Advice on creating a website.

EddieWalker · Jan 14, 2009

I'm a Contractor and want to create a website to provide future clients a place to learn about me and see pictures of some projects that I've done. I have an address that I paid for on godaddy.com but declined to buy their hosting service. It just didn't seem like what I wanted.

What I want is an interesting question. I'm thinking of a home page with my information. Who I am, how to contact me and a couple of pictures. Maybe a graphic the will be my symbol. I don't have a symbol, but probably should have something. When I get this done, I'll have to reprint my business cards, so I'll work on that too.

I think that having a link to my pictures by category on the home page would be best. Put it all up there on that page, and then let people go to the group of pictures that interests them. There should be a way to add comments to the pictures.

Then I'd want it to be easy for me to add pictures and comments. I'd want to be able to add ALLOT of pictures. That's the most important part of the website. Pictures sell.

I think this should be easy, but don't know where to begin the search. I don't know what I'm looking at, or what to even ask for. I know nothing and don't know anybody who has done this.

Thank you,
Eddie

DieselPower · Jan 15, 2009

I'll see if I can give you a little help from personal experience. I have my site storage hosted through Valueweb. Web Hosting Services for Business and Ecommerce from ValueWeb They host or store all of my website data, pictures and so on. They also provide my email accounts, website access logs (very informative how people find and navigate your site). I created the site myself using free website design/managment programs you can download online. I use one called NVU NVU to do all the design and most of the uploading of data and one called FileZilla SourceForge.net: FileZilla to manage files. The NVU one is rather simple if you have some basic computer knowledge, read the users manual and help function. For me I found the Filezilla made managing files and pictures easier. I had mine created and uploaded (a couple of hundred pages) in about 2 days.

CurlyDave · Jan 15, 2009

Eddie:

A web site is going to be an enormous time sink. Especially if you are going to create and maintain it on a Windows computer.

Think about hiring someone local to do it for you.

My daughter went to art school in graphic design for 4 years and one of the things she does is design web sites. She can do things in one hour that take me days...

Make up a paper mockup of what you want and take it to someone where you can sit down with them and talk about it.

I am a Mac guy, it is a lot easier on a Mac, and I have thought about doing one for our church. But then I realize I don't have the time, even though I am retired. Maybe in a year or so I will take a course in web design at the community college and then volunteer for the church website.

DieselPower · Jan 15, 2009

I did mine on a windows system and had over 250 pages up in less than 48 hours. I just used the same basic page design throughout and in my case changed the product text and pictures on each. I was a copy/pasting fool.

jgrreed · Jan 15, 2009

Hey Eddie,

I think this should be easy, but don't know where to begin the search. I don't know what I'm looking at, or what to even ask for. I know nothing and don't know anybody who has done this.

I thought so too....but.....

I haven't had to make one for myself yet, but have tried a couple just to play, and guided a few friends through setting them up for their businesses. My opinion at the end of it all is that the time spent vs. cost vs. quality of work equation pushes me to hiring it out. A friend of mine is part of a company that makes sites, and for about $1000 his company can make a very nice, very functional site that you don't have to spend 10's (or 100's) of hours building and maintaining.

Your site might be a customers first look at your business, and will give them their first impression of you. I don't know how you feel, but a website that is either sloppy or difficult to navigate is a real turn-off for me, and will usually result in me looking elsewhere.

Here's a truely homemade site for a Buddy's Heli company (this took Brad something like 40 hours to build):

Peregrine Helicopters

Here's a semi-pro build for my BIL's company (done by a friend that builds sites as a side business):

Welcome to TazzyKats.com | TazzyKats.com

Here's an example of a pro level site done by my friend Mike's company:

Kootenay Helicopters

Here's the web design companies site:

Adhere Creative - Birmingham based Web design, video and online systems | Creative Media | Web design and online systems in Birmingham, UK

The 1000$ estimate is for an easy site, and is a ballpark.

