need advice to build a website

jasperconran

Hi all,

May seem like a daft question but I need some help/advice. I am starting a new business venture of my own:j and need to build a website.

Now, I've already got the domain names sorted, and I am pretty good with computers. But feel a bit daunted about building the website myself. Have been quoted quite alot of money for someone to do it for me.

So I was wondering if there was anyone out there who could advise me and point me in the right direction?

thanks

jaydeeuk1

Reason it costs a fair bit is its not the sort of thing you can hack together in 5 minutes.

What sort of website are you looking for? A basic information type website with just a few pages, or one with a backend, database and ordering system?

At the very least you'll need to learn some basic HTML (using an editor like dreamweaver helps), you'll probably need photoshop or (free)equivilent for graphics, and then different browers to test on. And thats for the basic site. Fancier stuff can be done with javascript, and if you want the full monty, put aside a few months to learn about databases and server side languages.

http://www.w3schools.com/ is a good place to start though

erasion

There are a number of web site design packages out there of varying quality and ease of use. Many are similar to using a DTP package though they lack the flexibility of the more complex products.

I find NetObjects Fusion suitable for day-to-day web work; a free limited function version is available at http://netobjects.com/html/essentials.html

thebyp

If you are looking at anything slightly more complex that a page or two it really is worth getting somebody in to do you a design, at least to start with.

Learning to code a professional site that will portray the right business image is not something you can throw together quickly.

steve1980

How much have you been quoted? What type of website do you want?

wantsout

what you do depends on the business. first impressions count.

there are also some people out there making a living as "web designers" that are doing some really bad work :-(

template based stuff can look pretty decent, wordpress or tumblr are quite easy to set up and use.

[Deleted User]

Can I recommend that you buy this book and read it before you make your site?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-Make-Think-Usability-Circle-Com/dp/0789723107

Even if you plan to get someone to design your site for you, this book will give you great incite in how to write the content and design the general look of your site.

mj12_2

As everyone said above it really depends what you want it to do.

A basic html page can be put together in 5 minutes with a good editor, if you need a more complex site then you'll need to learn at least some HTML,CSS,PHP and if u need a database MYSQL.

the easiest way to approach the problem is to break down what you need into processes then learn how to implement each stage.

With a bit of time on google you can find plenty of pre-made php/js scripts to do most common tasks.

Let us know more about what you want the site to do????

Mythuan

I also want to build a website - but what I'm looking for is a free web host that isn't too complicated.
I've tried http://0000free.com/hosting.html but I'm just stuck on servers, etc. Any suggestions?

As far as presenting the site once I've got it, I'm planning to use Wordpress - it's pretty popular and their portfolio seems quite high standard:
http://wordpress.org/
not sure how much easier it'll be but it's got to be better than starting from scratch!

mj12_2

Mythuan, I've used hostgator for a few years and they are cheap and good :-) its costs about 7quid a month, based in america but fast and 24/7 live chat support. Most free hosting is very limited on what they will let you do,

When you say you're stuck on servers what do you mean?

rexmedorum

mj12 wrote: »

As everyone said above it really depends what you want it to do.

A basic html page can be put together in 5 minutes with a good editor, if you need a more complex site then you'll need to learn at least some HTML,CSS,PHP and if u need a database MYSQL.

the easiest way to approach the problem is to break down what you need into processes then learn how to implement each stage.

With a bit of time on google you can find plenty of pre-made php/js scripts to do most common tasks.

Let us know more about what you want the site to do????

True and there are free CSS templates & stock photographs available on the net, I have been able to make decent designs this way despite a distinct lack of design talent :rotfl: