How i host web site on my home/office computer?

That's an interesting question...

Let me first give you a quick answer before I bore you with details.

Yes, you CAN host a web site on your home/office computer.

And why do I think it is an interesting question - Because, unfailingly, at least one student from my beginners class throws this at me and so I guess it's something that everyone wants to know. Also the answer to this question helps us to know, in a little bit more detail, what web servers are and how they work.

Let me rephrase the question - Why can't our home computers with broadband internet and 24/7 connectivity be used as web Servers and host web sites? Actually, our home computers CAN act like web servers. Here are a few things we need:

• A static I.P. (Internet protocol) address
• 24/7 Internet connectivity (a fast connection would definitely help)
• Web server software
• A stable and reliable operating system

Hosting your web site from your home/office computer

Typically, a web server is a powerful machine with a stable and reliable operating system and a 24/7 Internet connection. A web server also needs a static I.P. (Internet protocol) address so that the location of the hosted web site/s does not change. In addition to the web server software (which serves web pages), several other software that help in maintenance, enhancing functionality and securing the machine from attacks from hackers need to be installed on the machine.

The need for a good operating system

Obviously, you need a stable and reliable operating system that can serve web pages quickly and not crash or hang even under heavy traffic. Here are some other hallmarks of a good operating system for a web server:

• In-built security features to protect from hackers and virus attacks.
• Easy of administration through shell environment or GUI-based software.
• Scalability to up-gradations to ensure enhanced stability and security. Also, the process of installation of updates should easy and as smooth as possible.
• In-built necessary server software should be a part of the operating system else, they should be available and installed quickly and smoothly.
• Availability of third-party software - No operating system is perfect and complete. Third party applications can provide additional security, better features and functionality.

With the above points in mind, the Linux operating system fits the bill pretty well - So does Windows, actually, but you do need to be a little more experienced in server administration if you want to run a Windows based web server.

Linux is also cheaper than Windows and has tons of free third-party software and applications that can be smoothly integrated in the operating system to increase functionality and security. Linux, which is an Open Source Software (OSS), works well with other OSS such as Apache (the most popular web server software), MySQL (a good stable database application and server), PHP (server-side scripting language) and has several in-built applications such as FTP (File Transfer Protocol), sendmail (SMTP email server) etc.

The need for a static I.P. (Internet Protocol) address

Each computer connected to the Internet needs to have a unique number assigned to it so that it can be identified and there are no conflicts with other computers. This unique number is the Internet Protocol (I.P.) address. The I.P. address is just a series of four numbers each less than 255 and separated by dots (periods). For example, 214.34.7.90 would be a valid I.P. address.

Since, for us humans, I.P. addresses are not as easy to remember, the "powers that be" created domain names. However, each domain name is "tied up" or "associated" with an I.P. address. The domain name and its corresponding I.P. address are stored on several different computers scattered around the globe. These machines called Domain Name Servers help to resolve the domain name to its I.P. address. In layman's language - when you type a domain name on your browser, it first checks with a Name Server and gets the corresponding I.P. address (something that computers understand better than us) and then loads the web site.

An I.P. address is the address of a computer on the internet - it specifies the location of a server that hosts a web site. It follows that if the I.P. address changes, the web site will not be found if you try to load it on a browser by typing its domain name.

Now, most of us use net connections on our home/office computers from the local Internet Service Provider. These ISPs assigned our computers with a dynamic I.P. address each time we connect. Thus, each time we disconnect and start the connection again, our computers are given a different I.P. address. So if the I.P. address of your home/office computer changes, your web site will not load unless you go and change the information on the Name Server. Obviously you cannot make these changes each time your computer's I.P. address changes. For this reason, to host a web site on your home/office computer you need a "static" I.P. address - an I.P. address that does not change.

The problem is that ISPs generally do not allow you to host a web site on your computer. And they do this by allocating a new I.P. address each time you connect and also blocking required ports. Having said that, you can get a static I.P. addresses by either upgrading your package (to something like a "business package") or shift to an ISP that does provides one. The cost of a static I.P. can be an extra $30 to $50 per month (maybe even more). Check with your Internet Service Provider. This, in my opinion, is just too much when web hosting companies offer feature-rich packages for as low as $10 per month.

Also check DynDNS.com if you want a static I.P. from a dynamic address. FYI, some ISPs would actually fine you if you host a web site on their net connection.

The need for 24/7 connectivity to the Internet

A fast Internet connection is as important as a stable 24/7 connection. You would not like your web site to download slowly would you? Any downtime in the net connection would result in your web site being offline.

The need for Server software

According to Netcraft server statistics, Apache still is the most popular and widely used web server on the net. Apache is an open source software (read free) that can be installed on various platforms including Linux/Unix, Windows, Mac. For more details on Apache refer - What is Apache and what does it do?.

You can also have a look at a detailed list of important web servers.

Its easy to install the Apache web server. In fact, most Linux versions come with an Apache server already running or one that can be installed and configured in a few clicks.

The need configuring your computer

If you plan to host a web site on your home/office you cannot leave it open to attacks by hackers. Also you need to protect important directories - ones containing files of the operating system or other programs that are critical for smooth and error-free running of the server. Your system has to be configured properly to protect against accidental or intentional misuse.

The final conclusions

Hosting your web site on your home/office computer would be a great learning experience to all adventurous people out there. For most of us, it's wiser and quicker to just go to a reliable hosting company and pick up a web hosting package because these companies take care of maintaining the server, the internet connection, server security and power backups.

