Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
  • Doing your own business website
  • cbmotorsport
    Free Member

    Is it possible/feasible to produce a convincing professional website without any skillz in the creative/design department. I am IT savvy, and have dabbled before many many years ago with dreamweaver.

    If so, what would be the best choice of software? Any other tips would be really appreciated.

    bencooper
    Free Member

    Dunno about convincing, but mine is done in WordPress. Works well enough.

    Edit for the advert: http://www.kinetics.bike 😉

    doug_basqueMTB.com
    Full Member

    I did mine. I used WordPress and Firefox´s firebug to see what the code was doing. The first iteration was done with a static word page (honestly!) and then I got WordPress and a generic theme at the end of my first year. That winter I rewrote it all to be like I wanted and each winter since then I´ve tweaked it to be more like I want.

    I´ve done it all myself, with help from Google. That was from necessity though, I literally didn´t have any money. I haven´t spent anything but have invested a lot of my time. The advantage is that I now understand it all and can make tweaks as I want. Disadvantages are that it´s not perfect and that I used a lot of my time. Of course it depends on what your business needs are.

    Tips? I thought it worked well with WordPress and using Firebug so that I can see the css and html and see what it all does in real time. Also getting a locally hosted website makes a massive difference so that can play away with it.

    There are so many resources on the web that you can ask google for as much help as you need.

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    AlexSimon
    Full Member

    Definitely if you use WordPress and a theme that works well for your business.

    Whether you should or not is a different question. Depends if your time is best spent elsewhere. I know a few people who have bought complete websites for around £300 from people who specialise in knocking them up cheaply (i.e. using the same wordpress/off-the-shelf theme combination).

    cbmotorsport
    Free Member

    Thanks, good advice. I;ll have a look at wordpress. I have a friend who can help with artwork and logos who is very good, so hopefully I can do it.

    matt_outandabout
    Full Member

    Meh.

    I was given a partly developed site and this is what we ended up with after a few days tinkering. (WordPress again)

    http://justplaying.org/

    I would say if it is ‘shop window’, then go for it. If it is e-commerce, critical to the future of the business stuff or any fancy pants requirements, get someone in.

    stevied
    Free Member

    I did this one using a builder on tso host: http://www.outstanding-landscapes.com

    No experience in websites but this went together quite easily. Lots to adjust/change and all mobile/tablet and pc ready

    allthegear
    Free Member

    Yes you can – you the tools already mention and spend time considering the following to help you build up a plan:

    1. Who will be visiting the site? Build little “characters” in your head or (better) on paper about who they are and what they want. Read about Empathy Maps
    2. Consider the flow people will have through your website to achieve their goals
    3. Stick to what you are good at and throw away all other unnecessary information
    4. Think about the words you will use and how they will help your customers meet their objectives. Look at goodui.org for help with this.
    5. Spend less (and that includes a value of your own time) on building the website than you reasonably expect to increase your profit by.

    Rachel

    cbmotorsport
    Free Member

    Thanks all for the examples and inspiration, and thanks Rachel for the thoughts on content.

    🙂

    leffeboy
    Full Member

    What Rachel said should be stickied 🙂

    Squarespace is another good way to go once you know what you want to do

    Finally, think of how you would go about finding yourself on google or what sorts of searches you would like to be found on. Make sure you use all those words as a minimum.

    bones
    Free Member

    Great advice above, both wp and ss are good. Have a crack at it and if you have any trouble, one of us will be able to help.

    zer0c00l44
    Free Member

    I built mine with no prior knowledge of doing any thing like it before. I used Wix. Their tools are very easy to use and you can build a site in a matter of days and then just fine tune it on an ongoing basis.

    Mine looks ok but I really need to spend more time on it but I am a little busy with work and my family. Plus I find it the most boring thing in the world to do.

    They have tonnes of useful apps and are very cheap about £11 a month.

    redthunder
    Free Member

    Mine works and is all WordPress

    http://brokenarrowuk.com

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)

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