website hosting?

steve1980

FP 2003. Why anyone would still use that is beyond me.

paddyrg

Re-edited - a now-deleted post suggested the best tool for HTML was 'notepad' - not without merit 15 years back, but ...

I would have agreed on notepad back around 1996, but reading the OP, the user is not technical and starting from notepad isn't appropriate for a small business with real life time constraints and costs. This is why I suggest a simple, modern cms like drupalgardens where something pretty slick and corporate can be knocked up in 15 mins by a nontechnical user...

spenderdave

I think the OP is using 1&1's supplied software to design his site. I have no experience of that, but I suspect his problems are due to its limitations. You don't have to use that, use web design software on your own machine and forget about 1&1's. For somebody not too familiar with HTML Kompozer, the sequel to NVU, is probably best and there is loads of information available in their forums for beginners. Myself, I use HTMLKit, though that is only suitable for those who can code directly in HTML. I use 1&1 for my sites and it works just fine.

As for 'hosting', that is really about where you put your site and there are many options. It is a totally different subject from coding your site. 1&1 is as good as any.

jexygirl

Tho I fear recriminations, and also repeating myself ( I should copy paste the following 3 words!) I use Vistaprint ... for our website. I know alot of people frown upon it / them, but for easy to DIY web design / hosting for our buisness, it does what it says on the tin.

There are hundreds of designs, its REALLY simple to use (If I can use it, it must be!) and update, loads fast (even on my connection!) never goes down, I can have as many pictures as I want, whatever layout, I could change templates daily or probably hourly if I wanted to and its as simple as 1) pick the new one 2) apply 3) publish!.

To design the website is free, you can change what you like when and its hosted by them for the grand sum of £3.99 a month... no hidden extras and includes email, which can also be redirected wherever you want it to go if you choose, but is also checkable on the site if you are away or whatever.
I can get stats and details such as visitor numbers, what pages are viewed most etc. etc.

We have what we consider to be a decent enough looking website, easily manageable, I have pointed it to our domain name, which was easy and fast ( we own the domain seperately but it was about a tenner for 3 years or something!)

Not saying it would be appropriate for everyone, but for us, it works and does the job.

Jex

steve1980

jexygirl wrote: »

Tho I fear recriminations, and also repeating myself ( I should copy paste the following 3 words!) I use Vistaprint ... for our website. I know alot of people frown upon it / them, but for easy to DIY web design / hosting for our buisness, it does what it says on the tin.

There are hundreds of designs, its REALLY simple to use (If I can use it, it must be!) and update, loads fast (even on my connection!) never goes down, I can have as many pictures as I want, whatever layout, I could change templates daily or probably hourly if I wanted to and its as simple as 1) pick the new one 2) apply 3) publish!.

To design the website is free, you can change what you like when and its hosted by them for the grand sum of £3.99 a month... no hidden extras and includes email, which can also be redirected wherever you want it to go if you choose, but is also checkable on the site if you are away or whatever.
I can get stats and details such as visitor numbers, what pages are viewed most etc. etc.

We have what we consider to be a decent enough looking website, easily manageable, I have pointed it to our domain name, which was easy and fast ( we own the domain seperately but it was about a tenner for 3 years or something!)

Not saying it would be appropriate for everyone, but for us, it works and does the job.

Jex

£3.99 a month for a website is very expensive. I can do it for £10.00 a YEAR, with domain names from £2.99

jexygirl

steve1980 wrote: »

£3.99 a month for a website is very expensive. I can do it for £10.00 a YEAR, with domain names from £2.99

I know there are cheaper Steve, but I would also then need someone to design it do all the fancy coding etc. (previously used FP, and had it hosted) Which atm I don't as there are zillions of options and options on the zillions!. I design it, change my mind on templates to suit seasons or me!(womans perogative!) upload when I want, change things and put as many pics etc. on as well as access to stats and email etc.
Thats why I said, it won't be right for everyone, but it is for us for the current buisness.
Jex

steve1980

If you ever decide to leave Vistaprint then let me know. I'm sure something can be sorted out.

marvin

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

I am currenly using 1and1 to host both of my businesses websites.

I dont really understand too much about these sorts of things - although I am happy with one of the websites that I have, the other one is different and I am finding it hard to update the website (pictures wont download properly, I cant add tables etc.)

Can anyone recommend a really simple, straightforward hosting site? I am sick of messing around with this and might even just pay someone to sort it out for me at this rate!

I presume you are using 1&1's templates which are a pain to use!

As others have suggested you could use Wordpress (meant for blogs but designs good sites and easy to use) and Joomla (Content management) within 1&1 but you will need CGI (so that is the business plan and above.

Alternatives that are similar to 1&1 the main one being 123reg which includes both Wordpress and Joomla preinstalled in the package.

BTW I use notepad and yes I write all my own code it is theraputic if very slow! But there is a satisfaction in knowing everything that appears on the page is something I have created rather than just clicked a button. Sort of similar to microwave ready meals and making food from scratch.