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Essentials in
Get Famous
Get Your Chapter's Web Site Up and Running for 35 Dollars or Less
Mark Cary offer a quick web site for any chapter. Simply edit a few docs with your chapter information, and post to any server in the world.
Updated: 8/16/2004 1:50:00 PM
Narrative:
This set of instructions and the associated .ZIP archive contains information easily understood by most self-proclaimed computer geeks.
I am not a web designer or web programmer. My past programming experience gave me the conceptual tools to put together our chapter's web site, www.MainStreetHarmonizers.com, and this "How To", so I figure most computer guys/gals can follow these instructions. While what I think is sometimes NOT reality <grin>, you may want to review this "kit" and decide if you can do it OR you need to pass it along to someone else.
I'll call this the "Huh?" rule: The moment you think to yourself, "Huh? I don't understand.", you should ask someone for help or just pass the task along to someone else.
In any case there should be enough information here to get your website up and running without spending any more than $35. Everyone has a friend that knows more than they do about computers ... even I do ... right?
Let's define a few things that I'll be talking about:
- Domain Name – the name that everyone will type into their browser window address line to get to your website.
- Domain Hosting – the place your web files reside. When someone types your domain name into the browser's address line, their browser take them to your "Home" page. Your entire set of web files will safely reside on the hosting company's computers.
- Email address – very important that you obtain an email address that people can email for many years to come … possibly an email address that can be passed on to subsequent contact people within your chapter as years pass.
- FTP – File Transfer Protocol – the way you get your web files from your computer to your hosting company’s computer. You can Google “Free FTP Software” and find your own. I use an inexpensive brand, CuteFTP, or you can go to www.smartftp.com/download and download their free product. This may be where the 1st “Huh?” comes up. If you’re an “I can do this” kind of person, forge on!
- JPEG or JPG – Joint Photographic Experts Group – some of the (picture or graphics) files you may want to modify. You can use Paint, another standard application that comes preinstalled with all Widows operating systems. Windows XP opens and saves in JPG format. In all other versions of Windows, Paint will allow you to open the JPG but only allow you to save the file in BMP format. You’ll have to either use a program that does it all or Google for a free converter.
I have XP but found www.ggcomputer.com/convert-bmp-jpg.htm that works great.
Get a domain name
I chose www.Catalog.com because of the $35 "all-inclusive" pricing. With them, you get your domain name and domain hosting in a "one-stop" shop. As you will see, as you read through the information on Catalog.com's web site, there are other pricing alternatives and options. I will only be giving examples for the most simple and inexpensive methods. Learn more and change what you wish.
NOTE: Catalog.com may change the look of it's website from time to time. This "How To" may not reflect exactly what you see when visiting their site. Read and compare these notes to what you do see ... and remember the "Huh?" rule.
Now, let's go to Catalog.com. They have an "A", "B", and "C" instructions to get you going:
A. Enter the name you want for your domain name. Do not enter the WWW. preface OR the .COM extension.
B. "Register New Domain" is already pre-selected ... no action needed here.
C. The "Submit" button will search the Internet and determine the availability of your preferred domain name.
The next page you see should tell you whether or not your selection is available. If it is available, GREAT! If it isn't, press your browser's "Back" button and try other names until you get one that is available.
Every company wants to sell you more than you really want, so you need to change the “2 Years: $70.00”
"Free Hosting" is already pre-selected so proceed to the bottom of the page and find the "CLICK TO PROCEED" button.
When the next page is displayed, they are going to try to sell you something else that you really don’t need. Find this:
and change it to:
proceed to the bottom of the page and find the "CLICK TO PROCEED" button.
When the next page is displayed, you will be asked to sign in as a new or existing customer. Again, we are following the first time/simplest instructions here and, for the most part, you’ll probably be a new customer to Catalog.com’s services. So click on the “CONTINUE” button:
If you have made it this far, you should be able to complete signing in and completing the personal and credit card information. I cannot go further without signing up again (with bogus information).
Once you have completed the requested information and paid for your domain subscription you will receive an email similar to this:
Thank you for purchasing the following products from Catalog.com: mainstreetharmonizers.com $35.00 (1 Year) Basic Hosting $0.00 Yearly Domain Locking $10.00 Yr TOTAL $45.00 Within the next few hours, you will receive notification that your site is setup. |
Then you will receive another:
Your web site is now built out and ready to setup. Please log into https://virtadmin2.catalog.com/ Domain: mainstreetharmonizers.com IP ADDRESS: <your IP address> Username: <your user name> Password: <your password> NOTICE: It may take up to 24 hours for DNS (Domain Name Service) for your domain name to propagated. If this is the case, you will not be able to FTP or FrontPage to your site using www.mainstreetharmonizers.com. Until the domain name propagates - use "<your IP address>" as the domain or host identity in your ftp or FrontPage client and your established master username and password. |
Much more information will be in this particular email but is not necessary to show. You’ll get your own copy and treasure it as I do <grin>.
