Request for assistance on making a website

V-S-210

I want to make my own website a business I'm starting and would like some advise on where I can go to get it made?

A quick google search for 'make a free website' brings back wix (which I'm not keen on as it's based in America), freewebs and moonfruit; what's your opinion on these "Free website builders"?

I'm not too bothered about having my own domain name yet as I want to get the format and site right first. I plan to sell stuff and will need a paypal or alternative secure and reputable payment thing added at somepoint.

Thanks in advance!

Elle7

If you are going to sell things you'll need something a bit more professional then these websites can offer most of the time - they use common templates, which are very identifiable. Also, if you don't have your own domain name, people might not be happy to buy from you.

Just something to keep in mind!

V-S-210

Thanks for that Elle, yeah, I do intend to purchase my own domain name once I'm happy with the format and it's ready to go live. The most important thing I want to get right is receiving payment from customers as I don't want the website host to mess me about and the paypal system to work properly!!

wonka

If you're planning to sell products or services from your web site, it's unlikely you'll achieve it without spending some money. There are some free tools out there that you could use (e.g. Magento), but you'll need somebody experienced at using them to help you, so you'll have to pay them.

Sites like Moonfruit entice you with great promises, but you'll soon end up tearing your hair out - you'll have to work the way they insist and accept any restrictions. You want it to be more flexible? Well, they offer extra paid-for subscription services to reel you in.... :-)

No such thing as a free lunch.

InsideInsurance

Why should your customers spend money on your website when you yourself will not?

Domains cost a few pounds and getting well ranked on search engines takes months so best to buy the domain now and at least start getting it indexed.

You can use a free engine like Magento, a free template, a home made logo but it will not be fully optimised, will look like the other 10,000 sites that have chosen the same logo or if you decide to do the whole template home made then it will look amateurish. None of these things are good for a new start business. If you believe in your idea then invest in it, it doesnt need to be thousands, if you dont believe in your idea enough to invest in it then walk away now and save yourself the disappointment.

googler

I wouldn't treat seriously any business that didn't have its own domain, whether in the name of the business, or in the name of their product or selling proposition.....

If the business is Joe's Widgets, I expect a domain www . joeswidgets . com, or similar - widgetsbyjoe, etc etc

In a similar way, I don't take businesses with btinternet, hotmail, gmail addresses seriously......

V-S-210

Useful stuff and I agree about the domain name. I know what business I want to set up but the reason I haven't decided on a domain name yet is because I haven't thought of a name for the business yet. I didn't want to register a company name and domain name before getting the business sorted! Once I've decided on a suitable name for the company and website, where's a good place to buy a domain name? Is 123-reg.co.uk good?

InsideInsurance

123-reg is as good as any, never personally had any problems with them though some do complain about the customer service if you do need to contact them.

V-S-210

Thanks peeps! Just so you know, I'm not looking for the cheapest but want superb customer service and quality too - what you pay is what you get afterall! So will check out all the options (not just 1and1 and 123-reg) so have been doing a lot of googlering recently!

Anyone experienced Cloud Web Hosting?