Questions about Websites

Okay so I'm an admitted computer/internet doofus in some many ways lol.

How does one get one of those .com websites (domain name right?)

What's the difference between a .com, .net and .org?

Where do you go to find all the pretty graphics and so forth I see on peoples websites?

How do you make a nice logo?

How do you put that logo on your pics like Adam and Daniel do? (watermark I think it's called?????)

Anybody want to come live at my house and help me do this LMAO! I see many hours of frustration and beating my head against my monitor coming up!

Now if only I could also get my husband to sit still and come up with a name....Franchino Reptiles will do but something even more "unique" might be fun and I suck at stuff like that! LOL


~~Jo~~

The best thing to do is go to www.godaddy.com. I checked the domain name
www.franchinoreptiles.com and lucky you its available. It will cost you around 8 bucks a year to hold on to this name. Now that you have ur name, u need some space on a computer to host it so people can view it. godaddy offers hosting as well and their fees are reasonable.

.com is considered commerce; org is organization;net is network; edu is education; gov is government. Thats what I think it is anyway. So you would wanna go with .com since you will be a business.

Web graphics, I personally use Adobe Photoshop. Layouts, I code with Macromedia Dreamweaver. If ur a beginner, its best that you start out with Notepad on ur computer to learn HTML.

By the way, I really like the name "franchinoreptiles." :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Okay so I'm an admitted computer/internet doofus in some many ways lol.

How does one get one of those .com websites (domain name right?)

What's the difference between a .com, .net and .org?

Where do you go to find all the pretty graphics and so forth I see on peoples websites?

How do you make a nice logo?

How do you put that logo on your pics like Adam and Daniel do? (watermark I think it's called?????)

Anybody want to come live at my house and help me do this LMAO! I see many hours of frustration and beating my head against my monitor coming up!

Now if only I could also get my husband to sit still and come up with a name....Franchino Reptiles will do but something even more "unique" might be fun and I suck at stuff like that! LOL


~~Jo~~

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A domain name can be purchased via many different means and at differnt rates for different amounts of time. You can purchase from godaddy.com, networksolutions.com, dantor.com, just to name a few.

.com stands for commercial business
.net is usually used by companies that provide internet acess (.net/network)
.org is for non-profit organizations

Graphics can be done with graphics programs. The primary graphic program is Adobe's Photoshop, but its like $600. There are others that are less expensive but not as popular (paint shop pro, etc). Th e watermark Adam uses is his logo that is layered onto the picture and then that layer transparency is turned up until it blends nicely.

Logos are usually done in graphic programs too, but most often illustration programs like Adobe Illustrator (which also has a high price tag)

Hope that helps.

Bryce

I'll see if I can find some free software for ya! Do you have any Microsoft Office products? Like Front Page for instance?

Nope I think all I have is Microsoft Works and Microsoft Money. Thanks for all the help folks! What a nice bunch of people you all are!

I can't spend $600.00 on a computer program! Omg think of the set back in my "saving up for more snakes and stuff" budget timeline (one MUST have priorities!LOL)


~~Jo~~

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Nope I think all I have is Microsoft Works and Microsoft Money. Thanks for all the help folks! What a nice bunch of people you all are!

I can't spend $600.00 on a computer program! Omg think of the set back in my "saving up for more snakes and stuff" budget timeline (one MUST have priorities!LOL)


~~Jo~~

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My priority for the day was the Xbox 360 and I FAILED!

Jo, Photoshop and Dreamweaver are available for everyone as free trials. You can go to www.adobe.com for photoshop and www.macromedia.com for dreamweaver. I have to warn you, they are really, really huge downloads. If ur on dial up, it would take the better part of a day :(

For free website and image editing software, try searching www.download.com

The easiest thing for someone starting out to learn HTML is to use Windows Notepad. Go to w3schools to follow the tutorials and you should be able to get the basics down :)

I highly disagree that notepad is the "easiest" way to learn html...in reality it does help but for someone who is just wanting a business website and who doesn't need to know the ins and outs of designing...an editor is the way to go. Besides 99% of websites these days are not "just" html. Heck to get started you can even use microsoft word...I cringe when recommending it but for a new person or someone who can't afford special software its something to start with. I like DreamWeaver, but I'm still learning it myself.

Jo, If your interested I offer hosting services and run a "special" for reptile related websites with email also. You can see the details at www.warrenreptiles.com and of course you can email me with any questions.

Heath

There are two costs with a website that you always have to pay: domain registration, and hosting. I registered my domain through yahoo for 2.99 for the first year (and I think8-9 for every year after that). I get my hosting through redtailboas.net. They have three choices---right now I'm at the smallest capacity, which runs 3.99 a month.

Once you get your domain registered and your hosting package, then you can start creating a website. I agree with Heath, it's much easier to use an editor such as Frontpage or Dreamweaver (though many of the computer techies look down their noses at it :) ) I don't have Adobe or Photoshop (though I hope to get it) and am just kinda using random graphics and icons from Frontpage itself.

I'll probably have to do some playing when I start uploading pics... but right now, I'm more learning than anything. It's all trial and error here!

I use godaddy.com. Two years of hosting and domain registration cost me around $70.

For design, I use the entire Macromedia package (i.e. Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, and Freehand). I like Fireworks for pic editing but I still have not figured out how to use it as well as Photoshop yet so the majority of picture editing is done in an really old version of Photoshop. I am trying to teach myself Flash and just goof around with Freehand. The Macromedia package would give you all that you need to do websites.

And if you just like messing around the Macromedia Help Menus in the programs are pretty good. That is what I am using to teach myself to use everything.

my website has more details but my price is $60/yr which includes domain name, unlimited bandwidth, currently unlimited disk space, email addresses, databases if you need them. There are plenty of services out there sure, but I am not using one of those "other" services where you can sell portions of your own package. I offer my personal "award winning" LOL support and you will be hosted on servers that I personally own, built, and manage.


ok...I'm done sorry for the plugs.

Hey thanks for all the information (some it I actually understood but that could be the cold meds talkin!). I'll get hold of you Heath and fire a ton of questions your way.....consider that your only warning LOL.



~~Jo~~

let em rip! I don't mind helping out if I can...even if your not planning to use my services, and that goes for anyone.

personally i prefer to hand code my sites... that way it's easy to correct problems and there isn't any extra coding going on.

photoshop is wonderful and great way to add text to a photo. i create web sites for people, and if i can assist, let me know :)

http://www.timelessspirit.com/akswebdesign.html

hand coding is only easier if the individual knows the language. I mean no disrespect but alot of people think they are "uber" and say they hand code and all that. But once you get into mixing languages and embedding scripts its much faster to use editors for a casual or one time site builder. You can spend years learning to code...or hours with an editor where you can most often see real time what the outcome will be. For most people such as many of those on this site an editor would be much more realistic as the goal is to spread their reptile presence...not become a professional coder.

Anyone interested in my hosting services I to have someone who will design a site for you for an addition cost.

i apologize tek, i didn't mean to step on any toes.

Not at all...I'm just being snotty as usual...I'm sorry. It really doesn't matter who does who's website...as long as they use me for hosting! -just kidding!

I am not a good site designer...as you might know from my own site :P But it is is cool for everyone else to know that between us and maybe a few others their websites can become a reality.