Web Design and Graphics Room. Thread, Own Website

Boger · #1 16th-May-2006, 09:40 AM

Hi All I have a small business and would like to have a website so that people can see my stuff, so can someone set me on the right track as to were I need to go to get all the right griff on the subject. Thanks Boger

CPS · #2 16th-May-2006, 03:45 PM

First do you know the HTML required and how to use it, if not.
There is plenty of info, in this room and the IDF Archives, including several tutorials.
Also links to free HTML editors, plus many bits of info.
Assistance if required is available just ask.
As for a host for your site try "one and one" or your ISP may offer hosting for free.
As its a small business, it would pay to get your own Domain name.
Cost varies from £5 to £10 for two years, for a .co.uk,
you may be lucky and find the business name may be available to you.
See my post "why have your own domain name" in this room.

CPS · #3 16th-May-2006, 09:06 PM

If you have Microsoft office you can use "FrontPage" HTML editor, its good but some servers dont support it.
Reason like every thing MS does it uses and adds none standard code.
I use "Dreamweaver MX" and is considered the editor of choice but pricey.
Now IDF likes free stuff, I use the following free programs in rank order.

First choice is "Alleycode" a very good free HTML editor.
http://www.alleycode.com/

Second choice is "NVU" another good free one.
http://www.nvu.com/index.php

Uploading web files.
Now some hosts have there own inbuilt program to upload your website files.
Some hosts you have a choice of the above and your own FTP program.
Some hosts you have to have your own FTP program no other choice.
Now the best Free FTP program and I use it, is "FastTrack".
http://www.ftftp.com/products.htm

Boger · #4 17th-May-2006, 09:33 AM

Thanks fellas, I se I have a lot of reading to get through,

Skyrunner · #5 18th-May-2006, 01:55 AM

Well Boger, you seem all set for the first stage, you know what your website is FOR, and you probably have a good idea what you want to put on it.

Start by consolidating this, write your copy, get your images together, sketch out your design on paper, think about your colour scheme. Keep your design clean and simple, avoid bright coloured or patterned backgrounds. For a business site, animated gifs and the like are a definite no no.
Try to see your page through the eye of your visitor, is your important information prominent? How is your visitor able to navigate your site?

Is your site intended to just advertise and tell visitors about your business, or do you need to actually sell things online?

Next. as CPS says, you need to get yourself a domain name and a hosting package. These aren't expensive, a co.uk domain name can be obtained for about £2 per year, and a hosting package with e-mail boxes suitable for a decent sized site should be about £5 --- £10 per month. Have a look at 1&1 ( HERE ) for the sort of packages on offer, and there are plenty of other hosting companies offering similar deals.

Now you have to decide how you want to produce your site. Web design is a rather complex business, which is why it's a bit pricey to have a web designer do one for you. So is the actual construction of a web site something which would interest you? If it is, then by all means have a go, and remember, we are here to help you.

Another possibility may be the "website builder" function included with some hosting packages. As I'm a designed, I've never actually used one of these, but I understand they are a sort of "wysiwyg" (What-you-see-is-what-you-get) editor using templates to construct pages.

Boger · #6 18th-May-2006, 08:47 AM

Thanks for that Skyrunner will keep you informed of progress.

CPS · #7 19th-May-2006, 09:57 PM

As from now I will have more time available to me,
to assist you in any way, if you require it that is.
I am no expert by any means, I do it the simplest way possible, with less code than many host or ISP supplied editors do.
Some host and ISP editors add so much extra code for own promotion purposes.
This makes it very hard to edit your code or even locate it.

If you see a website you like the look of or its similar to how you want yours to look like.
Right click on the page and select "view source" in the pop up, this will show the code behind the page.
Another Tip is to locate "Notepad" in programs list and send as a shortcut to desk top.
Then drag it onto the quick launch bar, you will find this indispensable.

frenchy · #8 5th-June-2006, 09:24 AM

CPS

As I may consider helping my daughter in the future with a website, I have been reading this posting.

I am not even thinking about it yet as I take a long time over any new thing (I need to) but I noticed your tip about putting Notepad in the QLB.

a)what is the benefit? I am guessing to save bits needed for new site?

b)as I have always used Word and now oo2, I am always a bit puzzled when I hear Notepad reccommended, for example doing a HJT, where does it fit in with things.

Skyrunner · #9 5th-June-2006, 02:21 PM

Hi frenchy

Where html code for web pages is concerned, it's important to remember it must ALL be done in straight plain TEXT, with none of the formatting etc., that you can put in a Word document for example. Notepad is usually recommended to be used for writing code, especially for beginners, because all you can do with it is text. No chance to slip in a bit of Word formatting by mistake.

Like CPS, I have Notepad on my quick launch toolbar, and it's amazing how often I use it. Being a simple little program, it opens in an instant, and can, as you mention, be used for cut and pasting various odds and ends. But besides this, it's an ideal tool for web page coding, because it's just text... And that's all you want. :wink:

CPS · #10 5th-June-2006, 04:02 PM

Well Sky has answered that one for you, it has to be a plain text editor for code work and notepad is it.
Many people start with an HTML editor because it's easy and takes a lot of the work out of it.
But believe me once into code work the most important tool in the box, is the plain old notepad.
Many web authors only use notepad for all there work.

After a time you find that an HTML editor cannot do what you want, it does its own thing.
Notepad allows you to edit and modify the code to your needs, thats why notepad is so important to code work.

Notepad is found under start, accessories, R/click on it and send to to desktop as a shortcut.
Drag the shortcut on the quick launch bar and you have at your disposal.
Its very handy for all manner of things, copy and pasting info, composing a post for IDF, then just paste it in.

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