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Hi there future domain and website experts of the world!
I, I am Professor Webb, and I am here to teach you a bit about the Internet and even more about websites, domains, and how they work!.
Below is a short tutorial about the Internet, about websites, home pages, domains, domain names, URLs, and a lot of other stuff you might want to know about before owning your own domain or website.
(Fine Print) You may copy it, reprint it, hand it out to classes, forward it to your friends… just about ANYTHING… But, you MUST leave all copyright symbols, web addresses, hyperlinks, and email information exactly as it appears. You must also sent the complete tutorial, not just portions of it. This document may NOT be modified without written permission from me. Professor Webb.
I have written this tutorial in Question and Answer form so it should be pretty easy for you to learn or just find direct answers to your questions. There are TWO parts: The Basics and The More Advanced Stuff.
Owning your own domain and website a breeze… probably much easier than you think, and I am happy to be your answer person.
Today, websites for businesses are just plain critical, and a website for your own personal use is just plain FUN!
Read my tutorial. If you have any question that I don’t answer, then just click HERE to send me the question. I promise to reply immediately. If it’s a good one, I’ll add it to my tutorial.
Have fun!
Professor Webb
”The Doctor is always in”
______________________
Click Here for the Basics. Click Here for The More Advanced Stuff. Click Here to Ask the Professor a Question |
The Basics (click the question to get your answer)
Domain Stuff
Why do we need a domain to have a website?
What do .com, .net, .org and. info stand for?
Which of those do I want for my company or for me?
Where do I get a domain and how do I register a new domain name?
What does it cost to register a Domain?
So how do I actually DO the registration?
What do I GET for my registration?
Can I register any domain name I want?
Somebody else takes what if the domain name I want. Now what?
Is there any reason I CAN’T transfer a domain to Windy City Domains?
How Do I know if My Registration is Complete?
Can I modify my domain name information after it's registered?
Regarding renewals; when should I renew a domain name? Will I be notified when I have to renew?
Website Stuff
OK, I now have or own a Domain, how do I order a website?
What do I do if I really want to LEARN all this programming stuff?
Do you guys have any designers who can help create a LOGO for our site?
Who can I contact for help?
The More Advanced Stuff
Windy City hosts my website. What name servers should I use?
Why is the Technical Contact Important?
Who should be my Technical Contact?
The Basics
A. The Internet is nothing more than a lot of computers all attached to each other by bigger computers called servers. Servers “serve up” information, websites, programs, and a lot more stuff. They’re called servers because the serve you info… just like a waiter at a restaurant serves you your dinner. The computers can be connected over direct wires, phone lines, via satellites, and underwater cables.
Here is how the Net “hooks up”!
A. A website is just information. It is written in a special way that web browsers like Internet Explorer or Netscape can understand. A website can be about you, your company and what your company sells or does. It can tell folks about your family, your politics, your cause, your likes, your dislikes, anything! It can play a game. It can be a resource like an encyclopedia. It tells the story you want to tell… and it can tell that story using words, pictures, graphics, music, animation, color or black and white, or any combination of these things. A website is knowledge! A website is all about YOU.
A. It’s really very simple. Every website starts with an address. The address looks like this: www.windycityhosting.com. It’s exactly like your address at home, except that this address, instead of telling people what street you live on, tells everyone else’s computer the address of the computer that stores your website. If you let us host your domain, it tells all of the computers in the world to look to Windy City to see YOUR website. (See the question above if you don’t understand what a website is). By the way, that web address is also sometimes called a URL. A Uniform Resource Locator. Sometimes, it looks like this http://www.windycityhosting.com.
Oh… by the way. Nobody ever knows about your computer… just ours!
A. A URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. It is another way of talking about your web address.
A. It’s actually part of your web address or your URL. Take off the WWW part, and what is left is the domain. Here are some domains: IBM.COM, WEATHER.COM, REDCROSS.ORG and so on. The domain is a critical part of your web addresses… in fact, it’s the most important part! You MUST have a domain before you can have a website. This domain must either be yours (you own it), or it must belong to someone else who let’s you use their domain as your address.
