Archive for August 2011
WYSIWYG Web Design Software – Which One is Best?
There are a number of applications out there that allow you to design websites using WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editors. We’re going to look at the best web design software that falls into this category. We’ll also look at the benefits of using such software to help you decide whether or not it’s right for you.
The principle behind WYSIWYG editors is that whatever you see on the page is what you’ll get when your website is published. Basically it gives you an interface where you can build your website exactly how you want it to look when people visit it online.
The most popular web design software packages are Dreamweaver, FrontPage and XSitePro. Adobe Dreamweaver is the professional choice due to its massive range of features and ability to create dynamic websites. The downside being it’s difficult to pick up and use ‘out of the box’ and requires a lot of hours to learn just the basics, especially if you’re new to web design. It’s also expensive to buy.
Microsoft’s FrontPage has a lot of features but often adds needless code to the pages it creates. This can increase page loading times, especially for those who still access the internet using a dial-up connection. It’s not as user-friendly as Dreamweaver and pushes you in the direction of using Microsoft server technologies to build dynamic sites which won’t suit everyone’s needs. On the plus side, FrontPage costs less than Dreamweaver and is slightly easier to learn.
The third and final WYSIWYG web design software we’re going to look at is XSitePro from Intellimon Ltd. This is a relatively new application that has been developed with the novice or internet marketer in mind.
Because the majority of features within Dreamweaver and FrontPage won’t be used by most users, XSitePro has done away with them and left only the tools that novice-to-intermediate web designers need. It’s resulted in an easy-to-use application that can be picked up and used by just about anybody.
The downside to XSitePro is that it’s more difficult to create dynamic sites and has done away with the look and feel of traditional WYSIWYG website software. So if you’re used to working with Dreamweaver or FrontPage then you might find XSitePro hard to get used to.
When it comes to web design software, a WYSIWYG editor is really the only way to go. It makes production time far quicker, but you need to start with the right software.
If you’re a professional web designer and you want to create cutting-edge websites using the latest technologies then without a doubt you need to use Adobe Dreamweaver. It’s amazingly powerful and automates a lot of the common tasks associated with web design.
If you’re not after something quite as feature-packed as Dreamweaver and you’re a fan of Microsoft technologies and you’d like to use them on the web, then FrontPage might be for you. Just don’t go creating large pages as they could take an age to load!
If you’re new to web design or you’d like to get something that doesn’t have the learning time of Dreamweaver or FrontPage then XSitePro is for you. It’s quick to learn, easy to use and can produce truly beautiful sites very quickly. And like Dreamweaver, it automates a lot of the common tasks associated with web design.
Picking the right WYSIWYG web design software is essential to make sure you find web design fun and interesting and not a chore. You should choose based on your skill level and exactly what you want to achieve. That will give you the results you want and will make building websites something you can enjoy for years to come.
The Best Free Website Builders
With so many free website builders available, it can be hard to determine what the best options are without actually trying them out. Website builders are tools that make designing a website much easier because they do not require the designer to create or edit any coding such as HTML, PHP, or CSS. There are two basic categories of website builders. The first are online tools that hosting companies share with their users to help create private websites. The other kind of website builder is a piece of software that is used on a PC or laptop and then uploaded to the server.
The offline option is often geared more towards professional website designers and will only offer free trials. While you can find free Website editors or HTML editors, these are not technically website builders because the user must do some coding in order to create the website. So all of the best website builders below are all online and found via specific companies that will host your website for free.
1. Google Sites. It should be no surprise with amount of free tools that Google has created that a website builder is one of them. Google’s website service makes it extremely easy to create a website using one of their templates and then modify the layout, look, and feel of your website with a simple drag and drop interface. Additionally, integrating other Google products such as Google Docs, RSS, and Google Calendar a snap.
2. Webs. Webs.com provides you with every tool that you will need to create a professional looking website within a matter of minutes. They have more than 300 templates to choose from and a very user friendly page editor. If you can use a word processor, then you can use their Page Editor. You can add new pages, enter text, add images and videos, insert widgets, and much more. Additionally, using their drag and drop interface, you can create columns, change the font size and colors, add sections, and more. You can even create a webstore with either PayPal or Google Checkout as the payment processor.
3. Wix. Wix stands out from the crowd because it allows you to create flash websites. Almost every free website maker will limit you to HTML only. The website service is completely based upon the drag and drop ability that Wix provides. Additionally, Wix has created a number of templates to make sure that your website is very search engine friendly. If you want to add some Flash to your website, then Wix might be the way to go. You simply find a template that you like and start editing.
Finding a free website builder can be a tall order if you do not know where to look. This is especially true if you are planning on creating a Flash website. Keep in mind that the best free website creators are tied to specific companies that will host your website for free. If you are looking to host your own website, on your own domain, then make sure that your hosting company provides a free website builder for you.
Free Website Templates Are Really All You Need!
Free website templates, are a fast and easy solution for those who want to build a website, without all the hassles of designing a website from the ground up. The Free web templates available online look great, with nice design elements and layouts. When you see how attractive and smart they are, you’ll wonder why you ever paid for a template or theme in the first place! There are “ready to go.” Just replace existing content, images, and logo with your own, and you are in business!
The variations of available free website templates are staggering. There are many different styles and designs available, you’ll have plenty to choose from. You will almost certainly find something that appeals to you. And, they are all available to you at no cost. Depending on how you want your pages to look, you can usually find a one, two, or three column web template, for the type of design layout that works for you. You can also select a template that has its sidebar on the left, or instead, on the right side, to provide the functionality you want and need. Themes are often grouped by industry or field, so you can find those that are more geared for your field or area of specialty.
If you are adding AdSense to your website, it’s as easy as just dropping in your AdSense code, and you’re ready to go. There are also locations set up on the template so that you can place your advertisement’s or banner’s in existing placeholders, set up specifically for this purpose. They offer existing navigation menu’s that are generally fairly functional, and allows you to tailor your pages and posts to meet your needs. You also have your “about” and “contact” pages. So, in a sense, free web templates are comprehensive in nature and design, and are just waiting to be personalized.
Are there any negatives? Since the structure of the template is already constructed, you can’t alter it, unless you have advanced knowledge of coding. Some may consider “coding” complex, and most would agree that is true, however, to learn the things you need to understand to be able to make mild adjustments to your website, many of those elements can be learned within a few minutes. They can allow you to alter and adjust such things as color, or size of various template elements, or adding an email capture. The author of the template may have it copyrighted, and may require that you leave their link intact in the footer of the template. That’s a small price to pay for the benefit of using a free beautifully designed template. In some instances, you may be required to provide an email address to access a download option for your template.
Premium templates are also available online for a price. You are charged a predetermined fee to buy their templates. They can range from $10.00 to $50.00, and go up from there. Some use advanced design elements and can be worth the money, especially if you have a business or service that is complex in nature, or the structure of your website requires controls outside of standard website design. They can be very attractive as well. On the other hand, free web templates are generally considered wholly adequate for most websites and marketers.
“Customer built websites,” are designed specifically to suit your exact needs. They are suggested if you need a website to look exactly the way you want, and/or, you require very specific functionality out of your website. The costs can range from several hundred dollars, all the way up to thousands of dollars. You get what you pay for, so don’t expect a tremendous amount of functionality on the low end, as you’re paying for the designer’s time to build your website from the ground up. Many web marketers see it as an unnecessary expense for your online business, and feel that free website templates are all you need.