This page is a place holder
for sshiplaw.com

http://www.sshiplaw.com/

If you are developing your site yourself, you will need to replace this page with your home page. If you are considering having your site professionally developed, please click here.

For demos, documentation, FAQs, and articles related to developing your site, please click here.


Here is a basic overview to getting your Web site up and running.

  1. Create Content
  2. Publish your content
  3. Publicize your site

1. Create Content

There are a variety of ways to create content. The easiest way is to use software such as Microsoft® FrontPage, Netscape® Composer (included free with Navigator download), or Macromedia® Dreamweaver. You may also wish to use other publishing tools to create your Web site. You can find more at Download.com. Other programs that are helpful include graphical editing tools such as Jasc® Paintshop Pro or Adobe® Photoshop. You may also wish to edit your site's content yourself by using a text editor and learning HTML. Here are some pointers to learning HTML:

2. Publish your content

Once you've finished developing your site, you'll need to upload it to the server. You can either use the File Manager that's available through the Site Management System, or you can use any available file transfer protocol (FTP) software. FTP allows a person to transfer files between two computers, generally connected via the Internet. You can either FTP your files via the command line (i.e. DOS), or you can download a FTP client which executes commands in a drag-and-drop interface. The latter is recommended for beginners and experts alike.

FTP Basics
To FTP, you will need to know the host location, as well as your User Name and Password. Your web site files are stored in /httpdocs/.

Using an FTP Client
Most FTP clients have the same basic layout, functionality, and price. Choosing one is simply a matter of personal preference. Some of the more popular clients for Windows-based computers include FTP Commander (recommended), WS_FTP, and Cute FTP. All clients come with documentation, and it shouldn't take you long to figure out how to get started. But here are a few basics:

  • There will be some kind of "Site Manager" feature which will store all your FTP locations and their corresponding login information. Once you enter this info, the client will automatically log you in.
  • There will be two or three screens. One screen represents your local machine, one represents the remote host, and one may show the files that are queued for transfer. You will need to navigate to the correct folders on both your local machine and the host machine.
  • You will then highlight the files you wish to upload on your local machine, and there should be a button at the top that queues the files for upload. The upload might execute immediately, or you might have to hit a "Go" button first.

3. Publicize Your Site

Search Engines and Internet Directories
Probably the most common way to publicize your site and generate traffic is to submit it to search engines (i.e. Google) and Internet directories (i.e. Yahoo!).

Reciprocal Links
If your page has a theme, seek out pages with similar themes and contact the Webmaster to post a link to your site. In exchange, you should add a link to their site on yours. This is a great way to get the word out about your site for free.

Newsgroups
Look for newsgroups where you think people who would be interested in your site might frequent. Post a message announcing your site and its features. Don't do this too often as it is sometimes considered Spamming (unsolicited advertising).

Web Rings
If there are other pages that are similar to yours, there might be a web ring out there dedicated to your kind of site. Do an Internet search for "web ring" and include a keyword related to your site. If you join a web ring, you will need to add a web ring graphic and links to your page.

Advertising
If you really want to give your site some exposure, you can create a banner ad and find a company that will get your banner put up on numerous pages. The cost generally depends on the amount of impressions (how many times it is seen) or click-throughs (how many times it is actually clicked on).