Make Money With Google AdSense

Anyone who owns or is thinking about creating a website would be crazy to ignore this. I am happy to say that making money with your site, no matter the topic, has become easier than it's ever been before - and it's 100% legitimate.

If AdSense had been available in 2000, I would have NEVER shut down my soap opera fan site that received 200 hits per day. I would have been able to earn money from that traffic and probably turned a small profit.

Untold Facts About AdSense you need to know in order to succeed with the program! Yes, the money can be great, but if you don't learn how to build a site that attracts targeted traffic then you won't make much from AdSense.

Don't pay a cent for these "Get Rich Quick" books on AdSense. Many of them are all hype. Learn all you need to know for free.


What is AdSense?
Google.com earns most of its revenue by allowing other website owners to advertise on their search result pages. All this is managed through a program they call AdWords.

Now you can earn a share of the revenue that Google earns from AdWords by displaying these same text ads on your site.  In other words, you're helping Google advertise and they pay you a percentage of what they earn.

This program is called AdSense.
Every website owner should at least consider the program.  Even if your site is just for information purposes, you can still participate and make decent money with AdSense -- or at least enough to fund your website.

So if you are one of those people that doesn't like the idea of paying for a site, this is an excellent way to earn your money back and then some.

How AdSense Works
"Is Google Crazy?"

I know what you're probably thinking...

"What's the catch here? Why would Google just give away money advertisers are paying them?"

The answer...

Because Google is very smart.

If you understand how AdSense works, you will see that it's a win-win situation for everyone involved, and the bottom line benefits Google. Let me explain...

Since the advertiser's ads are now being displayed on more web sites all over the internet (instead of just Google's site), they are getting much more exposure.  More exposure means more clicks and even more traffic for their site over a shorter period of time.
This is good news for Google because the more traffic the advertisers receive, the faster their advertising funds are used up.

Remember, they get charged every time their site gets a visit; and of course, it is Google's hope that they'll continue to keep funneling more money into their account for more ad exposure.
What an ingenious way for Google to increase the amount of money they earn from advertisers while building loyalty with website owners (like us) who are now getting paid to help them advertise.
Of course, I'd expect nothing less from the most popular search engine on the web. :)

"How Much Can I Earn With AdSense?"



Google does not disclose exactly how much you'll earn per ad that is clicked.

The commission you receive per click depends on how much advertisers are paying Google for the particular ad. You will earn a share of that amount.  I've heard of earnings anywhere from 2 cents to $15 per click.

So it is logical to believe that keyword phrases like debt free, employment, make money, mp3, sex, etc. will earn you more per click since these are highly competitive keywords that are searched for quite a bit on the web.

Advertisers generally pay more for popular terms because they are searched for more.

Even though Google will not reveal how much you are earning for each ad that is clicked from your site, you can still login to your account at any time and see the total amount of revenue you've generated that day, week, month, year, etc.

For example, if you see that you've made $12.60 today from 9 clicks then you can calculate that your average click-thru commission was $1.40 per click.  That's as detailed as their stats will get.  Also remember, that's only an average.  You won't know how much each specific ad brought in.

The amount you'll earn also depends largely on the amount of targeted traffic you receive to your own site, how well the ads match your audience's interests, the placement of the ads on your pages, and of course the amount you receive per click.

Ideally, you should create a site on a topic you know a lot about.  That way you'll have a much easier time creating a generous amount of content on that subject.

Why I Believe AdSense Works So Well
For years, website owners have tried to make money from their sites by putting up banner ads in hopes of visitors clicking them. The problem with banner ads is that the Internet audience is so immune to them, people do not click on them anymore.

When's the last time you clicked a banner ad?
...Exactly!

Second, in order for the web site owner to earn money from that banner ad, usually the web surfer that clicks has to purchase something.  With AdSense, your visitors just have to click the ads. They don't have to purchase a single thing.

Third, most people that use banner ads do not do a good job of matching the ads to the website's content so the click thru percentages are dismal.

With Google's AdSense, not only are you displaying text ads, (which tend to receive a much higher click-thru rate than banner ads), but you are displaying contextual ads that match your website's content....thanks to Google's advanced technology.

Lots of times people think the ads are part of your site's content so they click because the information is relevant to your site.  Whereas with banner ads, they often have little relevance and people tend to ignore them no matter how much they flash and fly across the page.
Creating Your Website for AdSense

Before you even begin your site, make sure you've come up with a topic that you feel you know plenty about.  That way it will be easiest to write a lot of content.

The more content you have, the better chance you have getting accepted into the program.  Also, the more content, the greater the earning potential.  AdSense is nothing but a numbers game.  If you want to make a lot of money, prepare to write a lot of content.

The Do It Yourself Method
I've actually used both methods for building my site and there are advantages and disadvantages to both.
If you use the DIY method, you will have to go and register a domain name (yoursite.com) and then sign up for a web host and build your pages.  You can either learn HTML or buy some kind of web editor like Microsoft FrontPage to build your pages.  That's the method I used to build this site.

Averaging between $7 and $15 per month, the DIY method is usually the most cost friendly of the two but you are mostly on your own in terms of learning how to create your web pages and adding the AdSense code to your site.

Web hosts are generally there to house your site.  They don't specialize in helping you market and optimize your site for the search engines to help you get traffic.  So don't expect a lot from them in terms of helping you market your site.

