Help! I've just volunteered to do up a website for a charity

JenniO

HI all

As the title says, because I have a bit of computer knowledge I have volunteered to create a website for a charity type organisation in my town and they really needed help.

I don't know how to do html code but I could probably find my way through some sort of WYSIWYG software (or like template websites). I don't think their website would require more than 5 pages.

They don't have a budget at all per se, so finding a way to put their low maintenance website up and running the cheapest way possible is paramount.

I do believe however that they have already purchased their domain name.

If anyone can try to explain what I should do in simple terms I would be most grateful!

mparter

First of all, you need to find out why they want a website, what they want to advertise/publish and how they want to do it. Next you need to discuss with them a taxonomy for the site (a structure of how the site is organised/categorised).

Once you've got a good understanding of this, you can then look at "designing" a site for them although I'm guessing by your post, you'd probably be best using a free/open source template (such as http://www.freecsstemplates.org/).

Break it down into managable chunks. 5 pages isn't a lot to start off with but sometimes once they get a feel for what's possible, it'll grow arms and legs so you also need to agree on what you will actually be delivering for them as it could become a rod for your own back if you don't.
Good luck :beer:

Farway

You could look at Serif WYSIWYG, free download here

http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/WebPlus/default.asp

with upgrade for a tenner

For five pages it should be no problem using this for a "shop window" site

PS another free alternative WYSIWG is Netobjects Fusion essentials

at http://www.netobjects.com/html/essentials.html


I use both, and have no real problems with basic sites

Marty_J

You might give Google Sites a try.

JenniO

Hi!

Google Sites looked great but there were 2 questions I had and I couldn't find the answers and thought someone might know.

Does the website get hosted for free??? It's the hosting that's got me concerned now that people have shown me free templates. Again, I'm pretty sure they have already bought a domain name.

What about a way to email? If I wanted the website to show the charity's email address, can this go through google sites and they would get the email received to them for free????

Basically what costs are still involved to get the google site website up and running for all to see?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jen

Conor_3

JenniO wrote: »

Hi!

Google Sites looked great but there were 2 questions I had and I couldn't find the answers and thought someone might know.

Does the website get hosted for free??? It's the hosting that's got me concerned now that people have shown me free templates. Again, I'm pretty sure they have already bought a domain name.

What about a way to email? If I wanted the website to show the charity's email address, can this go through google sites and they would get the email received to them for free????

Basically what costs are still involved to get the google site website up and running for all to see?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jen

If you don't even know how to do that lot which is basically "website building 1.01", you are completely the wrong person to be doing this. It's not like knocking up a poster in Word. And yes, although you can use WYSIWYG, 9/10 you end up having to edit some of the code by hand (usually image links) and some things, such as opening a link in a new window, you won't know how to do because you're completely unaware of how its done (target=)

I suggest you tell them that you don't know anything about creating a website and they'd be better going elsewhere.

Buy yourself a Dummies book on website building, do a few of your own and go from there. What you're wanting to do for this charity is for someone who has experience of doing them already.

M4RKM

totally agree with Conor here.... and it is amazing what you can learn from these things called Books...

It is how i learned how to HTML code back in the 90's... (damn.. over 10 years ago!!!!)

wallbash

JenniO lets give you some help , Yes borrow/buy a book but what have you or your fortunate charity got to lose. Have a go.

You have had some good advice, but if you want to keep it really simple try
freewebs. Template based. If you can write and send an email , you can get a web site up and running.And yes its as easy as 'poster in Word'

thomas01155

Have a look here they have free hosting and some nice free templates http://www.zymic.com/ all you have to do is edit the templates in a website editor and upload them.
Free Editors
http://net2.com/nvu/download.html
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/Overview.html

Conor_3

thomas01155 wrote: »

Have a look here they have free hosting and some nice free templates http://www.zymic.com/ all you have to do is edit the templates in a website editor and upload them.
Free Editors
http://net2.com/nvu/download.html
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/Overview.html

Which is of no use whatsoever as the OP has no idea how webhosting works.

wallbash

Some nice ideas thomas01155 lets think positive.