Articles : Web Site

Essential Web Development Tools

Developing a successful web site 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 'XHTML' code, most prefer to use an HTML editor. However, using an HTML editor has its disadvantages, as some editors have a tendency to add a lot of unnecessary coding and may not support the latest technologies. A good Web Design Company can make everything you need.

Whether you will be writing your own XHTML or using an editor, taking the time to learn HTML is very important. Not only will you gain your independence, but you'll also have the ability to add special effects that many HTML editors don't support.

Here is one popular HTML editors:
Macromedia Dreamweaver
http://www.macromedia.com/software/dreamweaver/
A popular WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) XHTML editor. Great for beginners and advanced users alike.

Although Note Pad is a great little HTML text editor, it can't handle large files and is much better suited for smaller jobs. You may find that you'd like an editor that is more powerful, such as NoteTab Pro and TextPad.

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. In order to use FTP, you'll need to download and install a software program on your computer. CuteFTP is one of those programs.

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. Professional Graphic Design is best using a Graphic Design company.

The most popular program used by Internet marketers is Adobe PhotoShop. This powerful program is the only program you'll need to design professional looking graphics. Visit: www.adobe.com for more information.

Zip/Unzip Software
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.

Once a Zip file is downloaded, it can be easily opened and extracted (unzipped) with a Zip/Unzip software program.

Although there are many Zip software programs available on the Internet, WinZip is the most popular. WinZip makes working with file archives simple. It features an easy point-and-click, drag-and-drop interface for viewing, extracting, adding, deleting and testing archived files. Visit: www.winzip.com

E-mail
Although most Internet Service Providers include e-mail accounts for their customers, these accounts aren't adequate for an Internet business. 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. Check out Eudora at www.eudora.com and Outlook at www.microsoft.com.