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Domain Registration and Website Building

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ThaLorax
Posts: 21079 - Karma: 8,445
I recently I have been looking into and some basic research on building a website for my business and realized I have no clue what I'm doing. I know that the web address I want is available but I don't really know what to do from there and I don't want to run into any scams or get screwed for jumping into something I know nothing about. Can any of you give me some good advice on the do's and don'ts of creating your own site? We're talking basic ass stuff like which company should I buy the domain name from? What are some cheap options for actually building the site myself? Is it feasible to make a clean looking professional site on a budget and with no knowledge? Is it worth it to buy the domain name from a company that provides web building features? Generic other question that I don't even know that I should be asking?

If it helps, I have a business doing sustainability consulting and energy conservation. It's just me (sole proprietorship) so I have like no budget for hiring a website designer. I want it to, especially at first, be very basic and clean looking since my portfolio is quite small and almost non-existent at the moment.
Apr 11 2014 3:04AM
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eheath
Posts: 61552 - Karma: 122,594
IMO the best way to build a basic website is using a WordPress application (assuming you don't want to write a bunch of code and upload to a server using ftp). You can build your site via wordpress.com and buy a domain from them, but then you're more limited with what you can change. If you buy domain/hosting from a company (ie I use bluehost) you can then install a wordpress "application" that will allow you customize everything down to the raw php/css coding.

this is my site
http://www.evanheathvisual.com

I started with a template and then customized the PHP/CSS from there, its super easy to change stuff and pretty easy to build as well.

What key is locking down hosting/domain name and then building your site from there.
Apr 11 2014 4:24AM
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StokeFactor
Posts: 348 - Karma: 1,012
Wordpress is awesome if you don't wanna code anything, really user friendly. If you know a bit how to code Html and css Bootstrap allows you to start from a template you choose (some are free and some with more fonctions are around 15$) and build your site on that (so basically the whole structure is already coded you just add your content), for the domain I don't know wich one is the best but don't go with GoDaddy, the server is often down and the services extremely bad.

Here's my website created with a 15$ bootstrap template:

http://www.guillaumepj.com/

And here's a site created with a free bootesrap template for a school project:

http://www.guillaumepj.com/outaouais
Apr 11 2014 11:06AM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
I would also check out wix and squarespace. They're both super intuitive ways to make a website, maybe not as advanced as wordpress but easier to use IMO.

http://www.tommyyacoe.com
Apr 11 2014 7:10PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21079 - Karma: 8,445
My friend suggested squarespace. I don't want to do wix because the domain name I already want is available and I don't think wix allows your own domain name. I don't like their layouts either. I'll look into the rest of these suggestions tomorrow. Keep em coming I really appreciate it!
Apr 11 2014 8:21PM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
ThaLoraxMy friend suggested squarespace. I don't want to do wix because the domain name I already want is available and I don't think wix allows your own domain name. I don't like their layouts either. I'll look into the rest of these suggestions tomorrow. Keep em coming I really appreciate it!


I actually switched from a Wordpress to a Wix site and kept my domain name, which I bought from google a few years ago. Having built my personal site with Wix and a different site with Squarespace, I'd definitely go with Squarespace.
Apr 12 2014 1:34PM
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caleb_lun
Posts: 314 - Karma: 341
Hey dude, I highly recommend buying a domain from GoDaddy or HostGator. I personally use Netregistry because its an Australian company but I have heard great things from those two. With these web hosting companies, cpanel is often the manager for the domain. From within cpanel you can manage emails, website aspects and lots of useful but complicated stuff. From within cpanel you can install Wordpress, which i think is by far the best way to build your website. Like Eheath said, you can start off with a simple template and then when your experienced enough, you can code the entire website or at least aspects of it. I started making a website from scratch with no experience like you, but after some time tinkering with a theme I got a result I was happy with. Unfortunately my website is not public yet, but when it is would be happy to share it with you. Hope this helped, good luck!
Apr 29 2014 8:58PM
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StokeFactor
Posts: 348 - Karma: 1,012
LunaticStudiosHey dude, I highly recommend buying a domain from GoDaddy or HostGator. I personally use Netregistry because its an Australian company but I have heard great things from those two. With these web hosting companies, cpanel is often the manager for the domain. From within cpanel you can manage emails, website aspects and lots of useful but complicated stuff. From within cpanel you can install Wordpress, which i think is by far the best way to build your website. Like Eheath said, you can start off with a simple template and then when your experienced enough, you can code the entire website or at least aspects of it. I started making a website from scratch with no experience like you, but after some time tinkering with a theme I got a result I was happy with. Unfortunately my website is not public yet, but when it is would be happy to share it with you. Hope this helped, good luck!