Why do we need a domain to have a website?
A. Because the domain is your address on the web. Without a domain? Nobody can find you!
What do .com, .net, .org, and .info stand for?
A. All Domains end with a suffix. Most domains end with .COM, .ORG, .NET, .EDU, or .INFO. Here is what they are supposed to mean:
.COM | .COM is for companies or for personal website. |
.NET | .NET is for companies that provides internet or website services. |
.ORG | .ORG is usually for non-profit organizations like the Red Cross or your church, or a service organization. |
.EDU | .EDU is for schools or colleges. |
.INFO | .INFO is for websites that provide information. |
There are New suffixes being added all the time .TV, .BIZ and numerous others. You will be able to choose any you like when you register with Windy City!
Which of these do I want for me or for my company?
A. For a business or a personal website… you should probably use the .COM suffix. If you are setting up a website for someone other than yourself or your company, use this chart above to determine which suffix to use:
.COM | .COM is for companies or for personal website. |
.NET | .NET is for companies that provides internet or website services. |
.ORG | .ORG is usually for non-profit organizations like the Red Cross or your church, or a service organization. |
.EDU | .EDU is for schools or colleges. |
.INFO | .INFO is for websites that provide information. |
A. You buy one! Or, more accurately, you rent one for as long as you like. There are folks on the Internet who sell domain names. They are called registrars because they sell you a domain, then, they register it so everyone in the world knows it is yours. www.windycitydomains.com is an example of a registrar. Once you buy it, it is renewable forever.
A. These days, it should come as no surprise that prices vary on just about everything. Domains are no different. Depending on where you go, you will pay more or less for exactly the same item.
For example, to register a domain at Network Solutions will cost you $35 per year. Domains at Register.com also cost $35 per year. BUT, domains at www.windycitydomains.com cost only $12.95 per year. Over ten years, the savings can be substantial. ($200.00+ is substantial for many people… like ME).
So how do I actually DO the registration?
A. It's pretty simple. You just select Register A Domain from our Menu. Enter the name you want. Our system will tell you almost immediately if it is available. If it is, the select "Checkout". You will be asked for some registration info and you will provide a Login name and a Password. Once that is done, you will be returned to a screen to complete your registration. It's really easy!
Is there any difference if I chose to use a discount registrar instead of a full retail priced domain registrar?
A. Nope… except you pay almost THREE TIMES more than what you should be paying.
So why would anybody pay twice the price for the same services?
A. I don’t know. But did you ever notice that there always seem to be folks who are willing to overpay for just about anything?
So how do I register a new domain name?
A. First, pick a registrar. We hope you will pick US because we are really great folks to work with. If you agree, just click here and you will be taken to www.windycitydomains.com. Select, “Register a Domain” and follow the instructions!
What do I get for my registration?
You get to own your own domain for one or two years. Once that time is up, you can renew your domain for ONE to TEN years.
Can I register any domain name I want?
A. Sure, up to a point. Your domain name must be unique because it is an address that can point only to your web site. However, you cannot register a domain name that is either owned by someone else or that is trademarked by another person or company. You may also not register a domain that is too similar to a registered trademark or may be confusing or easily mistaken for that trademark.
For instance, IBM would take a dim view of you using their trademarked name or even something close such as "bigblue.com". Stick with unique names… ones that cannot be confused with trademarked domain names or corporations.
I already own a domain name, but it is with a different registrar, can I switch it to you? Will I lose any money or time? Does it cost anything?
A. No Problem! This is called a Transfer. You just go to www.windycitydomains.com, then select the TRANSFER option and follow the instructions. It costs NOTHING to transfer a domain to us. We DO add a full year to your current expiration date, so there will be a charge for that added time, but you don’t lose a single penny!
Somebody else has the domain name I wanted. Now what?
A. Unless you OWN a US registered trademark or patent on that name, you are probably out of luck, though there may be legal help for you if it’s really important to you. Check with an attorney who specializes in Internet Law. OR, pick another name. If you DO own the rights, and you want to own the domain, you should retain an Internet attorney for advice.
