Developing a successful website design takes a great deal of planning and preparation. An important part of your preparation is obtaining the essential tools of the trade.
HTML Editors: – An HTML editor is a software program used to create and edit HTML documents. Although some Internet marketers prefer to write their own HTML code, most prefer to use an HTML editor, as it can greatly simplify a somewhat difficult process.
Here are some popular HTML editors:
Macromedia Dream weaver
A popular WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) HTML editor. Great for beginners and advanced users alike.
Coffee Cup
A popular HTML editor that's great for beginners as well as advanced users. Includes a built-in browser that will enable you to instantly preview your HTML as you go.
Hot Dog Professional
Three HTML editors, including Hot Dog Junior for children, PageWiz for the novice user and Professional for advanced and budding webmasters.
Text Editors: – A text editor is a software program used for editing the plain text that doesn't add any special formatting. If you're considering writing your own HTML code, you'll need a good text editor. Although it will certainly be more time consuming, your code will be much cleaner and can reduce your file size considerably. FTP: – File Transfer Protocol, better known as FTP, is a procedure used to upload and download files to and from your web server. Although many HTML editors will enable you to edit and transfer pages to your server, an FTP program is still an essential tool, as you must have complete control over the files on your server. An FTP program will enable you to upload scripts, set file permissions, create folders and transfer files to and from your server. Graphics Editor: – A graphics editor is a software program that will enable you to design and edit graphics. Graphic design is an intimidating subject for many Internet entrepreneurs. However, most of us must learn some basic design techniques in order to avoid the high costs of hiring a professional designer.
A Zip file is an ‘archive' of one or more files compressed into one file for easy distribution. Zip files are used to compress and transport file archives over the Internet. It is the preferred method used for electronic file distribution, as rather than downloading several different files, you can simply download one Zip file. In addition, the download time will be minimized, as the files within the Zip archive are compressed.
Email: – Although most Internet Service Providers include email accounts for their customers, these accounts aren't adequate for an Internet business — especially if you get a large amount of email. Not only do the email addresses contain your ISP's name, but they are also very limited in features and options. The two most popular email clients used online are Outlook and Eudora. These programs will enable you to download email from your server and offer features, such as sorting and filtering and will enable you to easily organize your email messages. What's more, your email address will be your own domain – not someone else's. Your webmaster toolbox will play an important part in your success. Take the time to ensure your toolbox contains these essential tools and you'll be well on your way to designing a professional website.
