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Do-It-Yourself Web Design
'
for Home-Based Businesses '
Home-based
businesses need a strong web presence to combat the inflated advertising
and marketing budgets of their larger competitors, but establishing that
presence through a professionally designed and developed web site may not
be an affordable option. In many cases, the only cost-effective way to get
the web site you want for your business is to do it yourself.
Even
if you are not experienced in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), you can
find helpful programs which will assist you in your design efforts. Trust
me, it is not as difficult as it may seem to be.
Here
are a few tips for finding software to meet your small, or home-based,
business's needs.
1) Know Your Options
When it comes to web site creation software, there are three types to
choose from: Text editors, HTML editors, and WYSIWYG editors.
Text editors, which are basically any word processing program such as Word
or Notepad, require extensive HTML knowledge.
NoteTab
Light (Freeware)
Metapad 3.5
(Freeware)
EDXOR
1.60 (Freeware)
SuperEdi
3.2 (Freeware)
HTML editors are much like text editors except they include additional
features to aid inexperienced users, such as color-coded tags and
pre-prepared CGI and Java scripts. If you have little or no experience
with HTML, an HTML editor is a better choice.
HTML Kit
(Freeware)
Web-O-Rama
(Donationware)
Stone's
WebWriter 3.5 (Free for personal use)
AceHTML
5.08.1 (Freeware)
WYSIWYG, which stands for What You See is What You Get, programs like
FrontPage or DreamWeaver allow you to design the pages' appearance without
writing code. You pick what you want and the program automatically
generates the code.
Macromedia
Dreamweaver ($399) (Recommended)
NetObjects
Fusion ($149.95)
HyperText Studio 4.06
($99 - $519)
SiteSpinner
V2 ($49)
EasyWebEditor
($59.99)
2)
Look for the Features You Need
When you start browsing for web site software, you'll want to look for a
few key features, such as ready-made templates, wizards (they make many
tasks easier and quicker), auto-backup, and pre-built code.
Remember to also keep in mind your own level of HTML experience. If you
are inexperienced, then you will want plenty of templates and wizards to
help you along. Likewise, if you feel comfortable working with code, then
you may want to choose programs without all of the bells, whistles, and
help since they will cost you less.
3)
Do Some Research
Never buy a program, especially not one for business, without trying it
out first. Most of these programs have demos or free trials available on
their manufacturers' web sites. You can also check with sites such as
CNET.com or Epinions to get an idea of which programs are being
recommended by users. Check with popular computer magazines for their
experts' input as well.
All of this research will give you a good idea of which programs to
explore and which to avoid when you are making your final buying decision.
4) Keep in Mind Your Budget
Depending on which type of web design program you choose, your costs will
vary dramatically. Text editors, for example, are often already on your
computer. Notepad, a feature of Windows, makes a very usable text editor
and will cost you nothing extra.
HTML editors, on the other hand, can cost anywhere from $0 to $100 while
WYSIWYGs are priced between $70 to $500 and up.
Well-known brands, such as Adobe and MacroMedia, will cost more but the
quality of their programs and the stability of their company make them a
better choice than the inexpensive software from unknown vendors.
Also, be sure to look for programs that offer free or reduced price
upgrades so you continue to get the most from your software without paying
full price again every two or three years.
With
these tips, you should have no trouble finding an HTML program that fits
your needs and your experience level so you can create your own
professional-looking web site without draining your business's budget.
-----SIDE BAR-----
No matter which software you use, a good knowledge of HTML will always be
helpful. Here are some links that have helped me tremendously in building
my HTML and web designing skills:
http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp
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