How do I get my business online? Where do I begin?

[Certified_Tonda]

So are you ready to get started? We have compiled a list of steps in order to help get your website up and going in no time at all! We have tried to provide as much information and detail about each step, but if you get lost somewhere along the way, don't worry! We are here to help you through. You can contact a member of our sales team at anytime.


STEP 1 Decide on what type of website you would like to start out with

Here are just some of the more popular types of website:

Blog
Standard Website
Message Board
Social Networking Site


STEP 2 Decide on a Domain Name

Choose a domain name that will reflect what your website will be about. You can choose from a variety of TLD's (.com, .net, .org etc.) .com is the most common. Your domain name will be your permanent location for your website. Other people will find your site by typing in your domain name (aka URL) into their web browser. You can purchase your domain through us during your sign up process. The cost per domain name is $15/year.


STEP 3 Creating Your Website

There are a few options in this area:

1 - You design and create the website yourself from scratch using a popular software program such as Microsoft Frontpage or Macromedia Dreamweaver and use the publish feature within those programs to upload your web pages to your hosting account.

2 - You get a pre-made website template and customize the template yourself using a popular software program such as Microsoft Frontpage or Macromedia Dreamweaver and use the publish feature within those programs to upload your web pages to your hosting account. We offer a number of very nice templates.

3 - You hire a designer to create a professional looking website for you based on the information and content provided by you.


STEP 4 Pick a Hosting Plan

Depending upon the type of site you have or are creating you will want to pick a hosting plan accordingly. If your site is new or fairly new, you will more than likely need a shared hosting plan. Shared hosting plans start as low as $4.95 per month (Two Year Payment). You can start out with a smaller plan and simply email us, sales@certifiedhosting.com, when your site grows to increase your plan accordingly.

We recommend that you start with 1 of the following hosting plans

DORK Plan - 1 Year Payment
1 Domain
Unlimited Transfer
Unlimited Space
$6.95 per month
ORDER HERE

GEEK Plan - 1 Year Payment
Unlimited Domains
Unlimited Transfer
Unlimited Space
$8.95 per month
ORDER HERE

NERD Plan - 1 Year Payment
Unlimited Domains
Unlimited Transfer
Unlimited Space
1 Dedicated IP
1 Free SSL Certificate
$13.95 per month
ORDER HERE


STEP 5 Upload Your Website Files

The next step is to upload your files. You can use a FTP client or any web publishing software such as MS Front Page (please make sure you have requested Front Page Exts), Macromedia Dream Weaver, Adobe Go Live, Etc. The program will ask you for a host name (your domain name), username and password. The username and password are case sensitive. If there is a field for "initial directory" use public_html. As you log in, you will be in your home directory, you would have been told at the time of your signup where your web content is.

We have some video tutorials on how to do this for many of the popular programs listed above:

VIEW THE TUTORIALS HERE


STEP 6 Change Your Name Servers on Your Domain Name

Once your account has been created and you have uploaded your files, you will want to change your DNS (Name Servers) to

DNS1.ICERTIFIED.NET
DNS2.ICERTIFIED.NET

You can do this by logging into your domain registrar and selecting the appropriate option to do so. We have video tutorials on how to do this for many of the popular domains registrars.

VIEW THE TUTORIALS HERE


STEP 7 See Your Website LIVE Online

Now that you have uploaded your files and changed your DNS you are ready to view your site LIVE online. All you need to do is type your domain name in your web browser. You should see any files or HTML that you have uploaded to your home directory or index page.


STEP 8 GET TRAFFIC!

Up until this point, everything has been relatively simple and straight forward. Getting traffic is not that easy! It will require hard work, dedication and a lot of research. Below are a just a few ways you can begin to get traffic to your site.

Link Exchanges
Feeder Sites
Search Engine Traffic
Pay Per Click

That's it! Good luck

Still have questions? Contact a member of our sales team. We are here to help!