How to design my site?

mark said: "I've just spent the last week learning a little on the subject of web design. Finding out about hosts, domains, HTML and the like. I have constructed part of a site using HTML - mainly the home page, pictures page and a page with some links to games. I then went looking for somewhere to host my site and I have become interested in a package offered here: [url]http://advancednetworkhosts.com/[/url] The package I am looking at is the shared hosting at $6.95 which comes with free domain name and a heck of a lot of storage and bandwith. Much more than i'm ever likely to need. There is however a few things I'm not too sure about. As it offers a web builder which is there to help me construct the site am I then limited to only using the web builder? Would it be possible to use the web builder for some pages but not others? Would it also be possible to adjust the pages myself? I want to have control over my site and don't want it to be faceless. Here is the link to the page I have uploaded to geocities: [url]http://www.geocities.com/mark00mccann/[/url] Only the second link is working at present. (Pictures) And there is only a couple of pictures to be seen as well. I only uploaded this to find out how the process worked and maybe some feedback from you guys would be great as well. I have already noticed that as it is very heavy ie. first page is about 700kb that it will probably take a while to load on dial up which is obviously a bad idea. Anyway I'll stop dribbling on as i'm sure i'm bored you all to death ages ago :confused: If you could maybe just let me know if I should continue as I have started with HTML or scrap what I've done so far and move onto the web builder. Any suggestions at all would be most welcome. :)"

Darksat said: "I dont think you have to use the web builder, it looks like a standard linux host service."

raven said: "I agree with Darksat, and as far as I know, you can build your site using the builder OR using your own coding. I don't think you can mix and match. Doing it yourself is better anyway. CarpetPaul (another member on this forum) started off much like you. He asked a ton of questions and now he has his site up and running :)"

ali said: "Hallo. i am new commer .. i want to be web desaigner .. but i don`t really know web. so i looking some tips or links ( but free ) ... thanks.. i am rokkie in this subject but i really want know. can u patient and tell to me please ! thanks .. :)"

edwin said: "hi ali! the first everythings needs to know is [url=http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/]html[/url]. that is the building block of all websites. i'll show you the exact code for a complete web page. [code] html example

your paragraph

[/code] this is a complete web page. the first thing you need to have is an editing program and web-space."

mark said: "So if I simply use this company to host my site I can upload what I currently have built and then add on extra pages myself as I go, good. How do you think this company compares to other hosts at the moment? I see a lot of different offers which all seem to be roughly the same price but this company seems to have additional services added on for free. Such as the domain name etc. Would anyone recommend/not recommend I use this company? Ali, Here is the link to a complete course on building a website. I used this course to start my page: [url]http://www.htmlgoodies.com/primers/basics.html[/url] I would recommend you follow the instructions and you will have a webpage up and running in no time :)"

edwin said: "they sound okay. as long as they offer "ftp access" you can upload your files to the server. i'm sure the offer it."

mark said: "Yep, They have ftp access which I believe is almost a necessity when uploading your files to the Host. Is there anything else in particular I should look for? I'm very keen to have a comments page and would like to have diary page for ourselves. I can't really decide between using a forum or a guest book. The forums always look very professional yet I'm wondering if it's too powerful for my needs. I'm also a bit worried about continuity running throughout the site. If everypage looks different then it will feel very "thrown" together. Any ideas on how I keep a certain level of sameness (is that really a word) between the pages :confused:"

Darren said: "Make sure the host supports Php and MySql. That way you can install one of 1,000s of different scripts. That means you can add touches as needed."

Darksat said: "also do a few tests on thier response time and check google for reviews of thier service."

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