| To make your own website, there are two main | | | | pages, and find people who share your interests. You |
| methods you can follow. | | | | can tell your friends and colleagues about your blog, |
| If you simply want to put up some web pages with | | | | and they can join in the fun. |
| your words and photos, or a blog, you can use any | | | | Squidoo |
| of the innumerable free services which are available. | | | | Allows you to create a free web page on any |
| We discuss the main ones below, and we explore | | | | subject you want, and to make money from the |
| how to use them. | | | | advertising on it. The best way to learn about |
| If you want your own unique domain name, and to | | | | Squidoo is simply to visit it, and browse the 'lenses' |
| get a web host, build your own content, add affiliate | | | | other people have created. This will quickly give you |
| programs or paying links, and have complete control | | | | an idea of all the possibilities. |
| of the content and design, you will have to get some | | | | 2. Your own domain and web site |
| software and master a few skills, as well as spending | | | | In the early days of the web, there were many free |
| some money. We also discuss this method below. | | | | services like Geocities, where you would set up an |
| 1. Free web space | | | | account and could then put up pretty much anything |
| Getting some free web space to create a personal | | | | you wanted. You didn't have your own domain name, |
| presence on the web, or your own blog, is by far | | | | just a space on their server which you could use to |
| the most popular option. Using one of the many | | | | upload your pages to. Many services like this still exist. |
| ad-supported services available, you simply create an | | | | But since buying a domain name of your choice is |
| account, then upload your text and images, or type | | | | now so cheap, this is what most people do when |
| in your blog entries. You can then tell your friends the | | | | they have found out how to make your own |
| URL (web address) for your page, and post it in | | | | website. The process of creating a website this way |
| other blogs and forums, and get readers to look at | | | | is as follows -a) You buy the domain name you want |
| your pages. | | | | at a domain registration service. This will cost about |
| The drawback is that you will have limited control of | | | | $9 a year for the registration.b) You set up web |
| the layout and presentation of your pages, and there | | | | hosting, with a web hosting company. Prices start at |
| will probably limits on what you can upload to your | | | | about $5 a month for a basic account, which will give |
| free space - particularly things like video file sizes. | | | | you a set amount of disk space and bandwidth |
| Bearing this in mind, some of the best of the free | | | | (traffic).c) You make your web pages, either by |
| services are these - | | | | writing the raw html, or more commonly by using a |
| Myspace | | | | program like Frontpage or Dreamweaver to create |
| Here you can create a free profile, describe yourself, | | | | your pages - just like using a word processor. You |
| upload pictures, invite your friends to join your | | | | can also use predefined templates of your choice.d) |
| personal network, write a blog, and make social | | | | You upload your completed pages to your hosting |
| connections. There are versions of Myspace for | | | | service. This facility is usually built in to page creation |
| many countries. This is very popular with children and | | | | programs like Dreamweaver, or you can get free |
| teenagers, though adults and parents use it too. | | | | FTP software to do it. |
| Blogger | | | | Whatever method you choose to get your web |
| Also completely free, you can set up an account and | | | | pages up, you will find it is very easy and very |
| post your thoughts and photos in a matter of | | | | rewarding. |
| minutes. You can also see any feedback on your | | | | |