The Web in a nutshell

The web is a collection of computers connected in order to talk to each other. Typically connected through the phone network, they transfer data to and from one another and represent this data as an image on your computer screen. Most of the time users of the internet connect periodically, however some computers are online 24/7, typically these are servers. Servers are computers, but they are set up to run specific server software.

As the name suggests, servers “serve” web pages and web sites. A server can have many different web sites loaded on it, like a desktop PC contains folders and files, and it waits for users to request a specific page through their internet browsers. Once requested, the server will serve the browser with that requested page.

How do you find a website?

The quick answer is to type in the web site address, or URL, in your browser. Behind the scenes, the address, or “Domain Name” is converted into a numeric language (Internet Protocol, or “IP”), looked up in an index of IP addresses, similar to a huge telephone directory, and pointed to the relevant server. The server then serves the appropriate page on your browser.

You can also use search engines to find the site you want. Google, Yahoo, Bing and a whole host of other providers can search the internet for you. Using sophisticated algorithms, search engines use what you’ve entered in the search box (commonly known as keywords) to trawl through the internet and return relevant answers. A keyword is not necessarily just one word, it can be a collection of words or a well known phrase – type in “Skittles” into Google and the sweets come out top, type in “taste the rainbow” and they are top again – .the phrase is used as the keyword search term in this instance. It is possible to improve your rankings on these search engines, take a look here.

How do you get a domain name?

Registering a domain name means you get a unique identity on the internet. You can use any number of suppliers, such as 123-reg or heart internet, and once registered the domain name is yours, and only yours, much like the address of your home. It is important to consider the “marketable asset” of the website address, is it easy to remember, does it reflect your business; and also the suffix given. Some businesses in the UK prefer .co.uk, others .com. Here in Guernsey .gg is a common designation, and these can only be registered using specific suppliers.

Registering a domain does cost money. However it is very small, a matter of tens of pounds a year. A small price to pay to get your business ready to go online.

It’s good to get an understanding of the internet through doing your own research, but finding the right creative agency is just as important. Make sure you pick one that not only has great design skills, but also has a grounding in business. After all, your website is another tool for your business to get to market and outperform your competitors.