This is not necessarily a bad thing.  I had to learn how to build this site on my own and it wasn't very difficult.
I now manage all of my sites with Dreamweaver.

Successful SBI Websites
Be sure to also take a peek at all the successful SBI websites created by mostly beginners who have never created a site before.  Every site listed on this page is in the top 3% in terms of amount of traffic received on the web - thanks to the SBI search engine help.

Find out why I think SBI! is best for AdSense.



In late 2008, Google tightened up their acceptance policies. According to an email I received from someone who was trying to join the program, you now must meet the following criteria before you are accepted...

• Your website must be your own top-level domain (www.domain.com and not domain.com/mysite). That means you can't just sign up with a free blogger or free web hosting account and get approved for AdSense.
• Your domain name must have been registered and active for at least 6 months before you apply
• 
  
• The registration information that you provide during the AdSense registration must match your domain name registration information
• Your website must contain a substantial amount of original content 

Once you meet the above criteria, go to http://adsense.google.com to apply.

When you are accepted, simply copy and paste the provided HTML code into any page that you'd like to show the ads. If you've done a good job of defining the content on your web pages, the ads that show should be relevant to the content of your page...increasing the chances of click-thrus by your visitors.

You can either display the ads vertically along side the page like Google does or in a banner-like formation horizontally across your pages.  The placement is up to you.  You can even customize the colors to match your site's theme.

If Your Site Is Rejected by Google...
If you receive that email from Google stating that your site has not been accepted, the first thing you should remember is that as an AdSense member, you become a partner and are representing Google, Inc.
They have to make sure the websites that display these ads are up to par or they could run the risk of losing advertisers.  Imagine if you were paying Google to display your ad and you found it showing up on a poorly developed, junky website.

Of course, if your site is rejected, it doesn't mean it is poorly developed.  There may be other reasons:

1) Is your site an "About Me" page? 
Google does not usually accept these kinds of personal sites because most of them do not have a specific topic or theme.  They are usually just random facts about the website owner or their hobbies, pictures, etc.
It would be difficult for Google's technology to display targeted ads on these kinds of pages because the topics vary from subject to subject.
They are looking for "themed" sites that contain a generous amount of information on a specific topic.  It could be anything from sewing tips to sports.  Just make sure there is an obvious theme with adequate information.

2) Is your site organized?
Be sure your site has a neat and clean navigation that's easy to follow.  Also ensure all the links work and that there are no typos.  Keep the colors to a minimum and make sure each page has a consistent layout.

3) How many pages are on your site?
Even though Google doesn't specify a page number requirement, many believe they are looking for web sites with a certain amount of content.  Again, it's not likely a two-page site will get accepted.  Try to strive for at least 15 pages.

4) Is your content solid?
Don't just submit a website with a bunch of links to other sites.  Be sure you have a themed/niche site with enough original content of your own.

5) Is your site an exact carbon copy of someone else's?
Some believe Google can find out if your site is original or not. Don't risk it and steal from someone else.  It will come back to haunt you.
If you're stuck, write a few articles of your own and then go to sites like www.articlecity.com and sprinkle a few of their articles around your site to beef it up.

6) Be sure to read their program policy and procedures carefully and make sure your site hasn't violated any of the terms.

Tips on Succeeding With AdSense
Here are some tips for achieving success with AdSense.

1.  Create a website with your (YourSite.com).  Don't try to use a free web host because your site will likely have banners and pop-ups and get rejected because it looks unprofessional. Not to mention, a free web host will give you a website address like this:
http://thefreewebhost.com/yoursite/member1234/home.html
instead of...
http://www.yoursite.com

Thanks to the policies implemented in late 2008, AdSense no longer accepts sites created on free domains anyway. So may as well register your own domain.

2. If you don't know web programming or have no desire to learn it, get a beginner's design editor like Dreamweaver (what I use) or CoffeeCup.  You can publish your content directly to the web from the software.
Keep in mind you can't use the software alone.  You must have a web host that will allow you to publish your site to the Internet. (More on web hosting in a sec.)

3.  If the main goal of your site is to make money with AdSense, be sure to choose a topic that you know a lot about so you can write lots and lots of content.

4.  Get traffic. Once your site is up and running you'll need to learn how to get your site listed in the major search engines.
Getting into Google is completely free and can bring in hundreds or even thousands of visitors per day.  All you have to do is submit your site to them and wait patiently while Google adds it to the index.  It can take a few months.  Patience is key with Google.  Then do the same with Yahoo, MSN, etc.

Read up on how the search engines rank pages here.

And while you're waiting it's important you build up as much unique content around your theme as possible. Google loves large sites with useful content centered around a specific theme.
Don't create a hodgepodge site with topics on everything under the sun. Stay focused and make sure your site has an obvious theme.

5. Partner up with other related sites and participate in link swaps.  This means that you place a link to another person's site on your own site and they do the same for you in return.  This is a great way to get even more free traffic.

Blog Tips for Beginners

Since everyone seems to want a blog these days, I decided to create a section on 2 Create a Website just for blogging. A lot of people choose the wrong option for their needs. So take the time to learn when either is appropriate.
 

How to Create a Blog
Blogs are another kind of website. The content is usually organized by date and category with the most recent post/content displaying first. Blogs are also easier to setup than websites, and because of this reason people are often lured into thinking blogs are a better option than websites.
 

But don't be fooled.
 

