Website editing - help!

chequeout

Hi all and thanks in advance!

I've recently bought a bar with a website - but have been concentrating on getting the bar itself up and running and have neglected the website up to now.

However, I now need to start looking at the website and updating it, adding a blog, etc. When the sale went through, the previous owner told me I'd need Dreamweaver or HTML building software to do this (which I'm willing to buy, no problems). However, can someone just confirm if I buy this, how do I get the log-in details of the website to match the software? I don't have any hosting details etc - I have literally the website with no idea of how to log in and change anything.... can I somehow get the software and "sync" it with the website with no log-in details? Or, will the previous owner have some kind of log-in details to do basic changes to the text, etc, and hasn't given me them?

I do have the domain hosting details - but no way of editing the text or making changes to the site itself.

Sorry, I'm being really useless - I am good with bars but not their websites!!! Thanks in advance guys :beer:

WilliamO

If you have the hosting details do they include a CPanel and/or FTP login details or just the fact that you (or the previous owner) have purchased some web hosting account?

If you have the FTP login details (DO NOT POST THEM ON THIS FORUM) you will be able to upload and download files to/from your website space - The hard drive space that is on the web hosting company's computer. The same space that has your webpages stored on it.

If you do not have any login details you will need to contact the previous owner, in which case they would technically be the current owner from the web hosting company's point of view. In other words, if you are paying for the web hosting then you should have the login details. Contact the actual web hosting company if you are unsure.

WilliamO

UsernameAlreadyExists

I am assuming it's all static HTML.

You will require domain name registration details as you'll need to renew it when it expires.

You will also require the web hosting details. (I am surprised this isn't costing you anything?) When you have this, you should have FTP access to it, and then you'll be able to retrieve your current website from it. You can download it to your own PC, fiddle about with it, using ... as they've suggested a Dreamweaver (not used that myself) or A.N.Other HTML editor, and when you're happy with it running locally on your PC, you can upload it to the webhost and it'll be "on the internet".

You should put a sign up behind your bar looking for a web developer to help you would and then bribe them with beer

chequeout

Thanks all so, so much, it really is appreciated.

I've actually decided to transfer the website URL to a completely brand spanking new hosting site and start the website from scratch but keeping the same web URL. I think this is a good idea as I don't actually like the current website design and I think it should be a brand new looking site to mark the change of ownership, a new chapter for the bar, etc.

How would you go about this? I have the hosting and domain registration details and it seems relatively straightforward to transfer the website URL to another design site. Can anyone recommend a cheapish and relatively straightforward website design site? I don't want bells and whistles on the site, but definitely something where I can upload photographs and also do a weekly blog, etc. No need for music, videos or anything tooooo advanced. And will the process be relatively straightforward?

To sum up, I want to transfer the current website URL (I have the hosting details etc but no way of changing the website content) to another design site so I can start from scratch and create a new looking website using this same URL. Is this straightforward? Even possible? Any recommendations?

Thanks so much in advance

WilliamO

You need to go to a new web hosting company's website and buy some web hosting space (website space) whereby that website will then ask: Do you need a domain name (https://www.whatever.com) to go with that web space or Do you want to use an existing domain name (i.e. your current domain name). You basically say you want to use your own domain name. This will hook up your current domain name (i.e. https://www.chequeout.com) to that web space.....you do not need to do anything else at this point.

After some time you will receive an e-mail from your new web hosting company stating Congrats......Here are your new login details and FTP details (needed for uploading files to your new web space).

With that in place you now need a website designer, html editor (if you are doing the design by hand) or website package such as WebPlus X6. It really depends on whether or not you are going to make the website design yourself. Either way, you and/or the web designer will need your FTP details in order to connect to your web space and upload your new website files.

WilliamO

booler

I am a web designer and I can tell you that doing it yourself will either be quite fulfilling or it will break your heart. I suspect the latter.

Another option would be for you to get a web designer to set up your site on a CMS (Content Management System). A CMS is system that allows you to make changes and additions to the website yourself without breaking anything. You should be able to get something like this set up for about £500.