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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Well really, what's the point in having friends if you can't use them?
So, my wife is starting up a home business and we think she needs a web site. Are there any of these 'build it yourself' sites worth looking at, should we hire the proverbial 12-year-old-boy (despite court orders to the contrary), or is a professional the only way to go? Or something else.
I only ask here because so many of us/you seem to be pretty knowledgeable on these compu-thingys. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Hate to say it but, Apple/Mac makes it very easy... and the software comes bundled with the OS... |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Some internet service providers give you the tools to make your own website. |
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Posts: 1374
| two companies that we use are Homestead.com for our commercial sites, .orgs, and .coms and also NetAtlantic for our e-zine publication
very newbie friendly, no need to know html or coding. Char built all of our sites using them
www.brevardfreecycle.org
www.forherandnow.com
www.thefreebiecafe.com
www.freecyclefabby.org
there are lots of options out there.. and some pretty good wysiwyg editors like Nvu(new view) that let you build your own pages without too much geekspeak.
Glenn |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | APPLE/MAC |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | My daughter designs websites. She needs money and Dad needs her to make some. |
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Location: Tennessee | I think it depends on the business and the purpose of the website. The answer to that question will determine how you should go forward.
With that said, a general rule of thumb is: An amateur website = an amateur company. If you're OK with that, then do it yourself. If she wants a real business, she needs a real website. Savvy buyers know the difference. |
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Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
Hate to say it but... No you don't. You love to say it. You're an ApplePimp!
But I'm not buying a computer (though a Mac in in the budget for the coming year) just for one need.
(BTW, song is ready in two versions. One a pretty strong melody, great title and hook. Now, I just have to record them......after the seasonal rush, no, really!)
This business won't turn a profit until sometime late next year and I'm death on debt. So the Homestead thing looks pretty interesting right now. (non-geek friendly is important. All I know how to do it type.) Any down side to it? |
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Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
I think it depends on the business and the purpose of the website. Goods points all.
She's making fine fitted custom brassieres. It's a real hands on business. So nothing will actually be sold on the web, it will just be a point of contact for people on the North Island to find her.
A few pictures, descriptions, and a contact address.
As most of the referral contacts will be through existing retail and medical outlets....and hairdressers, never forget the hairdressers.
And just plain women talking to women. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I wear a size 48 A-B, please. |
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Location: GA USA | You can register a domain name really cheap. I use namezero.com. My two domain names cost me $15 a year each. You can set up the actual web site at homestead or something else free and use namezero's url forwarding.
So the address would be www.handsonbras.com even though it's parked with a free service. If you move the website, just adjust the forwarding address. |
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Location: NJ | don't get me started....... |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by fillhixx:
Originally posted by Jeff W.:
Hate to say it but... No you don't. You love to say it. You're an ApplePimp! |
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Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
I wear a size 48 A-B, please. Where's Heather when you need her???? :D |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | With the (soon-to-be) demise of TwoManGroup, I've recently been looking to establish a webpage on which to list my solo gigs . . .
John B turned me onto Yahoo, and I just recently opened an account. It's fairly basic, but it's inexpensive and quite intuitive for the beginner.
You can even select one of their themed "templates" and easily modify the look/content to suit your needs.
If it allows me to publish some pics, audio files, and gig schedule (which it does), it suits the purpose (for now).
Webpage design is something(else) I've ALWAYS wanted to learn, but never found the time to.
Perhaps NOW, this'll prod me along. I'd always designed the "look" of the TwoManGroup site, but Rick's Mom's company hosted it, and made it "work" with the graphic files that I'd e-mail her.
Once I become proficient in Flash, I'll look into setting-up a more comprehensive site, but for the time being, the Yahoo site'll work fine . . . |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Originally posted by fillhixx:
All I know how to do it type.) Any down side to it? I can see one down side. She better do her own typing. |
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Location: GA USA | Now that was funny, MIB. |
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Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
I wear a size 48 A-B I told you it's a hands-on business. You'll have to deliver them here. (I promise to personally warm her hands first.)
If you came during Music Fest you could admire, and drink in, The Dome. I think you'd be the sort to appreciate both the dome and the micro-brew provided. The view of the stage from the dome is pretty good to. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | and raise a glass to ol' Bucky Fuller... |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Originally posted by fillhixx:
She's making fine fitted custom brassieres. Something tells me that's not nearly as hot as it sounds.
My $0.02 on the original question: Hire a professional designer. Period.
The basic mechanics of a web site (I mean a static one with just a few pages of photos) are trivial. Putting that together is a slam dunk.
But that's a completely different question than the graphic design of the site. Its worth spending some bucks so you have an integrated branding presentation: Web site, business cards, product packaging, etc. It should all tie together.
In most places, good designers are falling out of the trees. For a surprisingly small amount of money, you can get a professional result that will fundamentally differentiate you from your competitors. |
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Location: Tychy, Poland | Omaha did a good point. It's always amazing me that only a handle of normal buissnesses in USA has good webpage. a lot of them is made in plain html and it look just bad.
i don't like flash web sits, i like clean, modern look.
If you know anything about computers and at least basics of html / php, try joomla (www.joomla.org), but you will need to get a hosting with access to SQL database. |
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Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | I singed up with a basic server and am using idiot-proof "Mambo" freeware to edit and manage our page. Like LBJ says, flash is a b****ch. I do not have to know HTML or any of that: I just log in, enter the site "from the back entrance" (now now) and add stuff, change stuff etc. May not be the snazziest site but it gets the job done, which is to act as a digital/internet buisness card-plus-presskit. |
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| What word is that with 4 spaces between the b and the ch prof?
BTW cd reviews to follow |
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Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | 'eeat'....it's American psuedo-english for 'female of an irritating canine type.' |
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Location: NJ | Hillary?? |
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OT: using your friends