That doesn't mean they are easier to promote, build traffic and generate a profit (if that's your goal). Both websites and blogs require work, patience, an understanding of Internet marketing and search engine optimization (the process of getting ranked high in Google, Yahoo, etc.)
 

So please don't go into this thinking that creating a blog is an easier way to make money online. Even bloggers making a lot of money have put in their share of time and effort.

Another thing you should know is that blogs can be somewhat limiting compared to a website (in terms of design and data manipulation) until you learn more about how blogs are coded.

However, if you use WordPress or Blogger you'll have the flexibility to do so much with your blog's content and layout. (More on that in a sec.)

WordPress? Blogger? Which is Best?
WordPress and Blogger are hands down the two most popular blogging platforms. I honestly see no reason to consider any of the others.
 

I started with Blogger, but when I started learning about the flexibility WordPress provided, I switched over in December 2008 and I'm so glad I did.
 

Blogger is great because it's super easy to use. However, WordPress has a lot more features and plug-ins that will allow you to enhance your blog.
 

And even though setting up a WordPress blog is slightly more involved, it's well worth it in the long run.
Remotely Hosted Blog or Self Hosted Blog?
 

There are two ways to host a blog. The first way is to remotely host it-- which means your content/files literally sit on the server of the blogging platform (WordPress.com, Blogger.com, etc.)

There's always a risk involved with doing it this way because if Blogger or WordPress decide to shut your blog down (for whatever reason), you would lose all your content. It also doesn't look as professional to have a blog address like http://yourblog.blogspot.com or http://yourblog.wordpress.com.

 

And if you want to make money, first impressions mean a lot.

For the record, I don't endorse remotely hosted blogs. I think hosting is so cheap these days that it's worth spending a few extra dollars to own your content and have a real blog address like http://yourblog.com -- especially if you want to make money.

Why a Blog and a Website?
Even though I already have a successful website, I decided to create a blog too.
 

Here on my site, you'll find more static/unchanging tutorials, and my blog is more like a journal where I talk about current topics in the world of website creation, blogging and making money.
 

As I mentioned in the video above, whether you use a blog, a website or both is up to you. There is no rule of thumb. You really have to feel your way around and see what's best for your needs. But if you're just starting, I'd definitely only focus on one or the other.
 

Serious About Making Money From a Blog?
If your goal is to make money from a blog, you might want to consider Yaro Starak's Blog Coaching Service. This guy is no amateur and makes 6 figures per year from blogging alone.

In his free report, Blog Profits Blueprint, he lays the groundwork for creating a successful blog and helps you keep your expectations in check when it comes to making money. Very solid advice here.

In Conclusion...
Whether you plan to create a stand-alone blog or use it to compliment your existing Web site, they can be a great asset to your online business.
 

Some of the keys to success include...

Blog with a purpose
Just like a website, a blog should have a focus and target audience. Don't just blog to sell products. Give your audience useful information that will entice them to subscribe. Blogs with too many ads and no useful content are a turn-off.
 

Keep it relevant
Remember, people want to know what's in it for them, so your blog's info should be relevant to your audience's needs and desires.
 

Blog often when you have good info to share
More is not better when you are putting out junk or recycled material. One of the top reasons people unsubscribe to blogs is lack of originality or the "heard it all before" syndrome.
 

Add personality
Display a photo. Crack a joke once and while. Let your audience know there's a human behind the words. Don't take yourself too seriously. Have fun and develop your unique blog voice.

Select a Web Host

You've arrived at the 2nd step to creating a web site.
After you have selected and registered your domain name you're ready to choose a web host.
A web host provides you with the space, tools and support to create your web pages and email accounts (you@yourdomain.com).
This is where all the action happens, so please read this page carefully to ensure that you choose the most appropriate option for your site.

Other Web Hosting Options

After watching the video above, please make sure you read the following information because I discuss two more hosting options not offered at WebsitePalace.com.
It's important to note that you do not have to host your site at the same place you register your domain name.
You could register you domain name at WebsitePalace.com and then choose to host your site some place else like Powweb.com, for example.

Why Powweb Hosting?

Powweb is one of the popular hosting companies on the Internet. 
They are a privately owned, debt-free company that maintains all of their services in-house and have been providing top-notch web hosting since 1999.
Easy Website Builder Available
Powweb also offers a site wizard similar to Website Tonight plans (above) where you can choose a pre-created layout/template and create a website in minutes.
No programming is necessary.  All you do is select the design you want and add your text.
Free Built-In Shopping Cart
The Powweb hosting plan also comes with a built-in shopping cart in case you want to take orders from your site (no installation necessary). 
This is an ideal feature if you plan to sell products. Setting up a shopping cart can be a hassle so this is a very nice convenience.
Use Your Own HTML Editor
If you don't want to use their free website builder, you can also use software like CoffeeCup to create and edit your pages. 
So if you own the software (or plan to buy it), you can save and publish all your work directly to the web from the software.  Dreamweaver is also a great editor you can use. I used it to create and design this site.
Advanced Features
This hosting option also provides the platform so you can add advanced features such as message boards, chat rooms and other interactive features.
Tons of Satisfied Customers
When you visit their site, you'll notice that they proudly display over 100 testimonials from their satisfied customers that prove they are well worth the time and investment. 
They also pride themselves on their peer-to-peer chat forums so you can chat with other Powweb customers as you share ideas, ask questions, and more.
How to Sign Up
When you register your domain name at WebsitePalace.com, don't select a web host -- only order the domain.
Then after you have finished the domain name registration process, head on over to Powweb's site and sign up for their hosting.

