DIY services for creating simple websites

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	TOP STORY DIY services for creating simple websites
	By Lincoln Spector There are many good reasons to build a website yourself, including avoiding the substantial costs of hiring designers and developers. Here are two services that make the process of creating a custom site relatively quick and easy; and if your needs are modest, they’re free.

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The full text of this column is posted at windowssecrets.com/top-story/diy-services-for-creating-simple-websites/ (opens in a new window/tab).

Columnists typically cannot reply to comments here, but do incorporate the best tips into future columns.[/td]

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It would have been useful if the other DIY services that were ‘tested’ were listed also, along with any significant reasons as to why they were not chosen.

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I don’t understand the comment “That experience drove me away from my own handmade sites years ago.” For static sites, what is the danger other than a weak password for the ftp transfer?

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I was pleased the article highlighted the issues with ever migrating a site on one of these platforms. They also place you at the mercy of the service ever changing or failing. I would definitely get your domain elsewhere so you can at least hold on to that if the service flops or changes in a way you dislike.

While it’s slightly more DIY, my recommendation for small sites is to get a standard web host, add a WP blog, and use the blog as a site platform. It’s very easy to add “fixed pages” and set one as the home page. You can select from gazillions of templates, many of them free or modest cost, and you can change your theme, and host, any time. (WP sites are fully exportable) Managing a WP site is mostly browsing menus and discovering what other options you’d like. And you can add your choice of plugins over time to add features.

That approach is far more standards based, allows you to use the template approach to design but be totally unlimited by it, and allows you your choice of host. None of the limitations of the “services”.

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Thank you, LS,
While digging a bit deeper into the Mozilla SeaMonkey (which is a cross-platform all-in-one web suite, that includes a browser/email/html editor and an IRC client), I ran across a link which may be of interest to other readers for html editor comparison purposes?

Comparison of HTML editors {From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia}
The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of HTML editors.
This article is not all-inclusive or necessarily up to date. Please see the individual products’ articles for further information, and comparison of text editors for information on text editors, many of which have features to assist with writing HTML.

Cheers! :cheers:

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I am a little surprised you didn’t mention NVU, an open source, web site builder. I used it to create my own site, it is easy to learn to use, you can write in plain english in one window, and see the source code in another and tweak it there, if you know a little html. It was a great tool, still is. And its free.

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Hi genej313,
Per the link I had provided above in post/reply #5, Nvu was discontinued, the Mozilla community has created a fork project KompoZer..
Elsewhere, I had also read (possibly conflicting) that the Nvu project is now called “BlueGriffon“.

I was always preferential to uS FrontPage and especially Adobe DreamWeaver CS5. Unfortunately, both have gotten old in the tooth to the point that neither are truly supported any longer (partially due to html5) and the new version of DreamWeaver is truly too expensive for consumers attempting to update their personal websites. Adobe DreamWeaver has also become yearly subscription PAYware.

Thus, my only option has become the Mozilla SeaMonkey suite, but requires templates to be sourced elsewhere (pretty easy via BitTorrent downloads).
Per Lincoln Spector‘s recommendation, I am going to HAVE to try WIX, that gets good reviews.
You are welcome to let me know, what you think of other available OpenSource or FREEware HTML editors/creator that are worthy to try.

Cheers:crossfingers:

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I have been using Weebly since Microsoft started charging more than $20/year when they changed their website hosting (with no preservation or transfer capabilities).

My target was lowest cost web hosting while retaining control over my existing domain name. Some other considerations were website storage space, data transfer limits, file upload limits, redundancy.

I researched many possibilities, but it seemed that most wanted me to get my domain name through them or had monthly hosting fees, fees for private domain registration and/or other fees, low storage, small upload file sizes, low bandwidth quotas, or limited options for email accounts or forwarding. A simple mention of a website online, such as Windows Secrets, can easily exhaust your bandwidth quota for the month, making your domain useless until the following month. The worst was a free plan where people could add subdomains to your domain.

To make a long story short, after a lot of research and several false starts I chose Weebly free web hosting, and 1&1 for the domain registration with forwarding of web page requests to Weebly, and email forwarding addresses to existing Yahoo and Gmail accounts. 1&1 also included private registration in the base cost that hides the domain ownership information without an additional fee. I could no longer use the Hotmail addresses linked to my domain, but found that after the domain transfer I could reuse the domain linked email addresses with forwarding to other existing Yahoo & Gmail addresses (or set up new email addresses) despite Microsoft’s claim that the email addresses could not be reassigned.

