I need to build a website.

dazzer68

Hi i have a small business ( a b&b) and would like a small website for it. On gumtree today, template nerds are offering a website deal for £25. I know i need a website address and hosting it on the internet, but how does it all come together? 123.reg do a cheap hosting package and name, but which do i do first? Do the website, or get the hosting, im a bit confused as to how i bring it all together and put it on the web. Any help much apprecitated. Thanks

bob_a_builder

for just a simple brochure type of thing which you can easily control content

Try HERE

dsavvy83

dazzer68 wrote: »

Hi i have a small business ( a b&b) and would like a small website for it. On gumtree today, template nerds are offering a website deal for £25. I know i need a website address and hosting it on the internet, but how does it all come together? 123.reg do a cheap hosting package and name, but which do i do first? Do the website, or get the hosting, im a bit confused as to how i bring it all together and put it on the web. Any help much apprecitated. Thanks

First of all i would gather up all the content and information you want to put on the website, such as text, pictures etc...

I will then try and purchase a domain name and web space you can choose whatever host you want, 123reg is ok, i personally use Falcoda they are good and really cheap to start with. Remember you can always transfer service provider at the end of year of contract, or during is not a problem.

I will then look at what type of information your competitors are putting on the website, I truly believe a professional looking website will reflect also on your B&B and what potential customers can expect from you.

Also think about will you be constantly changing information such as prices? events etc... because you will probably need a basic content management system.

Whilst you are designing this site think about usability and ease of use, always make sure your contact details are readily available.

You can design this site offline if you are just using HTML/CSS. But if you are going to make it dynamic you will need PHP/MYSQL, which will require you download and use a WAMP(Windows Apache Mysql PHP) environment to run the website. But if you are not too technical you will definitely require a Web designer who can do this quite easily for you.

The easiest solution would be too sign up with your hosting provider and they offer you free websites you can use and adapt it to your needs, but they tend to be quite boring and limited.

I hope this is enough?

steve1980

The "template nerds" will just use the same template and change some colours on it, also is this a standard HTML template or is this written with a content management system in mind?

A .co.uk domain name will be around £7.50 for 2 years with hosting starting at £19.99.

You can get free hosting but for the small outlay of £27.49 for the first year (which will be covered 10 fold by the letting of one room) is it worth risking your website disappearing when the free host gives up or even worse deletes your site!

dazzer68

Thanks or your replies, although most of it i have no clue what your saying! Lol. Ill look at the other sites mentioned and have a play in the week.thanks.

richt71

Dazzer,
Let me break it down for you here. You need:-

A website designed OR
A website you make yourself (maybe not an option if not computer savy) OR
A website template you can place info into

You then need a hosting company..think of this as a parking place to put your car. Hosts charge depending on how many visitors you get per month to your website. The more visitors the more it may cost. But then hopefully the more bookings you get.
I like hostgator. You can get a basic account for about £4 a month with them.
Lastly if you want a unique name rather than hostgator.com/12345565/b&b you could have londonb&b.co.uk. As stated 123reg.co.uk is the place to go to buy a name. £7 for 2 years.
Get your hosting first. They'll give you 2 unique dns servers (these are like house numbers). You put these numbers in when you buy your domain and it'll send everyone to your website.
Lastly you need to upload your website.

dsavvy83

dazzer68 wrote: »

Thanks or your replies, although most of it i have no clue what your saying! Lol. Ill look at the other sites mentioned and have a play in the week.thanks.

Hi

Why don't you tell us what you will be expecting from the website to do for you?

oh and Falcoda internet is offering everything with mysql and php for £35.90 for 3 years which is a pretty good deal. And they loads of extra features which you can use.

I've never had any issues with them.

dazzer68

Hi, id like to just have a presence on the web. A few pictures, some text. And info on the business. Im not after booking online type of stuff, or online date vacancies, just a site people can find us on, check us out, and maybe then book via email or phone.im on lots pf bed and breakfast directory sites, and they have links to 'your website' which i dont yet have to maybe a useful tool.i had a 'freewebspace' site whuch was ok but the templates werent that attractive and the years sub has expired.

chunter

• contact page : to include

• to include a map, (almost certainly a google map so directions can be expunged.)
• formfill. for those who don't have an email
• contact details including phone and email.

• information page : to include
  • how many rooms
  • photos of rooms
  • prices?
  • general info on b&b inc location, how far to town centre, hotels,
  • visa amex etc logos to show you take credit cards

A decent web designer should be able to knock one of these out in an hour. Prob talking about 100 quid including the seo, the year's hosting, and the domain name. Price around.

dsavvy83

dazzer68 wrote: »

Hi, id like to just have a presence on the web. A few pictures, some text. And info on the business. Im not after booking online type of stuff, or online date vacancies, just a site people can find us on, check us out, and maybe then book via email or phone.im on lots pf bed and breakfast directory sites, and they have links to 'your website' which i dont yet have to maybe a useful tool.i had a 'freewebspace' site whuch was ok but the templates werent that attractive and the years sub has expired.

If you want a professional looking website you are better of buying your own hosting with domain name, like the one i have listed and then hire a website designer to knock you one up, but before you do make sure he shows you his previous work as some designers have no idea they just knock up some badly designed websites, I have seen some shocking work online.

But if you are looking to do your own site, there is plenty of information out there for tips on good design and code and people plenty of more well informed forums designed for people like you.

Cash-Cow_3

dazzer68 wrote: »

Hi, id like to just have a presence on the web. A few pictures, some text. And info on the business. Im not after booking online type of stuff, or online date vacancies, just a site people can find us on, check us out, and maybe then book via email or phone.im on lots pf bed and breakfast directory sites, and they have links to 'your website' which i dont yet have to maybe a useful tool.i had a 'freewebspace' site whuch was ok but the templates werent that attractive and the years sub has expired.

I would strongly urge you to include availability on your site. One of the most frustrating things I find is locating a place to stay only to find I've got to ring up and see if a room is free. I don't ring up and move on to the next place.