All-in-One Hosting Option: Site Build It

This host is ideal if you plan on selling hard goods and/or want to learn how to make money from your website.   If you choose this method you don't have to register a domain name separately because everything you need is included in the price.
I repeat...

If you choose Site Build It!, you do not need to go to WebsitePalace.com to buy a domain name, choose hosting or anything. Site Build It! takes care of all that for you.

All the tools you need for building your site are in one place.  The domain name, hosting, web page building tools, marketing help, search engine submission, ranking reports, you name it!
SBI! uses templates so no HTML knowledge is necessary.  All you do is choose a template of your choice and add your text to build your website.
Don't get me wrong. You can use Powweb or WebsitePalace.com's regular hosting plan for a money-making website, but you don't get the marketing and search engine ranking help that you will definitely need if you want to draw in targeted traffic.
I would never say you must use SBI! to achieve success, I'm just saying it's the best system I know. A lot of people attempt to build an ecommerce website using one of the less expensive hosts only to come back to Site Build It because they need help driving traffic to their sites.
After all, if you don't learn how to generate traffic, you won't make any money.
The other hosts mentioned here do not show you how to get a top 10 ranking in the major search engines.   You are on your own.
SBI also comes with a brainstorming tool to help you pinpoint the most profitable topic (high demand and low supply).  Often times people choose the wrong topic/niche because of too much competition or not enough people searching for it.  SBI makes sure you don't make that mistake.

At $25/month ($299 per year), SBI may cost more than the other hosts listed here, but it will cut out numerous learning hurdles of both creating and marketing your site.

One More Summary of The Hosting Options

Just in case you're still not sure about which hosting option to select, here's an overview and some basic tips on choosing the right hosting option for you..
1) WebSite Tonight (@ WebsitePalace.com)
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to build a personal or professional-looking site then choose one of the WebSite Tonight packages.  The point and click web page building tools make creating your site a breeze.
This is a great plan for simple, personal websites.  A lot of people use Website Tonight for "About Me", wedding and vacation sites.  It's a great choice for sites that will have lots of photos.
All you do is select a design template and then add your text and pictures. No software or programming experience necessary. Beginners who need a very simple site love this option.
2) Powweb
A great option for large (or expanding) sites because they provide an unlimited amount of space.   Quite honestly all these plans have enough space for almost anyone, but Powweb is by far the most generous.
This is the only hosting option that offers a built-in shopping cart, so if you plan to sell products then you should keep this in mind. 
The Turbo Charged option also has the functionality available so you can build a cart, but you'll have to install it yourself.  With Powweb hosting, it's already setup for you.
They also provide a built-in web page builder for beginners with tons of design templates.  Or if you want, you can use your own program like CoffeeCup or my favorite, Dreamweaver.
When you are registering your name, just select the hosting option that says you'll "park your domain here for free".  This just means that you are using another company (Powweb) to host your site.  Then after your domain has been registered you'll go to Powweb's site to sign up for hosting.
3) Turbo-Charged (@ WebsitePalace.com)
For those of you that already own or do not need any web page creation tools, choose the Turbo-Charged option. 
The plans start at only $3.95 per month and if you do not own any web design software you can use an editor like CoffeeCup to create and manage your web pages.
It also comes with the functionality that will allow you to create message boards, shopping carts and add other interactive features to your site.

Want Someone Else to Build & Design Your Site?If you're in a hurry and/or don't want to learn how to build your site yourself. Check out the custom design options and prices offered at Website Palace. There are even customized logo options.

How to Register a Domain Name

 It is highly recommended that you read this ENTIRE page as it contains important information that most sites don't tell you about domain name registrations.

Please don't rush this step! If you're trying to make money with your website, hopefully you've taken the time to read 2 Plan a Website first.

There is very important advice there about choosing your topic and doing the proper research and planning before you begin.

NOTE: If you already know about domain names, go here to register your domain.  If not, I highly recommend you read on to understand why the name selection is so important.

There are two basic steps to getting your site online and registering/reserving a domain name is the first.

A domain name makes up the address of your site and can end in .com, .net, .org, .info, .us, .biz, .tv and more. Throughout this site you will also see the domain name referred to as the "dot com name".

Once you have registered your name, you will select a web host (2nd step).  The web host is the guts of any website because this is where you create and publish your pages, build order forms, add functionality and maintain your site.

First, let's focus on selecting the best domain name for your site...

Selecting The Best Domain Name

If being found in the major search engines (Google, Yahoo, etc.) is important to you, I highly recommend you register a name that contains your major keywords instead of your company name. 

Think about it.  The average surfer searches by subject, not by proper name.  So why it may seem cool to have a name like TimothysToolTyme.com, you'll want to choose a name that includes keywords that your target audience would likely use when they search.

So with that in mind, a name like Tool-Tips-for-Beginners.com would be much better than TimothysToolTyme.com. 

Sure, you can still list your company name on your web pages, but I believe it's more important to make sure the domain name includes your important "search friendly" keywords if you want to receive traffic from all over.

Of course, you can still list your company name on the web site some place, but your domain name will include all the important keywords you'll want to be found with.

Now, as always, there are exceptions...

If you are just creating a website for a local business, getting traffic from all over the web may not be as important to you.  This is because your customers will be local and you may want to grow your brand name in a specific area.

If this is the case, it may make more sense to register your company name and create brand awareness locally instead of trying to capitalize on search engine presence.

