Need help with setting up website

[opethdisciple]

As title says, I work in IT so I have a good foundation about severs html and the other web standards etc... but web design and web hosting is not some thing I know too much about.

My father wants a website to promote his company. Now I dont mind going about a building a fairl simple one, simple in terms of the technology, but not naff and crap.

It will basically be about 3 pages with a contact page with a simple form from where some one can email him regarding queries.

My first question, whats a good program for some one fairl inexperienced to use?

Are there any good free open source web desing programs?

Web hosting. I dont understand how it works, when you want to purchase a domian name. Can you by an avaialble name from any domain purchase site?

Who gives them the authorisation to sell you the name, in the first place, as opposed to buying it from another site?

Once Iv built my website, what about hosting? How does that work, from a technical stand point. Do I say upload my website to their servers and they do the rest?

What about if I by the domian name, how does the hosting company link the site to the address?

Help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[opethdisciple]

Not a program as such, but Wordpress. It's a template-based open-source CMS (Content Management System - ie you can change the content without accessing the site's backend) that was initally developed for blogs but is more than good enough for developing sites that don't even have one.



As above!



Yes, domains can be purchased from any domain reseller. To make things easier it's best to buy both the domain and hosting from the same company.



ICANN - The international domain 'authority'.



You just upload your site and its files to their servers. With something like Wordpress you'll be able to install it directly onto their server which also automatically sets up the database for it etc.



Every domain has a DNS - Domain Name Sever. This is the address of the server where the domain's files are hosted. If you buy your domain and hosting from the same company then this will all be setup automatically and you need not touch or worry about this.

As for hosts and domains, Vidahost and TSOHost are the two highly recommended here. Take your pick!

Thanks Russinating. Wordpress looks interesting, and is something I had heard about before, but had no idea you could use it to make website.

Iv had a quick skim through the site to find out what exactly it is and what is required.

Im a bit confused, but im sure, once I download the software and try it out all will become clear. Im going to use my work computer to have a play around!

Iv looked through other 'wordpress' websites and they seem more than good enough for my fathers needs. Bit confused however how some of the wbsites seem to have flash in them... but I have no flash creating programs or expertise. Can the software (wordpress) do this for you?

Do I need a host BEFORE, I start developing the site using wordpress, or can I develop and then get a hosting company?

 

[opethdisciple]

Thanks for the feed back guys.

I have been looking at Word press so far, but will also have a look at Joomla.

As far as I have gathered Word press looks like a wiki creation tool. Not thats a bad thing.

Can I really build a simple but business worthy website (not blog) using word press or joomla?

Can you do things like have a form page where a customer will send you a web note (email) etc...?

From what I'v seen for me to even begin playing with wordpress, I need to buy a hosting package.

If I buy say a package for a year for example, how do I get wordpress installed, or do I request them to install it for me?

Once installed on the webhost, how do I access it?

Simple questions, but I'v never done this before thanks.

 

[opethdisciple]

Thanks guys.

Three very good sugestions: Word Press, Joomla and Webmatrix.

I would rather go with some thing open source, as I beleive in cutting Microsoft out of the internet, as punishment, for creating non standards compliance applications and insecure software. (Personal preference)

That leaves joomla and wordpress.

Also webmatrix looks like its beyound intermediate standards, and more proffesional coding etc... and I dont relly have that ground, considering this is my first project. So i need something for a beginer... albeit a beginer with a firm foundation.

As it stands the first of the two I would like to play around with is joomla.

I understand that I need to:

A. Find a host to install joomla for me.
B. Buy a website domian name.

I have a few question however.

1. Once I have my hoist and they have installed joomla for me, to access and start developing, is it just through the browser? No need to install plugins, or apps on the local machine?

2. Does joomla (or word press) allow for search engine key words to be placed in the site, to be found easy by web crawlers?

Thanks for thew offer swbroadband to allow me to play with joomla on one of your servers. I would like to take this offer up to get a feel for the application.

Edit*

One thing I dont understand about webmatrix is that according to this: http://webmasterformat.com/tools/design-and-development/webmatrix

It looks like webmatrix allows you to develop with joomla or wordpress etc... from within webmatrix?

 

[opethdisciple]

True.