Setting up a website, eek! [Archive]

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Lorna Doone

19th February 2010, 20:43

I really hope some of you more learned folk on here can offer me some advice.

I am in the process of setting up a very small business from home hiring out a classic vehicle for weddings etc. So we're not talking anything on a grand scale!

I need to set up a website. In a ideal world I'd love to get one professionally made, but most designers have been quoting me in the region of £500 and, whereas I understand that's probably £500 well spent in terms of generating business, I am literally setting this business up on a shoestring : (

So I've been considering other options. I've looked at the likes of Mr Site and, whereas they are very budget orientated, I'm aware they are very basic. I am lucky enough to have a graphic designer within the family who is prepared to supply all my artwork/logos etc and I gather Mr Site isn't the easiest of packages to customise with artwork.

I'm now looking at the prospect of developing a website myself and have heard good things about Wordpress.

I basically need a site that I can access and maintain myself (CMS I believe - I'm picking up all the jargon!!), around 12 pages in size, can do my own wording/artwork/images, don't need any ecommerce facilities as I'll just be asking customers to contact me via email/'phone. But I want to create something that is strong in terms of SEO as I understand this will be important for my trade with so much competition.

However, I know NOTHING about web development. Is it really feasible that I could build a decent'ish website myself using Wordpress? I'm scared that I might buy a domain name, register with a webhost, download Wordpress then not understand a word of it!! Once it's downloaded I'm not even sure how you open it etc!

Also, can anyone advise me on what sort of size hosting package I'd need for a site of that size (around 12 pages)?

Hope someone can point me in the right direction as this is all very daunting!

Thanks in advance!

PrestigeShopping

19th February 2010, 20:45

I would look into buying Serif WebPlus X2. Its a really good peice of software that allows you to build your own website using image editting as opposed to HTML coding. You can make some really nice sites on there and it is VERY easy to use.

Takes all the hastle of of hosting aswell, you click one button and its done.

EDIT - Forgot the most important part, its very cheap. Can be picked up for about £50.

OldWelshGuy

19th February 2010, 20:54

Wordpress is perfect for you, it will do all you want it to, it is ideal.

If you can supply a graphics, then it is better still.

Big Pete

19th February 2010, 20:55

Hi and welcome

Doodle-Noodle

19th February 2010, 20:59

I am completely illiterate so far as IT is concerned but managed to do my website all by myself at a cost of virtually nothing. I registered my domain name (cost £11) and got BT Business (www.myoffice.bt.com (http://www.myoffice.bt.com)) hosting at a cost of £5 per month (plus VAT), used their free EasySite Wizard Pro templates uploading my own logo etc to produce my site which has been up and running for a year now.

It's not perfect, but it was really cheap, and does nearly everything I'd like it to do. It's fiddly to update and edit but not difficult, and I think it looks pretty good considering I had no input from anyone who actually knows anything about creating a website. In short, if I can do it, you cerainly can - you've got the jargon alreaday and I still haven't a clue what you're talking about!!!!!:rolleyes:

Doodle-Noodle

19th February 2010, 21:02

See what I mean? Couldn't even type my own website name correctly.

should be www.doodlesartandcraft.co.uk (http://www.doodlesartandcraft.co.uk)
not .com
:p

Big Pete

19th February 2010, 21:03

Big Pete

19th February 2010, 21:05

See what I mean? Couldn't even type my own website name correctly.

should be www.doodlesartandcraft.co.uk (http://www.doodlesartandcraft.co.uk)
not .com
:p

ok now i see it.. :)

OldWelshGuy

19th February 2010, 21:05

the link was to .com.uk, rather than .co.uk anyhow it has been removed now as it isn't relevant. In fairness the £5 a month is for the software builder as well as the hosting, so it is a decent price really.

Doodle-Noodle

19th February 2010, 21:07

expensive hosting.. and the link doesnt work ?

It would if I'd typed it in correctly - do you think £5 per month is expensive? I thought it sounded pretty reasonable ......
anyway should be **removed link***

Having a blonde moment (or something ......)

Lorna Doone

19th February 2010, 21:07

Wow, replies already! Thanks everyone! And thanks for the warm welcome.

Some options there I hadn't considered yet.

Doodles, your site looks good. Like the look of your shop too!

I've been procrastinating for so long and my head is swimming with information....I've reached the point where I really just need to DO something about it, but I feel a bit sick thinking about it all. Pathetic really!

Doodle-Noodle

19th February 2010, 21:11

Thanks for the comment Lorna! Have to say this forum is really useful, I've had lots of help, opinion and information from the posters on here over the past year or so - not always what I've wanted to hear, but honesty is hard to come by in the real world, so it's good to get a leveller from time to time even if it does come from virtual advisers!
Good luck with your plans!

Big Pete

19th February 2010, 21:16

It would if I'd typed it in correctly - do you think £5 per month is expensive? I thought it sounded pretty reasonable ......
anyway should be **removed link***

Having a blonde moment (or something ......)

No i guess seeings as what you got that is ok , strike my first post .. i had my Euros head on for a moment :)

did you get the name as well included ?

