"CONNECT 2 THE NET"
BUSINESS BASICS FOR BUILDING (OR PLANNING) YOUR WEB SITE
An E-book that Reveals the Non-Geek Way to Prepare Your Business for its First Online Presence or Redesign

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Why do you want a web site?
What are the three primary goals that you believe a web site will help you fulfill.
How much are you willing to spend?

Chapter 2: WEB SITE ANATOMY 101
Why have a web site?
What is a web site?
How your web site reaches people on the web
How do I get a web site?
Decide where you want to build the web site yourself or hire someone to build it for you
Decide how much you want to spend to build your web site
Brainstorm a domain name for your web site
Identify and prepare content that your web site will display
Create a timeline for when the site should launch
Create a plan for maintaining your web site
Standard web site framework

Chapter 3: LET'S GET STARTED - TO CREATE OR HIRE
Hiring a web site designer
Some suggestions for hiring a designer
Creating the web site yourself
Using software
Using tools

Chapter 4: 1st STEP - SELECTING A WEB SITE NAME
Determining the availability of a domain name
Registering a domain name
Make up a name
Buy a name
Consider a phrase vs. just a word
Consider a name that will increase our search engine ranking

Chapter 5: 2nd STEP - INDENTIFYING AND CREATING CONTENT
Look and feel of your web site
Look at your competitors
Design elements
Know your target audience
Photography
Image editing software
Stock photography
Rights managed verus royalty free
What is the difference between 72 dpi and 300 dpi?
The copy
Writing your own web copy
Categorize your products carefully
Direct your visitors to where you want them to go
Hiring a web copy editor
To dos to help you gather and organize your content
What will your web site say about your business?
Tag lines
Create a unique selling position
What is web site navigation and how to create it?
Sketching it out exercise
Diagram sketching it out exercise
Choosing HTML file names that help with search engines
A word about graphics

Chapter 6: 3rd STEP - THE WEB SITE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Kick-off meeting with your web designer
Timeline
Gathering your web site content
Sample content matrix
Web site testing and launch
Sample style guide
What to expect

Chapter 7: 4th STEP - SELECTING A WEB HOSTING SOLUTION
What do web hosting companies provide?
Shared hosting
Dedicated hosting
Taking a phased implementation approach
Selecting a web hosting company
Evaluation tools and services provided

Chapter 8: MAINTAINING A WEB SITE
Keep content fresh
Determine the process for updating the web site
Using software or automated tools to update the web site

Chapter 9: ESTIMATED COST TO LAUNCH AND MAINTAIN YOUR WEB SITE
Non-recurring, one-time only costs: building the site yourself
Non-recurring, one-time only costs: hiring someone to build the site for you
How much should you expect to pay for a web site?
Monthly, recurring costs
Annual, recurring costs

PARTING ADVISE
SPECIAL THANKS

What makes this e-book different?
Connect 2 the Net, "Business Basics for Building (or Planning) Your Web Site" is written for people like you—business owners, managers, non-profit directors, sole proprietors, teachers, hobbyists, and anyone else who either needs a web site or has to get up-to-speed with what’s going on with their existing web site. This book provides the answers you need in a way that makes sense. We’ll tell you what’s needed, what isn’t, and estimated costs for everything.