| New to website design? There are a number of | | | | and upload to the web server may want to |
| options available to first-timers and | | | | consider online site building programs. These |
| novices. From cracking the books to online | | | | programs, of which there are a few, are |
| site builders, a few of the most common are | | | | generally provided by your hosting company |
| explained here.The journey from first getting | | | | and viewed through your web browser. They |
| that spark of an idea for a website and the | | | | don't require any information to be installed |
| finished product can be long and difficult. | | | | on your home computer. Everything they do is |
| This article will focus on the various means | | | | handled remotely, through the browser, so |
| available to create a web site. Finding a | | | | your site can be created then updated in |
| suitable place to host it is another matter | | | | "real time." All site builders share a few |
| entirely. It is generally wise to, if not | | | | common traits. First, they will all be |
| already have your site complete, have a very | | | | template based. Not exactly the same kind of |
| good idea of what the finished site will be | | | | advanced template discussed above, but a |
| before shopping for hosting.Do-It-Yourself | | | | general color and layout you will select from |
| Options- Design SoftwareThere are 2 kinds of | | | | in the initial stages of the site builder's |
| "do-it-yourself" options, design programs and | | | | setup. The bonus to online site builder |
| online site builders. Design programs can | | | | templates is that you can change your |
| vary wildly in both scope and complexity. For | | | | template selection most any time and have |
| simple, static sites, an easy-to-use editor | | | | your entire site change automatically and |
| with a limited feature set might be ideal. | | | | immediately, without losing any of the |
| More complex sites may require more complex, | | | | information you have uploaded to that |
| and usually more expensive solutions. In an | | | | point.Second, most online site builders will |
| industry where highly varied personal | | | | have some kind of editing screen into which |
| preference is the most common factor in | | | | you will type your content. The exact method |
| choosing a design program, it's difficult to | | | | by which individual site builders accomplish |
| say there is an "industry standard" design | | | | this can vary. In all cases you will be able |
| package. Popular design programs include | | | | to add and delete paragraphs. More advanced |
| Dreamweaver from Macromedia/Adobe, and | | | | site builders allow you to add items like |
| FrontPage, from Microsoft. Dreamweaver is a | | | | additional graphics and tables. Finally there |
| powerful and complex program with a | | | | will be various "extras" and "features" you |
| reasonably steep learning curve. FrontPage is | | | | can add to your site. Again, what these |
| targeted more towards the beginner, but in | | | | features will be will vary according to the |
| doing so, compromises a great deal of quality | | | | specific feature set of the site builder you |
| in its resulting code.Additionally, a number | | | | use. They can include everything from |
| of web design programs can be found on the | | | | rotating text to a full shopping cart. If you |
| web as "freeware" and "shareware". Searching | | | | are interested in using a site builder, |
| various file repositories such as | | | | contact your prospective website hosting |
| "download.com" will reveal a wealth of | | | | company and ask if they have demo of the site |
| alternate choices, far too many to list here. | | | | builder they use or where such a demo can be |
| Do research and test them out first before | | | | found. By their nature, most site builders |
| making a purchase, you may find one you enjoy | | | | have online demos to allow users to test |
| and are comfortable using. If you wish to go | | | | drive the product before use.Profession |
| the extra mile and learn HTML itself, your | | | | Design SolutionsThose unwilling or unable to |
| design software options may include something | | | | learn either HTML or design software will |
| simple like a text editor. Many web designers | | | | need to seek professional assistance. Like |
| swear by Notepad as their favorite design | | | | the plethora of design software, there is an |
| tool. Learning HTML may seem a little more | | | | even greater assortment of design firms ready |
| daunting than learning a single web design | | | | and willing to take your business. Even |
| program, but the benefits, even if you still | | | | someone experienced in web design may know |
| choose to use a more advanced, graphical | | | | when their current project outstrips their |
| editor, will stick with you. Having an | | | | personal skills and calls in some additional |
| understanding of how the underlying tags work | | | | help. Certain types of sites simply lend |
| will make your design work much | | | | themselves to a team rather than a single |
| easier.Do-It-Yourself Options- TemplatesOne | | | | designer. Very large ecommerce sites are one |
| additional option to consider if you wish to | | | | such example. Professional developers can |
| use a design program is a template. Website | | | | split their resources among coding the site, |
| templates are, usually, complete sites with | | | | setting up the shopping cart, and entering |
| graphics and placeholder text that you can | | | | the products. By having a professional team |
| modify using most any kind of design | | | | working on a site, the site can be completed |
| software. Templates provide a kind of design | | | | faster and more efficiently than by a single |
| 'shortcut', allowing the user to move almost | | | | individual.Finding a web design firm can be |
| directly into adding content to an already | | | | as simple as web search or even a trip to |
| existing site. Be aware, that most templates | | | | your local yellow pages. This becomes a |
| require some knowledge of either HTML or | | | | matter client preference. If you wish to meet |
| skill with a design program in order to use | | | | the designers, have face to face discussions |
| effectively. Also, they may require a | | | | with them about the nature of your project, |
| graphical editing program if you wish to | | | | then you should confine your search to local |
| change any graphic elements. Commonly this | | | | firms. If you are comfortable with phone and |
| editor will be Adobe's Photoshop, which, | | | | electronic communication, then most any web |
| unlike design software, is the widely | | | | design firm you track down on the web should |
| regarded "industry standard" in graphic | | | | be able to accommodate your needs. In many |
| editing. Though templates can be a short cut, | | | | cases, online firms will have a kind of |
| they are more a short cut for intermediate to | | | | "Customer Relations Management" or CRM tool, |
| advanced users who can effectively exploit | | | | that allows direct interchange of information |
| them.Do-It-Yourself Options- Online Site | | | | and content between the client and the |
| BuildersThose looking for an alternative to | | | | designers. |
| the older method of design on a local machine | | | | |