Getting Started with Your Website

Please be assured that you do not need to read or understand any of this to have a website. It is simply provided for those who want more information before making that initial phone call.

White Knight Technologies is trained to help you through each step along the way. Just give us a call at 281-535-1958.

The Basics

• What is a Website?
• What is a Web Page?
• What is a Web Browser?
• What is HTML?
• Who should have a Website?

Getting a Website

• Step 1 - Registering Your Domain Name
• Step 2 - Creating Your Website
• Step 3 - Hosting Your Website
• Step 4 - Marketing Your Website
  • What is a Search Engine?
  • What are Keywords?
  • What is Search Engine Registration?
  • What is Search Engine Optimization?
  • What are Incoming Links?
  • What is Paid Online Advertising?
  • Where Else Should I Market My Site?
• Step 5 - Keep Your Website Up To Date

Ready to Get Started

The Basics

What is a Website?

A website is a collection of web pages or documents that are accessed through the internet. Typically these web pages work together to provide information to its users.

What is a Web Page?

A web page is a document that is designed for display in a web browser. It usually contains text and images formatted in HTML.

What is a Web Browser?

A web browser is a software program that allows you to view web pages. Some typical web browsers include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Opera, and Mozilla FireFox.

What is HTML?

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is a set of codes that are inserted into a file that is intended for display through a web browser. These codes tell the browser how to display the text and images in a web page.

Who should have a Website?

If you are looking to enhance your image, attract new customers, or streamline your business processes you will likely benefit from having a website.

More and more people are now turning to the internet to find businesses to work with. This is good for business because it reduces staff time by providing information online. A website can help you turn lookers into customers by helping you to present a professional image, showing that you are serious about what you do.

Getting a Website

Step 1 - Registering Your Domain Name

A domain name is the address that people use to find you or your company online. You may have also heard it called a website address or URL.

Domain names are registered (or leased) annually and typically cost between $10 and $35 per year depending on the registrar. Because you are leasing your domain name, if you fail to renew your registration, it is terminated so others are able to register it.

Domain names usually end with .com, .net, or .org. Though there are many other endings, you may also see .info and .biz, and in the United States, .us.

An example of a domain name is the one you used to get to our website, www.whiteknighttech.com.

Often businesses will use their company name or the name of a product or service they sell as the basis for their domain name. Because domain names are unique, it may take some work to find one that is right for you and you may therefore need to try several variations. When you think you have the perfect name, perform a search to determine if it's still available, and remember thousands of domain name registrations take place every day. If someone registers your name before you do, you are out of luck.

We will be happy to register your domain name for you as part of your web design, or you can register your domain name on your own. When we register for you, you can rest assured that it will be handled with utmost care. Your domain name will be registered in your name, not ours, so you can feel confident that no matter what happens in the future, it belongs to you, and not us.

Step 2 - Creating Your Website

Now that you've chosen your domain name, your website must be created. If you are not familiar with editing HTML and editing and creating graphics, building your own website can take quite a bit of time and energy. You may want to consider hiring a professional website design company to create your website for you.

There are tons of website design companies out there, some good and some bad. So how do you know who to choose?

Be sure to look at some examples of work completed by any website designer that you are considering. You want to make sure they have the ability to imitate your style. We encourage you to take a look at some examples of our design work, and we hope you like what you see.

In addition, you should watch out for beginners. Good web design takes experience. White Knight Technologies has been designing websites since 2004. We have learned what it takes to design sites for multiple browsers on multiple platforms. Our designs are based on sound principles.

When you are ready, please contact us for a free, no-obligation estimate.

Step 3 - Hosting Your Website

Once your website is created, it will need to reside on an Internet Server in order for people to find it when they type in your domain name. It is important that the Internet Server be well-maintained and have a constant connection to the internet. A web hosting company can provide this for you at a minimal cost. These fees are like renting space on the server.

Find a host can be grueling because there are so many hosting companies out there. Some are reliable, and others leave a lot to be desired.

We are happy to set up your web hosting for you as part of your website design, or you can feel free to do so yourself. Our hosting is reliable, and we offer a 99.9% guaranteed up-time.

Step 4 - Marketing Your Website

Now that you have your website on the Internet, you need to make sure that your potential customers are able to find you.

There are several elements that go into this including keyword placement, search engine registration, and incoming links.

What is a Search Engine?

A search engine is a software program in which information about websites is stored. When a user enters search terms (or keywords), the information is searched for matching and similar information. Examples of common search engines are Google and Yahoo.

What are Keywords?

Keywords are the search terms that users enter into a search engine. Keywords need to be included in the text of your website. Search engines will index the keywords in your website and store the information for future use.

You will want to make sure that keywords are added in all of the appropriate places. A good website designer can guide you as you are designing your site. White Knight Technologies has extensive training in keyword optimization.

What is Search Engine Registration?

In order for search engines to know your website is ready to be indexed, it must be registered or submitted. Search engine registration is the process of submitting your website to search engines for indexing.

White Knight Technologies can help you submit your website for indexing. We offer a one-time free submission with any web design of 5 or more pages.

What is Search Engine Optimization?

Your website needs to be built so that it is search engine friendly. It is important that you make your site as attractive to search engines as possible.  They must be able to follow the links within your site and find important information. 

What are Incoming Links?

Incoming links are links coming from other websites to your website. These are also known as inbound links or backlinks.

It is important that you obtain incoming links to your site from other-related sites. One benefit is that users on the other site may click on the link to come to yours. In addition, search engines will rate your site based on the number of sites that are linking to you. In other words, a large number of incoming links adds value to your site.

Incoming links should be legitimage links from quality sites that provide information and value to its users. Links to your site from Free-For-All sites will only hurt your site in search engines. Good placement includes: professional organizations, chambers of commerce, industry-specific directories, and related business websites.

What is Paid Online Advertising?

Paid online advertising is a method of advertising your website though banner ads, a pay-per-click campaign, or a paid listing on a search engine or directory.

Where else should I market my site?

Make sure that your site is promoted along with other company information in all of your regular offline marketing tools, including brochures, letterhead, advertising, business cards, signage, and on company vehicles. Wherever you list your phone number, you should consider listing your website address.

Step 5 - Keep Your Website Up To Date

Keeping your website up to date is critical to your success online. Search Engines like new content and so do visitors. White Knight Technologies offers maintenance and webmaster services designed to fit your needs. You can choose to have us make the changes for you on an "as needed" basis, select from one of our website maintenance packages, or you have the option to make those changes yourself if you have the necessary equipment and expertise.

Ready to Get Started

If you are ready to get started, we are ready to help. Just give us a call at 281-535-1958 or contact us for a free, no-obligation estimate.

We love helping our customers to help them achieve their website design objectives and look forward to hearing from you.