Forum Moderators: mack
I spent last fall researching business opportunities, I have been a stay-at-home mom for 10 years and need find a career for myself. I never quite figured out what I wanted to do career-wise pre-kids, now I only know I need to work for myself and do something which will keep me intellectually challenged and engaged.
I just recently decided to explore if I have what it takes to launch my own web pro business in a year or so; while learning all I can about the web I am also finishing a bachelor's degree in marketing and writing my business plan.
I find this field absolutely enthralling, I doubt this career path will be a passing phase for me. In fact, although it sounds cliche', in many ways I feel my entire life up until this point has prepared me to enter the web field. My background includes a little bit of photography, creative writing, journalism, art, graphics, marketing, paralegal, sales and a STRONG desire to be a lifelong learner.
When I first got this idea I thought I'd take some classes, but my web readings soon convinced me I just needed to dive in and do it. I dubbed myself "The Web Apprentice" and set off on my journey. :-)
The books I have purchased thus far cover HTML & CSS.
They don't address my immediate need to create a password-protected website - my kids want to have their very own blog, so I am going to set them up with wordpress, but I don't really like the idea of their lives being open to just anyone.
I know I'd figure out how to do this in my self-study sooner rather later, but my kids are rather impatient. :-)
Is there a cut and paste script I could easily install to do this for me?
Sorry for the elementary question - I'll get more techy with y'all with time. For now I am doing a lot of lurking and learning on this site. It's my number one resource on the web!
Thanks a lot
"The Web Apprentice"
I belive you have choosen to research the correct area of web develpment. HTML and CSS are indeed the building blocks. Once you learn to master these elements it will be amazing what you can do. In terms of becoming a developer the main qualification you need is a portfolio. Yep I agree technichaly a portfolio is not a formal qualification but in the eyes of potentian clients it is the most importaint pointer to the level of your ability.
As for password protection. you might want to look into htaccess (if your site in on apache)
Htaccess requires you create 2 files...
1 .htacess
2 htpasswd
Place the .htacess witin the folder you want to protect.
AuthUserFile /your/server/path/to/.htpasswd
AuthType Basic
AuthName "provide your log-in details
<LIMIT GET POST>
require valid-user
</LIMIT>
Within the .htaccess you need to specify a location for htpasswd file.
within that location use the following.
username:encryptedpassword
The password needs to be encrypted. There are various locations on line that allow you to encrypt your password using an online form. Try a Google search for htacess password encryption or some similar phrase.
Your password file can have fidderent users with different passwords. Just specify one entry per line.
Hope this helps.
Mack.
I had read something about htaccess and thought that was the way to go, but wasn't sure. I'll figure it out from here. ;-)
I decided to not allow myself to learn Dreamweaver until I am proficient at hand coding.
I have two pro-bono clients waiting in the wings, and I have enough community connections to easily line up a few non-profits; my plan is to initially build a portfolio of diverse work for outside pro-bono clients, while also getting a couple websites of my up and going, hopefully they will supplement my income.
I am playing with the idea of developing a community "yellow pages", but I know an undertaking such as that would have to be my primary project, if I am to do a good job at it. It's a tempting idea.
My parents owned a business while I was growing up in an industry where very few local resellers have websites. The national and regional trade organizations have nice websites, which were developed with PAC/government funding monies - but very few local companies can be linked from the national and regional websites, only addresses and phone numbers are listed for most local companies.
I am researching that industry's ROI opportunites with regards to implementing websites for local companies. I would then target my marketing at their trade shows and in their trade journals.
So that's my dilemnia, do I develop a local portal site or do I dive into an industry where I see no other web designer targeting the regional or national markets.
The opportunities to get in on the ground level in the web field are wide open - from what I can see. The challenge is to find a niche and define your marketing strategy; making sure my technical skills are up to date and professionally executed is only the first key to success. After that a professional webmaster needs to be a visionary and exercise top-notch entreprenuerial, business and marketing skills.
I know many on this site have their own sites, selling their own products or earning income through affiliate programs, ect. That's one way to go, and I will pursue it for the benefit of hands on learning of SEO and other important skills.
My heart - however - is to provide web services which will allow brick-n-mortar business to compete in a rapidly changing marketplace.
It's all so interesting, exciting! I am excited to get up and learn something new each day. I am a little impatient with regards to building my knowledge base, but then again... I know entering this field in 2005 means I will be a bonafide veteran within 10 years max.
Those who succeed in the new marketplace will have to have a strong foundation in good ole' fashioned business practices and also be willing to be innovative and take risks.
I'll be around, I don't think you'll be able to shake me from this field anytime soon!
I have dabbled in quite a few different fields and none of them was as intellectually engaging to me as is the field of web design & development!
The Web Apprentice
