Right now you basic website is on your own disk and only you can view it... unless a hacker can get into your computer but if that's the case he might find personal and credit card information more interesting that the Conch Republic Jaguar Club !

You have a few options and which to choose is up to you... However after you've reviewed the first two options, # 3 will probably seemed like the quickest and easiest way to get started.

Your ISP

Many Internet Service Providers give their subscribers free storage space on their server part of their internet package.  It's there, it's free, so it's actually a good way to start. Only drawback is that you're going to have an address like www.thecheapeyespy.com/members/~johndough  which is long and not very attractive... It usually will come with strings attached, it's free remember ?, in the shape of ads and banners popping out all over the place when people visit your site and slow unreliable service.

But it's a start, and it's free, so you can use it to test and tweak and refine. Specific instructions will vary from ISP to ISP, some might require the use of specific software to upload your pages and images.

A real host

At the other end of the spectrum, you can rent space from a real hosting company and register your own domain... you know those www dot something dot com or org addresses.

While prices will vary greatly, registering your domain will cost you less than $ 100 and a good place to do that is www.netsol.com   It's all explained and pretty easy.

That takes care of the name... your club now has it's own address like ... www.crjc.org or www.conchjags.org   but you still don't have a place to put your site on...

There are thousands of hosts around the country with monthly cost averaging $ 15 to $ 25 a month depending on services that are included. Some are more reliable than others, some have better customer service, etc... the choice is yours.

The company hosting the JCNA website has offered a special price for JCNA clubs who would like to host their site on their servers usning their own domain name. The annual rate is $ 180 and includes everything your club needs in terms of space and services. Please visit www.carlc.com for more on this company and their services or email  webmaster@jcna.com

JCNA

To help clubs get on the web, JCNA can host your club site at no charge through our domain with an address like www.jcna.com/clubs/conchjags  ( check it out.. the Conch Republic Jaguar Club site we've just created is there...) 

This service is free and there are no cost involved as if you were registering your own domain.   It's also a simple as it gets for you...

At this time, upload and updates must be done through the JCNA webmaster. All you need to do is send your files by email and we will upload them for you.

Doing so is very easy...  start Winzip which you downloaded and installed in part 1.  Create a new archive ( File, New )  and then add the files making up your site ( pages and pictures ) to this archive file.  Make sure you include that picture folder and that you select the option to save directory / path info.  Winzip has built in help so follow the directions if you get lost...

Then your final step will be to email the Zip file containing your site to webmaster@jcna.com

Of course, if you are reading this but are not a JCNA affiliate club... sorry we can't help !

Time's up !

Has it been 60 minutes ? maybe. Yes this is very basic, we didn't address many issues and options but it does prove that your club get put a simple site together in no time and for free. If you've followed these easy steps,  your club could actually have its own site on the web right now

It's also important to remember that the web is a live, dynamic environment, things can be changed and updated very easily, unlike a newsletter which once printed... well is printed.

Once you have a very basic site on line, you can update it, refine it, expand it as much as you wish. Take a look at other sites to see how other clubs do things and what they offer. It doesn't mean you should copy them of course but you may get a few ideas.

 

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