How to Make a Cuda Web Page for the Plymouth Barracuda Web Ring -- the Oldest and Largest on the Internet.

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A Primer on How to Create a Cuda Web Page for the Ring

Interesting Barracuda sites are always welcome to join the ring. If you don't already have a Cuda Web site, or have never done a Web page before, the Ring Master hopes this primer will help.

1. You need an idea for the 'content' for your site. For example:
   • You already own a Barracuda -- describe it and show pictures
   • You once owned one, but have stories and photos to share, even if you wrecked it ...
   • You have a good 'tech' article with pictures, like how to replace a Cuda's headliner
   • You can describe all the different engines that were installed in Barracudas
   • You can cover in detail a specific configuration, like the HemiCuda
   • For special topics, surf the ring first to make sure that a site doesn't already cover it well
2. You need Web server space.
   • Check with your internet service provider (ISP) to see if server space is already included -- often 10 megabytes (MB). If not available, there are many other 'hosts' available:
   • Avoid the free hosts that put ad banners, etc. on your page, or are slow. Won't impress the Ring Master and web surfers.
   • There are many low-cost hosts, like 1and1.com, doteasy.com, etc. that will also include registration of a unique domain name (like www.my1974barracuda.com).
3. Get application software to upload your files to the server.
   • Your browser may already have limited capabilities built-in
   • Try Download.com to find 'free' file transfer protocol (FTP) programs
   • The Ring Master likes WS_FTP95 LE, or the newer version
   • Some servers require 'secure socket layer' (SSL) or similar secure connections and transfer applications (check with the server's administrator)
4. Write your Web pages
   • There are lots of 'web page maker' applications such as MS's FrontPage, or
   • Learn HyperText Markup Language (HTML), and possibly style sheets
   • If you learn HTML, any file editor, like MS Notepad, can be used
   • There are many HTML-help websites, like http://www.htmlhelp.com/reference/html40/alist.html
   • Right-click on interesting webpages, like this one, and 'view page source' to help learn HTML
   • If that doesn't work, try your 'view' pull-down menu, and select 'source'
5. Add interesting graphics
   • Title and other banners can be made for free at various sites such as flamingtext.com
   • Backgrounds, dividers, arrows, and other graphics are also available
   • Pictures can be made with a digital camera, drawn in software, or scanned-in
   • The most widely used file formats are .jpg or .gif -- use them
   • Animated files are large, so use them sparingly (you want your site to load fast)
   • Use an optimizer, like Hemera NetGraphics, to dramatically shrink your graphics' file sizes without losing much or any on-screen resolution
   • A good rule of thumb is to keep most pictures below 30 kB. Don't upload multi-MB pictures directly from your camera! Run them through a Web optimizer first.
6. Be sure to put your contact information on your site
   • But beware that if your e-mail address is machine-readable, you'll get lots more spam
   • Get a spam filter, like Postini, if you or your ISP doesn't already have one
7. Upload your HTML, graphics, and other files to your server
   • Create a separate directory for each of your Web sites, and store all the site's files in it
   • Why? If you don't, your main server directory will quickly get out of control (experience talking ...)
8. Test view your website, revise, test, revise, test, ...
9. Have someone else review your site, and then edit it using his/her suggestions
10. Once substantially complete, submit your site for the Barracuda Web Ring! Also to Google, Yahoo, etc.