You can write your own web pages using HTML . With HTML you will have control over your web pages and how to improve them. HTML can be written and viewed on any type of computer like Windows, Mac, UNIX/Linux, or any other. Because HTML is platform independent, you'll need to save your HTML files in standard text format, sometimes known as ASCII. This can be done by using a program like notepad .exe in Windows, pico in Linux, and the like. You can also use a word processor like Word or WordPerfect to write your HTML code, but you need to save your files as "Text" or "Text Only." You'll see this option in a drop down box in your "Save As..." screen.

In the event that you are using a word processor and forget to save your file in Text format, you will end up seeing distorted data when you try to view your page with a web browser.

Finding a Web Host

Running your own server is very expensive, complicated, and not recommended. Therefore you will need a web host who looks after the server that hosts your site. By choosing a web host, your site will be available to the world 24/7.

To make a personal web site, you can choose to get a web site from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), free space at a free host, or go straight to a domain host.

The disadvantages of free hosts:

There is no way to turn off the ads on a free service. They show banner ads or pop-up windows or both to pay for your service. Free hosts also limit the number of visitors you can receive in a month. If you exceed their "limit" your site will be "turned off" until the next month. Free hosts limit the amount of web space you get, usually to about 20 MB.

If you are not able to monitor the site yourself it can create problems, but there are products and services available that can carry out various tests to check if your site is still "live". Even if you can prove that your site was unavailable to you or the monitoring service for more than the agreed acceptable level, you should always check the small print; if the problem was not your host's fault, they may not need to pay up!

The advantages of Domain hosts:

Domain hosts place no ads on your site. They often give you 1000 MB (1 GB) or more of web space. They do not shut off your account based on number visitors. You need a domain host to make your personal website look professional or for a business site or for an organization like a church etc. A domain name ends in a .com, .org, or .net.

Once you sign up for a host, you'll get a username and password to log in and edit your site. On free hosts, your username is also your directory, so choose wisely. For domains, your username is not as important.

The most important HTML file- index.html

When you log on to any website, the file that is loading on almost all web servers is index.html. Take an example where you are making a web site of three HTML pages, the opening page (index.html), an about me page (aboutme.html) and a links page (links.html).

If you're on your own domain, the files would look like this once you upload them on your server.

http://www.abc.com/index.html

http://www.abc.com/aboutme.html

http://www.abc.com/links.html

The first page, http://www.abc.com/index.html, can also be loaded by just typing http://www.abc.com/

The same is true of folders or directories. If you made one called /xyz/, you could put a new index.html in it, and it could be accessed two ways:

http://www.abc.com/xyz/index.html

http://www.abc.com/xyz/

The Two Copy Rule

When you write your web site, you'll need two copies, one on your web host and one on your hard drive. The reasons for this are, firstly that you need a backup and secondly when you're working on your site, you don't work on it live. When you work on the copy of your HTML pages on your hard disk, it's called "editing the local copy." The copy on the web host is called the "remote copy." You will edit the files from a folder in your hard drive, and once you're down, you'll upload them to your web host. That's when everyone can view it. You can always view your files on your hard drive before you upload them.

Open your web browser.

Choose File -> Open... File, (Browse).

Find the folder with your HTML files.

Double-click the one you're working on, and it will be in your web browser.

Commonly made Mistake

The most common mistake for new web-designers is to put the c: in links and images. When you're on the web, there is no c: to the rest of the world. When you start out, keep all your HTML files and images in one folder, and don't use c: at all.

For example- loads an image into a web page. If you have a file called taco. jpg, use the code to load it, not

Author is a web business developer. He is a coaching of web hosting.

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