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Do-It-Yourself Web Design for Home-Based Businesses
Home-based businesses need a strong web presence to combat the inflated advertising and marketing budgets of their larger competitors, but establishing that presence through a professionally designed and developed web site may not be an affordable option. In many cases, the only cost-effective way to get the web site you want for your business is to do it yourself. Even if you are not experienced in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), you can find helpful programs which will assist you in your design efforts. Trust me, it is not as difficult as it may seem to be. Here are a few tips for finding software to meet your small or home-based business's needs. 1) Know Your Options When it comes to web site creation software, there are three types to choose from: text editors, HTML editors, and WYSIWYG editors. Text editors, which are basically any word processing program such as Word or Notepad, require extensive HTML knowledge. NoteTab Light (Freeware) HTML editors are much like text editors except they include additional features to aid inexperienced users, such as color-coded tags and pre-prepared CGI and Java scripts. If you have little or no experience with HTML, WYSIWYG editor is a better choice. HTML Kit (Freeware) Web-O-Rama (Donationware) WYSIWYG, which stands for What You See is What You Get, programs like FrontPage or DreamWeaver allow you to design the pages' appearance without writing code. You pick what you want and the program automatically generates the code. Macromedia Dreamweaver ($399) (Recommended) NetObjects Fusion ($149.95) 2) Look for the Features You Need When you start browsing for web site software, you'll want to look for a few key features, such as ready-made templates, wizards (they make many tasks easier and quicker), auto-backup, and pre-built code. Remember to also keep in mind your own level of HTML experience. If you are inexperienced, then you will want plenty of templates and wizards to help you along. Likewise, if you feel comfortable working with code, then you may want to choose programs without all of the bells, whistles, and help since they will cost you less. 3) Do Some Research Never buy a program, especially not one for business, without trying it out first. Most of these programs have demos or free trials available on their manufacturers' web sites. You can also check with sites such as CNET.com or Epinions to get an idea of which programs are being recommended by users. Check with popular computer magazines for their experts' input as well. All of this research will give you a good idea of which programs to explore and which to avoid when you are making your final buying decision. 4) Keep in Mind Your Budget Depending on which type of web design program you choose, your costs will vary dramatically. Text editors, for example, are often already on your computer. Notepad, a feature of Windows, makes a very usable text editor and will cost you nothing extra. HTML editors, on the other hand, can cost anywhere from $30 to $100 while WYSIWYGs are priced between $70 to $500 and up. Well-known brands, such as Adobe and MacroMedia, will cost more but the quality of their programs and the stability of their company make them a better choice than the inexpensive software from unknown vendors. Also, be sure to look for programs that offer free or reduced price upgrades so you continue to get the most from your software without paying full price again every two or three years. With these tips, you should have no trouble finding an HTML program that fits your needs and your experience level so you can create your own professional-looking web site without draining your business's budget. -----SIDE BAR----- Vishal P. Rao is the owner of: http://www.work-at-home-forum.com/ An online community of people who work at home.
MORE RESOURCES:  website design - Yahoo! News Search Results website design - Yahoo! News Search Results • Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing Powerhouse, Aurora Information T... COLD SPRING, N.Y., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on its solid foundation in medical website design and medical marketing , Aurora Information Technology, Inc. (Aurora IT) receives accolades from ... • Fort Lauderdale Website Design Company, A Work Of Art, Inc., Gives Tips for B... A Work Of Art, Inc., a Fort Lauderdale website design and marketing company, provide tips why business owners need to hire a web design company who can provide them with the services needed to make their website effective in today's competitive environment and the costs associated with web design. (PRWeb February 07, 2012) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/websitedesigncost ... • How Pinterest Is Changing Website Design Forever Even if you haven't ever visited popular visual bookmarking site Pinterest, you might recognize its design elements -- which have been popping up everywhere since the startup burst onto the mainstream scene in 2011. • Elliottsweb, a Chicago Website Design Company, Welcomes Its Newest Internet M... CHICAGO, IL-- - Elliottsweb, a Chicago website design company, would like to kindly welcome its newest website design and search engine optimization clients:Kurt Hermanni is an experienced Miami immigration ... • IV Interactive Wins IMA ?Best in Class? Award for Website Design of Fertility... Award Recognizes Creativity and Leadership in Healthcare MarketingNew York, NY (PRWEB) February 07, 2012 IV Interactive received the ?Best in Class? award for the design and implementation of FertilitySolutionsNE.com from Interactive Media Awards (IMA). An internationally renowned competition, IMA evaluates websites for design, content, functionality, standards compliance and usability. Winners ... |
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