Get a Domain and Hosting

How To Register A Domain Name

The very first thing you'll need to do is think of a domain name for your website.
There are a few rules that you'll need to be aware of and a couple of other unspoken
guidelines that you might want to stay within.

Here are the two main rules when selecting a domain name:
1. You can only use letters, number, and dashes in your domain name.
2. Don't include an existing copyright in your domain.

Here are a few tips that you might help you come up with a better domain name:

• Use only .com, .net, or .org for your domain. Others, like .tv may be appropriate at times.
• Don't use hyphens or numbers.They're harder to remember and look cheaper than a domain that only has letters. Keep it short.It'll make your brand easier to remember and your site easier to find.
• Make it unique. You don't want your customers confusing your brand with another establishedone. Try to choose a name that doesn’t have the .com or .net version registered.
• Use a domain that matches the name of your website.This might sound like common sense, but I’ve seen too many people register a domain that doesn’t match the name of their website. Don’t do it! It’ll confuse your visitors and wreck your branding.

The 4 main components of the WordPress platform

The 4 main components of the WordPress platform and the role
each will play in building your website.

WordPress
WordPress itself is a type of “Content Management System”. In other words, it’s a
piece of software that helps you manage all of the content on your website. So
instead of having to edit your pages and blog posts by wading through HTML files,
you have a nice interface that organizes it all for you by interacting with the server.

Themes
There are thousands of themes, both free and paid. Themes affect the layout and
design of your site, while adding a little functionality at the same time. Most themes
can be customized via options that are built in. For example, you might be able to
change the color of your site, or change the location of your sidebar from the left to
the right. Some themes even have their own framework that allows for drag-anddrop
customizations. Most themes, however, provide simple point-and-click
operations for making configuration changes.

Plugins
Plugins add functionality to your WordPress site. Want to add a contact form?
Install a plugin. Need a gallery on your site? Install a plugin. Pretty much any
functionality that you might want to add to your site has probably already been
developed with a plugin. And the best thing is, they’re almost always free, simple to
install, and easy to configure.

Widgets
Widgets allow you to add content and features to your website. They can be
dragged and dropped into “widget areas” that are usually located in the sidebar,
footer, and sometimes on the Home page. Many plugins have widgets associated
with them so you can add your new feature to the above mentioned places on your
site.

Four Components Of A Website

The Four Components Of A Website are: Domain Name, Hosting Service, Platform and Theme

Domain Name
Domain Name is the address of the website in the internet. This is the address that internet users needed for them to be able to go to your website. The domain name have to be registered and renewed every year. There is cost involved in registering a domain.

Hosting Service
After registering your domain, you will need a hosting service company that will host your website. Most hosting service companies also provide domain name registraton. The hosting service companies will provide web space, internet bandwidth, monitoring and other services. Charges for hosting varies and it depends on what are the services that you will subscribe.

Platform 
There are a lot of platform or Content Management System (CMS) that can be used in building a website. For this Listen and Learn Series we will be using the Wordpress platform. Other popular CMS are Drupal and Joomla.

Theme
A theme is a collection of files and images that allow you to change the look and functionality of your website. We will use Pytheas theme to build the website.

10 Steps To A WordPress Website

Here are 10 Steps To A WordPress Website

What is WordPress?....Who uses WordPress?....How do I get started using WordPress?

What is WordPress?
WordPress is an online, open source website creation tool written in PHP. But in non-geek speak, it’s probably the easiest and most powerful blogging and website content management system (or CMS) in existence today.

Who uses WordPress?
You’re in good company if you use WordPress to publish on the web. Many famous blogs, news outlets, music sites, Fortune 500 companies and celebrities are using WordPress.

For example, famous blogs like Mashable and TechCrunch are both on WordPress. News outlets like The New York Times’ blogs and CNN’s on-air personality blogs all use WordPress, too.

If you’re ever curious about about who uses WordPress, head on over to the WordPress site showcase and you’ll be impressed by the number of well-known sites and famous people using WordPress to power their websites.

How do I get started using WordPress?
Now you’re probably asking, “how do I get it?”WordPress is free. Yep, that’s right – it’s 100% free.
WordPress can be downloaded for self-hosted installations from WordPress.org or it can also be used as a hosted service via WordPress.com.

*Source: https://ithemes.com/tutorials/what-is-wordpress

Challenge yourself, Learn new technology skill at no cost....

Challenge yourself, Learn new technology skill at no cost. Starting this Monday, December 7, High Tech with DJ Eddie will introduce Tech Talk - Listen and Learn Series. The first series is How To Make A Website With Wordpress. There will be different topic each week, reference material and an opportunity for hands-on lab to ensure that you will be able to build a website using Wordpress. The hands-on lab accounts are limited to 10 users and on a first-come, first-served basis. Please let me know if you are interested to participate in the hands-on lab.