Most of Our Articles Assume that You Know How to Campaign on the Web. This article is for those who need to know the basics of building a political website.

There are Three Parts to Having a Website. You must find a good domain name that you can buy or rent which is like the location of a billboard on the highway. Next you must create the website which is like the advertisement that will be put on that billboard. Third, you must hire a computer/server hosting service which is like the company that physically places the ad up on the billboard.

Buying or Renting a Domain Name is Simple. First you must find a good name that is available. Write down several names that you want to test. Check our list to see if we already own one that you can rent from us. If not, check to see if it is available for purchase. If it is available then buy it for two years minimum (for technical reasons relating to search engines) and thru the next election cycle maximum (so that if you win you won't lose the domain).

Web Hosting Decisions: Most hosting is simple. We recommend CCF Consulting because their computer servers where your website will be hosted are located in a telecommunications building which means your site will be quick to load and suffer fewer reliability problems. Or, if you buy a domain you will be offered a hosting package to go along with it (but you don't have to choose to buy their hosting plan and can choose another hosting firm instead). Don't lock yourself into any long-term plans. Find a good hosting company and buy the smallest, cheapest plan you think you will need. You can always upgrade later if the need arises. You should focus on:

Creating the Website: There are professionals and there are ameteurs who will do this work for you. It just depends on what you are willing to pay! Professionals obviously cost more but their work looks great and makes a good impact. Plus you can sample their previous sites to get a feel for what you want. Amateurs can be found at any college campus (either students or professors looking for extra cash) and will work for cheap so that they can build a portfolio. You should make sure that whoever you hire creates the website from scratch and doesn't simply copy someone else's on the web since accusations of plagiarism and copyright violations could destroy your campaign.