First off, I have added a category link to the right for digital media. All posts specifically made for Writing for Digital Media this semester will be filed under this category.
Now that you have secured a domain name and hosting, the next step in your your online portfolio odyssey will be to set up some necessary domain services. We have several that must be configured, but we’ll begin with the crucial ones: the web server and email.
The best email system currently on the Internet is Gmail. Google has graciously offered this email system to private domains for free. When you sign up for Google Apps, you not only get their excellent email system, but other services as well, including calendar, documents, and wiki. They will try to sell you a premium account, but all you need is the free account for this class (and probably for always). When you sign up, enable at least the email service. Follow their directions for pointing your MX records to their servers. They offer directions for several ISPs, so pick yours from the list and follow the directions carefully. This can be a little tricky, so double check your typing.
Once you have set up your domain’s email system with Google Apps, send me an email to let me know your new email address from your domain.
Along these lines, you might want to open a Google Analytics and an AdSense account. You won’t be able to do much with either until you have your site set up, but opening the accounts now will give you a head start. Next, we’ll set up MySQL and choose your CMS.
Finally, do we need to meet tomorrow, Friday, January 16? Please indicate below in the comments.
