Here's a really simple way... any novice can create a fully functional website in less than a week. Although many companies are using an online presence to drive business to their brick and mortar stores, many hobbyists also tend to have a bit of interest in developing their own online presence as well. Developing a website from scratch can be rather expensive, but armed with the right tools, and given a little instruction, anyone can develop a professional website in less than a week.
Having the right tools will definitely make your project a bit easier to complete. I guess you are scratching your head wondering what type of tools I would be talking about. Just as if you were going to build a home from the ground up, take a paint brush and create a masterpiece painting, or take a piece of clay and create a winning statue, you need the right tools to do the right job.
The tools I'm referring to are web graphics software, web design software, and ftp (file transfer protocol)software. Each program focuses on a particular task. The graphics software helps you create images for your website from scratch. The web design software in short helps you to design and build a website from scratch. The file transfer protocol software is you link to sending your completed web pages from you computer to the internet.
Day one should be focused on purchasing cyber "real estate", and purchasing a name for that real estate. Building a website is like building a new house. You have to purchase the land and then you can purchase the materials to build the home on the land. Every website has a so called name. Example www.1234.com. There are many places that you can purchase cheap domain names. Once you have the domain name you can start looking for a place to host you website. Day two should be focused on the whole planning aspect of your website.
The planning aspect of your website should be focused on the objective of your website, the audience you are trying to target, and how your competition is doing in the market. You should also be trying to focus on a target market. Many internet marketers feel that you should focus on a niche market. Remember that the internet is a big playing field. Day two should also be focused on the look and feel of your website.
Pay attention to the color scheme as well. In all honesty, web graphics can make or break the success of your online presence. A fast loading website will beat out any other website hands down any day. In order to have a fast loading website you must keep your image graphics file size down to a minimum. There are several website design programs out their that will let you know how long it would normally take for you page to load up.
Shrinking the file size, saving it in different formats, and even cropping the image can cut seconds off your loading time. If you want to save money, you can purchase a graphics program and make images and logos on your own. Whatever choice you make, always do your research for the best details and outstanding customer support.
Creating your web pages.
This is basically the meat and bones of any website. For the most part, an easy way to build a website is to use what is called a template. It saves you time and headaches. One thing to remember is that using an html editor prevents you from dealing with actual html coding. You want to focus on building links, inserting and formatting text, and focusing on building your other pages throughout your site. Your website is basically a mirror image of what you stand for. This day is spent publishing your website to the world.
In order to do this you need some type of ftp software. In technical terms it's called File Transfer Protocol. This is how you transfer your web page files and graphics from your computer to your hosting company. Once the site is up on the web, check for links that are not working, or slow download times. Way to go, you have completed your first website without all the technical wisdom.
A. 5 Steps to Design Your Own Website
If you're new to the world of web design, then designing a website for business or personal reasons might seem like a daunting task. Outlined below are five steps to creating your own website.
1. Decide on a Website Theme
Choose a website theme that will flow with your business or personal goals. If you're selling photographs, choose a theme that fits well with photographs. Perhaps you'd like a website that offers training in a particular field or that provides useful information or services in fields such as health, insurance, marketing, finance, family, home and garden, web design, etc.
Use search engine optimization tools such as Wordtracker.com to determine popular keywords in your field.
2. Choose a Domain Name
Your domain name is the web address people will type in to find your website and it is completely unique to you. Example: www.domainsitings.com
Choose a domain name that meets the following criteria:
*Fits your website theme.
*Easy to remember.
3. Choose Web Hosting
Web hosting is a must for a website. This is the "web space" you'll buy so your website can appear on the World Wide Web. You can choose from thousands of web hosts today, but be aware of the pitfalls if you choose the wrong host. Choose a web host that is dependable, affordable, offers excellent customer service, and offers the features you need for your website. Free web hosting services are available if you’re starting a personal website, but are not recommended for business websites. Not all hosting services offer a reliable control panel for site management and following your website's visitor statistics.
4. Design Your Website
Once you choose a domain name and secure web hosting, it's time to design your website. You have two options: a) Learn web skills such as HTML and PHP so you can design your own website. b) Hire a web designer. If you choose to learn web design, there are many tutorials and courses online to help you learn.
5. Get Your Website Noticed
It's time to promote your website. You can promote in many different ways: search engine optimization, paid search engines, free search engine submission, e-zine advertising, and even off-line advertising. Include your website address on everything you print such as business cards, newspaper ads, letterhead, envelopes, etc.
B. My Web Design Cheat Sheet - 9 Tips to Make Designing Websites Faster, Easier, and More Fun
I've been designing web sites for about nine years now. I've gone from a Front Page rookie to a wily PHP designer and hit every bump in between. I've tried ASP, ASP.Net, PHP, HTML, XHTML, CSS, CGI, java script, action script, and just about every language you can think of. And, over time, I've developed a simple method for creating stunning web site designs faster, easier, and more fun that most people could imagine.
