Why create and promote a website?

Refreshing Web Experiences that will benefit your bottom-line, webliciously, refreshingly. The whole world communicates through the Internet, both to do business and to interact with other people and search for information. That is why it is critical for companies to have an Internet address. This Internet address is also known as the domain name which will represent your identity on the Web, especially that represents India for Indian companies, like .IN domain name (IndiaHosting.org offers @ Rs.145/yr, lowest in Industry). After registration of a domain name it will be possible to set-up and launch a Web site, launch a corporate portal, post blogs and use customized e-mails, among other things. In order to be part of this world of opportunities it is necessary to be present on the Internet.

* Over 1.5 billion Internet users in the world
* Over 81 million Internet users in India
* Over 1100% Internet growth in India from 2000 to 2008
* 113 million blogs in the world
* eCommerce in India crossed Rs. 9,000 crore in 2007-08
* India has 4th highest number of Internet users in the world

What is a Web site?

A Web site is the name for a page on the Internet where Internet users can find information. All of the Web sites together compose a large part of the World Wide Web (which originates the www) – the Internet network – accessed billions of times a day by users all around the globe.

This Web site can be the page for a bank, a newspaper, a restaurant, or even your company. And the address presents a standardized format such as: yourcompany.com or yourproject.com.

This is what is known as a domain name.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is an essential first step towards doing virtually anything on the Internet, from creating a Web site to sending and receiving e-mails and building an online store. There are over 183 million domain name registrations in the world.

People will access your Web site by means of the domain name.

The domain name can be used to represent your company’s brand and identity on the Internet, and in order to ensure your company is recognized on the Web, it is necessary to choose a domain name and register it as soon as possible. This will help you to establish your brand early on, and also determine if a domain name you have chosen is already registered. In this case, it will be necessary for you to choose another one that is a good fit for your business and brand. Even if your company does not have a Web site yet, it still makes good business sense to register the domain name you would like to have even if you are not going to use it immediately.

How do you choose a domain name?

In order to set up your Web site and/or your customized e-mail, you need to first choose and register a domain name. Tips to choose your domain name:

* Match the domain name with your existing brand or name
* Choose an easy-to-remember domain name
* Register and promote a primary domain name
* Register other complementary domain names to make it easier for customers to find you
* Focus your marketing strategies and activities around your primary domain name

There are 92.4 million .com and .net domain names in the overall base in the world

How does a domain name registration work?

You should access the Web sites of companies that perform domain name registrations (see the section “Domain name registrars”) in order to search and find out if the domain name you chose is available for you to register it.

For a minimal fee, you can register your .com or .net domain name. The minimum registration term for .com and .net domain names is 1 year (and the maximum is 10 years). In order to renew your domain name you need to get in touch with the organization that you registered it with. Be attentive to the renewal of your domain name and ensure that you renew early.

Why register a .com or .net domain name?

* Simple, fast and easy registration – most registrars have easy online registration or you can contact the domain name registrar for help (see the section “Domain name registrars”)
* A good fit for both businesses and individuals
* Complements a local domain name for a more comprehensive presence on the Internet
* Allows association of the domain name with your brand or your company’s name on the Web
* Globally recognized and used
* Enhances visibility on the Internet

Why register multiple domain names?

Remember: The moment you register a domain name with your company name or identity, and for the entire period of that registration, the domain will not be available for other people to register. But what if someone tries to register a similar domain name? Wouldn’t it be better if you registered some other variations of the domain name or similar domain names so customers and visitors can easily find you?

If you already have a domain name, you could register other domain names to help ensure your company’s identity and that your customers and suppliers will be able to readily locate you online. The other domain names can be used to redirect your visitors to your main Web site.

Domain names can be registered and associated with Web sites that advertise special promotions, for a particular advertising campaign, to make an event stand out or for a product launching.

It is also possible to register a .com or .net domain name and only use it for e-mail service to have a more professional communication channel that shows your company’s name or brand, instead of using a free e-mail account, such as a hotmail service.

Why should I have a Web site?

A Web site is a means of communicating with millions of Internet users that surf the Web and may be interested in your company and your product. As compared to other forms of advertising where costs are prohibitive, a Web site makes you visible to your customers and partners in a cost effective and simple way (see the section ‘designing a Web site’) and helps you measure its benefits by tracking your Web site traffic.

For this reason, you should think about how to offer relevant and interesting information to stimulate people to visit your Web site. In other words, you should carefully choose the objective of your Web site and the content it will offer.

Customer achievement, communication with existing customers, customer service, publication of information about the company and its products, and sales channel are some functions your Web site may perform.

Take a look at the Web sites of companies in your line of business to understand how they placed themselves in the market and presented creative solutions to display their business on the Internet.

What will your Website design look like?

Visual communication is also very important for attracting customers. Your Web site functionalities and structure will depend on your needs and goals.

There are some Web site building tools available online which are easy to use. With these tools, you can make a simple Web site in a short time.

However, for bigger and more complex projects, there is the option of engaging an expert. The Web designer and the Web developer, also called Webmaster, work together to build Web pages.

The Web designer works on the “look” of your page, while the Web developer creates all the technical components necessary for the Web site to go live.

The Web site creation cost will vary based on your requirements. From a very basic project, such as a Web site with informative content and some pictures, to a portal with many functionalities such as search and online payment, there are options in all price ranges.

Look for professionals that can best meet the unique needs of your business and can develop a Web site that can grow and expand easily along with your business.

Remember: Your Web site is your company’s and your products’ face that is displayed to billions of Internet users who surf the Web.

How will people access your Web site?

The information on your Web site needs to be stored on appropriate servers, which can connect the Internet so as to make your Web site visible and available for all Internet users. In order to do that you will need a hosting provider.

Choosing the hosting provider is also very important for the performance and success of your business on the Internet. There are many kinds of hosting plans available, and your choice should be based on some variables such as an estimate of how many visitors your Web site will receive and how much content it will offer. Look for an expert to assist you in choosing an optimal plan for your needs.

Upon choosing a hosting provider, make sure that the company has a reliable structure to store your Web site information.

How will you promote your Web site?

Now another equally important phase begins: help people find your Web site on the Internet. You need to promote your domain name. It is essential that your domain name appears in every communication of your company, from the business card and office supplies to the façade. Thus, those who do not know your business yet can visit your Web site, like your services and products, and become a customer. .

In addition to this, you need to register your domain name on the search Web sites such as Google, Yahoo, MSN, since many Internet users utilize these Web sites to search for companies and services. Besides registering the Web site, some technical adjustments are also important in your Web site development (“search engine optimization”) so that it responds more efficiently to the searches.

By means of IndiaHosting.org it is possible to check the availability of a .com domain name and then register it. You may also find other services and offers to establish your presence on the Web, such as Web site builders, hosting plans, e-mail services and e-commerce solutions, among others.