GoDaddy's servers are often down, sometimes for an entire day or even more, it's true that the cpanel is user friendly but I'm with Godaddy and believe me it's not worth it.
Apr 30 2014 12:44AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
LunaticStudiosHey dude, I highly recommend buying a domain from GoDaddy or HostGator.


GoDaddy has an awful service, but beyond that, their positions on SOPA and other internet legislation prove them to be a company I would never, ever work with based on principal alone.

I'd say name.com, namecheap and hover are much better.
Apr 30 2014 3:24AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21079 - Karma: 8,445
I'm tinkering around with a format from SquareSpace right now and it's giving me a headache to work through this.
Apr 30 2014 3:57AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
ThaLoraxIs it feasible to make a clean looking professional site on a budget and with no knowledge?


No. Seriously consider saving up some cash and getting someone to build it for you.
Apr 30 2014 5:18AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21079 - Karma: 8,445
BoaxNo. Seriously consider saving up some cash and getting someone to build it for you.


You be the judge: http://www.sustainablygreensolutions.com/


Constructive criticism is very welcome. Took me lots of hours to get it not looking like complete hogwash. Yes, I just used the word hogwash.





Also, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to change the font and/or font size of individual words/sentences within a textblock without changing the entire font and/or font size of the entire website (I'm using SquareSpace).
May 1 2014 2:35AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21079 - Karma: 8,445
Also, props to whomever can name what mountain range my background picture is of.
May 1 2014 2:37AM
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
LunaticStudiosHey dude, I highly recommend buying a domain from GoDaddy or HostGator.


Don't. GoDaddy blows. HostGator is owned by EIG, which basically buys up small, awesome hosts and turns them into shit.

omnidataGoDaddy has an awful service, but beyond that, their positions on SOPA and other internet legislation prove them to be a company I would never, ever work with based on principal alone.

I'd say name.com, namecheap and hover are much better.


Agreed. Namecheap is the way to go.

ThaLoraxAlso, props to whomever can name what mountain range my background picture is of.


I don't know, but it's lacking some contrast. I'd bump that up a little to make it have a little more umpf.

Also: I'd advice you seperate your hosting and domain registrar. That's the safer route.
May 1 2014 4:58AM
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StokeFactor
Posts: 348 - Karma: 1,012
ThaLoraxYou be the judge: http://www.sustainablygreensolutions.com/


Constructive criticism is very welcome. Took me lots of hours to get it not looking like complete hogwash. Yes, I just used the word hogwash.


Good job, but generally putting the content of the pages into a container (a box with a semi-transparent background for example)will help you give a more structured and organized look to your site.

Also the background images are a bit long to load, you could check google about image optimisation for the web.

Apart from that good job, don't know if you did your own logo but it's sick!
May 1 2014 12:00PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
ThaLoraxYou be the judge: http://www.sustainablygreensolutions.com/


Looks cheap. Try to hook up with a designer who can point out what to change.
May 2 2014 4:33AM
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caleb_lun
Posts: 314 - Karma: 341
omnidataGoDaddy has an awful service, but beyond that, their positions on SOPA and other internet legislation prove them to be a company I would never, ever work with based on principal alone.

I'd say name.com, namecheap and hover are much better.


Oh ok, I didn't know that, its just what i have heard from other people. I don't use them so I cannot personally vouch for them. Thanks for the heads up though.
May 2 2014 5:53AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21079 - Karma: 8,445
BoaxLooks cheap. Try to hook up with a designer who can point out what to change.


Hey man, I put a lot of time amd energy into this. If you dont like how it looks, please give me feedback and suggest ways to improve it. Just saying it looks cheap is kind of a dick move. I literally had no idea what I was doing going into this.

I did have feedback from a friend of mine who makes websites that cost hundres of thousands of dollars so he knows wtf he's doing. He saod it was really good for what it is. I'm not looking to blow minds away with how cool of a website I have. I want a clean, simple site that gets the point across. When I get more business down the line and can afford a better site, THEN I'll throw down more than the $86/year subscription I'm using now and hire someone who knows more code than how to embed an image on NS.
May 2 2014 12:37PM
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JuliusJ
Posts: 3778 - Karma: 2,106
ThaLoraxHey man, I put a lot of time amd energy into this. If you dont like how it looks, please give me feedback and suggest ways to improve it. Just saying it looks cheap is kind of a dick move. I literally had no idea what I was doing going into this.