How NOT to Think About Web Design
It's important to always start off with the right kind of mindset when taking on any project and designing web sites is no different. One of the biggest road-blocks I encountered on my journey is my own fear of "getting dirty" with the code. For the first four years, I was purely a Front Page guy... never daring to venture into the code unless I absolutely had to It wasn't until I became absolutely frustrated with the limited nature of the software that I slowly inched my way into learning some HTML.
Learning code is easy, because it's so logical. Most programming languages, especially today, operate off simple common sense and logic. Don't spend years frustrated by a software program that will never give you the control you're looking for. If you're serious about being a web designer or designing truly professional web sites, learn the code.
Step #1: The Pre-Step
If you're like me, your first instinct when you come up with a new idea is to immediately rush to the computer and start working. It's as if the mind suddenly focuses once you put your idea on paper. No matter how silly it may or may not seem, draw out your design first!
Step #2: Lay Out Your Files
If you're using current web design standards (and you should be) then every site you build will have a similar set of core files: 1) header.php, 2) footer.php, 3) sidebar.php, 4) style.css and 5) your individual content pages (i.e. index, about, contact us, etc.). Go ahead and create these files right off the bat. This gets the core functionality of your site out of the way, that way you can focus on designing and you can test your site live to see how it looks.
Step #3: Build Your Page Layouts
Will you have a sidebar? What about your footer? What kind of elements will it have? This is where you lay out the basic structure of your site - kind of like building the walls of a house.
Step #4: Conduct Basic CSS Styling
Get your divs lined up how you want - the right heights and widths, their basic layout and shape.
Step #5: Build Your Design Elements
This is where you'll spend the majority of your time - and, you'll spend it in Photoshop (or whatever graphics program you use). This is where you create your background images, logo, bars, headers, and so on. Build your design elements, test them, and get them exactly how you want them.
Step #6: Check Browser Compatibility
I test my designs in Firefox as I build them, so inevitably I have check to see how Internet Explorer renders my site. At this point, you want to stop and do this for the major design elements you've built so far. There's nothing more frustrating than building an entire site only to find out it causes Internet Explorer to have a heart attack. You have a lot less code to work through and if you handle the major issues now, it typically works out to be less work you have to do later.
Step #7: Integrate Web Technology
Now, you've got your major design elements down, you have your site mostly in place, and it's time to add in your major technology elements. If you're building a Wordpress Theme (which you can do following this same method) this the point when you would integrate the Wordpress PHP code into your design.
Step #8: Advanced CSS Styling
At this point, you should have your site mostly built structurally... now, you can begin to finalize your CSS styling. I'm always tweaking my sites here and there. The great part is with CSS you can style elements very specifically and get them exactly how you like them.
Step #9: Validation
Oh yeah... validation. Building a site that validates is the sign of a professional web designer. It's well worth the time in terms of reputation, credibility, and search engine rankings.
Having the right tools will definitely make your project a bit easier to complete. I guess you are scratching your head wondering what type of tools I would be talking about. Just as if you were going to build a home from the ground up, take a paint brush and create a masterpiece painting, or take a piece of clay and create a winning statue, you need the right tools to do the right job.
The tools I'm referring to are web graphics software, web design software, and ftp (file transfer protocol)software. Each program focuses on a particular task. The graphics software helps you create images for your website from scratch. The web design software in short helps you to design and build a website from scratch. The file transfer protocol software is you link to sending your completed web pages from you computer to the internet.
Day one should be focused on purchasing cyber "real estate", and purchasing a name for that real estate. Building a website is like building a new house. You have to purchase the land and then you can purchase the materials to build the home on the land. Every website has a so called name. Example www.1234.com. There are many places that you can purchase cheap domain names. Once you have the domain name you can start looking for a place to host you website. Day two should be focused on the whole planning aspect of your website.
The planning aspect of your website should be focused on the objective of your website, the audience you are trying to target, and how your competition is doing in the market. You should also be trying to focus on a target market. Many internet marketers feel that you should focus on a niche market. Remember that the internet is a big playing field. Day two should also be focused on the look and feel of your website.
Pay attention to the color scheme as well. In all honesty, web graphics can make or break the success of your online presence. A fast loading website will beat out any other website hands down any day. In order to have a fast loading website you must keep your image graphics file size down to a minimum. There are several website design programs out their that will let you know how long it would normally take for you page to load up.
Shrinking the file size, saving it in different formats, and even cropping the image can cut seconds off your loading time. If you want to save money, you can purchase a graphics program and make images and logos on your own. Whatever choice you make, always do your research for the best details and outstanding customer support.
Creating your web pages.
This is basically the meat and bones of any website. For the most part, an easy way to build a website is to use what is called a template. It saves you time and headaches. One thing to remember is that using an html editor prevents you from dealing with actual html coding. You want to focus on building links, inserting and formatting text, and focusing on building your other pages throughout your site. Your website is basically a mirror image of what you stand for. This day is spent publishing your website to the world.
In order to do this you need some type of ftp software. In technical terms it's called File Transfer Protocol. This is how you transfer your web page files and graphics from your computer to your hosting company. Once the site is up on the web, check for links that are not working, or slow download times. Way to go, you have completed your first website without all the technical wisdom.
