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Getting a website

Options:

    1 - Learn to design it yourself
    2 - Get a template and learn to modify it
    3 - Order a custom design from a webdesign company
OPTION 1

Learn to design it yourself

Learning to design and maintain your website should be an ultimate goal for you regardless of which option you choose in getting your initial site. If you are going to run a website, there are often changes that need to be made, and updates that need to be added to keep search engines interested.

Chances are you want a website sooner than later, and do not want to jump into html lessons right off the bat, but just in case you do, here are some resources for you.

Here are some on html and css


  • W3Schools CSS Tutorials - A good learning site with examples and tutorials and an excellent CSS compatibility chart.

  • The Web Design Group's CSS Reference - A site with some good CSS articles which, ironically, doesn't use a lot of CSS in its own design.

  • A List Apart - A site covering more advanced web design issues, containing many good articles on CSS.

  • CSS Zen Garden - Many examples of CSS-based designs, to provide inspiration for your own site.

  • W3C CSS Specification - The World Wide Web Consortium's CSS reference. These are the official creators of the CSS standard. Their site can be pretty technical, but they are the ultimate authority on CSS.

  • W3C CSS Validator - This can be a valuable tool for debugging problems with your CSS syntax.

    • and here are some for photoshop...

  • WebDeveloper - not just for Photoshop, but a choice stop for Photoshop users

  • The Pixel Foundry - tips, tricks and resources

  • Phil's Photoshop Page - news, techniques, links and classes

  • Photoshop Paradise - actions, filters, tips and links

  • Haus of Photoshop - tutorials, faq's, links and a gallery
    • OPTION 2

    Get a template

    A great way to take part in the creation of your site is to get a template, and use that as a basis for your web site design. If you dont know any *html or *css, this is a great way to learn.

    You can find templates right here at our website. Check out the template search engine at the top right of this web site. Here are some sources to get started learning css.

  • CSS Zen Garden - See examples of changing a site by changing just the CSS sheet. Download css files and see what they do.

  • Fire Fox - Search for web developer tool bar, and have the ability to view the css for any page.


    • Just search on google for css tutorials and you will find a huge amount of resources for you to learn.

    What to do when you get a template:
      1 - open index.html in dreamweaver, notepad, or whatever program you are using. 2 - If you are using dreamweaver, or a program like it, make sure you are in "code" mode. 3 - Check out the code, and look at the resources. Learning html is not as hard as it may seem!


    OPTION 3

    Hire a design company to build your site

    Though this can be pricey, this is the most efficient option in getting your webstore up and running. When you are choosing a design company, make sure it is a company you can trust. It is preferred that they have an expertise in the type of website you are building.

    A design company should:

    • Ask about your company's focus and goals
    • Have an expertise in the type of design you need
    • Have a strong portfolio and track record

    Keep all of this in mind when you are choosing a company that is going to basically build your whole business front from the ground up. Do your research! If you are starting an ecommerce store, we offer professional design of premium ecommerce stores right here at Merchant Skins.