I did have feedback from a friend of mine who makes websites that cost hundres of thousands of dollars so he knows wtf he's doing. He saod it was really good for what it is. I'm not looking to blow minds away with how cool of a website I have. I want a clean, simple site that gets the point across. When I get more business down the line and can afford a better site, THEN I'll throw down more than the $86/year subscription I'm using now and hire someone who knows more code than how to embed an image on NS.


I agree with Boax, it does look cheap. You said "you be the judge" and it got judged so don't get all defensive. I don't have any good constructive criticism either because I'm learning too and don't know what to point out. I'd say your main font looks too big and doesn't match the other fonts. Logo looks nice, but from the boxes down it look like an early 2000's website.

Side note, I'm going through bluehost and building my site on wordpress.org, so I'm right there with you. It is a bitch and takes a long time to learn. Just fiddle with it honestly, watch some youtube stuff. It'll get there, but yeah ask someone who you know can be honest with you. Just stick with it and keep working at it.
May 2 2014 2:19PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21079 - Karma: 8,445
JuliusJI agree with Boax, it does look cheap. You said "you be the judge" and it got judged so don't get all defensive. I don't have any good constructive criticism either because I'm learning too and don't know what to point out. I'd say your main font looks too big and doesn't match the other fonts. Logo looks nice, but from the boxes down it look like an early 2000's website.

Side note, I'm going through bluehost and building my site on wordpress.org, so I'm right there with you. It is a bitch and takes a long time to learn. Just fiddle with it honestly, watch some youtube stuff. It'll get there, but yeah ask someone who you know can be honest with you. Just stick with it and keep working at it.


Thank you. I wasn't trying to be as defensive as it sounds. I like that Boax even took the time to look at it. It just annoys me when people say stuff like that without any insight into why they think so. I'm working on reformatting it but I dont know how to make it not look "early 2000s".
May 2 2014 4:55PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
omnidataGoDaddy has an awful service, but beyond that, their positions on SOPA and other internet legislation prove them to be a company I would never, ever work with based on principal alone.

I'd say name.com, namecheap and hover are much better.


I have never had anything but stellar service from godaddy and have been with them for 4(?) years now
May 2 2014 5:16PM
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JuliusJ
Posts: 3778 - Karma: 2,106
ThaLoraxThank you. I wasn't trying to be as defensive as it sounds. I like that Boax even took the time to look at it. It just annoys me when people say stuff like that without any insight into why they think so. I'm working on reformatting it but I dont know how to make it not look "early 2000s".


For sure, I don't either, it doesn't help anyone. I don't really either. Just get multiple opinions from people with an eye for that. Or look at sites you do like, I definitely am modeling mine off of another photographer's that I like. I'll post mine when I get it a bit more together for a critique.
May 2 2014 6:09PM
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JuliusJ
Posts: 3778 - Karma: 2,106
Does anyone know how to achieve this look? The image that fades into a main site? Its done on Tyler Roemer's site as well as Jimmy Chin's
May 3 2014 2:37PM
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JuliusJ
Posts: 3778 - Karma: 2,106
JuliusJDoes anyone know how to achieve this look? The image that fades into a main site? Its done on Tyler Roemer's site as well as Jimmy Chin's


Messed up the link. Tyler Roemer
May 3 2014 2:39PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21079 - Karma: 8,445
Well I completely redid the layout of the site and I think it looks much better now. Please let me know what you guys think.

http://www.sustainablygreensolutions.com
May 8 2014 7:18PM
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StokeFactor
Posts: 348 - Karma: 1,012
ThaLoraxWell I completely redid the layout of the site and I think it looks much better now. Please let me know what you guys think.

http://www.sustainablygreensolutions.com


Much better, images load faster and the site seems more structured, simple and clean, good job!
May 8 2014 11:34PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21079 - Karma: 8,445
outaouais_reppinMuch better, images load faster and the site seems more structured, simple and clean, good job!


Thank you good sir
May 9 2014 12:01AM
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JuliusJ
Posts: 3778 - Karma: 2,106
Looks so much better! I'm impressed
May 9 2014 12:36PM
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