Creating a website - HOW?

[MustangLady]

I want to create a website for my cafe,but don't know how to get a website address (preferably a co.uk or uk.com - not sure which is best). Do you have to pay for them or are there any 'freebies' that I can get? any help on this would be appreciated. thanks ML

[sir.prize]

Try Googling . . . . Cheap Domains

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

You have to buy your domain name but it only costs a few pounds. (Strictly speaking, you don't really 'buy' the name. You actually lease it, because your registration only lasts for a fixed period, which is usually two years).

.co.uk domains are usually the cheapest. (.com or .uk.com can cost quite a bit more).

You can either buy a web hosting package (where you buy the web space to host your site, as well as the name) or simply buy the name and host your site elsewhere. If you do this, it's best to pay a little extra for 'address masking'.

I'll try to explain that last bit:
Your ISP probably provides you with free web space. (Almost every ISP does so). So you could put your website there. It's real address will then be something unwieldy like www.myisp.com/users/mustanglady. If you purchase the domain name 'www.mustangcafe.co.uk', you can set things up so that anyone who types in that address will automatically be re-directed to the 'real' address and view your website. The only problem is that the 'real' URL will then appear in their browser's address bar. (That looks very unprofessional). The way to avoid it is to pay a small fee for 'address masking'. Then 'www.mustangcafe.co.uk' will remain in the visitor's address bar while they're viewing your site.

[Buenchico]

You also need to consider what e-mail facilities you want associated with your domain name. (Once again, an additional fee is usually required). If you want people to be able to contact you as [email protected] you can choose betwwen simple 'mail forwarding' or a full e-mail account. Mail forwarding is cheapest; it simply re-directs mail to your 'normal' e-mail address. However, any reply you send will show your personal e-mail address and not the caf� one. To be able to send and receive mail using the caf� address, you need to sign up for a full e-mail account.

Google 'UK domains' for dozens of firms offering suitable services.

Chris

[MustangLady]

Thank you so much for your answers, believe it or not it actually makes sense to me, being a novice at websites and all that. I'm gonna give it a go. thanks again ML

[miseryguts1]

Network Solutions is really cheap and can be very flexible.

[doctorwiz123]

you need webspace for that you will have to pay.
put there is things like ,
www.freewebs.com ...free
www.piczo.com ...free
www.myspace.com .....free
or msn space ...free

they are all websites that you can create websites for free.
But if you hade say freewebs you will have it like this say www.freewebs.com/mycafe for e.g

[EricLenhard]

Try http://www.site2you.com website builder. Domain name (website address), hosting and other features in one place. Hope this helps :)