Free software to build a website

highrisklowreturn

Hi,


Can anyone recommend any free software to make a business website that's free and intuitive to use?

Also can anyone advise how to get about getting a web page or domain name for my business, and if I have to pay for this?


Thanks

SailorSam

http://www.google.com/search?q=make%20my%20own%20website%27&sitesearch=&btnG=Search&num=50&

highrisklowreturn

Wow that's so funny - maybe you're too dense to realise I already did that and was hit with pay only sites, and am therefore looking help to navigate these.

Now !!!! off.

SailorSam

I don't understand how you find that funny, all those links appear to start with the magic word ,,,,, FREE !
It's Ok you don't have to say Thanks
Google it yourself next time.

WilliamO

you can use moonfruit.com, wix.com, webs.com etc for creating a free website. Some free website creators allow a free domain name too. You also have people like bt and talktalk who offer a free webspace with domain name (I.e. www.william.talktalk.net).

If you can do HTML I would recommend PSPad or Komodo.On the other hand serif do their free version of web plus:

http://www.serif.com/web-design-software/

or you could buy an earlier version from pcworld for £10. There are other £10 cds from pcworld for creating website. For £20 or so there is Mr Site.

It really depends on exactly what it is you are after. Namecheap or godaddy are cheap for an actual (real) domain name.

Personally I would never use anything too cheap for a business (i.e. talktalk offering) purely because although their services may be great, having www.william.talktalk.net as your website address is very unprofessional in my opinion. It's like those people who spend hundreds of pounds having a professional website made and then fail by using [EMAIL="william@hotmail.com"]william@hotmail.com[/EMAIL] for example.

WilliamO

sekrapa

I have created many sites in the past using Netobjects Fusion software. They do a free version http://netobjects.com/html/essentials.html but have not tried that one. It is a drag and drop system with auto linking and page creation, plus templates to use.

It would be best to get a hosting company to host the site rather than free space with web providers. There are many out there, I have used http://www.webtapestry.net/hosting.html at £30 per year for the basic package and also http://www.34sp.com/professional-hosting at £4 per month for the basic package. Both have been good, with 34sp having a better uptime in my opinion.

Mikebellows

Serif software is very easy to use - And you get fantastic results.

http://www.serif.com/web-design-software/

There full-blown / up-to-date software is less than £100 to buy...

http://www.serif.com/webplus/

And their forum support community is fantastic...

http://forums.serif.com/forumdisplay.php?f=13

Hope this helps ;-)

sonata

Hi,

There are numerous websites and programs available to make free websites, however it depends on how techy you are and how hands-on you want to make it. Are you comfortable with HTML or Flash, or would you rather have a template that you can just slap your information into?

Wix.com has been mentioned, however I have used wix for my own personal sites and you don't need to have a working knowledge of HTML or Flash in order to use it. Like all other FREE websites, be prepared for some small advertising (this is what you get for getting the site for free after all). Wix offers both the website creation, so no software needed, you handle it all online through their website (which also has already created site templates!) Plus, you can also get the domain through them as well as some advert goodies.

Wordpress is another options that also has free website software, and can be used for more than just blog-style websites. Be warned that unless you have a domain, your website address will list as "something.wordpress.com". You are required to pay for a domain mapping upgrade in order to use your domain to "point" to the wordpress site.

Domain names need to be purchased and will be registered with WHOIS. A pay for option will allow you to privatize your name behind a stock address or PO Box listing. Be wary of cheap or amazingly inexpensive domains ( $0.99 etc.) and actually take the time to read the fine print as some domains listed for a low cost may only cost that for the first month or couple of months, after which you are subjected to actual costs.

Register with a known company and weigh out your options. The internet's the limit in this case...

responsivedesign

moonfruit.com, wix.com - easy to use and no need for any programming skills.

You can use WP or C5 (concrete5 cms), some hosting companies give it for free in hosting package.


But like with everything that is free, you will be limited to templates, that are in use by hundreds of businesses.

Best choice is to find value for money designer, and get something bespoke, that work on desktops and mobiles (responsive design)
The time you spend on trying to do website (and the quality of it) you can spend on building you business.

Try freelancer.com or odesk.com I'm sure you will find someone in budget

Good Luck!

Laz123

Mikebellows wrote: »

Serif software is very easy to use - And you get fantastic results.

http://www.serif.com/web-design-software/

There full-blown / up-to-date software is less than £100 to buy...

http://www.serif.com/webplus/

And their forum support community is fantastic...

http://forums.serif.com/forumdisplay.php?f=13

Hope this helps ;-)

I've used Serif but the only drawback is you can only publish to their hosting site/s which is free for 30 days then you have to pay £29.99 per year.

pledgeX

For making the website, look up Wordpress.

For hosting the website, look up Vidahost.

I've never made/hosted a website before but I used these two several months ago to make a website for my mate who's starting up as a self employed electrician and it was a piece of cake.

Wordpress has loads of pre-set templates, so I reckon you'll find one you like, but if you don't you can always customise it to your liking, which is what I did with my limited html/CSS knowledge and a lot of googling!