A. 5 Steps to Design Your Own Website
If you're new to the world of web design, then designing a website for business or personal reasons might seem like a daunting task. Outlined below are five steps to creating your own website.
1. Decide on a Website Theme
Choose a website theme that will flow with your business or personal goals. If you're selling photographs, choose a theme that fits well with photographs. Perhaps you'd like a website that offers training in a particular field or that provides useful information or services in fields such as health, insurance, marketing, finance, family, home and garden, web design, etc.
Use search engine optimization tools such as Wordtracker.com to determine popular keywords in your field.
2. Choose a Domain Name
Your domain name is the web address people will type in to find your website and it is completely unique to you. Example: www.domainsitings.com
Choose a domain name that meets the following criteria:
*Fits your website theme.
*Easy to remember.
3. Choose Web Hosting
Web hosting is a must for a website. This is the "web space" you'll buy so your website can appear on the World Wide Web. You can choose from thousands of web hosts today, but be aware of the pitfalls if you choose the wrong host. Choose a web host that is dependable, affordable, offers excellent customer service, and offers the features you need for your website. Free web hosting services are available if you’re starting a personal website, but are not recommended for business websites. Not all hosting services offer a reliable control panel for site management and following your website's visitor statistics.
4. Design Your Website
Once you choose a domain name and secure web hosting, it's time to design your website. You have two options: a) Learn web skills such as HTML and PHP so you can design your own website. b) Hire a web designer. If you choose to learn web design, there are many tutorials and courses online to help you learn.
5. Get Your Website Noticed
It's time to promote your website. You can promote in many different ways: search engine optimization, paid search engines, free search engine submission, e-zine advertising, and even off-line advertising. Include your website address on everything you print such as business cards, newspaper ads, letterhead, envelopes, etc.
B. My Web Design Cheat Sheet - 9 Tips to Make Designing Websites Faster, Easier, and More Fun
I've been designing web sites for about nine years now. I've gone from a Front Page rookie to a wily PHP designer and hit every bump in between. I've tried ASP, ASP.Net, PHP, HTML, XHTML, CSS, CGI, java script, action script, and just about every language you can think of. And, over time, I've developed a simple method for creating stunning web site designs faster, easier, and more fun that most people could imagine.
How NOT to Think About Web Design
It's important to always start off with the right kind of mindset when taking on any project and designing web sites is no different. One of the biggest road-blocks I encountered on my journey is my own fear of "getting dirty" with the code. For the first four years, I was purely a Front Page guy... never daring to venture into the code unless I absolutely had to It wasn't until I became absolutely frustrated with the limited nature of the software that I slowly inched my way into learning some HTML.
Learning code is easy, because it's so logical. Most programming languages, especially today, operate off simple common sense and logic. Don't spend years frustrated by a software program that will never give you the control you're looking for. If you're serious about being a web designer or designing truly professional web sites, learn the code.
Step #1: The Pre-Step
If you're like me, your first instinct when you come up with a new idea is to immediately rush to the computer and start working. It's as if the mind suddenly focuses once you put your idea on paper. No matter how silly it may or may not seem, draw out your design first!
Step #2: Lay Out Your Files
If you're using current web design standards (and you should be) then every site you build will have a similar set of core files: 1) header.php, 2) footer.php, 3) sidebar.php, 4) style.css and 5) your individual content pages (i.e. index, about, contact us, etc.). Go ahead and create these files right off the bat. This gets the core functionality of your site out of the way, that way you can focus on designing and you can test your site live to see how it looks.
Step #3: Build Your Page Layouts
Will you have a sidebar? What about your footer? What kind of elements will it have? This is where you lay out the basic structure of your site - kind of like building the walls of a house.
Step #4: Conduct Basic CSS Styling
Get your divs lined up how you want - the right heights and widths, their basic layout and shape.
Step #5: Build Your Design Elements
This is where you'll spend the majority of your time - and, you'll spend it in Photoshop (or whatever graphics program you use). This is where you create your background images, logo, bars, headers, and so on. Build your design elements, test them, and get them exactly how you want them.
Step #6: Check Browser Compatibility
I test my designs in Firefox as I build them, so inevitably I have check to see how Internet Explorer renders my site. At this point, you want to stop and do this for the major design elements you've built so far. There's nothing more frustrating than building an entire site only to find out it causes Internet Explorer to have a heart attack. You have a lot less code to work through and if you handle the major issues now, it typically works out to be less work you have to do later.
Step #7: Integrate Web Technology
Now, you've got your major design elements down, you have your site mostly in place, and it's time to add in your major technology elements. If you're building a Wordpress Theme (which you can do following this same method) this the point when you would integrate the Wordpress PHP code into your design.
Step #8: Advanced CSS Styling
At this point, you should have your site mostly built structurally... now, you can begin to finalize your CSS styling. I'm always tweaking my sites here and there. The great part is with CSS you can style elements very specifically and get them exactly how you like them.
Step #9: Validation
Oh yeah... validation. Building a site that validates is the sign of a professional web designer. It's well worth the time in terms of reputation, credibility, and search engine rankings.
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