Despite what you may think, you don't have to be a UNIX wire-head to set up your own Internet site. Whether you're a business person wishing to raise a storefront on the highly trafficked Information Superhighway, an education professional looking to bring the vast resources of the World Wide Web to bear on your school's curriculum, or an aspiring Web publisher with content to serve up, Setting Up An Internet Site For Dummies can show you how. With Internet experts Jason Coombs and Ted Coombs to guide you, you quickly understand the various kinds of Internet sites available, including FTP and Gopher, as well as the phenomenally popular World Wide Web. You find step-by-step, how-to information on selecting and installing server software, registering your domain name, and even incorporating secure transactions for online commerce.
The authors explain every aspect of developing an online site with the humor typical of the For Dummies series. In just one chapter, they relay the basics of writing your own Web page in HTML code better than many books devoted to the subject. They also discuss software that creates Web pages, but wisely stress the importance of knowing at least basic coding. Even complex topics, such as the use of forms, building a Web site from scratch on your own server, and the ins and outs of conducting actual business on the Web, become comprehensible enough for the average reader. The authors also show you how to find service providers who will do the things you cannot do yourself.
In addition to helping you set up features such as search engines, forms, and automatic mail responders, the authors also suggest content that can add extra functions, entertainment, and even profit to your site. The enclosed CD-ROM contains a variety of software for useful site creation and maintenance. --Elizabeth Lewis