To those with websites...

[rose4cale]

What is the best/cheapest/easiest way to start up and run a website? We would like to have one for our business. I don't think we're ready to accept payments via web, but would like to show our stuff on the site along with our page dedicated to CF Fundraising. Ideas? We're in the vinyl graphic business, so we know what looks good, just don't know how to get it there!

Thanks!

 

[Mockingbird]

I don't really have any reccomendations, just that you shouldn't be paying any more than $20 a month for web hosting. If I remember right i think it costs about $15 a year to register a domain name, though when you register the domain and have the web-hosting with the same company, you can sometimes get a discount. =-)

Also, what program are you going to use to design your webpage? If you've got a computer with Microsoft Frontpage installed... I've never used that program so i don't know how good it is, but it seems pretty much all the hosting companies are compatible with it. if you're using something different, though, you might wanna consider going with what the program reccomends. When I first tried to start my site, i had compatibility problems between the program I used and my hosting company, so i had to switch.

As far as website designing programs go, I choose the first one I found under $20 and that was a HUGE mistake. =-) Unfortuately most of the good ones are like $200 and up, but I've head there are some decent ones for around $50 and such.

Ha ha, but anyway, i'm by no means an expert. As far as computers go, I know my way around the word processer and that's about it. =-) Good luck!

 

[IG]

My boyfriend recommened this one to me <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.nvu.com/">http://www.nvu.com/</a> but I haven't had a chance to look it over but apparently it's a good way to design a website. He's in school for software engineering so I'll take his advice on that.

Hmm as for domain hosting yeah as mockingbird said it's going to run about 15 per year. My suggestion, do <b>not</b> use yahoo for web hosting, the 'discounts' they offer come with a few hidden fees if you want to keep your info private which can lead to $20+ a year for webhosting. <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.Bravenet.com">http://www.Bravenet.com</a> offers domains and webhosting, not sure how cheap it is but it's pretty user friendly once you figure out the layout of the site and they have WYSIWYG [what you see is what you get] webdesign, if I remember correctly. Bravenet, as far as I know, also offers ways to accept secure payments on site, I'd have to look that up but I believe so.

 

[WinAce]

As far as I know, you can *register a domain* with Yahoo! or Netfirms for $5 a year, with no further obligations to host it with them. I suggest going that route, at least. Other than that, I can't help you much, as I'm not exactly experienced with stores.

Have you considered an eBay store if your selling volume won't be that high? The advantages are low startup costs, access to a huge marketplace (people will find your products by searching for them), etc. Disadvantages are that it's about as fierce a free market as you'll ever see, so unless you have cutthroat prices (or offer other perks that others don't) you won't get anywhere.

 

[rose4cale]

Thanks for your replies. We are looking at ebay now. I want to start simple and small...since I just found out what a blog was <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0"> We are going the easy route and having our techy IT neighbor guy help us. He repairs arcade games for fun, so we will do his decals for nothing. I like the trading game.