Having your own domain name and your own web site can do a lot for your business. It gives you a definite web presence and makes your business more credible.Ok, you know all that, but how do you go about
process of building one? Where do you start?
First off, you are going to have to accept a couple of facts. Unless you want to pay someone else to build your site for you, you are going to have to deal with HTML. Other things you may want to do on your site may require you to deal with JavaScript's and CGI scripts as well.
Now, I may make a few people mad here, but avoid free web sites that require you to use their own menu driven site builder and do not allow you access to actual HTML code of your site.
These don't allow you to add java or cgi scripts, force you into using their methods of taking orders from your site, and restrict your site set up. You have to use their themes for color and design, you won't learn HTML ever, and you will never really be independent.
Now that I've said that, consider your own goals, time, and investment. The free sites can be helpful, but you will be limited. However, for many of us, free is only option to begin with.
HTML is essential, though. Depending on your goals, time, and money, you do have a couple of options. There are user friendly programs like Microsoft's Front Page that don't require you to look at actual HTML code for most part. However, it's going to cost you more than other HTML editors will. The cheapest I've seen it go for is $129.
Other editors like Coffee Cup HTML Editor work in HTML code, but they do most all of coding for you. This is a great program that comes with a 30 day free trial. Then costs $49 to register and keep. http://www.coffeecup.com
There are a multitude of other HTML editors available, including some free ones. Search for them at: http://download.cnet.com/downloads and http://www.zdnet.com
None that I've found are as easy to work with as Front Page and Coffee Cup editor for those starting out, nor do they have as many options. However, there are many more than I have spent time looking over.
Another factor to consider is your web hosting. Some come with an HTML editor on site for you to use. That will depend on who you choose to host with, of course, but most of these are just basic editors that require you to know how to work with code. Some do have menu driven site builders you can use that do coding for you, but again those are basic and you will be limited in what you can do.
