Advice required before starting a project

Dyson · 22 Aug 2011 at 00:07

I've had an idea for a website knocking round in my head for a few years, and tonight I checked to see if the domain was available, which it is.

Now, I have no knowledge of website building, design, no programming knowledge, no idea of hosting, or anything in this field really. Time isn't an issue in getting this project off the ground, I've waited this long, but with my total lack of knowledge would I be facing an impossibly hard project?

I'd like the website to feature a searchable database, probably by postcodes. Each item in the database would feature a short description, a photo (?), and hopefully a google maps image (or at least link).

Basically, is it even worth me trying to start this project at all? If I do start, should I buy the domain straight away? If I do this project, I'd want it to look "right", as I hate going to a site and it being ugly, or hard to navigate.

Any advice at this early stage would be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance

Tripnologist · 22 Aug 2011 at 00:21

Well, you either pay someone(s) to do it for you, or you get learning and do it yourself.

If you're serious about this, I would get the domain right away because it would probably suck to lose it.

Then get learning HTML and CSS so you can build a basic website. Learn how to use photoshop so you can design a basic website. From there, I'd suggest PHP so you can build up your backend.

Optionally, you can also learn javascript and/or a js library (jquery) which will give you more options for your front end.

Dyson · 22 Aug 2011 at 00:51

I've got a bit of knowledge in photoshop, in as much as editing photos and resizing, but that's about it. Thought it'd be a big task, and sounds like it would be. I may grab the domain name while I think about it. I see it as a way of learning something new, hence calling it a project, I just don't want to start something that I wont be able to finish if you know what I mean.

Thanks for the input, I'll start having a look about at how to get started. Anyone got any links to a good "how to" guide to get me started on the right tracks?

sist_si · 22 Aug 2011 at 09:00

Id say if you have no/little web design and build experience then you'd be best getting someone to make this site rather than trying to learn and make it yourself. It sounds like you intend it to be a marketable idea so from my point of view, you have to get it done right and make it look professional. This may of course mean that you have to spend some money.
Being a good web developer &/or designer takes years of work & experience.
Definitley buy the domain as soon as possible.

AHarvey · 22 Aug 2011 at 10:21

If you want to make money from it, speak to a web design company about it and pay for it.

Not only can they provide a professional looking website, but they should be able to suggest ideas on areas you may not have thought about.

Dyson · 22 Aug 2011 at 12:38

It's not to make money from, just to inform. Thanks for all the advice everyone, like I said, I didn't expect it to be amazingly quick to get up and running, but I think I can learn what's needed (over time

).

I'll update if I ever get it anywhere near complete, and to ask help along the way!

ristac · 22 Aug 2011 at 23:08

Grab the domain name right away, use 123-reg.co.uk if it is a UK domain name or if a .com I like moniker.com and namecheap.com avoid Godaddy. The domain is going to cost you around £15 for two years so a very small outlay.

Next hosting, use an American host at around $5 a month they are the cheapest. Some hosts say you can have a free domain name with them, don't do it. If you want to move to a different host it can be a bugger.

If you have zero experience in creating a web site use wordpress as your platform, overweightobese.com is one I created using wordpress, websitehostingplans.co.uk is another you also have a built in search function with wordpress and it is pretty simple to get your head around once you get going.

Dyson · 23 Aug 2011 at 02:35

Thanks for that Ristac, I'm getting the domain name done tomorrow. Thanks for the advice about wordpress, I'll take a look at it at the weekend when I have a bit more time.

As I said, I'll keep this thread updated over time, asking advice where needed (probably often). My sort of time line is about six months to going live...

Just been having a quick look at wordpress (and I mean quick), and it appears to be mainly for blogs. Am I right in my assumption? Can you use it (offline) to produce "normal" websites too?

ristac · 23 Aug 2011 at 08:26

No it is for blogs but it is an easy starting point for someone who has never done a site before. You can make them non bloggy looking by installing various themes and it is a good starting point to get some google love. Google loves wordpress and it would be a quick way to get Google crawling your site. Even if it is domain name >> wordpress >> half a dozen posts and leave for a while.

It is far better to have your domain name pointing to a site than parked doing nothing. Again it is all about google and the other search engines finding your site and deciding that it contains valuable information.

While you cannot post to them off line you could put together articles in word or even notepad and simply cut and paste when you go online.