Is there any reason I CAN’T transfer a domain to www.WindyCityDomains.com?
A. Yes!
You Can Not Transfer A Domain If :
1. The domain was registered or transferred less than 60 days ago.
2. Your previous registrar has the name locked for either non-payment, or at your request.
3. The domain has already passed its expiration date or is about to expire.
4. You do not have access to the registered Admin Contact E-mail
for your domain, or the person listed on your domain's
Admin Contact email doesn't approve the transfer within 5 days
after initial transfer request.
How Do I know if My Registration is Complete and Correct?
A. After you register your domain name, go to www.windycitydomains.com and check the “Domain Lookup (Whois)” button. Enter the domain name you want to see and hit GO. You will see all the information about the registered owner… hopefully YOU.
Do I actually Own the Domain name?
A. Yes… and NO. You own it for one or two years. At the end of that time, you will be offered the chance to renew it. If you do, it is still yours. If you let it expire, someone else can get it.
Can I modify my domain name information after it's registered?
A. Yes. You can change anything except to ownership by simply going to www.windycitydomains.com and selecting “Manage Your Domains”. To change ownership, the process requires signed paperwork. Instructions are provided.
When should I renew a domain name? Will I be notified when I have to renew?
A. When you register or transfer a domain, there will be an expiration date. Several weeks before that date, we will start sending you emails to remind you to renew. If you don’t answer or renew… we send you MORE emails. If you do not renew you domain, you may lose it. SO MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE WE YOUR DOMAIN REGISTRATION ALWAYS HAS YOUR CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS ON FILE. How do I make sure my email address is correct? Go to www.windycitydomains.com and select “Manage Your Domains” then follow the instructions to view and change your information. Failure to keep a current email address in your registration could result in loss of your domain name.
A. That depends on what you use it for, how big it is, and how fancy it is.. Prices range from FREE to hundreds or thousands of dollars per month for large commercial business websites with e-commerce packages like Amazon or Barnes and Noble. A nice website for your home may well only cost $8-9 per month. A site for a small business will be maybe $20-$50 per month depending on size and “traffic” (how many people visit the site each month), and how much storage the business may need.
Black Coral Systems (our parent company) hosts websites VERY inexpensively! Click HERE to see details.
WAIT!! Hold it!!! I can get a FREE website??????
A. Sure! AOL, Geocities, and other companies offer free websites.
What’s the catch? Why pay you when I can get it for free from them?
A. Aha! A great question. Nearly ALL "free" websites have really annoying advertisements that "pop-up" when people visite your website. You cannot control what advertisements "pop-up" either!. Often they cover pictures or text. This can be REALLY annoying, not only for you but for the people who are visiting your site. With some others, your website 'turns-off' after a certain number of people visit the site. For a business, it is a BIG no-no.
OR
If they Don't do the Pop-Up advertising
Other places like AOL, or perhaps your Internet Service Provider (ISP) offer websites for free with no advertising… but to get to them you may have to type something like this:
http://www.homepage.someplace.com/user/homepage/~jonesfamily.com
WOW! That’s a LOT of typing and who can remember it anyway?
If you own your own domain… getting to your site is as easy as typing www.mysite.com. NO pop-up ads either! AND, you get to set up emails with YOUR domain name in the address! You also get email forwarding free and auto-responders free
OK, I now own a Domain, how do I order a website from you guys?
A. You first have to decide what kind of website you want/need. We make it pretty simple. Click HERE to see the features offered on our sites. Need help? Call us at 877-300-9597 or email us HERE.
OK, I have ordered the website and have been told it is ready for me to use. Now what do I do?
A. First, you either decide to have a professional create a website for you (recommended for most companies) OR do it yourself!
If you need a professional job, contact us! If you want to try it yourself, It is amazingly simple!
You just need a program that helps you with the HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language).
You can get some really excellent programs absolutely FREE. Here are some suggestions!
