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Editing/Building your SiteFirst, you have to build your site. But how do you get started? There are a couple of ways:
1. Software: I use Dreamweaver. It is very easy to use and has been around for a long time. It can cost about $400 though. You might be able to get some of the older versions for less. The versions I recommend are Dreamweaver MX 2004, Dreamweaver 8, or Dreamweaver CS3. I also heard that CoffeeCup was a good editor. I think is sells for about $50. I have never used it, so I can't really give you my opinion. Dreamweaver includes an FTP client. The FTP is what makes your pages fly from your desktop to your actual website. I don't know if CoffeeCup has an FTP client. If you are into programming, you could use Notepad or Textpad.
2. Designing the Layout: Unless you are really good at laying out the page, I suggest getting a Template. A Template is a pre-made layout. There are hundreds of sites out there with free Templates. There are also sites where you can purchase Templates. Sometimes, the Templates are difficult to display in an HTML Editor. It took me 4 hours this morning to find one that would play nice! Once you find a Template, you can then swap out the images and add your own. You can also change the text. I suggest Dreamweaver-Templates.net. That is where this design came from. If you choose a free Template, please link back to the company that created it. Let's give credit where credit is due!
3. After Choosing the Template: Now comes the difficult part. Just because it is pretty that doesn't mean the functionality is there. It is not connected to your database. It won't allow users to search, nor will it set up a form to work properly. That is where the programming comes in. You may need to hire a programmer/designer to add the functionality.
4. Another Choice: You can also hire a designer and have them build your site. Then they can Train you how to make site updates.
Now what do I do?
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