HTML Editors

An HTML editor is a software program used to create and edit
HTML documents.

Although some Internet marketers prefer to write their own
HTML code, most prefer to use an HTML editor, as it can
greatly simplify a somewhat difficult process. However,
using an HTML editor has its disadvantages, as some editors
have a tendency to add a lot of unnecessary coding and may
not support the latest technologies.

Whether you will be writing your own HTML or using an
editor, taking the time to learn HTML is very important. Not
only will you gain your independence, but you'll also have
the ability to add special effects that many HTML editors
don't support. 

Here are some popular HTML editors:

Macromedia Dreamweaver
http://www.macromedia.com/software/dreamweaver/
A popular WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) HTML
editor. Great for beginners and advanced users alike. 

Coffee Cup 
http://www.coffeecup.com/html-editor/
A popular HTML editor that's great for beginners as well as
advanced users. Includes a built in browser that will enable
you to instantly preview your HTML as you go.

Hot Dog Professional 
http://sausage.com/products/index.html
Three HTML editors, including HotDog Junior for children,
PageWiz for the novice user and Professional for advanced
and budding webmasters. 

Text Editors

A text editor is a software program used for editing plain
text that doesn't add any special formatting. 

If you're considering writing your own HTML code, you'll
need a good text editor. Although it will certainly be more
time consuming, your code will be much cleaner and can
reduce your file size considerably.

In addition to using a text editor to write HTML, it can
also be used to edit scripts and write articles.

If you have a Windows operating system, Note Pad is the
preferred text editor. It should already be installed on
your computer. 

Although Note Pad is a great little text editor, it can't
handle large files and is much better suited for smaller
jobs. You may find that you'd like an editor that is more
powerful, such as:

NoteTab Pro http://www.notetab.com/
TextPad http://www.textpad.com/

FTP

File Transfer Protocol, better known as FTP, is a procedure
used to upload and download files to and from your web
server. 

Although many HTML editors will enable you to edit and
transfer pages to your server, an FTP program is still an
essential tool, as you must have complete control over the
files on your server. 

An FTP program will enable you to upload scripts, set file
permissions, create folders and transfer files to and from
your server.

In order to use FTP, you'll need to download and install a
software program on your computer. The most widely used FTP
program is WS FTP Pro http://www.wsftp.com 

Graphics Editor

A graphics editor is a software program that will enable you
to design and edit graphics.

Graphic design is an intimidating subject for many Internet
entrepreneurs. However, most of us must learn some basic
design techniques in order to avoid the high costs of hiring
a professional designer.

The most popular program used by Internet marketers is Paint
Shop Pro. This powerful program is the only program you'll
need to design professional looking graphics.
http://www.jasc.com/

Zip/Unzip Software

A Zip file is an "archive" of one or more files compressed
into one file for easy distribution.

Zip files are used to compress and transport file archives
over the Internet. It is the preferred method used for
electronic file distribution, as rather than downloading
several different files, you can simply download one Zip
file. In addition, the download time will be minimized, as
the files within the Zip archive are compressed.

Once a Zip file is downloaded, it can be easily opened and
extracted (unzipped) with a Zip/Unzip software program.

Although there are many Zip software programs available on
the Internet, WinZip is the most popular. WinZip makes
working with file archives simple. It features an easy
point-and-click, drag-and-drop interface for viewing,
extracting, adding, deleting and testing archived files. 

You can download a fully functional evaluation version here:
http://www.winzip.com/download.htm

Email

Although most Internet Service Providers include email
accounts for their customers, these accounts aren't adequate
for an Internet business -- especially if you get a large
amount of email. Not only do the email addresses contain
your ISP's name, but they are also very limited on features
and options.

The two most popular email clients used online are Outlook
and Eudora. These programs will enable you to download email
from your server and offer features, such as sorting and
filtering, and will enable you to easily organize your email
messages. What's more, your email address will be your own
domain -- not someone else's. 

Eudora
http://www.eudora.com
Outlook
http://www.microsoft.com/

Your webmaster toolbox will play an important part in your
success. Take the time to ensure your toolbox contains these
essential tools and you'll be well on your way to designing
a professional web site.

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Copyright © Shelley Lowery 2003.

About the Author:

Shelley Lowery is the author of the highly acclaimed ebook
series, Web Design Mastery -- An eight volume (500+ pages)
in-depth guide to professional web design. Web Design
Mastery is being hailed as the "Bible" for professional web
design. http://www.webdesignmastery.com