Thread: Let's talk DIY websites

If you set up your own website, who does your hosting? What do you like & dislike about it? How easy was it - drag & drop or HTML? Did you use their templates or can you upload your own design?

Tell me all about it! ..g.:

I use host papa for my personal site - a green hosting company ;-)
HostPapa.ca: Canada's Green Web Hosting Choice, Powered by 100% Green Energy

They have templates but I am a hard coder so I like the idea that I can develop my own pages and FTP them to the server. Gives me much more control. I can also log into a portal and update the HTML on the fly - very nice.

A lot of companies will let you do this. I just chose this one because they were "green".

My Ravena Designs site is different. I developed the template but I use the shopping cart feature offered by citymax.com. I only recommend citymax for retail users. A lot of fetaures not needed for standard hosting.

I used go daddy. Templates, but my daughter did some cool extra stuff (who the heck am kidding she did the whole darn thing, I just typed up what I wanted!

I use GoDaddy as well. I built and maintain it using their Website Tonight template design tool. It's not fancy, but it gets the job done.

I used yahoo web hosting - drag and drop, so easy. I recently had my own site redone, but I'm starting a new one for my dance company, and it is drag and drop as well - Daniela Dance Company - NYC Bellydancers

I use hostcolor: Web Hosting, VPS, Dedicated Servers - Host Color - VERY affordable, good service, etc. I've been with them for years for 3 sites.

I'm glad people are having good luck with godaddy - I've heard enough bad about them to scare me...

Originally Posted by DancingRuya

If you set up your own website, who does your hosting? What do you like & dislike about it? How easy was it - drag & drop or HTML? Did you use their templates or can you upload your own design?

Tell me all about it! ..g.:

I hand code my HTML with a text editor (Notebook), upload it with an FTP program (Filezilla), and use GoDaddy for hosting. It has been a big learning curve--I am not like secretly a computer tech person in my day job!--but it has worked for ten years now, so I keep doing it. It is fun and very easy to update and make any changes I want, whenever I want. I keep HTML for Dummies nearby.

I have thought about exploring templates and other options a little bit, but I kind of see it like driving a stick shift car (which I did when I had a car)...I feel totally in control. It is also very affordable, and my website has served my business well.

My web site is on a local provider, nettally.com and I do my own programming. .html is not difficult but then I've been at it for awhile. Got the books and it all takes patience. I usually use Microsoft's freebies Express version (upload and update). I just wish I was a more of an artist. The beauty of some web sites ...is in the gorgous graphics. I used to use the freebie web sites but got tired of all of the adverts stuck on top/sides of my info...so now have my own and pay the monthly fee.

I did a lot of research when I was choosing providers. I have a couple of sites through startlogic, but their servers are slow.

I made a spreadsheet because I am a nerd:
Web hosts

Feel free to check it out. Also, when choosing a provider, think about the following:
1) Do you want a WYSWG editor?
2) Do you want to be able to edit online or do you want to have files stored on your computer?
3) Do you want the flexibility to change hosts if needed?
4) Do you want domain privacy? When you purchase a domain name it goes into a big database...anyone can look at your personal information. Just today I got 3 mailers addressed to Andalee Belly Dance. Sucks that after all that research, I selected a company that didn't let me choose a private WHOIS. If they do allow it, I haven't figured it out.

Anyway, I went with Hostgator. I've heard good things about squarespace.com and weebly.com for people who want something super easy to use.

I created my own site with iWeb, which was included in the software package on my Mac. It worked in a similar fashion to most page-layout programs, and couldn't have been easier. I don't know how much whiz-bang special effects iWeb can do, but I don't like fancy-schmancy tricks on websites, so I've been more than satisfied.

I use GoDaddy for hosting. I've had no problems with them, but my frame of reference is really small. I did have to get my neighbor, who is a computer tech, to help me upload it the very first time, and direct me through taking it down and re-uploading it while a took notes. I never had to call on him again, and I've been able to do it myself ever since.

Good luck!