Build Your Own Website
So you want to build your own website. One of the beautiful things about the Internet is that anybody can create a website from scratch. All you need is a few tools and a little know-how and you can quickly have your website online.
Before you begin, you'll need some software at your disposal to effectively edit your web pages and their components. The following is a basic list of tools you'll need to complete the task of building your own website:
Tools Needed
Text Editor
All you need to edit HTML and CSS is a basic text editor. Notepad will do the trick if you're using windows. But stay away from standard word processors. They can create more problems than they solve when creating websites. There are some fancier text editors created specifically for programmers. These are designed to increase productivity by highlighting certain snippets of code. Check the extended resources for more information.
Visual "WYSIWYG" Editor (Optional)
"WYSIWYG" stands for "What You See Is What You Get." It's a visual editor to simplify the process of creating HTML for a web page. Instead of writing code into a text editor, you can visualize the modifications to your HTML in real time. If the idea of writing HTML by hand intimidates you, try using a visual editor to create your websites.
Picture Editor
A picture is worth a thousand words. Besides, people usually would rather look at pictures than read text. A good picture editor will give you the ability to create, modify, and tweak various pictures to give a specific look and feel for your website. Creating and editing pictures will make a huge difference in how the final result of your website will appear. A good picture editor is crucial for making a website.
FTP Client
To transfer your files onto your website you'll need a FTP client. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol and it enables users to access, modify and delete your web files online. It is essentially a manager for files and folders web hosts or remote computers. Some web hosts provide an online interface to upload your files to the web. However, when transferring your files in bulk, using a FTP client is more efficient.
Hosting
You'll need a place online to serve your pages to your visitors. Hosting is the means in which visitors connect to your website. Having a company host your site will ensure that your website has a minimal downtime. People will be able to connect to your site and browse your information at any hour of the day or night.