Keep these guidelines in mind as you plan your website's layout and content.

"Content is King"

This is not just a clever saying. It is critical if you want a successful and effective website. Your site will be one of many millions, and people get distracted easily and quickly. Keep them interested with fresh and entertaining content regularly. If you let the content go stale, then people will leave and may never return. Additionally, you must keep the content relevant to the overall mission of your site. For instance, don't waste time on cookie recipes if you are trying to sell vintage floppy disks.

Instructions for Godaddy Accounts

These instructions are for those who have their domain name registered
at Godaddy.  The process is similar for other registrars as well.

These steps illustrate how to change only the IP Address for your web hosting.  This does not affect your email settings.

Content is stored in the database not HTML files

Your Content Management System is an application of sorts called Drupal.  Drupal works by keeping your content, or pages, in a database.  Pictures and files you upload are put into a "files" folder on the web site.

There are no HTML pages that you can edit directly but instead the pages that make your site are dynamically built from content that's in the database and the files folder.

Note: If your site is hosted by n390 this is not a concern for you. It's an issue only if you manage your own hosting or have direct access to the web site host server.

NEVER edit the core site files that are on the web server

Never, ever let anyone tamper with them:

Once your site is online you'll need to add content, logo, etc. Here is a checklist of the most common items that need attention.

Site Logo

A logo is not required, however, it is a useful item for establishing your identity.

Typically logos are placed at the top-left of the page because this is the first place most people look and they expect it to be there.

Your logo should be clean and professional looking. n390 offers professional graphic services to help you create a unique logo.

Instructions for Godaddy Accounts

Set the Nameservers for Your Domain

If you are hosting your site through n390 then use this guide to setup your Outlook email.

1. Open Outlook and on the menu, select Tools then Accounts.

2. Click on your account from the Mail or All tab to highlight it.

3. Click on the Properties button.

Select mail account then click Properties

4. Click on the Servers tab.

You may choose from a stock color theme or create your own. This guide illustrates some possibilities for colorizing your site.

Background

Most layouts have a background color for the whole page that shows in the browser and a background color for the area that contains all of the page elements.

Although there are numerous ways a page can be arranged, each n390 Web Package starts out with the following structure:

Header - the section of the page at the top which displays the site logo, name, slogan and often the main menu.

Main Content - the section of the page where you insert and manage content. This section sits prominently in the middle of the page.