Design Your Own Philatelic Website

TIPS 'N' TRICKS

Do not go in for a website if are not planning to update it regularly.
Check up your links regularly. Links die out mysteriously or they change very often.
Check your pages in at least 3 browsers. They should look well in all three.
Check that the JavaScript works well in all the 3 browsers.
Do not overdo anything. It is very easy to get carried away with animated gifs, pop up messages.
Study the other similar sites. Analyse them and see what is good and bad about them.
Check your spelings !

Do not take images from other site without informing or acknowledging them. Provide a link back to the originating site.
Try to keep the images small in size (i.e. less Kilobytes). Images take a long time to load.
Do not put a lot of stamp images in a single page. It is painful to go through all of them and the pages load slowly.
Always use the "alternative" text for the images.
Read up on the search engine fundamentals before submitting to the search engines.
Ensure that your pages are ready and that all the links work before submitting to the search engine.
Get your site reviewed by someone who knows about these things. Advice is very helpful.

A standard PC is a must to get you started. Assembled PC can be bought from INR 20,000/- onwards that will suit your need. Second hand PCs can be bought for less than INR 6000/-. A bare minimum configuration will be a Pentium 166 MHz, 32 MB RAM, 4 GB Hard disk and a 14 inch colour monitor. You will require a modem connected to the Internet through the telephone line.
You will require an Internet Service Provider. In India you have a selection of VSNL, Satyam, Netkracker, and more. Caltiger provides free Internet in select cities in India. Check the facilities provided by Internet provider. There are free Night surfing options available which in combination with a full year package will work out cheap. You can always take a floppy and go to the nearest browsing centre. Mind you they are slow and you may end up paying more!
You may require a good Flatbed colour scanner. They are available for INR 5000/- onwards.

TIPS for Buying Second Hand PCs

www.daileyint.com/hmdpc/handtoc.htm

Check your second hand PC thoroughly for at least 24 hours continuous run before you buy it. Use a software which will run it throughout checking all components.

www.pcguide.com All about PCs - A Basic What Is

ISPs

www.sancharnet.in/ BSNL
www.mantraonline.com Mantra Online

Scanners

www.scantips.com Scanners and Scanning Tips