Setting up a business website

Setting up your own website for your business is an exciting move. Below you'll find a step-by-step guide showing you how you can do it yourself.

Step 1: Register a domain name

A domain name will be your business' address on the Internet. BusinessNN.com is an example of a domain name. Popular domain name types include .com, .net, .org, .info and .biz. Country-level domain names (such as .com.au for Australia and .de for Germany, for example) are also available options. You can register .com, .net, .org, .info and .biz domain names with a domain name register or through Multimedia Australia's website at http://www.mmaus.com/services/domains/.

Step 2: Get website creation software

Download or purchase software to create your site. Examples of software include the Multimedia Australia's award-winning BestAddress HTML Editor Professional and Koala Edit from Multimedia Australia's Hixus Software division. If you're building larger websites, Multimedia Australia's Acclaim CMS content management system may also be a useful additional purchase. If you're a beginner, and only want a simple, single-page website, Multimedia Australia's Alligator Snap software is a great choice. You can also search for Web design software on download sites such as SwiftDownloads.com or the SoftwareSizzle.com software search engine.

Step 3: Organise website hosting

Finally, to make your website accessible online, you need to have it hosted. Multimedia Australia offers a professional Web hosting service: Hosting Reliance. Hosting plans include everything you need to including email accounts, a large number of included add-on features as standard and free Web design software tools.

As a final note, be aware that it is important for business owners to create a good quality, visually attractive website that matches their existing brand. A poorly constructed website can damage a business' reputation. It is always recommended that you seek expert advice where required.