Website design/coding question

[RBS]

I have found amazing website template I`d love to buy, but it says:
PSD Included Yes
Valid HTML Yes
Layout Fixed

How do I run it if it doesn`t work with Wordpress? Does every page needs some kind of engine? How do you make HTML files run by hosting provider? My hosting provider said I need to look for Wordpress templates. What are my options if I want this template :| I`m not after Wordpress, but its just easy to manage content.

 

[Faevilangel]

You would need it to be converted to wordpress, there are various tutorials if you're not very tech minded but it will take time and a bit of stress as you will need to convert it to work properly.

If you want an easy to use cms then cushycms is the best, you just change the content on the template to a cushycms file name and you will be able to edit the content from the cushycms website.
You won't be able to add pages, change layouts etc through cushycms but it will be good enough for the basic users.

If you want to just run on html, you just upload the files to the server and then visit the domain. Make sure you have an index.html. There is no special software needed to run html sites.

 

[RBS]

If you want to just run on html, you just upload the files to the server and then visit the domain. Make sure you have an index.html. There is no special software needed to run html sites.

That sounds like what I wanted to hear!!! I just have to rephrase my question to hosting provider then.

 

[TailorMade]

You will likely find building the site in HTML is cumbersome and not feature rich. You might find the template can easily be coded to word press or Joomla by a professional for a matter of a few hundred pounds, maybe less, maybe more, depending on the complexity of design.

I think long-term you would do better to go with WordPress or another CMS so that updates, enhancements and maintenance of your site remain quick and easy for you.

Have sent you a PM.

Best wishes
Saif

 

[RBS]

Any quotes for HTML/PSD conversion to Wordpress? Its very simple template - no fancy stuff. PM me and I will let you know all details.

 

[sjdev]

Rob,

depending on your budget converting your template to a Wordpress theme could be less than you think. Let me know if you want a quote.

Good luck!

 

[TailorMade]

Please see PM, simple template, so it would cost less than I thought to convert, £75 would do it. But could create and upload the html site for you based on the simple requirements you defined for about half that. Chuck in a bit more for some basic SEO (titles, tags, descriptions) and you can be up and running before the weekend!

 

[Astaroth]

You will likely find building the site in HTML is cumbersome and not feature rich.

How are HTML sites not as "feature rich" as the average CMS drive site?

We don't touch wordpress but you can certainly get it converted to wordpress template for sub £100, if you know your off shore designers then for a fraction of that.

 

[TailorMade]

How are HTML sites not as "feature rich" as the average CMS drive site?

We don't touch wordpress but you can certainly get it converted to wordpress template for sub £100, if you know your off shore designers then for a fraction of that.

A static HTML site is clearly never going to be as easy to maintain or feature rich as a dynamic CMS driven site. Or to be more precise to make it feature rich through 3rd party scripts and add-ons would be clunky or time-consuming and less cost-effective to integrate seamlessly.

However, given the OPs limited requirements of 4 or 5 pages and a contact form, his most cost effective route to market would be to buy the html template for $12 and stick to that format, WP, Joomla etc would be overkill at this stage. He could do it himself in a matter of hours or outsource it for £50 or less.

 

[RBS]

But in terms of SEO tweaking - plain HTML or Wordpress +SEO plugin? Which one is easier/cheaper?

 

[TailorMade]

Based on a half dozen pages, if your copy is well written (with SEO in mind) you have quality (well researched) H1 tags, page titles, and descriptions in place and some other minor bits and pieces, you probably won't need to do so much 'on page SEO' and can focus on off-site SEO and marketing your new venture.

If you need to tweak it a few months down the line, its not going to need a physics degree to edit a couple of html pages. My original push towards a CMS was based on you perhaps needing more functionality than you indicated. Stick with static for now. If you want to DIY, then you should be able to manage - if you get stuck people on here will probably help. If time is more important to you than spending £50 or so - then outsource it. You can try one of the global marketplaces featured in my last signature link - but its a bit of a minefield, particularly for a small project like this.. could be more effort than its worth!

 

[Faevilangel]

But in terms of SEO tweaking - plain HTML or Wordpress +SEO plugin? Which one is easier/cheaper?

I would say it would depend on your level of expertise, I prefer wp as it means i don't need to edit code as it's run from an options panel and if I do mess up wp automatically saves a backup for me.

It's down to preference IMHO, but the main thing about wordpress is that you can edit the content without coding and if you decide you want a new theme then it's so easy to just change the theme and no messing about.

 

[Astaroth]

A static HTML site is clearly never going to be as easy to maintain or feature rich as a dynamic CMS driven site. Or to be more precise to make it feature rich through 3rd party scripts and add-ons would be clunky or time-consuming and less cost-effective to integrate seamlessly.

Maintance is a different issue to if a site is "feature rich" for its visitors.

Whilst a CMS driven site CAN be made more feature rich by add-ons (just as a HTML site could be through javascript/ PHP/ .Net etc) the vast majority of CMS maintained sites aren't. Hence my statement of "average" CMS driven site.