Website building

[Leafguy]

Can anyone suggest and good DIY website building, website. I'm on a budget and not real computer savy. Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[marlinspiker]

www.ipage.com This was cheap and looks pretty good.

 

[Raven]

Try weebly, free to start, cheap to upgrade. Design and layout is just a little hokey, but if you put in the right content it can be real effective. I've got nothing but good comments on mine: www.rentreecare.com

 

[boreality]

I'm just getting one put together. We took it from domain registry to finished and on the web in under 2 hours. This was with godaddy.com. Cost was under $300. I don't know if it's the site to go with but I was amazed that we did it.

Once you set it up yourself it can be constantly updated.

 

[Leafguy]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm going blind looking at all the hosts out there. I think I just have to pick one and see what happens. Boreality are you using a designer at godaddy? Do you have a link for your sight?

 

[boreality]

No designer I used a template. This allows non-geeks like me to set it up. I imagine it translates to html for you. It's just a basic site I've got to polish it up before I'll post a link. Mostly got what I wanted though, my contact info and a place for people to request work and leave their contact info.
Called their support line today and spent $600 more when I just couldn't firgure out how to find my email. I guess they're more about sales than support. But that was paying for most stuff for the next ten years. I think I was fished in. Hope websites are still valuable in ten years.

 

[JesseHuffman]

Go Daddy is so easy, even I figured it out. The nice thing is you can make changes at any time after its published.
I know this needs some work but its a start.
http://arborvision.net/

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

I was for the idea that I could put together my own website... So, I did. It was okay. It didn't generate any sales at all. I thought I was some what computer savy and such. But, I discovered otherwise...

However, a year after I had my site done, by a "content professional/website designer" I can say that 30% of the leads I'm getting (either hits from my site or direct calls) are generated from being referenced online. --This means that a vast majority of people are searching for a tree service, in my area, and I'm found every time.

I'm really pleased.

My point; It may be okay to get a website up and running because being online is important, but eventually, DIY website developers should differ to a pro.

 

[JesseHuffman]

So Jamin, what you are saying is that the old Field of Dreams adage, "If you build it, they will come" does not apply here?
Might I ask how much you have invested to get that 30%?
Do you use Google Ads or any of the other pay per click sites?

 

[Leafguy]

I agree with you Jamin, but for budget reasons the DIY site will have to do for now. I do like your site. I think a strong online presence is important since nowadays the yellow pages hit the recycling bin as quick as we get them. Around here that is.

 

[tomthetreeman]

I used Go Daddy, and I can give you a word of caution... Don't try to skimp with the cheaper versions of software offered. It gets pretty frustrating when all of your work gets deleted because the Website Tonight version you purchased just 'timed out.'

I believe that you can purchase and host the site on Go Daddy, but build it with your choice of software (?). I used Website Tonight, which is one of the 'partner' sites offered through Go Daddy.

www.tomstreecare.net (Still working on the site, so don't critique too hard!)

-Tom

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

[ QUOTE ]
So Jamin, what you are saying is that the old Field of Dreams adage, "If you build it, they will come" does not apply here?
Might I ask how much you have invested to get that 30%?
Do you use Google Ads or any of the other pay per click sites?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. The field of dreams adage doen't apply here.

This is unfair, but I got my website built free from a generous friend. Volume Up Marketing. He can work remotely, BTW.

I do use Ad words with Google, however, listing yourself as a local business is free and people can find you free. Also, if your content is good, Google will put you in the "organic material", FREE!

The Adwords campaign I have at the moment is pricey. Granted, a person can edit how much they want to pay to be seen... I experimented with $5.00/per click with a $20.00 daily limit. Well, it has racked up fast lately. So, I backed it down to $2.00/ click and the Google monster isn't referencing me as consistant as it was.

The Google monster wants money.