-Jer.

weldingisfun · Jan 15, 2009

Try reading this, Eddie, it may be useful. Howstuffworks "How Web Pages Work"
I have created a few Websites over the years, here are a couple you can look at to see what I have done.
Walking H Boer Goats This one is my wife's and mine. As you can see we raise goats.
Modern Day Knights I made this one for my son.
I prefer to use Basic HTML, that means using the basic codes. HTML stands for hypertext markup language.
Jgrreed is probably correct with his estimate of $1000. I normally charge $750for a basic Website that also includes registering the Domain Name and setting up Hosting for one year.
Good luck with your endeavors.

alchemysa · Jan 15, 2009

Build your own. Its the only way you'll get what you want, and be able to update it whenever you want to. But don't get carried away or you'll waste way too much time on it. A business like yours only needs a very, very simple site. I built my own quite complicated site using Go-live, but I wouldnt recommend that to anyone. Its way too hard for most people. There are now much simpler ways to get on-line. Start simple and learn as you go.

Look at some of the free 'blog' packages. They let you upload pics and blurb. For a few dollars extra I think you can even use your own domain name. Other sites offer cheap webspace and free on-line website building tools using standard designs. Try-out their free trial offers.

But if you are just wanting to upload pics and words I'd investigate the 'blog' type of website first.

Edit. A quick google search will locate googles 'blogger' site.
https://www.blogger.com/start
You can create free sites like this....
http://mousemedicine.blogspot.com/

circlelake · Jan 15, 2009

Hi Eddie,
Here's a link for Microsoft's Office Live Small Business. Its free as you would not need e-commerce. There is also a Office Live for personnal use.
If you want to create a web page yourself the best way is to surf the web and use someone else's design that you like and incorporate that into your site. The office live site will have templates that you can use/modify for the entire web site. I think you have the right idea on what you want to publish. The best way is to create a office live account and give it a try. Doesn't cost a cent and it's not hard to create a site.
If you put any email addresses on the site use one like info@yourdomain.com. Do not use your good email address as spammers are picking up these addresses. If you have any other questions I can help you with let me know.
If you want me to critique your site I could do that also. I use the term KISS in my line of work. KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID

http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/products/office/microsoft-office-live/default.aspx#overview

By the way.
I have seen many posts by you and like the way you think.
Good Luck
Tom

mjfox6 · Jan 15, 2009

I use Web Hosting:IX WEB HOSTING:Best Web Hosting Site:Webhosting Provider to host my site and FileZilla - The free FTP solution to transfer files. I designed the site myself using Mozilla.org - Home of the Mozilla Project.

AlanB · Jan 15, 2009

Well, the info is all over the map so I will throw in my 2 cents as well.

Hanna's Landscaping / lawncare company

* Hanna Bechard * A Woman's Touch * Clarksville * TN * Landscaping * Lawncare * Patios * Ponds *

Done by my BIL that does this type stuff as a hobby and now as an occupation.

I think it was Curly that hit it on the head for my situation

Big Time sink

Find someone local to do the "writing"

You do it on paper, they make the Website look like what you want.

Wish my BIL was closer (Germany) we have been "updating" our site for the past year and just never get it done, I will send you the preview site on PM.
At least for me, it takes more time then I want to spend on it, would rather spend my time making equipment make noise.

The Pictures are why we started. We use too lose 3 or 4 "picture books" of work a year and it was a pain.

Now the folks go to the website, say they want a "retaining wall" find the style they like, and then tell Hanna the picture # so they are both speaking off the same sheet of music. More then once there have been landscapes planned over the phone, while both parties were at their own home looking at our website.

Oh, and added on edit, think about your business and have pages to help them find what they want, kind of like lowes has things segregated would be my suggestion. Kitchens, baths, etc. etc.

Also, I would NOT let people comment on my site, you may find yourself spending more time cleaning up ludicrous postings and spam and childish crud then it would be worth too me.

Have them e-mail you.

The other intriquing part too me, that I never thought would happen is the amount of direct business that our website generates. Especially with our location, we regularly get calls from Afghanistan and Iraq asking for the lawn at XYZ 123 street to be taken care of. Checks in the mail, and digital pic back and forth verifying completion of work. I joked about how stupid it would be when we first started it (10 + years back) and have had too eat my words on how effective it has been.

Good luck.

I would see if your daughter has the interest, or someone at the HS computer class.