Websites are so easy to build now.

bloodhound31 · #1 02-02-2010, 10:28 AM

My last website took 2 weeks to build. Admittedly, my other one has a lot more content, but it can be slow and complicated.

Conversely, I built this one for myself in 4 hours. It took me a little while to learn how it all worked, but if I had known what I was doing, it would have taken me only one hour.

http://barryarmsteadphotography.webs.com/

Baz.

Vartigy · #2 02-02-2010, 11:40 AM

Good on you Barry. It's quite a good skill to have.
What software did you use, or did you script it up from scratch in notepad?

bloodhound31 · #3 02-02-2010, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anfo

Good on you Barry. It's quite a good skill to have.
What software did you use, or did you script it up from scratch in notepad?

I just used the free templates on webs.com and changed the colors and header images to suit my needs. It's all just clickety click, cut and paste, and text formatting much like a standard word processor.

WarpSpider74 (Derek) · #4 02-02-2010, 12:12 PM

Nice job! Build-it-yourself website hosts like that can be great to use, very simple - as long as you stick to the templates offered. They offer everyone the chance to get themselves online quickly and easily. Try getting too tricky with your layout though and they can become a nightmare.

I'm used to scripting my own stuff in Notepad++ or using one of the more oldschool HTML editors out there (HoTMetaL anyone?) and can work comfortably in those environments. However, the last website I did was for my wife's business and I was stuck with using her chosen host's online website creation software which was just awful. It took me four days of wrestling with the restrictions imposed to get something close to the planned layout, which I could have done in a couple of hours in HTML. The results can be seen at www.intouchbeauty.net (CAUTION!! Girly Stuff Within!! Enter at your own risk!!) I guess it really comes down to whether you want quick and easy, or heavily customised. I know I'll never use that particular host again.

bloodhound31 · #5 02-02-2010, 06:04 PM

Nice look site Derek. Yeah, the code can be fun, interesting, boring, tedious and frustrating all at the same time can't it?

That's what I like about the webs.com free sites. If you want to set up a quick site to get you on the road, it can be done in a night.

Baz.

stephenb (Stephen) · #6 02-02-2010, 06:11 PM

Hi Baz,

I have been using Webs.com (formally Freewebs.com) for since they started up. They have become very popular and no HTML skills required, although like youself, I have that experience, but Webs.com is great for simple easy to setup "hobby" sites. I have a couple running.

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #7 02-02-2010, 06:47 PM

Has anyone used Apple's iWeb? I have a website running which I made in Homepage, but now that software is defunct (I no longer have System 9) so I will have to try something else. These proprietary tools with all the layouts set out seem to make everything much easier.

Bassnut (Fred) · #8 02-02-2010, 06:53 PM

Very cool Barry, looked like the format was iphone friendly, tried it, works a treat ;-).

bloodhound31 · #9 02-02-2010, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Very cool Barry, looked like the format was iphone friendly, tried it, works a treat ;-).

Hey! That's good to know! Thanks Fred!

Ric · #10 03-02-2010, 09:38 AM

That's a great looking site Barry and easy to navigate as well.

I must have a go one day.

Cheers

DJDD · #11 03-02-2010, 10:01 AM

both sites look good. i like the colours.

i recently built a site for a sporting club I am in and used Wordpress software as the basis for the site (on their own domain not as a subdomain of wordpress.org).

There are many design themes and plugins for Wordpress, galleries, video embedding plugins, subsciptions, forums, forms, etc.

quick and easy setup, easy to change themes if you want to test one you like, etc...