[Ed Dantes]

I want to build a personal website... Does anyone know how I can do it? I'd like a "www.mynamehere.com" site, and I don't want to pay much money (because I don't plan on making a lot of money from this site -- yet). I have limited experience with web editing software, and would like to use an open source editing software if possible.

So... what's the cheapest, easiest, and best way I can build a professional-looking site?

[PAmedic]

At work we started off doing a quick setup on MS Front Page, but eventually switched over to Dreamweaver.

Then again- we're hacks.

but if cheap is the determining factor- those 2 are a good place to start.

They were easy to use for a bunch of novices- for sure.

[phoenix]

For hosting, I'd go with Bluehost. If you pay for two years up front, it's less than $7 a month, and they offer unlimited storage and bandwidth. That also includes your domain registration. You don't have to pay it up front, but it's almost $11 if you just go month to month. I haven't made the move yet, but as soon as I can, I'm moving both blogs and my podcast to a central site hosted by Bluehost.

They also will install Wordpress for free. Even if you're not going to start a blog, Wordpress is flexible enough to let you design a web site. It's made even easier since there are templates you can install that make the page look very professional without you having to do anything yourself. I usually do HTML by hand, but I haven't had to in a long time thanks to Wordpress and Movable Type and their custom templates.

AND of course, if you want to help a brother out, you can go to Bluehost using my affiliate link

[mrmacphisto]

Netfirms is good too. Very easy to use and they are usually running some sort of promotion like $5 for your first year. Two domain names included, more storage than you'll ever use, the aforementioned WordPress and other applications, and easy and cheap to add stuff on. I just registered a third domain name for my hosting package and it only cost $6.99 (per year) for the add-on.

[flamesbball84]

google

[Ed Dantes]

Netfirms is good too. Very easy to use and they are usually running some sort of promotion like $5 for your first year. Two domain names included, more storage than you'll ever use, the aforementioned WordPress and other applications, and easy and cheap to add stuff on. I just registered a third domain name for my hosting package and it only cost $6.99 (per year) for the add-on.

What's the advantage for having multiple domain names? And do you have a link you can show me as an example?

Ideally, I'd like to use WordPress or Moveable Type, and stay away from Dreamweaver or Frontpage. I used Frontpage to design a site for a class I was in, and frankly, I hated it.

[mrmacphisto]

Netfirms is good too. Very easy to use and they are usually running some sort of promotion like $5 for your first year. Two domain names included, more storage than you'll ever use, the aforementioned WordPress and other applications, and easy and cheap to add stuff on. I just registered a third domain name for my hosting package and it only cost $6.99 (per year) for the add-on.

What's the advantage for having multiple domain names? And do you have a link you can show me as an example?

Ideally, I'd like to use WordPress or Moveable Type, and stay away from Dreamweaver or Frontpage. I used Frontpage to design a site for a class I was in, and frankly, I hated it.

Multiple domains are good if you want to host multiple sites or have multiple domains point to one site (or part of a site). An example would be if you're building a website for a parent company or organization and want separate domains for its affiliates and subsidiaries.

In my case, the hosting package came with two domains, so I took the two domains, one for my personal site/blog and the other for my hypothetical publishing company, should I ever reach that stage with my writing. The third domain was one I let lapse years ago and have wanted to get back ever since. It was snatched up by a spammy ad company and held onto for several years, and I just happened to notice it was available this week, so I bought it, mostly so I could update some registered accounts to associate with my Gmail address, as some of them were registered under an email account on that old, lost domain.

[Ed Dantes]

I took the plunge, and I am the proud parent of http://www.citizenwes.com!

Grand launch expected January 2009.

Next step... how do I make money with my website?

[flamesbball84]

I took the plunge, and I am the proud parent of http://www.citizenwes.com!

Grand launch expected January 2009.

Next step... how do I make money with my website?

Shouldn't you have thought of that before you opened it?

[Ed Dantes]

I took the plunge, and I am the proud parent of http://www.citizenwes.com!

Grand launch expected January 2009.

Next step... how do I make money with my website?

Shouldn't you have thought of that before you opened it?

I'm sure there are lots of things I should have done beforehand.

[phoenix]

I took the plunge, and I am the proud parent of http://www.citizenwes.com!

Grand launch expected January 2009.

Next step... how do I make money with my website?

