Newbie Web Designer Advice Please

Doonhamer

I'm currently designing a fairly basic HTML web site for a small family business using Dreamweaver. I can do most of the basics but really am just learning as I go from the tutorials.

Does anyone have any good tips for a beginner, things to do or not do?

How much does it cost to get a good domain name and to have the pages hosted? It will be only be a few pages with text and pictures. Who should I use?

Any tips on how to get more hits from search engines? Should I have add banners and counters, or is there something else I should consider having on the pages. Links to suppliers?

Any advice welcome.

intel

Domain and Hosting https://www.34sp.com

Site Submission http://www.google.co.uk/addurl/?hl=en&continue=/addurl

Dreamweaver

http://www.dreamweavermadesimple.com/index.htm
http://www.macromedia.com/support/dreamweaver/tutorial_index.html
http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/Dreamweaver/1
http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/authoring/tools/tutorials/tutorial1.html

And do a search on this site for, website or website promotion

Or Just trawl the techie forum as there is a plethera of stuff.

gunneradt

the key to search engines is good clean code (unfortunately dreamweaver code is not very clean) and good content containing keywords. The more good content the better. make each page 250 words min. and dont use a hit counter - it's a bit naff.

Doonhamer wrote:

I'm currently designing a fairly basic HTML web site for a small family business using Dreamweaver. I can do most of the basics but really am just learning as I go from the tutorials.

Does anyone have any good tips for a beginner, things to do or not do?

How much does it cost to get a good domain name and to have the pages hosted? It will be only be a few pages with text and pictures. Who should I use?

Any tips on how to get more hits from search engines? Should I have add banners and counters, or is there something else I should consider having on the pages. Links to suppliers?

Any advice welcome.

Doonhamer

Should I go for .com or .co.uk

Does it make any difference with search engines? It's just for a small local joinery business.

intel

.co.uk Is better for a UK Business, Mines .co.uk
No real difference but users will see its located in the UK and not somewhere
on the web as any country can have com, if its com it may discourage visits.

gunneradt

.co.uk are generally cheaper to buy - i would advise .co.uk too.

wolfman

On the other hand though .com gives a more global view, it doesn't just apply to the US. Can make you seem bigger than you are which can be good for business. I always buy .com if I can, but then again I don't own a business (it's all portfolio's and personal stuff). For what you stated though .co.uk would be better.