Online Course Introduction

Introduction

So, you made it! Welcome!

First, I have to tell you how much I envy you. Yes, that's right. I envy you. See, 18 months ago when I started my website, I would have walked across hot coals barefoot to get the information contained in this course. If you think I'm kidding, let me assure you, I'M NOT!

To say I was a newbie to the 'net is putting it very mildly. At the time I had only been "connected" for five months. I knew little to nothing about search engines or link pages. I had never heard of doorway pages, META tags, or webfeeds. All I knew was that there were pages that I stumbled onto that I liked, and some that I absolutely abhorred.

With that in mind, I set out to create StaciStallings.com. How I wish I would've known what I was in for then… how glad I am that I didn't have a clue.

My philosophy was simple going in: Put together a good website that has interesting stuff, put it onto the web, and people will miraculously show up. Two words now come to mind: Yeah, right!

It wasn't long, and I was looking, asking, searching, begging for any advice from anyone who could conceivably point me in the right direction. Slowly, painfully, one out-of-order lesson at a time, I learned. I learned that people probably won't just find a site no matter how great it is. I learned it takes a lot more time to maintain a site than I had ever imagined. And I learned that I knew very little about a whole lot of things.

How I wish I had stumbled onto this course back then!

The lessons presented in this course are designed so that you won't get overwhelmed. Each lesson will be no more than two pages long and will have where to go from here suggestions at the end of each one. The lessons will be posted every two weeks (and you can even sign up below to get a reminder when the next lesson is posted), and they will remain up throughout the course. That way, you can go back and review the lessons as you need to. I will do my best to present the material in a logical order-not in the hodgepodge way I had to learn it.

Let me assure you now that you are in for a great content and context enhancing experience if you will stick with me for the next year. Not only that, but you will be surprised and excited about the leaps of growth your website will go through, and I'm excited about going through those leaps with you!

Who's more excited about this? Me or you? And now…

Before We Get Started

There are a few things that you can do before we start so you're off on the right foot:

Programs that will be helpful for you to have and know how to use:

· A Word Processing program. I am most familiar with and use Microsoft Word, but you are free to use any one that you like.
· A Spreadsheet program. This is particularly helpful if you don't know how to use a database effectively. (I use Microsoft Excel.)
· A Database program. Many of the lessons will refer to collecting information in a database (although a spreadsheet will work, a database is really easier to use-but it's your choice!). I use Microsoft Access.
· Paint program (can be found on the Accessories pull down menu)

One other thing that will be helpful is an email account set up to use with your website. There are many free email programs out there. I use Hotmail It's free and easy to set up an account. (Warning: There is a maximum inbox capacity at hotmail, so if you would like to search for another program that offers greater capacity for a good price, feel free to do that.)

Finally, just so you don't forget or get sidetracked with the thousand other things running around in your life, sign up below and you will be sent a reminder when each lesson is posted. The first one is scheduled to debut April 2, 2002, and here is a preview:

Flight 1 - The Basics

Lesson 1, Are you in Houston or Hong Kong?

Subject: Assessing where you are

A destination is nice, a map is even better, but to get really good directions to where you want to go, you first need to know where you are right now. This lesson will help you figure that out. If you have a website, this lesson is essential to getting started on the right track.

Topics covered: What's a webalizer? How do you use one? Where can you go online to see how your site compares to all the others out there? How do your web stats stack up next to your competitor?

Join me, and find out April 2, 2002!

Hope to see you here!

Back to Main Course!