This article explains how a website is published.

Each website has an address (or URL) and needs a physical space for it to reside on a server (or be hosted) so how is the content actually published?

There are basically three ways a website can be published:

1. By a professional web designing company

2. By freelance individuals

3. By yourself

All of the above can typically use various web publishing programmes to create a local master copy of a website (e.g. FrontPage, Dreamweaver etc.)  This is then transferred to the server when ready via a secure connection on the internet.  Typically servers will require unique usernames and passwords to allow changes to be made.  Choosing the publisher or designer depends on the sort of website needed.

For example a fun recreational website about the family or local hockey team could be published by yourself using your internet PC and a web publishing program.

A more sophisticated design involving a wider audience like a Community Website, Small Business or charitable organization might use the second method.

A more sophisticated website needing secure access and online credit card shopping facilities for instance is best left to a professional web design company.

What ever method you use it is worth bearing in mind the following:

• The key purposes of the website - keep your eye on the ball

• Make it as easy as possible for people to find what they want

• Avoid using lots of large images and sounds (that will make the pages load slowly)

• Keep text succinct and simple

• Use the appropriate respect due to your target audience (warn people if it may be offensive)

• It is better to have one well designed company web page with key information than a website of 25 'home grown' pages that look like they were built by your neighbour's son for a school project!

• Above all - Keep it simple and focus on your Dream Client

Easykey offers a professional website design service - Click here to see a Portfolio