Since I was in the job market (and am again) with my resume available on my website, I first designed a Weebly web site. Then I reviewed the domain transfer process and started it on a Friday, knowing that my website would probably be “out of commission” during part of the domain transfer. I chose a time when I could frequently check emails and the progress of the transfer to minimize the time the domain name was “unlocked” or “out of commission”. There were some mandatory delays imposed by the old servicer, transfer emails to verify the transfer, and waiting for the new domain hosting information to be propagated to domain name servers. I don’t remember how long the process took, but it was several days of mostly waiting for the next step.

It has just been a little over a year since the change. 1&1’s introductory price is usually very reasonable (currently $0.99 for the 1st year of domain registration), however renewal prices are going up from $10.99 to $14.99 per year effective 7/1/13. I have two websites, one for myself and one for my wife, and just renewed them at the $10.99 price.

I have run into some of Weebly’s free website limitations and either found workarounds, or decided that it wasn’t important. My page header includes an image with relevant information (this would solve the complaint about “The title area proved difficult to reformat — I couldn’t add a line of smaller-font text below my name), and I live with the little Weebly tagline at the bottom of the page, just like I tolerated Microsoft’s.

There are plenty of resources for searching for good web hosts and domain registration providers.

If you decide to try 1&1 please use the link http://www.1and1.com/?k_id=177836292 so that I can get a referral credit.

If you are interested in a Weebly premium paid plan, you can get a $10 credit using the link http://www.weebly.com/link/gYhMki

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I made the mistake once of using my ISP’s email service. Then I moved and had to switch ISPs. I tried using a free email forwarding service that was “guaranteed for life”, but then it closed down when the domain was sold. My main email service is now Yahoo. Google was added about a year ago when one website used Google docs to provide some information updates until they could integrate it into their members only portion of their website.

I also have several email addresses from my domain registrar that are currently forwarded to my yahoo account. I am slowly updating my contact information with this truly portable address. If for some reason my domain registrar or the big email service folded I could use another service and the change would be transparent.

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So when did the “Windows Secrets Lounge” turn into a pseudo advertising forum for Google?
I’ve already let my paid subscription lapse, maybe its time after 12 years of great Windows / Office advise its time for me to move on!
Just Sayin’

John

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So when did the “Windows Secrets Lounge” turn into a pseudo advertising forum for Google?
I’ve already let my paid subscription lapse, maybe its time after 12 years of great Windows / Office advise its time for me to move on!
Just Sayin’

John

I am a Lounge VIP. I have posted a complaint in the VIP area, where Lounge moderators and admins may comment and reach a decision about this user.

Please don’t let this issue, which was not created by Windows Secrets Newsletter, make your decision to stop contributing. These posts are not authorized nor condoned by Management here.

Getting back on-topic for this thread, anyone applying for a Domain Name should become aware of then possibility of Domain Name Theft, or Domain Hijacking.

This is a growing annoyance, and there are already a few Lounge Threads about how difficult it is to reclaim a Domain Name once it gets hijacked. These threads also contain some recommendations for and against several ways of obtaining a Domain.

-- rc primak

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The opinions expressed here regarding products and services are individual opinions. Even if we allow posts that are within the Lounge rules, that does not imply any endorsement from the Lounge. That said, each user can post as long as our rules are respected. A given user’s rights are not diminished because they state they have any affiliation with a products or services provider, although common sense is required. There can be a thin line between acceptable replies and undue pushing of 3rd party services, so I would advise everyone to tread carefully.

We will discuss this situation and decide what is reasonable and what is not.

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The opinions expressed here regarding products and services are individual opinions. Even if we allow posts that are within the Lounge rules, that does not imply any endorsement from the Lounge. That said, each user can post as long as our rules are respected. A given user’s rights are not diminished because they state they have any affiliation with a products or services provider, although common sense is required. There can be a thin line between acceptable replies and undue pushing of 3rd party services, so I would advise everyone to tread carefully.

We will discuss this situation and decide what is reasonable and what is not.

It is not my intent to make management level decisions in The Lounge. That is why I am not interested in being a moderator.

My post about Management was a response to the complaint in Post#12, in which t8ntlikly seemed to be under the impression that Google Apps Expert was advertising, and that The Lounge itself had endorsed these posts. That these are not official posts by those who run The Lounge was all I meant to clarify in my own post. I do NOT speak for Lounge Management.

Yes, folks have a right to express their wisdom, as long as it doesn’t cross any existing lines regarding advertising or pushing a product or service. It’s not as though Google had hired one of its own sales or PR people to comment here. This is apparently not what the Google Apps Expert here in this thread is doing. But if you push this hard, you must expect a certain degree of push-back. This applies to anyone expressing a strong agenda in The Lounge.

