If you’re reading this article, you’re probably thinking about owning your own website and joining a, traditionally, tech savvy club. Well, more and more often I’ve been getting clients who are new to the whole idea of owning a site and have some good questions.

The big question for many is “What am I gonna need?”

Aside from an idea and a web designer, here are some essential things you’ll end up needing:

1. A domain name. A domain is the address where people will find your site. Like, example.com
2. Web hosting. Think of this as the house that your address (domain) points to. A web host will provide you with a “space” to put your website. GoDaddy.com is a popular web host. You usually buy your domain name and web hosting from the same company since it’s more convenient that way.

In some cases, as it is with Hip Web Design, your web designer can help you acquire both these things, so don’t be afraid to ask. However, since you’ll be paying for it, you should be familiar with what exactly it is you’re getting.

There are also some things that will apply depending on what kind of site you’re hoping to build. If you plan to open an online store and accept credit card payments, you’re going to need extra services.

1. A shopping cart. This refers to a feature found on most online stores in which you select an item and put it into a virtual “shopping cart.” This shopping cart keeps track of the shoppers purchases and provides some accounting to show the visitor what they owe. There are two basic types of shopping carts: One that is bought and installed by your web designer, or one that is built from scratch by your web designer. The price for this has a few variables, so you should talk with your web designer about what is right for you.
2. A payment gateway. A payment gateway is just like a point-of-sale terminal at a retail store. Instead of swiping your card through a machine, you pay a service to process your credit card payments electronically. A payment gateway is a service that provides you with the ability and security to accept credit card purchases through your website. This price also varies from company to company, and may depend on what kind of shopping cart you want.

Don’t be scared away if you’re intimidated by some of these points. Here at Hip Web Design, we’re more than happy to talk you through it and get you the best deal possible.

So… is that all? Those are the bare essentials; Hosting and a domain name a must. Shopping cart and Payment gateway if you want to sell products.

If you’re a beginner and you want to teach yourself more about what it’s like to have a website and participate in the online community, you should try opening (and regularly using) a Twitter or Facebook account. You could also start with a free blog from WordPress.com or Tumblr.com. These are both companies that give you a free, limited domain and hosting for a pre-designed, ready-to-use blog.