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News and Views Internet Technology |
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Getting Started with Your Web Page |
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For profile #1 you will need the following: (1) Access to a computer with an online connection, (2) a web page authoring program (e.g., a program that creates and edits hypertext markup language, or html), (3) a manual that explains, in simple English and with good pictorial examples, how to use the html program, and (4) a domain name (see below). If you wish to be serious about developing your web page you will need to purchase a program dedicated to the task, instead of using a word processing program or a stripped down shareware program. I like Adobe GoLive as it links well with other Adobe standards that can support your web site (e.g., programs to edit photographs, create drawings, and create files with sound, motion or video) and it is available in both Macintosh and PC versions; Microsoft FrontPage is another popular option among PC users. Once you decide which html program to use, do yourself a favor and buy a self-help book on that program (for instance Adobe GoLive 5 in 24 Hours by Pratt, Grillo & Smith). You will not need to read the book cover-to-cover; but having it available for quick consultations will keep you from crashing when you hit the inevitable bumps in the road. And, if you really want to save yourself time later on (and I am speaking from personal experience here) I would buy a book that articulates style and design points for web page authoring (for instance, Roger Parker’s Web Design & Desktop Publishing for Dummies). The cost for software and manuals will range between $150 and $350. The cost for service fees can be as little as $10 to $22 a month, plus an additional charge to register a domain name for two years (this charge should not exceed $75). Please do not let yourself feel overwhelmed by this list. You may be surprised to learn that much of what you will end up doing, after you’ve acquired your materials, will be typing text into tables and importing objects; you will not be required to perform exotic tasks such as writing code. You certainly will not have to know how to read html. As you are waiting for your software and book(s) to arrive, try to map out what you would like to accomplish with your web site. Like a good therapy session, proceeding with specific goals in mind facilitates effectiveness. Some combination of marketing, education and business management goals seem to be popular among clinically oriented web pages. (If you have never read a work on ethical marketing for psychologists, now might be a good time.) Once your software arrives, your first task you will be to create a “home page.” This page will operate as a hub for the rest of your document. A good home page does the following:
Examples of clinical web pages that follow all of the above guidelines are as follows: www.cpanfc.com, www.drsharasand.com, and www.drmwilliams.com. Once you have your hub created, you will need to create the other pages that it will link to. These other pages will be where the visitor will find the content that you are offering. For profile #1 I would recommend including a page for each of the following: (1) a curriculum vitae (this can be brief or elaborate, depending upon your goals), (2) a description of your practice (e.g., location, telephone number, e-mail address, directions, areas of specialization and a review of your mission statement or professional philosophy), (3) a frequently asked questions page (e.g., what are your hours, what insurances do you accept, what happens at a first appointment, etc.) and (4) a page with relevant Internet links for your patients. If you are feeling ambitions, you can also create pages that contain educational materials that pertain to your areas of practice; however, in a subsequent edition I will be describing how to create downloadable articles that may be easier for your viewer to consume. One of the more frustrating aspects of web page authoring is the fact that different computers view the same web site through different lenses. So, how your web site looks on your computer, when you painstakingly design the layout, may be different from what it looks on someone else’s computer. To combat this problem, I would recommend downloading free copies of two popular lenses, otherwise called Internet browsers: Netscape (www.netscape.com) and Microsoft Explorer (www.microsoft.com). Your html program will allow you to launch your web site on both browsers, without your pages being on line. Doing this will cue you in as to what formatting changes you might need to make in order to maintain your desired look. However, if you really want to cover the bases, arrange to view your page on both a Mac and a PC. Once you have created your web site you will should register a name for it. This name will be the address you will list on your business cards, voicemail message, yellow pages ad, the sign outside your office, etc. You are not actually required to register a domain name to have an Internet site. However, and depending on where you rent your space on the Internet, your address may end up looking something like “members.aol.com/yourmembername/ homepage.html.” Let’s face it, only you and your mother would be able to remember an address like that. So, you need something that is easily remembered. It would also be ideal for the name to communicate something about your practice, given that most prospective clients may more easily remember what you do than your name. The name for your site is called a domain name, denoted by www.(yournamehere).com. A number of additional suffices are available, including .org, .net, .biz, .info, .tv, .cc and a number of others. The services that will register a domain name for you will let you know if the address you desire is available; some examples include www.onednr.com, www.netsol.com and www.web.com. Once your register your site, the service will link your domain name to your real address. As I write this, the examples of available domain names are as follows: www.chicagotherapist.net, www.help-with-grieving.com, and www.LAcounselor.com. You may register as many available domain names as you’d like. So, if you have more than one area of practice that you want to recognize with your domain name, you may do so. When setting up an intake appointment, I always provide the prospective client with my web address. So, for child cases I give www.kidtherapist.com while for adolescent cases I offer www.helpingteenagers.com. Both addresses go to the same location. Many online services, such as America Online, grant you storage space as a part of your membership benefit package; for a basic site that may be all you need (see the September, 2001 edition of Consumer’s Reports for a helpful head-to-head comparison of these services). However, once your web site grows you may need a service that offers you more options (e.g., the jazzy stuff like the capacity to allow people to fill out forms online or the capacity to host a bulletin board). There are a number of low cost servers, or Internet landlords, that will host your site and register a domain name in package deals. Examples of these are www.hostsave.com, www.namesarecheap.com, and www.azc.com. When deciding on a server you may wish to consider how user friendly they are (e.g., can you understand what you read on their site, is technical support readily available and are independent, positive reviews available). Once you have a server and have created your web site on your computer, you will need to transfer the documents on your computer to the server. While each server has it’s own instructions, a program like Adobe GoLive makes the process very simple as it includes what is called a “file transfer protocol” (or ftp) contained within the program. Once you have uploaded your files, you should be able to view your site online. Believe me, that is a thrill! But I have to caution you, once you see your site online you may be hooked for life. In closing let me share that I am a creature of routine. Every morning I read the online Washington Post sports page (as painful as that can be) and answer my e-mail. Hence, if I may be of help, within the limited confines of a brief e-mail, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would also be happy to offer feedback about your site once you have it online. Now, go forth and create that site! David J. Palmiter, Jr., Ph.D., ABPP is an Associate Professor of Psychology, Director of the Psychological Services Center and Director of Psy.D. Practicum and Internships at Marywood University. He also has a private practice in Clarks Summit, PA. His e-mail address is david@palmiter.com. His home page is at www.helpingparents.net. |
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In my first column I posited that having a web page offers advantages to the independent practitioner. I also suggested that creating a web page is relatively easy, cost effective and even fun. In this column I will review how to get started. I will refer to the beginning web page that I will review here as “profile #1”. In subsequent editions I will review three other profiles, each of which will involve adding more features. As these profiles will build upon each other, the resources I will review for profile #1 would also be needed for the other profiles.