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August 97 Column
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Create Your Own Web Page
by Jana Barberio
 A Web page is an electronic soap box upon which to stand.  A Web page can be a tool to network, job search and voice your opinions.  Web pages can be colorful or black and white, radical or conservative, informative or boring.  The bottom line is that each one of us can have one.
 The first step in making your Web page is knowing a little about Web authoring tools like Netscape Navigator Gold, Microsoft FrontPage, Hotdog Web Editor, GNNpress, HoTMetaL Pro and others.  Any of these packages can be  purchased from a computer store or downloaded off of the Internet.  Various computer magazines, such as PC Magazine, offer reviews, advice and opinions about these tools.
 These editors resemble modern graphical word processors. There are two categories of web authoring tools. One is graphical and the other code-based.  Graphical tools show the page exactly as it would appear--WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get).  Code-based tools show the raw HTML code.  The September issue of PC Magazine goes into more detail about these differences.
 A little more about HTML:  Hypertext Markup Language is a simple scripting language.  The good news is that you don’t have to learn it if you use the WYSIWYG HTML editor. Novices, who would prefer to avoid the intimidating HTML syntax, will likely be attracted to WYSIWYG editors.
 Once you have your editor, you can begin creating your page.  The more familiar you are with Windows’ word processing, the easier it will be for you.  You create your words, the font size, colors and insert graphics, links, etc.  Simply put, links are icons that you click on which transport you to other Internet sites.
 This is where the soapbox part of you comes in.  If you’ve surfed the Internet at all and visited anyone’s Web page then you know how one page connects to another and what entices you to visit someone’s Web page.  If you haven’t surfed and you really want to create a page, I would recommend that you do some research first.
 Every major company in the United States has a Web page.  Congressmen, senators, utility companies, newspapers, universities and libraries have Web pages.  Better Homes & Gardens Magazine is proud of their new Web address: http//www.bhglive.com, which they advertised in their October issue.
 At the end of a commercial, a television program, a newspaper or magazine article, there is often an Internet address for those wishing to visit a particular Web site.  Taking a wild guess at an address often gets you to the site you want.  Most companies addresses look something like this: http://www.name of company.com, for example.  The .com stands for company--or at least it used to.  Lines have become somewhat blurred on the Internet.
 Once you have an idea of what a Web page looks like, you can begin to experiment with yours.  Keep in mind that having pictures on your page is a good idea, but keep them small for better performance (under 50k).  Chain copier stores will help you scan photos and probably explain what image compression is.  Ultimately, size affects efficiency.  Visitors who view your page will tend to leave if a large photo takes too long to appear on their computer screen.
 To advertise your new Web page, you may want to submit it to http://www.submit-it.com, which registers your page on all major Web search engines.  These search engines are: Yahoo!, Alta Vista, Lycos, Web Crawler, Hot Bot, Otis Index, WWWomen Online, etc.
 Don’t forget to use your e-mail signature line to promote your Web page.  If you send your resume to potential employers, remember to include your Web page address.
 Good luck and have fun creating!
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Jana Barberio is a freelance writer and a former paralegal. She and her husband, John started the Holly Computer User Group in Holly, Michigan.  She can be reached by email at
jana@barberio.com
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jana@barberio.com