Best ways starting out:

Affiliate links. Any time you mention a book, a DVD, a TV show with DVDs available, a CD/MP3/recording artist/whatever, make it a link to Amazon with your affiliate code. Amazon has a thing that will create the links for you, so all you have to do is cut and paste. If you're doing mainly music, iTunes affiliate links are better, though ($.10 per song, vs. 4% at Amazon). The Bluehost affiliate program pays pretty well, too, and you don't have to be hosted through them to be part of the program. You can get into a TON of affiliate programs at linkshare.com. Just be careful that you don't overdo the affiliate ads right away, or people won't read your site. Put a couple good ones on one side or the other, and maybe change them every so often.

Google Ads. They do a decent job of putting contextual ads on your page, so the ads are about things your readers are already thinking about. My site's problem is that they keep putting up ads for companies that sell pews, because of the name of my blog. These are great because you get paid per click, rather than for sales like in an affiliate program.

{edit to add}Almost forgot about the old faithful PayPal tip jar. Set up a PayPal account if you don't already have one, and get one of their free buttons for your sidebar. People click on it to donate money to you. Sounds stupid, but I've made more money this way than any other so far. There are people that will pick one blog/site they read each day and PayPal them anywhere from a buck to five dollars (I know some that decide to skip Starbucks that day and donate that money to a blogger). Let people know it's there, but don't pimp it too hard

You won't make a ton of money unless you generate a huge amount of traffic, but you can at least pay the hosting fees.

[qkslvrsrfrboy]

i have to brag about this, so this seems like a good place. I was going to post about it in the thread for whoever was looking for a graphic design place.

My brother started a graphic design firm and was just recently ranked 18th best in the country by radiiate. So if you need any graphic design check it out.

http://radiiate.com/2008/12/17/top-100- ... igns-2008/ is the rankings

http://ainsworthstudio.com/ is my brothers website

[Hold My Own]

Boy has Flamesbball been the Beej in this thread



I used your link Phoenix to sign up for a few of my sites...I'll finalize it here soon

[phoenix]

Boy has Flamesbball been the Beej in this thread



I used your link Phoenix to sign up for a few of my sites...I'll finalize it here soon

Thanks!

[Hold My Own]

Can I add more domains on this Bluehost or will i have to pay another 7 or 11 bucks a month

[Ed Dantes]

Can I add more domains on this Bluehost or will i have to pay another 7 or 11 bucks a month

I think, and don't hold me to this, but domain registration is some nominal fee and can be added on to bluehost.

[Ed Dantes]

By the way, does anyone know how to build a WordPress Theme?

[Hold My Own]

Dont build one just google it and download one....then drag it into you ftp folder under themes....I'm working on trying to get google ad's on mine now....that's a little tougher

[Ed Dantes]

Dont build one just google it and download one....then drag it into you ftp folder under themes....I'm working on trying to get google ad's on mine now....that's a little tougher

You have to sign up for Google Adsense. Once you have an account, you can create the type of ad you want. Once you've got that down, it'll give you HTML code for the ad. Copy and paste that into your website. I'm working with WordPress, and they have thigns called "widgets". Those are the little things you find on the sidebars. I added a "text" widget to my sidebar, and paste Google's HTML code into there. Save, and presto.

[LUconn]

I don't see any ads on your site. I want to click on them for you.

[Ed Dantes]

I don't see any ads on your site. I want to click on them for you.

What browser are you using?

[LUconn]

ahh firefox with ad blocker. That's probably why.

[PAmedic]

ahh firefox with ad blocker. That's probably why.

dork

[Sly Fox]

Inspired by Markus Frind, I am looking at some ideas to generate cashflow through Adsense. But I am struggling with which structure to use in creating my site. I am leaning toward Joomla but I could be easily swayed.

My site would be built with multiple searchable pages that would allow for videos, pictures and other elements. I'm a content guy and not a techie. But having spent some time on Joomla's tutorials I am feeling inspired to possibly give my ideas a go.

Am I barking up the wrong tree with Joomla based on what I am looking to achieve?

Recognizing their is no way to keep anyone from downloading and stealing my video content, should I rely on YouTube or one of its competitors to host my videos or host them on my own?

Having lot of down time thanks to the drop in crude oil, my mind is wandering over a bunch of concepts. I'd love some input from younger brains more in tune with the technological developments.

[phoenix]

Sly, I recommend you host the content yourself. I don't trust leaving hosting duties to someone I can't hit if they lose my stuff (ironic, since I'm using a free service to host my podcast for now, but I've got LOTS of backups). Haven't worked with Joomla at all, but I've heard good things about it. Might be worth sending out a Tweet about it, just to get some feedback -- there are people who know it inside and out, and could probably help you out with questions.