Websites 101 – What You Need to Start a Website
In today’s world, having a website for your business is an absolute must – and if you’re new to the game then it’s easy get overwhelmed with everything there is to know. Most people think that by simply purchasing a domain name they can move forward and build a website, but there are a few other pieces to the puzzle. Below we’ve broken down some of the most important pieces:
The Office Space Analogy
Let’s say your website is your office…
You need to find a building to put your office in (website host).
Now, you need to tell people how to find your office, so you give them your building’s address (domain name).
If you want people to go to a specific suite in your office, then you’d provide more detailed directions (a URL for a specific page of your website).
What is a website host?
A website host is the company you have put your website’s files on their server so that your website is live on the internet for your customers to find. Some examples of website hosts are GoDaddy, Blue Host, Host Gator, Dream Host, etc.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is the address your website lives at, and where people can find you on the internet. For example, our domain name is thecodefactory.ca.
What is a URL?
A URL (also known as a website address) is the string of characters that lead your customer to a specific page on your website. For example, the URL https://thecodefactory.ca/startup-package/ will take you straight to our Small Business Startup Package page, as opposed to our website’s home page.
What is a CMS?
A CMS (Content Management System) is a tool that allows those without a ton of website development knowledge the ability to easily design, build, and edit their own website. Many Content Management Systems include hosting as part of their service offering, and some even offer the option to purchase a domain name as well. Some examples of a CMS are WordPress, Weebly, Wix, SquareSpace, etc.
There’s a lot to know about getting your website up and running. Here at TheCodeFactory we’re happy to help ease that pain and create a website for you. Once your site is up and running then you’re ready to start tracking your analytics, and working on your digital presence.
