In Understanding Websites - Part 1, we told you how domain registration, hosting, and web design all fit together to create websites.  Now, in Part 2, we will show you how the various files that make up a website come together to create website pages.

In Understanding Websites - Part 1, we will explain how domain registration, hosting, and web design all fit together to create websites. In Part 2, we will show you how the various files that make up a website come together to create website pages.

Most websites today are made with CSS or Cascading Style Sheets.  With this approach, the layout and appearance of the webpage is dictated by a CSS style sheet file, while the actual content of the page is contained in the html file.  This approach has many benefits.  For example, since the style sheet controls the layout and appearance, all pages using that style sheet will look the same and we easily accomplish consistency accross the site.

(From author Robin William’s book “Web Design Workshop”)

Web sites are a relatively new invention in the world, and today there is often a huge discrepancy between what the designer-and-programmer team knows and understands and what the client knows and understands. Below is a list of big and little things we have learned in the past few years about working with clients, and we guarantee if you follow these guidelines, both you and the design team you’ve chosen will have a more positive experience.

1. Don’t judge a designer’s sense of style simply by what you see in their portfolio samples. If you don’t see exactly what you envision for your site, don’t immediately discount them—they may not have worked with a client who needed exactly what you are looking for, but could be more than capable of doing what you need. Instead, look for clues that will reveal their design potential and aptitude:

Websites and an Internet presence are an inexpensive way to advertise and tell the world about your business. There are 5 potential costs associated with developing and maintaning your website.  We will try to clearly explain each in this message.  When you are done, you can investigate the cost of you own website at Estimate Your Cost.

Domain Name Registration - The domain name is the name by which you are found on the Internet, such as d2-webdesign.com.  You must register your domain name annually (or for several years at a time) in order to own and use that domain name.  There is a small fee associated with domain registration, typically in the order of $10/year.