How much Web space do I need?

The amount of space required really depends entirely on what you need to do with it.  Text takes up very little web space while pictures take up considerably more.  Video and audio take up more again.  The simple truth is that most of the time people purchase way more space than they need, thinking that more space must be better.  This just means you are paying for more for wasted space.  The smarter thing to do is make sure you are not locked into any contracts or anything and once you have your site made then shift the size of the plan to a size suitable to your requirements plus a bit.  Most sites fit perfectly well on 100MB fo space while the average online store needs around 200MB.  If you will be running photo galleries, video, audio or an extensive online store then look at maybe 500MB.

What steps need to be done to get online?

1.  It all starts with a Domain Name.  This is the address people need to type into their internet program (browser) to find your site.  this is also the address you'll add to emails and advertising to help people find you.  You will need to register your address with a reputable Domain Name registrar.  A good name is easy to spell, memorable and usually describes your site in some way.

2.  You will next need your Server Space.  This is where you will contact a web host to purchase hosting services.  There are plenty of free hosting services out there and if you are just playing around on the web they are fine but they are universally bad if you want your website to be regularly available.  It's worth paying a little more to get a reliable host that stays online and won't loose your site.  Not all hosts are equal so shop around and don't lock in a contract unless you are absolutely sure of them.  

3.  Once you have your host you need to point your Domain Name towards your web space.  When you signed up with your host they will have sent you an email with your Nameservers in it, these are the addresses you need to log with your Domain Name registrar.  The good thing is that most hosts and/or registrars will do this for free for you, especially if you registered the Domain Name with the same company you are hosting with.

4.  It will take 24-48 hours for that web space and domain name to all connect up.  Once that's done it's time to make your site.  There are many free programs out there to help you do it and for many people this is the best option given the cost of the average web designer.  However, If your site is trying to promote a service or provide a professional look then it's worth at least seeking the advice of a professional.  Friends and family might have great ideas but the Internet is a medium unto itself and there are right and wrong ways to get noticed.

5.  Upload your site to the Server Space.  This can seem complicated at first but it's pretty easy once you get the hang of it.  Most web hosting plans include some sort of upload ability but they usually do it file by file and that gets tedious.  The best way is to use some sort of FTP program like Filezilla or cuteFTP which can upload your entire website in minutes.

6.  Advertise your site.  Some companies will try to sell you services that promise to register you with all the search engines etc but to be completely honest they are a scam.  The search engines constantly search the web for new information so your site will be automatically picked up within a month.  The best way for you to promote your site at first is to utilise free services that offer links to your site.  The search engines love links and the more people that link to you the more more important the search engines will think your site is.  Depending on your budget you might want to invest in Google Adwords or other online advertising services, but be careful and always research the organisation.  The Internet is full of scammers so if something sounds too good to be true it usually is.  

What are some tips you would give a new website owner?

1.  Save your registration emails.  You will get one from your Domain Registrar and one from your Hosting Provider.  Put these in a place they are safe.  Better still, print them off and put them on file.  They contain very handy passwords and other information.

2.  Don't try to be too clever.  A website with a super clever name that's impossible to spell or remember will struggle.  A website that has lots of moving pictures and excessive information will turn people away.  The more you have on each page the slower your site will be to load.  Many web surfers will leave a site before it's finished loading if it's going to take too long.  Just keep it simple and clean.

3.  Make you site easy to use.  You have about 10 seconds to inform the average web surfer what you do, so that front page better have the basic information.  From anywhere in your site you should be able to get anywhere else in your site within three clicks of the mouse.  If people can access the information they want quickly then they will stay on your site.

4.  Learn how to optimise your images.  Large detailed images are very slow to load and on most people's monitors the details are lost anyway.  Every image should be trimmed and reduced to a suitable size.  The resolution common to the Internet is 72dpi, that's what you should stick to on most images.

5.  Backup your site after every major change or monthly, whichever is the shortest.  Changes are that at some time something somewhere will go wrong.  Maybe a hacker will mess with your site just for giggles, or a server might fail.  You really must backup your site and keep at least one copy somewhere safe.  This means that should the worst happen then not all is lost. 

How much does a website cost?

That depends on how detailed your website is.  Potentially it could be free if you do it all yourself and use free servers but that won't get you a good result.  The average website will cost around $5-$10 per month in upkeep but the cost for design depends on a great deal.  Most companies charge in the thousands which in my honest opinion is ridiculous for the results they usually produce, yet if your site needs lots of custom work then that would be a realistic price.  Yet if your site is just a simple introduction to you and/or you business then a few hundred dollars should by you a good result.  Ideally you want a solution you can update yourself so the site doesn't cost you more money every time you need to change something.  This question has no easy answer, it really depends on how much work you are willing to do yourself and what you want.

How hard is it to make a website?  Can I just grab a program and a manual and do it myself?

These days creating a website isn't that difficult and there are programs and manuals out there for it, that's actually how I started years ago.  But again it depends on the result you want and how much time you have.   Web Design can take a great many hours and if it's the first time you've done it it will take a great deal more time.  In addition, there are many little tips and tricks in design that makes your site more attractive to Search Engines which will rank you higher on search results.  Then there is the issue of site security which is a whole new level of knowledge.  So yes, you can just grab a program and a book and go for it, but be prepared to spend a lot of hours and run into a lot of walls.  I totally encourage people with a site to learn how it works but it's a luxury not everyone has time for.  It's easy to bake a cake too but if you want a nice wedding cake you tend to go to a professional.  Web Design is like that, it's easy to produce a perfectly reasonable result but if you want a professional finish then see a professional or have the time to develop your own skills to a professional level.