Websites: Quick & Cheap

If you want a Website but:

• Don't want to the take time to plan the layout or learn HTML
• Don't want to pay someone to build it for you
• And you want it Right Away

Then this page is for you.
 

To Build a Simple Website, This is What You Need:

1. A Domain name, which is also called a Website name or a URL.
2. A Website Hosting company.  This is a company that rents you space on a server that is connected to the World Wide Web (also referred to as the Internet).  This server is where you keep your Website.
3. And finally, you need a Tool to build your Website.  Also referred to as a Website Building Tool or Web Design Software.  This tool will create HTML code, which is the basis of all Websites pages.
    

With the "Quick & Cheap" approach to building your own Website, you have three ways to accomplish this:

1. Find a Web Hosting Company that sells Web SPACE Cheap & by the PAGE, has a domain name service, and also has a simple to use Website building tool.
2. Find an online company that offers low cost, PRE-BUILT Websites that include the domain name in the package so all you will have to do is add your information and customizations to the pre-built pages.
3. Find a Blog or Social Networking site that offers FREE web space that will allow you to quickly set up a personal web page.
    

Below, is more information about each one of the above three options with a list of Advantages and Disadvantages.

1.  Web Space Cheap & By the Page

There are a Gazillion web hosting companies and many of them have plans that include websites by the page.  In other words, you can set up a small website that has just one or two pages and just pay a few dollars a month for the space.  Some of the things that they might also provide would be:

1. "Point-and-click" site-building tools that let you create a Website without programming skills or having to know HTML.
2. Simple graphics for your pages
3. A Website Template Gallery from which you can pick a standard template for your basic page layout so all you have to do is just add you text and pictures
4. No contract required, you can pay by the month for your space.
5. A step-by-step wizard that will let you select a design, color, theme and images.

I can't recommend any particular web hosting company because their plans are always changing.  Some web hosting companies offer Space by the Page, but many don't. 

But there are a few hosting companies that offer FREE hosting for a small website.
Yahoo Geocities is one that has a FREE plan. 

One way to find out about FREE plans is to search for "Free website" using any of the popular search engines.

If you'll spend a little time and check out the various companies and the plans they offer, then you can save yourself some money.

Advantages:

1. Page Templates are available so you don't have to build your pages from scratch.
2. Building your own Website gives you the most flexibility.  You can customize pages to suit your design tastes, within the limitations of the templates.
3. The web building tools are FREE and easier to use than expensive Web Design Programs.
4. Their tools allow you to set up a basic Website without knowing how to program in HTML.
5. The Cost is lower than a Website with unlimited pages or unlimited space.

Disadvantages:

1. You'll have to take a little time to learn how to use their Web Building Tool.
2. Limitations on the number of pages
3. Space limitations.
4. A very low limit on how much data and files you can upload to your site.
5. The building tools will be very basic so you won't be able to do Fancy stuff.

2.  Pre-Built Websites

If you don't want to take the time to learn to use a Web building tool and don't have much money to spend, then you need a Web Hosting company that offers a pre-built Website so all you have to do is make a few changes to their template and your Website is ready.  You don't have to know HTML and it won't take as much time as starting from scratch and building it yourself.

One such company is Joomla! (http://www.joomla.org)
Here's what they say about themselves:

Joomla! is a Content Management System (CMS) that will help you build websites and other powerful online applications. Joomla is an open source solution that is freely available to everybody.

Advantages:

1. It's a very quick way to set up a Website.
2. You can set up a basic Website without knowing how to program in HTML.
3. You can't beat the price of FREE.
4. You won't have to purchase a Domain name.

Disadvantages:

1. You have to work within their Content Management System, so there will be limitations on what you "can and cannot" do.
2. There are page limitations and space limitations.
3. You may have to allow their advertisements to be posted on your Website.

3.  Blogs and Social Networking Sites

The first social networking Website started in 1995 and was named  "Classmates.com".  Other sites soon followed and the popularity of these sites grew rapidly. 

As of 2006, there were over 200 social networking sites on the Internet.  MySpace has been the leader for several years and commands the majority of SN users in the U.S.

Different sites offer different features such as automatic address book updates, viewable profiles, and the ability to form new links through "introduction services".

Social Networks can also be organized around business connections, as are sites like  "Shortcut" and "LinkedIn".

See more about Social Networking sites.

There are a multitude of Blogs available and some offer free space for a personal web page.  Just like the SN sites, some blogs cater to certain types of people, certain age groups, and those with certain interests.  www.blogger.com is one place where you can set up a Free web page.

A safe Rule-of-Thumb to live by when working online:
"Be careful about what personal information you post on the
internet, because it will be viewed by the entire World".

Advantages:

1. It's a very quick and easy way to set up a single Website page
2. You don't have to know how to program in HTML, although some sites let you do more customization if you are able to work with HTML.
3. Many of the Social Networking sites offer you space for FREE.
4. You won't have to purchase a Domain name.

Disadvantages:

1. You have to work with whatever tools they provide, so there will be limitations on what you "can and cannot" do.  Each site gives you the ability to set up certain things and not all sites offer the same tools.
2. There are page limitations and space limitations.  Most sites only allow a single page.
3. They will post advertisement on your Web page.
    

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