Lordy Lordy Look Who�s Forty Dot Com

Want to really click with friends and loved ones? Give them a web site.

Your brother is having a milestone birthday. Or your parents are celebrating a big anniversary. Or you want to suck up a rich uncle. Whatever. Give them something truly amazing: a homemade, just-for them web site.

No, you don�t have to be a programmer or �power user,� whatever that is. Tools now exist to do the technical stuff for you. All you have do is figure what to put in. In fact, creating a site is a whole lot easier than you think�a happy little secret you don�t have to share with your uncle.

On the simplest level, all you�ll need is a trusty home computer (either PC or Mac will do), and a company that hosts web sites. Many offer easy-to-use software packages that help you put the site together, and some even offer forms to fill out that automatically do it for you. Pricing is pretty darn good, so you won�t break the bank giving a gift that truly �keeps on giving.�

          Get the whole story on having your own web site.

Start with the vitals: Where and when the honoree was born, parents, siblings, pets and other important members of the family.

Include pictures. Photographs say it all, from formal sittings to moments when somebody�s guard was let down, to pictures of important events.

          Not sure how to get those photos and pictures onto your computer?

Get a domain name, it�s like the bow on top of the box. Your gift site will have an immediate appeal with an address that tells you exactly what it is, like www.alsbirthday.com. Plus, it�s much easier to remember than an address that�s longer (and duller) than the first chapter of Silas Marner.

          Want the lowdown on how to be master of your domain?

Add a list of links. Almost every personal web site features a page of links to other sites (after all, linking to other sites is a big part of the Internet) that introduces viewers to hobbies, professional skills, and other areas of personal interest.

List the site in search engines and directories. This will allow people to find the site just by typing in your honoree�s name, and you can actually present a list of where it�s listed on line when you present it.

          Not sure exactly what difference between a search engine 
          and directory is?

Lists of favorites � songs, jokes, recipes, books, whatever your honoree enjoys.

Pages dedicated to special events in the person�s life (a wedding, graduation, etc.).

A link to e-mail the honoree will give those not able to make the celebration a chance to send a greeting via the Internet.

And finally � unveil the web site with a group of friends along with the honored guest (doing it at a party is even better). You�re right � the Internet is rarely a group activity around the same computer, but in this case you�ll find the results only add to the celebratory atmosphere.

          Looking for tips on getting your website act together?