I like enthusiasm for new ways to leverage The Cloud, Windows or anything else. If productivity is improved, so much the better, and I like hearing about new options.

I just don’t like it when someone pushes an agenda at every mention of anything remotely related, and seems to have a one-track mind. There must be a line somewhere which we all can live with.

I will save any further thoughts on this matter for the VIP Area if it seems OK to discuss this matter there.

-- rc primak

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On a more personal note, I would advise anyone wanting to use Google services about the very talked about situation that occurred yesterday – the closing of Google’s Reader service. As many of Google’s services, Reader was free. All of a sudden, after having effectively wiped out most competing alternatives, Google decided to cancel the service. That raised quite a vocal protest from the users of the service. This has made quite a few users think how disruptive this type of behavior can be – and the risk of free services offered by players who can afford them, such as Google. One the most interesting reactions I have seen was from someone who stated that they will never use free services from anyone when a clear business plan behind those services cannot be fathomed. Seems quite a wise reaction to me.

Being one of those who used Reader, I will never rely on Google’s free services myself. I won’t give them my money, either.

This said, nothing is actually free, although we all like free. We better be aware of the trade-offs when we make our choices and if a service is really relevant, there are providers who can do it with quality and at a reasonable price. This applies to Google and everybody else. Microsoft does similar things regularly. They even shutdown paid services, so we need, more and more, to be extra careful with our choices.

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Doug (Google Apps Expert)

I am not a moderator or V.I.P. of any sort nor can I speak for the lounge, so these comments to you are strictly my own.

Trying to remember back 12 years with my old brain is a hard thing to do. I remember when I joined most of the questions were about Windows, Office, and well almost anything to do with Microsoft. As technology has changed so has the Windows Lounge. There are now posts (not that there weren’t back then) about many things, and as back then, these newer products (iTunes and Google Docs come to mind), run in the Windows environment.
I for one enjoy being kept up to date on these new technologies and appreciate all of the help, along with the wealth of information that is posted in the lounge. I am sure I would enjoy your answers too, all 39 of them, if each and every one weren’t IMHO a blatant push of Google products.

I did a “Bing” search for you, and you have some impressive credentials, including being a Certified Google Apps Expert. But please keep in mind, that this is a Windows Secrets Lounge, and NOT a Google lounge, nor is it a place to “advertise” or otherwise promote Google.

As ruirub stated “A given user’s rights are not diminished because they state they have any affiliation with a products or services provider, although common sense is required. There can be a thin line between acceptable replies and undue pushing of 3rd party services, so I would advise everyone to tread carefully.”

Again, the above are my opinions and are not meant to reflect those of any other user, or of the lounge.

Thanks
John

PS: As a resident of Arizona, I am saddened by recent loss of 19 of our firefighters. I would like to ask each of you to take a moment to remember them.

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Rui,

I will miss Google Reader too. I’m now using Feedly. What are you using?

I am using Feedly too. Tried other stuff, but none comes close to Feedly.

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I agree, you should NEVER use your ISP’s email service. The best solution is Gmail for personal and Google Apps for Business for your domain.

Or Outlook.com. Why is Gmail better? Compare Outlook.com

Take a look at the fastest-growing email service that 80% of Gmail users* said they would switch to.

Bruce

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A good article. I have found, unfortunately, that for building websites, free versions are worth what you paid for them. As an alternative, you might suggest to your readers WebEasy Pro, which costs $49, but really has some great capabilities, is very easy to use and to set up your own special pages (http://www.avanquest.com/USA/software/webeasy-professional-10-new-version-500665?meta=work&cat=design&sub=web-design). They also do hosting, at a reasonable price.

Their instructions are not the easiest to follow. If someone decides to buy it, I suggest they spend another $19 and get WebEasy on Steroids (http://www.webeasyinstruction.com/). Steroids also has a great forum.

I have created some fairly complex websites with WebEasy and the help of the guys on the Steroid Forum.

Harry Ward

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As per the above comment #22, the Lounge does NOT endorse the above app. In fact the reviews at Amazon are less than stellar. It is a user’s decision whether they purchase this app over another.

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Medico:

Sorry. I did not want to offend anyone, or want you to appear that you were endorsing my choice. I just wanted to let folks know that there are other alternatives.

FYI, I read the Amazon reviews, as well as reviews on other similar programs; and I tested lots of them on my computer. I stand by my comments.

Harry

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To see what our group has done with Weebly, check out http://www.CoonhoundCompanions.com/. There are limitations that at times confine us, but it’s easy to use, and we’re happy overall.

Jerry Dunham
Co-founder, Coonhound and Foxhound Companions
Founder, Tejas Coonhound Rescue

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