How does my business get on the Internet?

There are three ways your company can have a web presence: free web hosting, outsourcing your site, and hosting your own site.

  1. FREE WEB HOSTING: The least expensive is free. There are several web hosting sites that allow you to set up a complete website. Website/page design software is provided along with a tutorial on how to design your own site. Since the web host is not charging you for the website, how do they stay in business? It’s simple. They hope to sell you add-on features like e-commerce.

    2. The websites generated from these services are not elaborate in design. Also, your web address will include the name of the web hosting site you are using. You can obtain your own web address but there is a small charge for it. Also, the web host will put their logo somewhere on your site.

    To produce a website using this option, the only equipment you'll need is a computer with access to the Internet.

    Related links (for info about free sites)

    free-isp-internet-access.net

    A directory of Internet access providers and reviews of the top ISP networks

    addlebrain.com

    Free Internet access guide

    freedomlist.com

    A searchable database with reviews of free ISPs around the world

    "Requirements for Publishing a Website"

     

  2. OUTSOURCING YOUR SITE: One of the least expensive ways to have a web presence is to purchase webpage design software and pay an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to host your site. You design the site yourself and get an ISP to host your site on the Internet. Web design software starts around $100 and can cost several thousand dollars. An ISP will host your site starting around $20 per month, and the cost increases based on the additional services needed.

    3. This method of obtaining a web presence is very popular if you have the time and expertise to design and maintain a website. However, many businesses do not have the time nor the expertise so they hire a company to do the design and maintain the site for them. The cost of this option can start at a few thousand dollars and go up from there, depending on the educational and time requirements needed.

    To produce a website using this option, the only things you'll need are a computer with access to the Internet and web development software (if you elect to design the site yourself).

    Related links (for info about outsourcing your site)

    Tophosts.com

    An independent web hosting resource, Tophosts.com provides web hosts search services for web developers and small business owners. This site also provides an ISP evaluation tool that will help you to decide which ISP meets your needs.

    isp.com

    This site provides links to national and international Internet Service Providers.

    "Requirements for Publishing a Website"

  3. HOSTING YOUR OWN SITE: The last option is to host your website on your own computer. This option is not that popular with businesses because of the potentially large equipment costs as well as the on-going costs of maintaining the computer and website. With this option, you can choose to design your own site or hire a company to design it for you.

Besides the web development software needed to design your site, you will also need the equipment to host the website and link with the Internet. In addition, you will need software to allow people to access your site from your computer. The cost of this option can be $10,000 and upwards of $100,000 or more.

Related links (for info about hosting your own site)

"Hardware Requirements for Website Development"

 

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