For example, let's say you have a company called J.W. Reed & Co and you help people get rid of debt, but you're based in Kansas and can only cater to residents in this area. 

Since you are only servicing local clients, you may not care if someone in California can find your site in Google since they are not likely to become one of your customers. 

In this case, it's not as important to register a name filled with "search optimized" keywords.  You may decide to just reserve the company name, JWReedAndCo.com.

NOTE:  Keep in mind that the domain name is not the only factor weighed by search engines when deciding your rank. 

The content on your web pages and your site's popularity (inbound links from other sites) is very important too. However, it certainly doesn't hurt to make sure your name is optimized for maximum results.

Here are some more tips on choosing the best domain name:

1)   Don't register domain names that are too long and have too many syllables if you can help it.  Yes, you can register names up to 63 characters long, but that doesn't mean you have to use all 63 characters.
You want your name to be easy to remember. Not everyone will bookmark your page initially so try to think of something that can be easily remembered -- although I realize this may be tricky since a lot of names are taken these days.
2)  Use hyphens if your name is more than 3 words long (unless your name includes 3 short words).  A name like carbuying.com doesn't really need a hyphen because it's readable the way it is.
However a name like used-car-buying-scams.com looks better than usedcarbuyingscams.com since there are so many words in the name.
3)  Protect your name by registering multiple extensions (.net, .org, etc.)  This deters people from copying your name. For example, if you own garden-tips-for-us.com you can also register garden-tips-for-us.net and any other extension that's available.
You don't have to build a site on all the domains, but you can reserve the others to keep people (copycats) from registering them.

How to Register a Domain Name

Reserving a domain name is easy and very cost friendly. The big name companies like Register.com and NetworkSolutions.com charge ridiculous prices such as $30-35/year for one domain name, and you get the same service at WebsitePalace.com for much less.

It doesn't matter where you register your domain.  Every registrar provides the same services.

You can save a bundle at WebsitePalace.com, and you get a bunch of freebies such as a blog, domain forwarding and a free starter page.

You Should Protect Your Privacy

As you're registering your name, you will be presented with the option of keeping your domain name private - a deluxe feature you'll probably want to take advantage of.

A private domain registration will keep your information (name, email address, etc.) out of the global Internet database, and will prevent a lot of spam from reaching your email box.

Even though registering a "private" domain is not mandatory and will not block all spam, I highly recommend you select this option.  I certainly wish this had been available when I created my first site.

Top Notch Support Available

If you should ever have a question, support is available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

Most people that come here are new to the website creation scene.  Their number one fear is that they'll invest their money into something that is new and unfamiliar, and then get stuck with no one to help them should they have a question.  Well, that's not going to happen here.

It is understood that many of you may be new to this and should you ever have a question you can call or email us at anytime. 

Phone support is available around the clock and WebsitePalace's dedicated customer service team makes every effort to answer emails within a 10-12 hour period.

Need Help Choosing a Website Topic?

Choosing a topic for your website can be tough. Everyone seems to have the next "big idea" or looks for hot topics.

After all, wouldn't you love to be the one who invented MySpace, FaceBook or YouTube?

It often seems so simple. Just come up with a cool idea, build a site, sell it for millions to Yahoo or Google and you'll be rich!

Not exactly.

While this idea has worked for a handful of people, the average story doesn't go quite like that. Which is why I wanted to create this all-important page on topic choice.

Looking to Make Money?

If your goal is to make money with your site then I always recommend the simple approach.

I know you would love to create something like the next MySpace, but due to all the programming and technical knowledge needed to build and maintain a site like that, it's not a good idea for the average person.

Even if you are going to pay a programmer to create your site, it would cost you thousands of dollars. I don't think people realize the amount of resources that go into creating a site that offers user interaction and profiles.

Not to mention you'd probably need dedicated hosting space, which can cost you hundreds of dollars per month. You can forget the $10/month hosting plans.

Yes, these sites look cool on the surface but there are a lot of hidden headaches the average person does not see.

So what do I mean when I say "the simple approach?" I'm encouraging you to do what I've done for the past 10 years.

I don't own any fancy MySpace-like websites. I don't have a lot of Web programming skills. I just create sites on topics that interest me, draw in traffic and make money from affiliate programs like Google AdSense and other companies that sell products that relate to my topics.

Say you love to prepare desserts. You could create top-notch-cake-recipes.com where you offer all your favorite cake recipes. You'd create your site and then spend time learning about SEO (search engine optimization) so your pages get found in Google, Yahoo, etc.

Then you could make money from Google ads and refer other products that your audience may find interesting. For instance, you could join Target.com's free affiliate program and refer some of their cookware.

Target provides you with the links to put into your site and you would earn a commission on every sale your site makes. They send you a check at the end of the month! There are thousands of affiliate programs like this.

An affiliate site like this is much easier to create and maintain than some large, programming-intense MySpace-like website. You could manage the site yourself with a program like Dreamweaver or CoffeeCup and you'd simply follow these website creation instructions to get started.

Or you can use a program like Site Build It!, which was created to help people make money from hobby or personal interest websites. Their entire focus is to help you earn an income no matter topic you choose.

Not Sure What Topic is Best?

I get the "What's-the-best-topic" question a lot. Quite frankly, I cannot answer that. That's something you have to decide for yourself.

If your goal is to make money then I cannot stress how important it is for you to select something that holds your interest. Remember, this is going to be a site you will need to update frequently to keep your visitors interested and maintain your traffic levels.

