Website Creation & Hosting? - Page 1

Hey guys,
Let me start by saying....I am NOT computer literate....
Our website has been down for several months now, and I am trying to get as much info/research on finding another "host".
Our original "creator" was HORRIBLE!......never up-dated, hard to access, cost a fortune!
We would like a simple website that profiles our dogs and accomplishments......for basic information.
It needs to be "easy accessible", and easily up-dated......for a computer idiot as myself!
We need to "create" a new one.......
If you have any ideas or references, I would be greatly appreciative........pm me if you need.
Thanks for your time,
Robin

Robin, one can go to a web designer/hosting service, but you have already done that and you know the problems with that type of arrangement if it does not go well.

I use a programme called MicroSoft FrontPage to build and manage websites. There is another preferred software called Dreamweaver, but I have never used it. The only caveat about FrontPage is this: make sure the servers of the hosting service of choice have the FrontPage extensions installed.

Using FrontPage to create a website is a lot like using MicroSoft Word. Your first page is always your index page, and you can link the other pages to it. You can copy and paste just as you do with Word and Excel. This lets you control the contents and update your website when you are ready.

Once you obtain the software and become comfortable with it, you need to find a web hosting service. I use Northern Valley Communications at http://www.portalwebhosting.com for my website and MSOutlook Email service. They are not the least expensive service, but when I needed assistance they were always available and offer massive storage for web-hosted files. But, they are one (1) of many service providers, and you no doubt have someone who is fairly local.

The largest initial expense is the software, followed by the monthly hosting fees. But, the services of a web designer do not come cheap, and I really think that you will enjoy doing this yourself.

Best Regards,
Bob-O 

I would recommend Doranna Durgin, Blue Hound Visions. Doranna is a fellow dog person, who competes in Agilty and other dog sports with her cardigans and beagle.

Here's her website: www.bluehoundvisions.com/

She has done a number of dog-related websites for different people. In addition to being a talented writer, she is also an artist and avid photographer, and has a very keen sense of colour and design.

Here's a photo she took of 2 of her cardis. I think it's GORGEOUS!

Robin, let me first say that I am not an expert in website development. Having said this, I have developed a couple of websites (unrelated to dogs) - but they were relatively simple. I am essentially self-taught and do it as something that I find interesting.

If you are interested, I'll be happy to develop something for you for free - again, as long as it is not too complicated. Further, I'd be happy to make the template available to others which with minor variations can then be customized to suit individual needs.

As to why I am making this offer: quite simply, I appreciate the help that I have received from members of this board both in terms of direct assistance as well as information that others post. As a relative novice with GSDs' I don't feel able to contribute meaningfully and so this is a way that I might be of assistance to others.

There is no catch or ulterior motive. It may also turn out that I do not have the necessary skills to design what you need. One thing that I must emphasize is that I don't have the time to update your site or that of anyone else. This is something that I would agree with Bob that you should either develop or seek outside assistance.

If you are interested provide me with links of a couple of sites that you feel might meet your needs and let me look at it and see if it is within my level expertise. I will have time during the month of November to try and develop something and thereafter I am not available for the next several months.

Another alternative, if you are constrained by budgetary limitations, is to find a student who is well-versed in the area and get his/her assistance. My son, who was an undergrad at the time, did something for a hairdresser a couple of years ago - now he did charge for his services but it was a lot less than would have had to be paid to a professional.

If you decide to go with a professional web designer then consider either Arvixe or Hostgator for your hosting needs. Both are excellent and well-priced. I have used both at different times. For hosting, assuming that you don't have a lot of traffic to your site, it should not cost you more than $50-$70 annually from either hosting outfit.

You can PM if you prefer to do so.

I have found the Yahoo Small business is a great value and VERY user friendly @ 12.95 a month! Let me know if you need more info and I will be happy to guide you through it all for free.

Robin, I sent you a PM but will also post this here incase this is helpful for anyone else.  I do some web design on the side and for a lot of dog-related sites (that don't need "dynamic" stuff, databases on the backend, etc), CSS templates are what I use.  There are so many great FREE templates (just have to keep an external link on the site), I rarely spend the time designing and coding my own.  I just find a template that matches my basic vision and customize from there.

Here's some sites I've done or are working on:

vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net/ - My site

schhmi.com/ - My Schutzhund club

www.pawsitivecaninetraining.com/ - My all-breed training club

www.dutchbingo.net/personal/24KGSDtest/ - This one is a work in progress, I was playing around with a new design for my breeder, so this site is not "live" on her domain and needs to be completed and updated

margepenning.com/ - A crazy simple site for a local speech therapist (she wanted something super simple and not something that needs to be updated)

www.dutchbingo.net/personal/CalvinCRC1/ - Something I'm playing around with for a church

www.stayfocusedpress.com/ - They've made a few changes and I see a few things that need fixing but I set this up originally


All of these examples I did pretty quickly with existing CSS templates.  Google "free CSS template". 

For web hosting I use Surpass, mainly b/c I have for years and have several accounts there so it's too much of a pain to switch.  One site I worked on had Go Daddy and I HATED it.

I use www.breederoo.com. Super easy to use, all the templates are already made, just pick the one you want, your colors, your layout, then plug in text and photos. It comes with I think 4 email accounts and it's $15 a month. You can do it all yourself.

Laurie Tollifson, a highly regarded GSD breeder, is also a pro at setting up websites. You can find her at:

http://www.studio6654.com/

She is a lovely person and very pleasant to deal with.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE!!!
I will look into the info that you all have offered......I soooo appreciate it!
Sincerely,
Robin