| When you start to think about building a | | | | Unless you just feel compelled to learn HTML, |
| website, you'll need to know there are | | | | Javascript and all that, I don't recommend |
| several options available - | | | | that you code your website yourself. As a |
| | | | beginner, it will take you a lot of time to |
| 1) You can hire a designer to build the | | | | 'get it all right', and you may be better off |
| website for you | | | | finding a faster method of getting your |
| | | | website online. If your intention is to make |
| 2) You can learn HTML and build your website | | | | money with your website, you'll want to get |
| by hand coding | | | | it producing an income sooner, rather than |
| | | | later. |
| 3) You can buy website templates and modify | | | | |
| them to suit your needs | | | | If you want to learn how to code HTML |
| | | | yourself, there are plenty of learning |
| 4) You can use an HTML editor | | | | resources available. Just go to Google and |
| | | | search for 'HTML tutorial'. |
| Hiring a Website Designer - | | | | |
| | | | Website Templates - |
| This is probably the easiest choice for | | | | |
| getting your website built, since someone | | | | Using a website template falls somewhere |
| else will be doing the actual building. It's | | | | between coding HTML yourself and hiring it |
| also the most expensive way to go. Having | | | | done. A template is a ready made webpage that |
| your website built can vary considerably in | | | | has all the basic code to be displayed on the |
| price, depending upon the complexity of your | | | | web. Generally, all you do is add your |
| website and the experience level of the | | | | content. In most cases, you'll open the |
| designer you choose. | | | | template file using a plain text editor, such |
| | | | as Windows Notepad, then paste in your own |
| Sometimes, you can find local help from young | | | | content. |
| people just getting started. They're willing | | | | |
| to work for a low price because they enjoy | | | | Templates are available in a wide variety of |
| building websites and they're interested in | | | | styles and layouts. They vary quite a bit in |
| gaining more experience. Under these | | | | complexity and appearance, so prices vary |
| circumstances, you should expect to pay | | | | considerably. In most cases, a decent |
| perhaps $100 or so for a fairly small | | | | template will cost from about $15 to over |
| website. Some high schools and colleges offer | | | | $100. By searching, you can also find free |
| classes in web design, so check them out to | | | | templates. When looking for free templates, |
| see if they can recommend a budding designer | | | | be prepared to look at a great many of them |
| that can help you. | | | | before you find one that suits your taste. |
| | | | |
| If you'd rather hire a professional, expect | | | | HTML editors - |
| to pay considerably more. A professionally | | | | |
| designed website, depending upon complexity, | | | | There are many HTML editors available, such |
| can cost from a few hundred dollars to | | | | as Microsoft Frontpage, Dreamweaver and |
| several thousand dollars. | | | | others. Be prepared to pay $200 to $400 for a |
| | | | good, high quality professional editor. |
| If you want to have an experienced designer | | | | |
| build your website, but you don't have the | | | | The big advantage of an HTML editor is that |
| budget to hire a professional, there are | | | | you can build webpages without having |
| alternatives. You could post your project on | | | | extensive knowledge of the underlying HTML |
| one of the online freelance sites and take | | | | code. These editors work sort of like |
| bids. I have done this with projects before | | | | Microsoft Word - they give you 'point and |
| and I was able to get good quality work done | | | | click' capability. These editors have many |
| at very reasonable prices. You can try or | | | | built in features and a lot of power, so |
| to get started. This method will probably | | | | you'll probably have a steep learning curve |
| cost less than half of what you'd pay a | | | | when you first get started. |
| commercial website designer. | | | | |
| | | | Alternative is, you can find free HTML |
| Learning HTML - | | | | editors. The free editors are good for |
| | | | building fairly simple websites, but they |
| Although HTML isn't terribly complicated, it | | | | lack some of the more sophisticated features |
| may take some time before you're comfortable | | | | present within the higher priced editors. |
| enough with it to build anything more than | | | | However the free editors are a good choice |
| the most simple websites. In order to take | | | | for getting started. And due to their |
| full advantage of the available technology, | | | | simplicity, it won't take you as long to |
| many websites incorporate Javascript, PHP, | | | | become productive. |
| databases, Flash presentations, etc. If | | | | |
| you're an absolute beginner, it may take you | | | | You can download a free HTML editor at and |
| a while to come up to speed with all this. | | | | you can also search for 'free HTML editor' at |
| | | | Google to find other choices. |