Part 1: Getting a Web Address

by Karin Allen

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In all probability, you will design and build your website on a local computer (your own or your web designer's). Eventually, however, you must upload it to a host server for remote viewing. It's a good idea to settle on a host server right now, before you begin designing your site, as the decisions you make about your web address could affect your future plans.

The Host Server

This is the remote computer where you "park" your website. Most internet service providers offer a certain amount of free web space to their clients: generally two to five megabytes, with more available for purchasing. If your ISP does offer this free service, and if it offers at least two megs, take it. If your ISP doesn't offer this service, or if you plan to have an exceptionally large website, look elsewhere. The companies below all provide free web hosting in exchange for banner ads or other forms of publicity.

1. Central Virginia's Community Online: http://freenet.vcu.edu
   • Open to metro-Richmond nonprofit organizations
   • Offers 5 megs free space with more available as needed
   • No banners required, just a text link at bottom of home page
   • Allows personalized domain names
2. Yahoo! GeoCities: http://www.geocities.com
   • Inserts small pop-up advertising banners at tops of pages unless you opt for the...
   • Banner Exchange, which lets you advertise your site on other GeoCities member sites
   • "Page Wizards" build pages for you
   • Offers 15 megs of space
   • The GeoPlus plan offers more web space, relief from banner ads, and personalized domain names -- for a (reasonable) price
3. Free Home Pages: www.freehomepages.com
   • Requires advertising banners at top and bottom of pages
   • Offers 5 megs of space, with more available as needed
   • Offers a selection of pre-chosen domain names to which you can affix your site name

Domain Names

If your host server is GeoCities, your web address might look something like this: www.geocities.com/mywebsite. However, if you purchased your own domain name, your website would stay at GeoCities, but your address would simply be www.mywebsite.org .

You can register a domain name for $35 per year or less at Network Solutions or a similar site. Just come prepared with three or four choices in case your first pick is already taken. A few important notes:

• A dot-com is a for-profit company. As a non-profit, you are a dot-org (organization)! Do not choose a dot-com domain name, or you will mislead your audience and possibly disqualify yourself from certain web services geared toward non-profits.
• Registering a domain name does not change the physical location of your website, but your host server will need to be notified in order to complete the name changing process. Check your host server's "help" or "support" pages to find out exactly what you need to do.
• If you wish, you may purchase e-mail addresses with your domain name attached. However, this can be a real headache unless your host server is an ISP which provides domain-name e-mail as part of a package plan. I wouldn't recommend it otherwise.

More Hot Sheets....

• Designing Your Site
• Adding Graphics to Your Site
• Promoting Your Site
• Glossary of Terms

• Hot Sheets Main Menu

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