Step 5. installing Plugins
After installing the framework, you need to select and install additional software for special functions, like a gallery.

Step 6. Content
Make a menustructure with a convenient order. Start making pages with contents and be sure some menu item is linked. Obviously, you can start making content before the whole website is created, and there is no disadvantage. Dont use a wordprocessor, but use a plain-text editor like Notepad. This way any formatting is postponed till the page is added to the website. Get some pictures to illustrate the text, but keep the images seperated.

• One of my first websites, completely made from scratch using php is the the site of Evelyne Pâquet, to show her beautiful watercolor paintings.
• For a dutch collegae i installed Wordpress to promote his activities with alternative healthcare / Praktijk voor natuurgeneeswijze Viesante. (Sorry, dutch only there)
• For my sister in law i converted her static website about garden design to enable dynamic processing of designs and references to her clients
• For my online friend Senol Eren i installed Wordpress on her site, including a gallery, to show show her paintings.

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