Web site software reccomendation???

[Zedder]

I'm starting up a small business and need to create a more professional appearing web site than I currently can with my old Netscape Composer software. Can anyone reccomend some software that is fairly simple to use but still provides a professional appearing product? Thanks in advance http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[ORIGLS6]

Mark,
Have you looked at 'Frontpage' or 'Dreamweaver'?

I played with Frontpage a little last year at the Univ. of Ill. and it seemed fairly easy to navigate. Although I seem to recall someone saying, between those two, Dreamweaver was the program-of-choice for the true webmasters. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[firstgenaddict]

Mark,
I designed the website for our company www.crossroadspaper.com (http://www.crossroadspaper.com) using Front Page... I did not use one of the "templates" that was included because they all look like "TEMPLATES"... I looked at what VERY large companies in the Paper Industry (Intl Paper, Ga Pacific etc) had designed and basically kept closer to what they had paid $$$$ to have designed.

[Chevy454]

If you're wanting to work in HTML, go with FrontPage...if you wanna step up and do some CSS stuff, go with DreamWeaver...FrontPage is easier for novices to get up and running with, but DreamWeaver will go above/beyond but be harder to get oriented with.

[69LM1]

Mark,

Try www.allwebco.com (http://www.allwebco.com), they have VERY professional templates, from 39.99 (cheesy) to 99.99 (very nice). You do not need any editor. You simply edit text files and add in your desired text and that is used as the "content" on your site. Some even have shopping cart features.
Good Luck,
Rich

www.69lm1.com (http://www.69lm1.com) (still a work in progress, 49.99 template)

[Zedder]

Thanks guys! I am an absolute novice at this stuff, so I will have to check into the reccomendations and see what I can handle. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Denis]

What's service or goods will the small business provide? If you're looking to set up a storefront, that's a whole different ball of wax.

[Zedder]

I'm importing collector quality Porsches into Canada (primarily 993's) so there will be an "inventory" of 4 - 6 cars, but that's it. Also providing secure, heated winter storage for those long, cold winters...you remember those? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[firstgenaddict]

High end products need better than template representation... IMHO

[Chevy454]

Won't need a storefront then...you could be up & running in no time with FrontPage, as the look/feel is a lot like a word processing software...DreamWeaver is a little heavier of a software, but the interface isn't as novice friendly.

Or, you could simply do like I did when I started and do your page in Notepad and hand code everything! You can pick up HTML pretty quick, and it will come in handy later because ANY web software is gonna attempt some quirky stuff [like FrontPage's double page breaks!] and you'll wanna plug in some of your own HTML to get the exact look/feel you're after...

[69LM1]

[ QUOTE ]
High end products need better than template representation... IMHO

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. Use an expert. It should cost you around 2500.00 for a class A site (at least that's what we charge) for that.

Rich

[Chevy454]

Rich: you do any CSS stuff? Been fooling around with it a bit, but it's not coming as quickly as my html did... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Zedder]

Thanks again guys! I was speaking to a friend in BC last night and one of his employees does amazing web sites as a part-time business, so they are going to call me this week to see if he can help me out.

You're right Rob, I won't need a storefront as most of the cars will be sold before they cross the border. Hopefully, this friend can get me started and I can just fill in the details and then maintain the site. Thanks again all http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[69LM1]

"CSS"
Naw, I'm a network jockey. Mostly Novell and Linux. I have a couple of guys (actually a guy and a gal) on staff that do the web stuff, unless it involves networks, virtual servers, etc.