I would wait 48 to 72 hours and let the Internet (the entire World Wide Web) update itself so everyone can easily get to your home page. Besides, you’ll have enough to do between now and then. You have a lot of composing and editing to accomplish to make your finished product look like it should … a work of art … reflecting your pride in your chapter! Right?
Create Your Website on You Computer
Ok, let’s move on to the CD provided. It contains the files that, once modified, will be YOUR website, ready to upload to the hosting company’s computer.
Overview
Let’s get started with an overview of what you’re going to do. You’re going to use Windows’ Notepad application to modify the existing HTML files and make them your own.
The files you will modify and resave are:
- index.html – this is your home page
- aboutus.html – pretty self-explanatory – your chapter info
- joinus.html – where and when you rehearse
- hireus.html – why and how to hire your chorus to perform
- history.html – this may be very short <grin>
- support.html – a thank you to all who support you and a link to your online store.
What? What about an online store? You mean my chorus can sell merchandise we don’t have to inventory? We make money, just like a commissioned salesman?
The answer to all these questions is a resounding (drum roll, please) … YES!
But first you must go to CafePress.com and sign up for a free YES, FREE, account. Please tell them that the Main Street Harmonizers sent you. One of the blanks asks who referred you. We haven’t received anything from them, yet, but if we do, we’ll let you know. BTW, you’ll need to write down information provided from their website so you can properly modify the support.html file.
- compete.html – this, too, may be awfully short.
- seeus.html – this might include upcoming dates of appearance for your chorus.
This might be a good time for you to visit our website to see what you’re in for. The address is www.mainstreetharmonizers.com … and you can buy one of our T-Shirts while you’re there.
Be creative as you compose your literary works. No fudging … stretching the truth may be acceptable … remember that what THEY read, they’re going to expect. Cool?
Editing Time
- Copy the folder WebSite from the CD to your C: drive.
- Click on Start, then click Run, then type in Notepad, and hit your Enter key.
- Before you modify a file, bring up a browser window and type in the address line:
C:\WebSite\index.html
This will launch your home page, allowing you to navigate to the page you are going to change.
Once you have made your modifications, either touch Function Key F5 (refresh) or type in the command given above again. You can navigate to the page you changed.
The following is divided up by HTML page you need to modify. You’ll use Notepad to open the file, look for the text within the brackets, replace the [ TEXT ITEM ] text (including the brackets) with your creative writing or some specific text, then save the modified HTML file.
[index.html]
- [ YOUR CHORUS' NAME ]
- [ YOUR CHORUS' NAME ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 1 ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 1 ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 1 ]
- [ CONTACT'S EMAIL ADDRESS ]
[aboutus.html]
- [ YOUR CHORUS' NAME ]
- [ YOUR CHORUS' NAME ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 1 ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 2 ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 3 ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 4 ]
[joinus.html]
- [ YOUR CHORUS' NAME ]
- [ DAY OF WEEK ]
- [ START TIME ]
- [ END TIME ]
- [ PLACE YOU MEET ]
- [ STREET ADDRESS ]
- [ CITY ]
- [ STATE ]
- [ ZIP ]
Make sure you also modify the MapQuest items here …
- [ STREET NUMBER ]
- [ STREET NAME ]
- [ STREET SUFFIX ]
- [ CITY ]
- [ STATE ]
- [ ZIP ]
[hireus.html]
- [ YOUR CHORUS' NAME ]
- [ YOUR CHORUS' NAME ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 1 ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 2 ]
- [ CONTACT’S PHONE NUMBER ]
- [ CONTACT'S EMAIL ADDRESS ]
[history.html]
- [ YOUR CHORUS' NAME ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 1 ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 2 ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 3 ]
[support.html]
- [ YOUR CHORUS' NAME ]
- [ CONTACT'S EMAIL ADDRESS ]
- [ CAFEPRESS ID ]
- [ YOUR CHORUS' NAME ]
- [ CAFEPRESS ID ]
[compete.html]
- [ YOUR CHORUS' NAME ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 1 ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 2 ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 3 ]
[seeus.html]
- [ YOUR CHORUS' NAME ]
- [ PARAGRAPH 1 ]
Beyond the basics
If you want pictures/photos displayed in your website, I’m still working on that one myself … remember, I said right up front that I was not a web developer. Someone who is really adept at that kind of thing should be able to take what you’ve already created and have an easy time adding most anything you’d like.
Good luck!
Mark Cary
Secretary/Treasurer
Main Street Harmonizers
barbershopping@hotmail.com
803-240-0640
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