First things first:

I. Plan your site

• Design the layout of your website
• Will you have a logo?
• Do you need navigation buttons?
• Organize the content
• Prepare the images
• How many pages will you have?
• Identify your web pages
• Design site navigation

II. Create your Local Root Folder

The local root folder resides on your local computer and must hold everything you have in your web site including all of your web pages, images, HTML files, documents, video, muisic, etc. This is your Local Root Folder. When you are done creating your web site you will “Put” the folder and all its contents up on the web. You will now have a copy of your web site on your local computer as well as on your web server. All content for your web pages must be contained in this folder.

Create the Local Root folder:
In My Documents
Click on File NewFolder
Name the folder: Type your name for the local root folder.

Open the new folder you just created and create the images folder inside the local root folder to hold all the graphics that will be used on your web pages.
Click on FileNew Folder
Name the folder images

III. Prepare images to be used in your web pages

• Only use .jpg or .gif
• Recommended resolution for images for the web is 72-90 ppi
• Recommended physical dimensions for your images is 1-2 inches
• Save all of your images in your images folder inside the Local Root Folder
• File types must be either .jpg or .gif and optimnized for the web using Fireworks or Photoshop.

IV. File Names

For optimum performance of your website follow these recommended file naming conventions.

• Use lower case only
• No Spaces-if you want to use a space just use the underscore _ to indicate a space. For example: page_one.htm
• All files must have the .htm extension (for a MAC, .html)
• index.htm
  You must have a file in your local root folder that is called index.htm
  This file tells your browser to open it first because it is the Home Page of your web site, and should contain navigation links to your entire site identification, etc.

V. Identify your site

• Make sure your site identifies the site owner and contact information on every page in your site. This lends the site credibility and authenticity.