So it's important you select something you know a lot about or at least have some interest in learning more.

Avoid The "How to Make Money" Topic

This is a big trap many newcomers fall into. If they can't decide on a topic they choose the make money online idea since they want to make money themselves.

It's always a bad idea to choose a topic that you have no experience with. Unless you have the proof you are making some cash online and plan on showing people how you've done it, then you run the risk of creating a site like the millions of other "get rich online" sites.

Not to mention this niche is overly saturated and you'd have a hard time generating traffic. Have you ever searched for make money online in Google?

There are millions of sites on this topic and it's difficult to decipher which ones are real and which ones are just scams. You don't want to be lumped into that pile of mush.

Watch my video below for more reasons why this is such a bad idea...

Why is Topic Choice So Important?

You must understand. Sites that do well online are sites that have their own unique spin on a certain topic. The content is well written, updated frequently, the Webmasters understand the basics of Net marketing and they know their audience.

These are all things you must execute well if you want to become successful, and it will not happen overnight. So this is one reason topic choice is crucial.

You have to be patient while waiting on that traffic to come, so you might as well choose something that will keep your interest or you'll get bored and abandon your site.

And don't worry about what others are doing. Just because you see someone making millions with one topic, don't think you have to do the same thing or even something similar.

The reason that person is so successful is because of the points I mentioned above. Their passion for the topic is driving their creativity thus generating success. If you chose that same topic you might not be as motivated because it's not your "thing."

I know it's tempting to copy someone else's successful idea but it's really a bad idea for most people.

Now it's time to choose what peeks your interest and develop your own personal spin on it. That's the first step to being successful out here, so I hope you take this message seriously.

Not to Discourage You, But...

The goal of this article is not to discourage you from creating a complex, interactive site. If that's something you have your heart set on then go for it.

I just want you to understand what's involved. You can't just buy a software program, download some template and create an interactive site like FaceBook, YouTube or MySpace.

Extensive, hardcore programming is required. So you'll either have to learn yourself or pay someone else BIG to do it for you.

It's much better to start small and simple with a site like I described above and once the traffic and money starts coming in, then you can expand to something more robust and complex.

It will save you a lot of money and headaches if you do it that way.

See Successful Sites on a Variety of Topics

Site Build It! offers a page that shows successful websites on a variety of different topics. It's a really great page because you can see the many different ways you can make money online.

From selling products, auction sellers, affiliate marketing, hobby-based sites, and more. This will give you an idea of what is possible when it comes to generating an income online.

See the site here.

Quick Overview of Creating a Website

There's a lot of information on this site and if you're a beginner, it can be overwhelming.  I created this quick guide just to give you an idea of what's involved with creating a website.

I encourage you to read it through once without clicking on any of the links just so you can understand the big picture.  Then after you've absorbed the info, go back and click the links for more info.

Also watch my video that provides a quick overview of what you need to begin your site.

What You Need to Build a Website

1) Domain Name:  The domain name creates the address of your site.  So, mywebsite.com would be an example of a domain name. Domain names are paid for yearly and you can register them here.

Looking for a FREE site?

I never endorse free webhosts.  They are too unstable, you never really own your site and you do not receive a true domain name.  Instead your address will be something like http://freesite.yourdomain.com.  In some cases, the domain may be even longer.

2) Web Host

A website cannot exist without a web host.  This is the company that houses your files and provides the environment for you to create and save pages to the Internet.

Web hosts are usually paid for monthly (some are yearly).

3) Web Building Software (Optional)

Some web hosts provide website building tools so you do not need any additional software.  It's important you find out about this before you sign up with any host.

CoffeeCup & Dreamweaver are popular web editing software programs that people use to create and maintain their sites.

I used Dreamweaver to create this site.

If you don't use any software, then you will need to learn how to code HTML from scratch.  All you do is open a text editor (Notepad or BBEdit for example) and then write the HTML that will create your page. It's pretty easy to learn. 

Then you save the file as filename.html and save it to the Internet through your web host.

If you're not interested in learning HTML, I'd strongly recommend downloading some of my free HTML templates and buying a software program like CoffeeCup to edit and continue building your site.

Nvu and Komposer are two free editors you can download. As you might expect, they do have some limitations (free is not always best) but they can get the job done.

Other Website Features

Want a gaming site?  Looking to create a message forum or chat room for your visitors to communicate?  Maybe you want an online guestbook where people can leave you messages on your site.

This is where it gets a little tricky but don't let it discourage you.  As the Internet matures, it's getting easier and easier to setup these kinds of things on a website.

Any kind of user interactive feature on a website requires some kind of script. A script is nothing but a file that contains a bunch of code that tells the browser how to behave.

Depending on what you want to create for your site, you'll need to go to your favorite search site (Google, for example) and search for the appropriate script (game script, message board script, etc.)  Some are free, some are not-so-free.

Say you want a message board/forum, you can go to http://www.phpbb.com and get a free message board script.  The trick is you have to install it yourself. 

They do provide instructions and it really isn't that difficult but you'll need to get setup with your web host first. 

Most web hosts will help you if you need some guidance and some even provide scripts to their customers for free.  Powweb and Website Palace both do.

Important!  Before you select a web host, make sure they support the kind of script and functionality you want to use.

Making Money from Your Website

More and more people are coming to the web to either make a living or earn a part-time living from a website or blog.

It's certainly possible to make a full-time living online (like me), so if that's the route you're looking for, you've come to the right place.

