Resources for Developing Websites

Developing a website can be confusing, time consuming, and expensive. There are many steps, many options, and for each you have to choose whether to do it yourself or pay an expert.

The following steps and choices will get a high-quality website up and running quickly with minimal expense.

  1. Develop Your Web Content

    Collect, organize, and edit the information to include in your website. Successful websites aren't static, so also think about how you'll update your website.

    Your website content is the online face of your business, organization, or project. Content, not design, will make or break your website. Devote enough effort and resources to ensure that your content sends the right message.

    Review our recommendations for marketing your website. Your website is a marketing tool. Plan to develop and update the content to serve your marketing needs.

  2. Use Free Website Designs

    Using high-quality designs that professional web designers have made available for free will save you time and money and will give you the professional-looking design your website requires.

  3. Add Free or Inexpensive Stock Photos

    Use royalty-free stock images to add color to your website.

    • iStockphoto Huge selection of web-quality photos for $1 each.
    • stock.xchng Big selection of free photos. Most can be used without restriction.
  4. Accept Credit Card Payments

    Accept credit card payments on your website even if you don't have a merchant account.

    • PayPal Account and setup are free. The only cost is a transaction fee of 2.9% + $0.30. Adding a payment button or shopping cart to your website just requires cutting and pasting some HTML code.
  5. Register and Host Your Website

    Register a domain name and choose where to host your website's files.

    • GoDaddy Registration and hosting is available for approximately $50/year. Good phone and email tech support.
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