The first thing you need to build a website is an html editor. In particular, you need a visual editor, that makes creating a web page as easy as creating a regular Word document.
If you have Microsoft Office on your computer, you should check whether it came with FrontPage. This is probably the best option if you have never dealt with html before. Out of all the html editors available, FrontPage is the one that most closely resembles Word.
If you don't have Frontpage and have some money to spend, I would recommend going with Macromedia Dreamweaver. This is a much more powerful visual html editor, which is slightly more difficult to use, though.
There is also a free alternative to these software. It is called Nvu and is similar to FrontPage in functionalities, but a little harder to get used to. If you have a tight budget and you are willing to invest a little more time in learning, Nvu is the way to go.
#2. Templates
Buying a ready-made website template means cutting your development time considerably. You can find professionally designed website templates that costs less than $100. If you consider how much time it would take you to create something similar, you will agree with me that it is a bargain price.
My favourite place for finding website templates is TemplateMonster.com.
#3. Graphics
If used properly, images can make a website more persuasive and convince your visitor to take the action you desire (filling up a contact form, completing a purchase, etc.). Believe me, it's not easy to find professionally looking photos and graphics at affordable prices. Whenever I need to shop for images, I know that on iStockPhoto I will find what I need.
You can buy an image for as little as one dollar and use it on as many websites as you want. Always choose "web format" when completing your purchase, the other formats are more expensive and you need them only if you plan to use that image on printed material too (you need a greater resolution for that).
#4. Image Editing Software
When you buy images on iStockPhoto, you still need to resize them to fit in your website design. You need an image editing software to do so and these are the ones I recommend.
The most widely known free image editing software is called The Gimp. It is a really complete solution, but can be intimidating for a beginner. Paint.NET is what I recommend if you have never modified an image before: it offers less features, but it's much easier to get used to.
Photoshop Elements has the best balance between ease of use and features. Adobe offers you access to Photoshop "little brother" for less than $100. I have been using this software since version 2.0 and it is getting better with every new release.
#5. Tons Of Free Scripts
Would you like to set up a contact form for your website but you don't know anything about programming? Do you want to show the current date in your web pages? Then you need to visit HotScripts.com.
This website is a collection of free and paid scripts that you can implement on your website in minutes. You can filter the results by programming language (php, asp, asp.net, javascript) and next to each script you can see whether it has a free or commercial license.
#6. Ftp Software
Now that your website is done, you need to upload it to your ftp account, so that it can be seen online. The software I recommend in this case is FileZilla. It is free and it takes you less than a minute to configure your ftp account and start uploading your files.
These are the resources that helped me save hours of work every time I needed to create a new website. I am sure they will prove their effectiveness to you too!
Above all else, your first priority must be your web site. If your web site doesn't look professional, all of your marketing and promotional efforts will be useless. Although you may be developing a lot of traffic to your web site, if it is poorly planned and doesn't look professional, you will most likely not make any sales.
In addition to developing a professional web site, you must also know exactly what you will be selling and design your web site accordingly. This will include developing your web site's theme, sales strategy, marketing strategy and promotional strategy. Each web development strategy will play an important role in your success.
Designing a website is defined as the arrangement and creation of Web pages that in turn make up a website.
There are many design concerns in this process, and due to the rapid development of the Internet, new aspects may emerge. For typical commercial Web sites, the basic aspects are:
* The site design is defined by the topic and content.
* The content, substance, and information on the site should be relevant to the site and should target the area of the public that the website is concerned with.
* The site should be user-friendly, with the interface and navigation simple and reliable. If the site is large enough and contains enough information, a site browser may be needed so that information can be found quickly, without using the navigation tools.
* The appearance should include a single style that flows throughout, to show consistency. The style should be professional, look good and most of all be relevant to the users and site content.
* The visibility of the site's text and information should be paramount as that is what the users are visiting for.
* The site must also be easy to find on the internet and if possible should be listed on most, if not all, major search engines.
There are a few things to consider when building your own website. If you don't know anything about web design, you will need to hire someone to build and design it the way you want it. You want to use a dependable source so you are not wasting your time and money. Choosing your domain name very wisely; make sure it is short, relevant to your site, and memorable.
Choosing a very good web host is one of the most important factors in setting up and maintaining an internet company. If your website crashes, you're now out of business. You want a web hosting company that have secure server capabilities, fast servers, lots of space, web-based administration, access to raw server logs, full email services, power and daily server backups, unrestricted CGI access, SSH and FTP access, and no minimum contracts. You should test their technical support and find out if they offer services, scripts, and software. Find out about their downtime and how long they have been in business. Make sure they are not charging you for the extra services.
When a customer visits your website, you want them to see professionalism, knowledge and fast connections. If your visitors notice ads from your free or low cost web host server on your website, they may see your site as unprofessional and small time. A web host with slow connection speeds will definitely lose customers and cost you a lot of money. Make sure you choose your web host server very carefully and you will be on your way to creating a website that will attract lots of visitors.
For more information, visit: http://www.a1websitedesign.com
Both Vittorio Bosio & Jack Me are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Vittorio Bosio has sinced written about articles on various topics from Internet Marketing. Vittorio Bosio is the author of , where you can learn more on. Vittorio Bosio's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.
Jack Me has sinced written about articles on various topics from Internet Marketing. The author is a Writer working with a leading : Ecommerce web site design, Web site design services, web site design company, custom web site design, Web site design development, professional web site design, free web site design, web site design and main. Jack Me's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.