REALLY OT - How do I make my own website?

[ReneeQ]

This is OT, but slightly budget related rotfl: ), I'm just not sure where to post this, and I'm on this board the most. I would like to have my own website to post pictures and info for my family. The budget related part is that I want to do it as cheaply as possible, AND we're planning a budget family Disney trip, and I'd like to be able to post info for them on my website, rather than calling everyone all the time. I'm also the family photographer, and would like to post my pictures and slideshows to a website (besides the free one on comcast).

I know NOTHING about making my own website. Where would I start?

Thanks!

 

[mtblujeans]

I have used Freewebs.com for a free 4H site and it was not hard to figure out. We haven't used it for a long time but you can take a look and see what you think of the format. They give you decorative pages to choose from, but you have no control over the advertising content on the sides.

Google is supposed to have free personal web sites, but I have never tried that.

 

[i3utterfli82]

I think the easiest and cheapest would just to start a blog, goto blogger.com, it is free and you can post pictures easily.

 

[Imzadi]

Do you need a webpage or just a place to host your pictures so others can see them? If you just need a free photo host go to http://photobucket.com. Photobucket is free to join & use their basic services. Many people use them to host pictures for eBay auctions, etc. Or use Webshots.com

Depending on who your Internet provider is, they may already give you free web-space to create a web page. AOL, MSN, Verizon all give members website space. They usually have easy templates of pages to use to get you up & started without all the computer html coding. Google also started having free hosting & templates.


If you really want an official website with your own website name, I bought 4 domain names (website names) through GoDaddy.com. There are usually promo coupon codes out for deals at GoDaddy to get the domains cheap. They currently have a $6.99/year deal to buy the domain names. I bought the 4 domain names last Feb, so no one can even come close to using a web address similar to mine. I bought the .com, .net variations of my web addresses.

There are NEVER promos for renewals though. Something to factor in.

Then for HOSTING the domain (website), once you get the name, try to use your Internet provider web-space to create & "host" your site. Again, AOL, MSN, Verizon & Google all give member website space.

Think of it as: the domain name is like your phone number. Hosting is the monthly service provided the phone company. You can have a phone number, but no service. You need both.

Since you would already have free monthly "hosting" for your website, you won't have to buy that, just the domain name. Then you'd have your domain address "point" to your website. It's like call forwarding. So instead of clicking on a long-winded, unprofessional name like: http:// members.aol.com/your site/index.html, (which is where your actual site is hosted,) you'd simply tell people to go to the domain address "www. yoursite .com" which would automatically forward or "point" people to your site without even knowing about the other address.

To save on all the MB space on your free site, (they give you a limited amount and pictures use a lot of MBs,) use photobucket.com to separately host the pictures. Link the photos just like when we add images here in our posts here at the DIS, to appear on your web page. Then the MBs would be used for your text & captions.

Hope all that made sense.

 

[i3utterfli82]

There are NEVER promos for renewals though. Something to factor in.

Not true, I renew all my domains through godaddy for $6.99...before the ICANN fees...

 

[ReneeQ]

Thanks for the replies thus far. I think I want my own website. I want to do more than just post pictures. Currently I use photoshow to make slideshows of my pictures, and have a webpage through comcast for those, which is free. But that's all I can do there, post the shows. I'd like to be able to add other stuff, messages for my family, a page to post things about each of my nephews, etc. Like I said, I'm clueless about how to go about it.

I'm not opposed to paying for it, it doesn't have to be free. I just don't want to spend hundreds of dollars. Like I said, clueless, maybe it's no where near hundreds of dollars. I just don't know anything yet.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I have my own website and use microsoft front page to create it. I upload all of it to ipowerweb, but of course for me it's a business deduction, so the fee doesn't bother me, maybe I pay 7.00 a month.

www.firststepsfamilydaycare.com

 

[i3utterfli82]

Well it will come down to how much you are willing to spend.

So, lets start with a domain name. This can be registered at Godaddy.com for around $8 for the year.

Do you have Microsoft Frontpage? If so good, you can build you own website fairly easily from there, and will need hosting...which ranges, but I pay $10 a month. There are less. I use dreamhost.com.

I really would lean towards a blog with wordpress on your own hosting as it would be the simplest to learn and you can have you own pages, just like a website for different people. It is also easiest to post updates, and you can even make your blog look like a regular website, it just has a much less learning curve.

If you do not have webpage building software I would go with a site builder (I have one I recommend) and it is around $20 a month.

 

[Plantlady]

You can search for domain name options at:

http://www.whois.com

There are many companies that will host your domain name. I have a friend that gets unlimited urls hosted, so he hosts mine for me. I paid $10 for my url, and the renewal is $10, that's an annual fee. That's all it costs me. Of course, not everyone is lucky enough to have a friend host for them. He uses dreamhost.

My website is merely a blog, but I use Wordpress for the software. That is free. You have limitless options for looks, and can alter any and all of them.

For photos, I use flickr. You can get get an account for free, or can upgrade to pro for $25 a year. The free is still quite good. You can insert any of the photos into the webpage, and not worry about space constraints.

Wordpress plugins allow for slideshows, flash, ect... for displaying your photos.

If you have more specific questions, I'd be happy to answer them.. not sure what else you want to know.

 

[crazelion]

I think my website is still on tripod.com I think. I did my old school and use notepad to do the HTML coding myself. I use tripod.com because it's free. If do use tripod.com you might need a FTP uploader. I have no idea which ones works with Vista since my XP computer got stole.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

yahoo offers a deal on domain and website. That is who I go through
My website is:
www.HeadEastHairSalon.com

They offer a site builder that is pretty easy to use, plus I believe they will put your website into their search (I might be wrong on that...)

 

[eeyorethegreat]

I use Freewebs.com. There is a free version which gives you 163.3 Mb webspace and 2.5 GB p er month bandwidth. This is for the paid version I can't remember the stats for the free. I just got the bill for $42.00 a year. It is pretty simple to use and they update the site often adding new features. I do have to admit that it can be a bit buggy sometimes but not having experience with other sites I can't say how it compares. Overall I am happy with the service. There are lots of option out there so look around at a few and see what will serve you the best.

 

[fordpony92]

I use WebsiteBuilder.com. I love using it cause it has 1000+ free templates that can be easily edited in a drag&drop manner. I have recently found a great article that provides a comprehensive comparison of the best free website builders. You can find this info here.

This thread is 10 years old I think OP has probably found something by now.