Understanding What it Takes to Get Your Website Online.

"What does it take for my company to have a Website on the Internet?"

This is one of the most asked question we have from our clients. There is a three-step process, that I'd like to go through with you that will allow you to fully understand how a web company puts a website online for everyone to see on the internet. Here are the things we are going to look at:

Domain Name Registration
If you type in a web address to get to a website, you are typing in a domain name. For example, the Iron Muskie, Inc domain name is www.Iron-Muskie-Inc.com. Several places on the Internet sell domain names from anywhere between $8.95 to $35.00. All of them are the same, so stay away from the $35.00 domain name companies. Please keep in mind that the registration fee is annual.

Website Hosting
Think of a website host as a billboard, and your website as an advertisement. In order for an advertisement to run on a billboard, a company must pay a recurring fee in order to keep it up on the billboard for people to see. The same thing applies to a Web Host. Every website on the Internet is on a special computer called a Server that "hosts" the website for everyone to see. You would pay a monthly fee of between $5 to $25 a month (usually) to rent some space on a server so your potential customers can see your website.

Point the Domain to the Website Host
The final step is to point the domain name to the website host you are with. Many times your website hosting company will do this for you. This ensures that when someone types in your domain name, your website comes up.

In summary, you need to purchase a domain name at an annual fee, rent space on a server from a website hosting company so your website can be seen and point the domain name to the website hosting company so your website comes up when someone types in your domain name.

As a full service web solutions company, Iron Muskie, Inc. can handle all of this for you!