Developing a Web Site

1
Developing a Web Site

• Presented by
• Steven W. Disbrow
• EGO Systems, Inc.
• http//www.ego-systems.com
• info_at_ego-systems.com

2
Overview

• What you need to know to get started
• Why build a web site?
• The Fundamentals of Web Sites
• Ideas for content
• Basic design tips
• Do it yourself tips
• Having a web site built for you
• Advertising your site
• Not an HTML tutorial!

3
Why Develop a Web Site?

• Provide easy access to information
• Garbage pickup
• Swim team tryouts
• Provide quick access to services
• Neighborhood watch
• Network with other neighborhoods

4
The Fundamentals

• You can do it yourself!
• But, youll have to learn a few new tricks
• HTML - HyperText Markup Language
• FTP - File Transfer Protocol
• Lots of other buzzwords

5
The Fundamentals

• Dont have to do it yourself
• Many companies exist to create web sites
  specifically for neighborhoods
• Neighborhood Link
• http//www.neighborhoodlink.com
• Neighborhood Services, Inc.
• http//www.neighborhood.com
• Others will create web sites for any organization
  or business
• EGO Systems, Inc.
• Bezalel Technologies

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The Fundamentals

• How much will it cost?
• Do it yourself and it costs nothing
• Your time
• Any money needed to buy development tools
• Most basic tools are free!
• Notepad
• HTML Kit
• BBEdit
• Others cost quite a bit (100)
• Dreamweaver
• GoLive!
• FrontPage

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The Fundamentals

• Have it done for you
• Cost can vary dramatically
• Shop around!
• On the web
• The Yellow Pages
• Be ready and willing to haggle!

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What can be on it?

• Latest information
• Annoucements
• Home sales
• New arrivals
• Status reports
• Redevelopment
• Neighborhood beautification
• Library of newsletters
• Adobe Acrobat is great for this

9
What can be on it?

• Fundraiser info
• Neighborhood watch info
• Swim team sign up
• Maintenance duty roster
• Pictures
• Youll need a digital camera!
• Sounds

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What can be on it?

• Maps
• Movies
• Youll need a digital video camera
• Links to other sites
• Other neighborhoods
• Informational sites
• Just about anything you like!

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Basic Web Design Tips

• Go easy on the fonts
• Try to use no more than 3 typefaces!
• Go easy on the graphics, sounds and movies!
• Most folks still have a slow connection, so lots
  of graphics, sounds and movies will make your
  site unusable to them.
• Be sure to watch your color use!

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Do it Yourself!

• Youll need software
• HTML is just text, so Notepad is really all you
  need
• To speed things along, use a HTML editor
• HTML Kit
• BBEdit
• DreamWeaver
• GoLive!
• Frontpage

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Do it Yourself!

• DreamWeaver, GoLive! and Frontpage are WYSIWYG
  editors.
• Allow you to draw the elements of your web page
  without knowing HTML
• HTML Kit, BBEdit and Notepad are text editors
  that require you to know HTML

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Do it Yourself! - Hosting

• You need someone to host your web site
• If you have an AOL, Earthlink, ComCast or other
  Internet Service Provider account, they will
  usually allow up to a 5MB, non-profit/personal
  web site
• If you arent in it for money, this might be all
  you need

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Do it Yourself! - Hosting

• You can also pay for hosting
• If you need more space than your ISP will allow
• If you are in it to make a profit
• EGO Systems, Inc., HostPro and others exist to
  host web sites
• A custom domain name can be used with either type
  of hosting service

16
Have it Done!

• Professional web developers can provide
• Software
• Hosting
• Note that you can use any host you like though
• Development skills
• You provide
• Content
• Tell the developers what you want and theyll do
  their best to create it
• Money

17
Maintenance

• Once your site is finished, you still have to
  maintain it
• Update content
• Remove old content
• Add new content
• Constantly check for accuracy
• If your site is developed for you, be sure the
  developers explain to you how to maintain the
  site, or, that they do maintenance as part of the
  deal
• A good reason to learn fundamentals of HTML

18
Advertising your Site

• At meetings
• In neighborhood newsletter
• Via search engines
• Go to search engine site and fill out form

19
Resources

• On the CD youll find
• This presentation (in PowerPoint format)
• Several HTML editors
• Links to HTML Tutorial sites
• Magazines Books
• HTML - The Definitive Guide (OReilly)

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Resources

• Web Sites
• http//www.lynda.com
• http//www.webmonkey.com
• http//www.w3.org
• http//www.stars.org
• http//www.google.com
• http//www.yahoo.com
• Dont forget View Source!
• Probably the best way to learn HTML because you
  learn by example