Free Stuff:
Cool Page HTML Editor Cool Page Free
or
CoffeeCup
To Visit the CoffeeCup Homepage. Click Here
or to simply the Download CoffeeCup HTML Editor - Click Here
Stuff that costs $$$
You can also buy commercial programs. Here are some good ones:
FrontPage 2002 From Microsoft
DreamWeaver fro Macromedia
PageMaker From Adobe Software
What do I do if I really want to LEARN all this programming stuff?
A. Easy. There are some truly wonderful websites on the Net that can teach you everything you need to know in a very short time. One of MY favorites is at the Maricopa Community College in Arizona. Written by a fellow named Alan Levine, it is one of the easiest ways to learn HTML and web Design. It is FREE!
Point your browser to HERE
PS: They are the folks who first helped ME about 9 years ago.
Others places to learn` about web design and publishing:
PageTutor is a decent site also.... but has a lot of distracting advertisements. Still worth a stop!
The HTML Writers Guild offers on-line courses at all levels. Check them out!
W2Schools has a nice bit of coursework . Visit their site!
Do you guys have any designers who can help create a LOGO for our site?
A. We absolutely CAN help. Just email us HERE. Our logos are excellent!… and ANY logo is just $49.99. No, that is NOT a misprint. We charge just $49.95 for any business (or personal) logo.
A. Contact us at support@windycitydomains.com OR call us Toll Free at 877-300-9757
The More Advanced Stuff
A. IP addresses are a series of 4 numbers separated by periods (dots). An IP address may look like this: 209.126.178.238
They tell all of the computers where a website, data, programs or other info are located.
By now you’re saying “HEY! I thought that’s what the URL did???”
You’re right… I DID say that. So here is what really happens. NOBODY is smart enough to remember all the IP addresses for all the websites in the world, but computers run on numbers NOT words! So how do we solve that problem? We easily remember words like windycitydomains.com but we do NOT easily remember 209.126.178.238 Guess what?!
209.126.178.238 ßISà www.windycitydomains.com
YUP! They are the SAME! Try this: Type 209.126.178.238 into your browser and hit GO or ENTER. Surprise!
So how are those two connected? By a Domain Name Server (DNS). The DNS takes the written words www.windycityhosting.com and TRANSLATES those words into numbers that all computers understand. In this case, they translate to: 209.126.178.238
A. A special server that translates URL’s (words) into IP addresses (numbers) so that computers can understand which site you want to go to. It is MUCH easier to remember WindyCityDomains.com than it is to remember 209.126.178.238 which is our IP address. BUT... you browser will navigate to our website if you use the numbers only. Try it if you like! Click HERE.
Windy City hosts my website. What name servers should I use?
A. If you register your domain with Windy City, this process is automatic. If you registered it elsewhere, but plan to use US to host your website, you will enter the following information where requested.
ns1.aspadmin.com - 216.98.128.74
ns2.aspadmin.com - 216.98.128.75
ns3.aspadmin.com - 216.98.128.76
We do not charge to use our name servers even if you don’t host with us.
What does it mean to “Manage My Account”?
A. Managing your account means that you can change most of the registration information right on-line. Just go to www.WindCityDomains.com, then select :Manage your Domains” It’s easy to change your contact names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, DNS information, and other stuff.
Why is the Technical Contact Important?
A. This person or company is the person we go to in order to discuss your domain or your website if technical problems arise. We will serve as your technical contact for no charge if you host your domain with us. Go to Manage Your Domain, then simply enter our name, address, phone, and email info “ dns@windycitydomains.com “ as the info for Technical Contact. By the way, we cannot sell, lease, or change any registration info (except DNS info) as Technical Contact. You are safe!
Who should be my Technical Contact?
A. We will serve as your technical contact for no charge if you host your domain with us. Go to Manage Your Domain, then imply enter our name, address, phone, and email info “ dns@windycitydomains.com “ as the info for Technical Contact. By the way, we cannot sell, lease, or change any registration info (except DNS info) as Technical Contact. You are safe!
A. Sure! You actually sell the rights to the domain name. Go to Manage Your Domains in the www.windycitydomains.com website and go to the section on changing names. Follow those instructions.
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