When someone--even it it's just a friend--visits your new web site, you want to have something for him or her to see. Just as importantly, you want to have something out there for the search engines to find. In some search engines, you may get extra points for having been around a long time. Creating a home page starts the clock ticking.

Now you're going to see how easy it is to add content to your web site with Drupal. Follow these steps:

• Start your browser and type the name of your web site into the address bar. Append the word "user." It should look like "http://www.20MinuteWebBusiness.com/user" but with your own domain name instead of the one for this site.
• Type the user name and password you entered for your "first" or administrative account. Then click the Log in button.
• Under the admin heading in the menu on the left-hand side, click the Create content link.
• You'll see two choices: Page and Story. There's not much difference between the two but we'll discuss that later. For now, click the Story link to start a "story."
• Choose EITHER Task 1 OR Task 2 below to create a temporary home page, depending on which one describes your web site better. Copy and paste the text or type it into the Body field of the Story form. Change the information between the square brackets "[" and "]" to be appropriate for your web site. Delete the square brackets as well. Make any other changes you wish; the text below is just a draft to help you get started. You can even put something completely different if you wish.

Task 1. Tell about Your Product

If you have a product to sell, write something like this. (To save time, you can copy and paste it. Then edit it to change the information in the square brackets.)

Here at [your domain name], we're getting ready to share with <em>you</em> one of the most exciting products we've ever found. It's called <strong>[your product name]</strong>. <p /> The reason we're so excited is that [your product name]: <ul> <li>[List your top benefit here.]</li> <li>[List your second benefit here.]</li> <li>[List your third benefit here.]</li> </ul> If you'd like to know more about [your product name], please email us at <a href="mailto:[your email address]">[your email address]</a> or phone us at [your phone number]. <p /> Thanks for your interest in [your product name]!

Task 2. Link to Some Content

If you're not directly selling a product, but hope to lure customers with your content instead, write something like this. (To save time, you can copy and paste it. Then edit it to change the information in the square brackets.)

Welcome to [your domain name]! We're working to turn this into the premier site on the Web about [your subject matter]. If all goes well, we'll have some fascinating information here by [your self-imposed deadline]. <p /> If you'd like us to let you know when there's more to the site or if you have a question or comment, please email us at <a href="mailto:[your email address]">[your email address]</a> or phone us at [your phone number]. <p /> Meanwhile, here are some links to what we consider the best content on the web about [your subject matter] at the moment. We hope you find it useful. <ul> <li><a href="www.[domainname1].com" target="_new">[Description of 1st link]</a></li> <li><a href="www.[domainname2].com" target="_new">[Description of 2nd link]</a></li> <li><a href="www.[domainname3].com" target="_new">[Description of 3rd link]</a></li> >/ul> <p /> Thank you for visiting. Please be sure to come back and see us again soon!

Add a Title

Just above the Body section, you'll find a field for Title. Type in a title for your home page. If nothing else comes to mind, try:

[Your product name] Home Page

or

[Your subject matter] Home Page

Configure and Save the Home Page

Next you need to set a couple of options for the page.

• Scroll down the page until you find a link that says URL path settings. Click on it. Type the word "home" in the field that appears.
• Scroll further down the page and find the link that says Publishing options. Click on it and uncheck the box for Promoted to the front page so that Drupal doesn't treat your home page as if it were a blog entry. But leave the Published box checked so Drupal will display the page.
• Click the Submit button to save your work.

Put the Site Back Online

Finally, you need to put the site back online so visitors can see it.

• Under the admin menu, click the Administer link.
• Click Site configuration and then Site maintenance.
• Click the Online radio button and the Submit button.
• Now, click the Home link at the top of the page to see what you created.