How to build a personal website? Advice needed please

bgscotty

Hello!

I would be grateful for any advice/ comments:

Last year, I registered a domain name via bravenet.com, and have free hosting with them.

I have used their basic, free website templates to build a few holding pages of my personal website.

As a hobby for 2008, I'd really like to build up my website.

It wouldn't be commercial, rather it would be a personal website (to feature stuff like photos, blogs, creative writing, video messages, etc and to use as an online "non-business" card).

Basically, a funky website about me!!! Just for fun... Hopefully a wee bit jazzy... A step beyond my Myspace page...

Unfortunately, I'm a complete amateur with web design and I have no knowledge of HTML or any similar stuff- though I'd be interested in learning the basics.

Can anyone give me initial pointers to how to go about creating a personal website?

Also, can you recommend a source of website building tools- for example, easy-to-use templates etc.

Finally, as mentioned, I own a domain name and have free hosting with
Bravenet.com.

Can someone tell me what this actually means, and is it better to consider paid-for hosting in order to easily build a modestly groovy website. Any pointers?

Like with any hobby, I'm happy to invest time and a reasonable amount of pocket money! :rotfl:

Any advice/ comments gratefully received.

Thank you in advance.

Scotty

ormus

if its a purely personal website then stick to a free hosting service with its adverts.
any more serious stuff and id go for a web hosting service. fairly cheap these days. say 10/20 quid per annum.
as regards designs etc... there are thousands of free templates on the net.
if you have access to a prog like dreamweaver, its very easy to "borrow" any websites basic source code and then modify it to your liking. either slightly or a lot?
makes the whole process much quicker. yes you can do it from scratch but it can be painfully slow for a learner.
remember graphic design is a real skill. as with most skills, borrow off the pros. dont try to reinvent the wheel.

ps. as well as looking at great webpages, look at some really bad ones too! itll show you what you shouldnt do!

prost

http://www.!!!!!!.lycos.com is a good place to learn basic stuff.

chunter

1) what about the likes of facebook? i have never been on their website, but is that a bit of a step up from myspace.

2) building a 'groovy' website from scratch is out. too complicated and you'll find the first few attempts at websites are 'square'

3) does bravenet have site templates in it's control panel?

4) go to ebay and pay £2 for 1000 websites templates. you're bound to find one in there that you like.

robt_2

chunter wrote: »

1) what about the likes of facebook? i have never been on their website, but is that a bit of a step up from myspace.

2) building a 'groovy' website from scratch is out. too complicated and you'll find the first few attempts at websites are 'square'

3) does bravenet have site templates in it's control panel?

4) go to ebay and pay £2 for 1000 websites templates. you're bound to find one in there that you like.

1) It is going to be a hobby to build there own

2) No it's not, 'groovy' doesnt = difficult

3) Unsure

4) Why? You can get them free!

bgscotty

Hello!

Thank you all for your helpful replies.

You ask whether bravenet have site templates in it's control panel?

They do, but they're fairy boring and I actually find the website builder facility quite difficult to use.

As I mentioned, I bought my domain name through them and currently have free hosting (which allows use of templates etc.)

I've come across moonfruit.com, and am trialling their free website builder, and I'm finding it great.

They also offer free web hosting, which allows use of their website builder software.

Are there any problems with taking domain names and switching "free web hosting" providers- and how do I go about it?

Many thanks again.

Scotty

The_Gerbil

I think you would be best to go for a Wordpress Blog
but if you are feeling a bit braver and want to learn some html, get a free template from Oswd.org All their templates are free but check the license terms. Usually you must leave a link to the designers web site. A small price to pay for a great design.