Starting a website with no experience at all

[Twokindred]

I feel very out of place here, but I have a question I'd like to ask. My husband and I are starting a website together and neither of us know anything about developing one. We have very defined ideas for content and we know exactly how we want the look and feel to be, and we were wondering if we could just have everything hired out. If so, where can we look? I went to rent a coder and I'm so uninformed that I don't even know how to describe what I want. I'm also worried about being taken advantage of. Any suggestions? Thank you.

[paul]

A couple of thoughts.

A long time ago an older, experienced programmer told me "A manager needs to know enough programming to know when his programmer is lying to him."

"The first one is always a pilot study, no matter if you admit it or not."

In your situation I think it would be time well spent to read and re-read the articles on this site and start by building something simple yourselves.

We all started where you are ...

[Nico]

I think hiring someone to design/code your site would your best option.

Sure, like Paul said, it's always good to start learning this things yourselves, but there is a lot to learn and it'll take you lots of time to learn how to design and code properly.
Let someone else do the design/coding and you can spend all your time in trying to make more and better content, promoting, etc.

If you don't know much about development i wouldnt start looking at Rent a coder (or similar sites). Instead, you can search online for a designer/coder in your area, or look around in web development forums (like you are doing!) until you find someone you like. There are Lots of designers and coders out there.

[Twokindred]

Thank you both so much for your replies. Web design interests me, so I will be learning basics, but as I began to research I realized that it doesn't interest me enough to go as far as I may need to. Last night my husband and I did talk about hiring someone locally, so thanks for that advice as well. What about programs like Homestead or these places that offer templates and such? We have a big vision for this website and I feel it will be rather detailed/involved. Then again, maybe it just seems that way due to my limited knowledge of website development.

[Cutter]

Get NVU if you don't want to pay any money, get Dreamweaver if you want the same program the pros use.

Does your website actually require any complex custom programming? What is the purpose of the site (for an existing business, to make money, for a family homepage?)

[harri01]

hello mam,
how r u?
i m a website designer n as the view point of a designer i suggest u to go for a web site design company (http://www.************************) as they perfectly knows how to deal n make simple as well as dynamic websites. after that u need not to hire anything or anyone for that .i hope u like my suggestion n please its a request that be notice me when u had launch your website :)

[Baumann]

I suggest you to learn HTML then PHP... Ull then be able to make a site...

[Spirit]

You should know a little about what you want - I think a good place to start might be - http://www.w3schools.com/ I often refer when I need a little help can save some embarrassment

[FPU]

If you know nothing at all and are not a coder, you need a website builder like Network Solutions offers, they use the ImageCafe do-it-yourself website builder platform.

www.netsol.com

Anyone can build a site using it.

If you buy a web hosting program from them, the website builder is free and comes along with the hosting.

Other than a program like that, you could hire a web designer, that could cost about $60.00 an hour, if you need some references ask some of the members here to PM you some.

If you need a few designers and have money to pay to build out your site PM me and I will send you a few names, some guys work cheap, others charge thousands to build a site.

Network Solutions will cost you about $125.00 a year and you do it all yourself.

[agua]

It really depends upon how quickly you want to get your site up and running as to whether or not you learn about building websites.

If you want it up quick, and if as you say you have no or limited experience, then hiring someone to do the project could be the way to go.

It doesn't have to be expensive though as there are many open source CMS applications out there which can be modified to your own needs (Wordpress, Textpattern etc). The benefit of using an open source CMS is that you will be able to find other designers who are familiar with the application if your relationship with the original designer turns sour.

I still recommend learning the processes (there is more than one way to skin a cat) involved in site building. This can be a steep learning curve and also ongoing (there are still many things I haven't had time to learn about and also new methods appear on a regular basis)

If you need anymore info - post in this thread or PM me.

[Dan Schulz]

I feel very out of place here, but I have a question I'd like to ask. My husband and I are starting a website together and neither of us know anything about developing one. We have very defined ideas for content and we know exactly how we want the look and feel to be, and we were wondering if we could just have everything hired out. If so, where can we look? I went to rent a coder and I'm so uninformed that I don't even know how to describe what I want. I'm also worried about being taken advantage of. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Hi,

While you can have everything hired out, you will need to understand that not everybody will put the amount of effort that is required to build a quality Web site (either out of laziness, ignorance, or even ineptitude). Just because someone can download a pirated copy of Dreamweaver and Photoshop (note: I do not condone these activiites) does not mean they can become a designer or developer. It's going to take time, which means these people who do take the time to learn how to design and develop quality accessible Web sites that are easy to use will not be cheap.

The way I see it you have three options. Hire a "drive-by Web designer" for pennies on the dollar who will just take your money and leave you a buggy, broken site who cannot be found anywhere when you need to get something fixed, hire a professional (who has and can provide quality references as well as show you a portfolio of recent work that he or she has done) to build your site for you (this person or firm will not be cheap), or learn how to do it yourself. As you've said you don't have any coding experience, the first thing I'm going to suggest to you if you choose to take this option is to learn HTML and CSS. They're not hard, and with a book such as Build Your Own Web Site the Right Way Using HTML & CSS (http://www.sitepoint.com/books/html1) by Ian Lloyd [link: sitepoint.com] you'll not only learn the fundamentals of HTML and CSS, but also some of the best ways to use these technologies properly.

My question for you though (if you choose to take the "do it yourself" approach) is how much Web graphic design experience do you currently have?

[FPU]

Remember, most people even with a book or software still can't code or manage a web server properly, it takes aptitude and years of learning to program websites.

Learning is great, but that is not going to get a website up in a hurry.

This person, if we all read the title of the thread again, says they have NO EXPERIENCE AT ALL, so this means they are going to have to hire someone or use a do it yourself web page builder in all likelihood.