The first choice in the process, of course, is deciding what your topic or focus will be. Will it be a personal home page, a business site, an educational resource, and so on? The second choice is where to start building. Just as you choose the neighborhood where you live, you need to choose the online neighborhood where you build your web site.
Free Web Space Providers
Many beginning web designers choose a free web service to get their feet wet. Often, Internet service providers (ISPs) offer their clients bonus web site space when they use their services to connect to the Internet. This can be a good place to start. There are also a myriad of free web space providers available. While learning to design your web site, you can take advantage of simply laid out html editor programs, site graphics, and other supplies for your site, and feel like part of an Internet community. One disadvantage to using free web providers is the mandatory advertising enforced through either a banner or pop-up menu. While just learning, you may consider this a small price to pay for free web space, but in time, most business and
professional designers move to a paid server, and apply for their own domain name. Another major consideration when choosing a free web space provider, is that the name of the service will be included in your web site address. For instance, if you wanted to start a personal page at Angelfire services, your address might look like this: http://www.angelfire.com/bc/Joanne
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
There are hundreds of free web space provider services available. Some of the longest standing ones, like Angelfire - Lycos provide an easy to use html editor, several MBs of space, java scripts, graphics, free email and a community feeling. However, most do demand a pop-up or header advertising banner on all of your site´s pages. Providers like Talk City promote a community atmosphere, inviting groups, families, and friends to commune and build web spaces online side by side within their server environment. An alternative, rather tongue-in-cheek web space community is Internet Trash The Be Yourself
Community, which claims to promote individuality and does not require advertising banners or pop-ups. Likewise, Crosswinds , a Canadian provider, declares they will never require advertising on your site, and that their sites will always be free.As mentioned, however, the server name is included in your site address from all four of these community server sites.
Where To Look
To search for the best free web server to fit your needs and geographic location, check out, FreeWebspace.net a searchable database with 400 international free webspace providers and their particulars. The Free Webpage Provider Review will also give you accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date information about free webspace, email and other service providers. An interactive bulletin board is also offered to share your views and concerns about free web space with like-minded folk. As well, a huge free webspace provider list is available at Freaky Freddie´s , presented in a colorful and easy to read format, categorized according to country.
Remember, when first starting out, free web space can give you room to experiment without draining your wallet. The simplicity in set-up can be extremely valuable in helping you develop the skills to build and maintain a web site without much thought or anxiety. In time, most serious web designers move on to purchasing their own domain sites on a paid server. But for beginners, free web space can be an invaluable service and testing ground for developing their designer skills.
