Geeks or others: How do I start a website?

[susnfx]

I'm considering having a website (NOT Facebook, MySpace, whatever...). What are the options for a middle-aged used-to-use-carbon-paper computer idiot? Any places that will walk you through setting it up, show you how to insert photos, text, all that stuff you need to fill up space and make it look attractive?

My niece sent me a link to her photography website and you have to have all sorts of readers to open it--I never did see it. I don't want one of those.

Or should I pay somebody to do it? (In which case the world may have to do without my website.)

Any pros, cons, suggestions, smirks will be appreciated.

Susan

[Denny]

http://www.ning.com

[susnfx]

Anybody ever use this: https://www.blogger.com/start

?

Thanks, Denny...the "social network" part gives me the shudders though.

Susan

[djm]

A web log (blog) is an on-line diary. Are you sure you want a web site and not a blog? A blog would be much simpler.

Perhaps it would help if you explained what it is you want to accomplish with the web presence you are proposing. Then people here could give you suggestions appropriate to your intentions.

djm

[susnfx]

Well....okay. I dabble in art, mostly pen/ink and colored pencil now. My family members (in southern Utah and Arizona now) like to see what I'm doing and it'd be nice if I could just say, "here's my space, I'll add to it as I go along. Check it out any time."

(colored pencil)
(colored pencil)
(pen & ink, stippled [dots])
(pen & ink, stippled)

Susan

[Denny]

sounds like social networking....

[BillChin]

There are companies that do have starter kits so to speak. One popular one is Yahoo.

One question is, do you want your own domain name? (eg: susanfx.com or similar) If you do, one extra step is to register the name and pay a fee for that.

DeviantArt is for artists to post their work. There are others. For those reading along there are other specialists sites such as Soundclick that is specifically designed to host music. There is Blogger for running commentary with frequent updates. There are plenty of photo hosts for camera buffs and any of those could be used for hosting photos of original art.

If your relatives are already on Facebook or MySpace, there are many advantages to going that route. They can help you with questions, and your site will be much easier to find.

[susnfx]

I just checked out a friend's Blogger site and it's actually pretty close to what I want. I may try that as a starting point and see how it goes.

As for Facebook, I tried out that site for about five minutes one day and got scared off. I understand they have security issues and if you don't read the fine print REALLY carefully and be very careful about what you click, you can wind up sending unwanted info to everybody in your address book.

Thanks!

Susan

[john_t]

I think blogger would be fine for now, but my advice would be JOIN TEH GEEKS and learn HTML and CSS. I learnt it from a book and I'm not too clever so it can't be that difficult.

Many books are geared to those with absolutely no experience with computers so read reviews carefully or choose one that suits you.

Jump in to the deep end with the security of a book (which should guide you through the basics) and then use a website like http://www.w3schools.com for reference.

I live in a rural area of Wales and there a still local courses about web design. So you could look for some of them where you live.

I made this recently:

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/townshend/web4/pictures.html

but I also have blogger http://jwtownshend.blogspot.com (which although mine doesn't have photos on it is very easy to add them)

So do both I reckon!

[emmline]

I really love that man in the hat with the big stick. The man, not the hat.

[Charlene]

Check with your ISP (Internet Service Provider - i.e., whoever you pay so you can get on line. ) They usually let their subscribers have a certain amount of space for free. I'm with ATT and this is what I put together with what they call their "personal web page wizard." http://home.att.net/~charlene.emerson/scrapbook.html
It's easy to add to and revise.

[susnfx]

I really love that man in the hat with the big stick. The man, not the hat.

Me too, Emm...he's my great-grandfather.

Susan

[izzarina]

I really love that man in the hat with the big stick. The man, not the hat.

I love the hat as well as the man and the stick, but then I would . But Susan!!! Wow!!! Your artwork is simply fantastic!!! I definitely wouldn't do Facebook simply because there is a question on whether they have rights to anything you post or not. I think a blog....like Blogger or WordPress...would be perfect for what you are wanting to do. You can put up your artwork, and people can comment if you so choose to allow them to. You can even make it so only those people you want can see your blog...only those who know the direct link can get to it, and by making it private so it doesn't show up on search engines.

[MTGuru]

That's very nice work, Susan. I really like the snail shells. A lot. The textures are really outstanding.

[susnfx]

Good work on the website and the blog, John. Apparently you like ducks?

I'll mess around with Blogger tonight and see what happens.

(Thanks, Izz and Guru)

Susan