Doodle-Noodle

19th February 2010, 21:33

No i guess seeings as what you got that is ok , strike my first post .. i had my Euros head on for a moment :)

did you get the name as well included ?
You got a Euros head? How very cosmopolitan .....

Had to pay £11 to register my domain name then registered a 2nd name (doodlesoftadley.co.uk) but haven't ever managed to do anything with this one even though it shows on my "website manager" thing ...... it would be a better name for radio ads if we ever make enough money to spend out on that type of marketing as "doodles art and craft" is a bit of a mouth-ful and it's hard to work out where the "s" goes if you're just hearing an ad
Is that what you meant?

Big Pete

19th February 2010, 21:42

You got a Euros head? How very cosmopolitan .....

Had to pay £11 to register my domain name then registered a 2nd name (doodlesoftadley.co.uk) but haven't ever managed to do anything with this one even though it shows on my "website manager" thing ...... it would be a better name for radio ads if we ever make enough money to spend out on that type of marketing as "doodles art and craft" is a bit of a mouth-ful and it's hard to work out where the "s" goes if you're just hearing an ad
Is that what you meant?

yep thats what i meant . the domain name .

so it cost £ 71 plus the Vat for the website with domain then ..and did they set it all up ready ? name on site just go in and start ?

Doodle-Noodle

19th February 2010, 21:48

Faevilangel

19th February 2010, 22:04

there are thousands of free wordpress template @ wordpress.org

Tell you what, as I am in a nice mood :D

You find a template you like, supply the artwork and your host details (when bought) and I will install, set up and run you through how to use wordpress.

Total cost: £0. Just because you're not using blooming Joomla and using a proper cms (haha).

Just send me a pm if you're interested :cool:

Big Pete

19th February 2010, 22:08

Yeah, pretty much. I just had to type the details in once I'd selected a template I liked, but it was all already linked up with email addresses etc. BT didn't actually do anything apart from let me know it was ready for me to create and publish

Yep thats how we work , we sell the domain names as well we set it all up and then email the password and away you go..its brilliant isnt it..modern technology ;)

sirearl

19th February 2010, 22:16

Hi if you are only hiring 1 vehicle best route for you would be to buy a page on a highly ranked community site in the area you intend to operate in.

cost would depend on size of site e.t.c. but somewhere between £50 -£150 a year may well do the job.

Having a website is the minor cost in getting a business going.

Earl

3cellhosting

19th February 2010, 22:57

Setting up a website is a doddle. Getting people to visit it is harder. getting those that do visit to part with money is harder still.

When I ask people if they would rather rear their own lambs/pigs/chickens and then have cheap meat/poultry OR go to the supermarket/butchers, guess which they choose?

Yet when it comes to websites everybody is suddenly an expert, even those who think HTML is an abbreviation for the latest designer drug :rolleyes:

If your project is viable and likely to make money then why scupper it for the sake of investing in the right tools/people to help you along the way.

Just my twopenneth from today's sopabox :p

Regards

David

stugster

20th February 2010, 12:09

I have to agree with OWG and sirearl here. Website isn't your biggest worry here.

Havin' said that... hosting: £2.50, template: £0. Getting it installed, set up, and ready for you: ~£50.

Cheap as chips :)

awebapart.com

20th February 2010, 12:31

I am in the process of setting up a very small business from home hiring out a classic vehicle for weddings etc. So we're not talking anything on a grand scale!
You could get this kind of website almost for free with Microsoft Office Live (http://www.officelive.com/en-GB/). If you go for this service I recommend that you use a .co.uk domain and purchase your domain separately, e.g. from 123-reg.co.uk

There are a number of businesses in your particular marketplace that have used the Office Live service, and you can see their websites by clicking on this google search (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1W1SUNA_en-GB&q=powered+by+microsoft+office+live+wedding+car+hir e&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB&aq=f&oq=).

Another alternative is to use wordpress.com (http://www.wordpress.com)'s hosted wordpress service and upgrade to hosting your domain. You would have to purchase your domain separately, and you would have to sort out email separately (http://en.support.wordpress.com/domain-mapping/custom-email/). With this service I recommend using a .co.uk domain again, but this service is flexible enough to cater for .org.uk and .me.uk domains too. I have a small website (http://webdesignnorthampton.org.uk/) using this service too, wordpress sites do not have to look like blogs, they can be configured to look like normal websites just by using and adding pages rather than posts.

esscotti

23rd February 2010, 00:54

I agree that Wordpress is a good platform for a cheap but good website. You can quite easily set this up yourself but I tend to advice business startups not to develop their own websites but rather focus on developing the business instead.

If you want I can help set your website up very cheaply (a lot less than £500). PM me for more information.

SillyJokes

23rd February 2010, 06:12

The website is a doddle, but I'd imagine completely necessary for today's brides to be looking for all her bits for her wedding. I imagine she would have a huge folder of favorite possible suppliers and you need to be in there.

Your site does not need to be fancy but I'm sure you already know you will have to have some absolutely stunning images of your cars and the overall layout should be stylish. Weddings are all about style.

You need what you do, the area you cover, your prices and possibly availability on the site. Make it really, really clear.

Also some testimonials from happy brides are essential to help them understand they are making the right choice and not taking a stab in the dark.