Build a website

[trebor]

A friend has asked me to build a website for her. I am reasonably knowledgeable concerning computers but have never done websites. Where can I learn what I need to know? What program is the best to use? Any and all directions will be appreciated.

I need to know how to "build" the site and then how to get it on the net.

[WyllyWylly]

Personally, I prefer Macromedia DreamWeaver, but it has a steep learning curve and assumes a basic knowledge of HTML and the inner workings of website design. For sake of ease, I would recommend FrontPage as your initial development tool. It operates much like a word processor and has a lot of built in templates and features to make starting off very easy. You can simply use the GUI or tweak the code by hand if you are comfortable doing so. Getting a site up on the net is also easy with FrontPage, so long as you have a web host that supports FrontPage extensions. You simply publish your site and whammo, you're off to the races.

The down side is that FrontPage developed sites tend to look best in Internet Explorer, but since IE has an overwhelming share of the browser market, it is safe to assume that your site will render well on most end-user's computers. It will bother the snot out of non-IE users like me when the pages don't render properly in other browsers, though...so be warned! <img src=/S/wink.gif border=0 alt=wink width=15 height=15>

Also, for FrontPage, there is an excellent resource named OutFront that has a selection of excellent pre-built sites - you simply import the web into FrontPage and add your content. These are excellent for learning how to build a site; the framework is there for you and you can poke and prod at it and learn while doing so.

While working on the site itself, you can check various hosting companies and find one that meets your needs. There is no shortage of hosting companies on the web, just fire up your search engine and look around. Many ISPs also offer free space for websites (with some limitations, usually on space and email addresses).

Hope that gets your feet wet and helps you get started. I am sure that many others will chime in with additional information.

[trebor]

Thanks for the info Mark. I have FrontPage 2000 and am going through a tutorial right now. Where can I find out what the going rate is for being a Webmaster? - An amateur Webmaster.

[WyllyWylly]

<hr>Where can I find out what the going rate is for being a Webmaster<hr>

I'd check around on the 'net and see what fees others are charging for their services. That should give you a good baseline to work with. On the occasion that I do contracted work, I charge a base fee contingent on the client's needs and complexity, and anything above and beyond the "standard package" becomes billable time. My best advice to you? Get it in writing before you begin any work. Live like brothers, do business like strangers. <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15>

[jscher2000]

For the first one, you'll probably make about $3 an hour with all the stuff you have to learn/tweak/re-do. The next one should be better. <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15>

[jujuraf]

In addition to building your own (after you learn at least basic HTML) you could also just use an existing template from any of 1000 available on-line. Some are free, some are not and some are only available if you sign up with any number of hosting services (which will also give you a sub-domain like trebor@yahoo.com/trebor). That will at least give you the basic layout, graphics, buttons, etc. so you can spend more time with content and not look/feel. It's true anyone can build a functioning web page w/o knowing anything at all, but to make a good web site that works for all users, follows recommended design and usability standards, etc., is a very different thing indeed.

Have fun <img src=/S/groovin.gif border=0 alt=groovin width=21 height=21>
Deb