Outsource The Programming

If you can't seem to find a script or you don't want to learn how to install them you can go to RentaCoder.com and have a programmer do the work for you.  I love this site.

All you do is sign up for an account and post a job.  In a matter of minutes, programmers will begin bidding on your job with a price and you take the bid you want.

It's very safe because you pay the programmers by using PayPal.com and you don't release the money to them until you are satisfied with their work.  You can also check a coder's feedback/history before you select them.  I use them all the time!

You can even have them design your site if you wish.  Just purchase your domain and web hosting and then have one of the coders create a template for you.  They'll even install it for you.

That's website creation in a nutshell.  Now I will suggest you go to my website creation options page to further understand the importance of choosing the right kind of web host before you begin.

GET MEMBERSHIP

It's at ease to grow on track with AdSense and it no more than takes a small amount of minutes.  You fill out one single online application and that's it. Once you're accepted, it takes no more than minutes to harden up AdSense; all you tolerate to figure out is cop and paste a designated block of HTML into the source code on behalf of your site.  Once you figure out so as to, under targeted ads will start viewing up on your website. 

http://google.com/adsense

Adsense Introduction

You've probably heard a ration concerning Google AdSense but you may well not know honorable I beg your pardon? It is.  Well, designed for individual contraption, it's a individual of the most modern newborn ways to turn out money online devoid of having to resolve a full ration.  You know to passive earnings is the finest kind of earnings to exhibit.

Passive earnings is earnings to you pick up devoid of having to labor designed for it.  I know this may well sound like roughly kind of "pie in the sky" get-rich-quick scheme, but passive earnings is designed for real.  Appearing in reality, all single billionaire on earth uses the power of passive earnings to keep money development in while he or she jets rotten to parties and resorts and such.

The finest paradigm of passive earnings in the unrefined the human race is real estate.  When you own an high-rise building and hire a property executive and a maintenance crew to take supervision of it designed for you and be obsessed with the rents, all you exhibit to resolve is cash the checks to roll in.

Of possibility, passive earnings doesn't honorable ensue overnight, or each one would be getting it.  Appearing in the project of the high-rise building possessor, it took money, calculate, and education to align up an S corporation, locate a building to believe, plant up the cash to believe it with and pick up a advance designed for the surplus, do up it, so therefore screen and hire the property executive and maintenance crew.  But when to was all prepared, checks began rolling in with little or refusal effort.

Well, Google Adsense is the online equivalent of to.  You'll exhibit to invest honorable a little smidgen of calculate in learning concerning it, but when you pick up it align up you can look pass on to as folks fastidious checks roll in.  Or, if you're entirely online, as money arise into your PayPal version.

WHAT IS ADSENSE?

Google AdSense is a fast and certainly ridiculously at ease way designed for natives with websites of all types and sizes to position up and put on view applicable Google ads on the content pages of their position and earn money.

Because the Google AdSense ads relate to what did you say? Your visitors came to your position to read more or less, or since the ads match up to the interests and characteristics of the kind of natives your content attracts, you at present take part in a way to perk up your content pages AND be particular serious bucks inedible of them.

Google AdSense is as well a way designed for position owners to provide Google search capability to visitors and to earn even more money by putting Google ads on the search results pages. Google AdSense gives you the gift to earn advertising revenue from each single contact on your website-with a smallest investment of your period

So what did you say? Kind of ads fix you take part in to position up?  That's the useful part-you don't take part in to decide.  Google does it designed for you.  AdSense at all times delivers applicable ads with the intention of are exactly targeted-on a page-by-page basis-to the content with the intention of natives hit upon on your position.  For exemplar, if you take part in a contact with the intention of tells the story of your pet fish, Google will convey you ads designed for with the intention of position with the intention of are designed for pet supplies, fish food, fish crockery, aquariums…you dig up the picture.

If you decide you choose to add a Google search box to your position, in that case AdSense will send applicable ads under attack to the Google search results pages with the intention of your visitors' search demand generated.

If you're into upgrades, Google is at present offering "AdSense Premium", which is CPC based and, designed for the period being, offers fewer flexibility in language of flyer sizes -- merely banners and skyscrapers are at present untaken. You can apply using existing AdWords accounts, or you can demand a inexperienced checking account. Applicants are customarily notified inside a daylight as to whether they've been customary designed for the instruct.

Here's the matter you need to know:  Google has thumbs down strict criteria designed for acceptance into the AdSense instruct, and Ad Sense doesn't knock you with a smallest amount traffic requirement. The merely criteria they're really sticky more or less is the standard "acceptable content" food, and that's pretty standard almost anywhere.

Google AdSense says they're serious more or less attracting quality content sites, and since of with the intention of they merely allow AdSense members to hand out single flyer for every contact.  This measures you can't exercise AdSense designed for both banners and skyscrapers.(Note: Banners are persons horizontal ads with the intention of run up top and down floor.  Skyscrapers are the tall ads with the intention of run vertically, on the gone and fine of your contact text.)

Once you've been customary into Google AdSense, you'll be able to dig up the AdSense advertisements on every position you own using the same flyer code, provided you comply with the Google guidelines. (And that's very, very important-more on with the intention of presently.)

Your exposure doesn't occur in real period, but is updated recurrently right through the daylight. Right at present, you can't opinion reports based on a domain or position basis if you run the AdSense on more than single position.

Before you sign up, you really must to read the lengthy and detailed FAQ on the AdSense position.