Want to create a website, need help

[gettysburgfreak]

I have always wanted to create my own website in which I can write about anything pertaining to the Civil War but I have no idea how to make something like this happen. How would I get started, how much would it cost? If anyone here has ever made their own website can you please offer me some insight? Thanks.

[Ace$nyper]

Are you going to need coding?
Hosting?
Ads/marketing?

[madurolover]

Will the site be static or will you want to be able to add content anytime you feel like it?

[Footbag]

Consider a Wordpress Blog. They can be set up to look like a website, as opposed to a blog. I've been setting up a lot of these recently, and they just made a software upgrade that makes creating a blog extremely easy. Also, wordpress makes publishing articles very easy. With an HTML website, you would need to re-configure the page to ad the article and link. With a Blog, it does all of that for you.

If you do the go the Wordpress route, PM me with any questions you may have. I did set up a blog for my business which I'm not sure if I can link to. But will give you an example.

I also know a bit of HTML, but these days, I would strongly suggest a blog as opposed to a website. As well, a Wordpress blog comes with free hosting and all of the available software is free.

Timewise, I would guess you could have a blog within an hour. The most difficult thing is coming up with a Logo and header image that you are happy with.

[gettysburgfreak]

Are you going to need coding?
Hosting?
Ads/marketing?


Eventually I would love to have it supported by ads. Right now I am in the brainstorming stage, figuring out how I could turn an idea into reality.

[Ace$nyper]

http://www.the-phil.com/viewtopic/46990-Hot-Tips-for-Selecting-A-Web-Host.html

Great article on picking a host from someone who's made a fortune on web building and marketing. A good personal friend not just something I dug up.

For building the site planning what you want out of it, as some mentioned a blog is a free way and a good start as you can always grab a new host if you get a reader base and then have a site built.

[King James]

I have never made a website... but I believe dreamweaver is a nice program for it

[madurolover]

Actually Jim, Dreamweaver builds really sh!tty sites. The code is terrible and very bloated. If you want a static site you need a working knowledge of HTML and CSS.

If you want a site you can update regularly woth live content then a language such as PHP is a must. Or as suggested you can use something like Wordpress.

[King James]

hmmmm.... maybe stay away from dreamweaver then unless you are a seasoned web builder.... or maybe even stay away if that

[madurolover]

hmmmm.... maybe stay away from dreamweaver then unless you are a seasoned web builder.... or maybe even stay away if that

It is not a terrible tool if you understand HTML and CSS. It has a split view (where you see the page in part of the window and the code in the other part). I have used it in split view but I write my own code and use the other view to see how it affects the page.

[gettysburgfreak]

I set up a wordpress account, now I just need to figure out what to write about and figure out how to make it look cool. Thanks guys