Been asked to build a small business website

FoxEye

FoxEye

FoxEye

Caporegime
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...which is something I've never done before :p The design I believe is already completed, so I just have to write the HTML/whatever that implements that design. And sort out the domain registration, etc.

Any tips on hosting? Or general advice?

I was planning on coding it with notepad, because I'm a masochist and wysiwyg is cheating :p Although it won't be using Flash, Silverlight or anything too complex. So it'll probably be just a bunch of <table>s, I'm guessing...

I'm mainly just asking if there's anything I should know about before undertaking this.

And if there are any HTML gurus, any pitfalls I might fall into...
 
Take the design they have, then create a DIV layout that will let you use recreate their design.

CSS = layout
XHTML = content

What experience do you have?

If you need help, post the design up so we can see how it should slice.
 
FoxEye said:
Well, like I said, my total experience building websites is close to nothing :p

I'll have to go find those w3school articles again.
Click to expand...

If your experience is close to nothing then starting off using CSS is easier than using tables, you're in a far better position than someone who's been in the game for years and has had to swap to CSS, it's also far less code and far easier to maintain.
 
Firstly make sure you get your head round CSS, this is much easier in the long the long run then placing formatting information in your tags.

If you want to use a text editor have a look at Notepad++.

And make sure you've discussed what's going to happen about updates. If they're expecting to be able to make changes then a plain HTML/CSS site might be an issue.

In this situation look into a CMS like Joomla, just make sure they have the right hosting to support it.

EDIT: Now with added linkage and wholegrain fibres.

The web site for Notepad++, it's like Notepad, but better (kinda in the same way tanks are like cars, but better).

Joomla CMS Website

A web site dedicated to Open Source CMSes
 
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I use TSOHost and will gladly recommend them, but i never give referral links, and i dont go round hosting/web/business forums spamming the same crap message all over the place like that chap does - i find it irritating and it really puts me off.
 
Your honest opinion might be to recommed them, but spamming the same identical message with affiliate links for your own gain everywhere is a pretty poor show.
 
Another vote for tsohost....
As said a million times, don't use tables, though you could use a cms system like wordpress or something similiar, then you can spend time on the design (or theme as wordpress calls it) and a lot of good features are already there as plugins
 
thought i posted in this thread but i guess not.

why have you been asked, and why did you agree, to build this site when you have no experience? the most common reasons are this a career choice, or you know how to build pc's so you some reason now know how to build websites. either of those?

i'm asking as from my own experience building a site for someone's business can do more harm then good if it's done badly. you could be damaging someone's business from your lack of experience so you must take this at least a little seriously. are you sure you're the right person to do this for this person (your friend?). if it's a friend they may be stuck with a website that's harming their business for years as they wouldn't want to insult you and get it changed.

i don't want to put you off at all, just make sure appreciate what it is you're doing. just because you can paint a room doesn't mean you can build a house, if you did it could possibly be a massive health hazard. same sort of thing applies with websites.

also i don't mean to insult you assuming you're going to make a bad site. i'm simply basing this on what i did when i first started and all the mistakes i made :(

edit:

That Guy: you're recommending vidahost simply because they offer the affiliate scheme, if they didn't i bet you'd vote for another that offered one. how is that a good recommendation for vidahost? how is that useful to the thread? although you're right to recommend them, you're doing so in a way that makes vidahost appear bad as the recommendation is there only because you gain from it. i'm sure you wont reconsider as you're earning money so why change, but at least don't both on these forums with this link. this is a fairly small area with few users so we'll quickly remember you as that guy who posts vidahost links and tell the user to ignore yours and go with the real link.

why do you hid the link that guy?

ohh just reading now and they've all been removed :D
 
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Hosting wise, I would agree with the TSOHost / Vidahost gang....that line should be stickied! Saying that, if the business want more control and you know your way round Linux get a VPS and set it up exactly how you want to.

Design side of life I am useless, I can't even crayon inside the lines but I have been having a good read of tutorials over at http://net.tutsplus.com/ which are quite good (even to the stage I might sign up for their premium accounts!)

Good luck!
 
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