| Today I'd like to speak to those of you out there | | | | learn to use software for webpage design. You |
| who are just getting started with websites and are | | | | choose and pre-stage what squidoo calls "modules" |
| looking for software for webpage design. It can be a | | | | on the side of the webpage in whatever vertical |
| daunting task. There are so many versions on the | | | | order you want and then go to the middle of the |
| market that vary in complexity from extremely | | | | page and fill them in. Some are text modules, which |
| technical to basic WYSIWYG-type software (i.e. | | | | you type into just like a word processor and others |
| What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get, meaning it's more | | | | are for things like uploading images or graphics |
| of a drag-and-drop product requiring very little to no | | | | supplied on the site. In one afternoon you can |
| programming knowledge). | | | | master webpage building at squidoo. It's even kind of |
| Newbies, as we're called when we are just breaking | | | | fun. |
| into this game, usually don't know much if any of the | | | | Weebly is also free, but the software for webpage |
| basic computer code called HTML, (or Hyper Text | | | | design (also a WYSIWYG type of editor) is quite |
| Markup Language). And just to be correct, HTML is | | | | different from squidoo. It's actually a little more |
| really not a code at all, it's a "markup language" and | | | | advanced, in my opinion, and I don't mean that in a |
| that's as techie as I'm going to get today! Software | | | | techie way. You just have more options. You can |
| for webpage design doesn't have to be scary. | | | | even choose a web template to design your site |
| You will no doubt either want to learn a little HTML | | | | around, which can look downright professional. Where |
| along the way or just absorb it without realizing it. It's | | | | you sort of pre-build the layout in squidoo, at weebly |
| handy to know the basics at certain times when you | | | | you build as you go, dragging in modules similar to |
| want to alter an image or a page, but it's certainly | | | | squidoo, then adding content. You not only can add |
| not necessary at this time. Just know that's what it's | | | | images and graphics but also audio and YouTube |
| called and leave it at that. It's likely going to look like | | | | footage. It's a little quirky to start in that the |
| gibberish to you when you first start out, but you'll | | | | modules tend to jump on the page as you drag them |
| be amazed how quickly you will begin to pick it up as | | | | down, but you get used to it. One discovery I made |
| you go along. This is especially true if you have a | | | | quite by accident was that I completely built a site |
| good instructor who will be patient and take the time | | | | without a template. Looking a little bland, I decided to |
| to start from the beginning as he teaches you how | | | | check out the array of templates weebly offers. I |
| to use software for webpage design. | | | | clicked on the button and a string of thumbnail |
| You may want to consider starting out at a place | | | | templates appeared at the top of the page. Not |
| where you don't even have to worry about | | | | really knowing what I was doing, I just rolled my |
| software for webpage design at all. Two websites | | | | cursor over the first one and in a split second it |
| come to mind that fit this description. One is and the | | | | appeared on my webpage in full scale, rearranging |
| other is Both use WYSIWYG editors and both are | | | | the page slightly to fit in all my content. It was |
| very easy to learn to use. Both also have excellent | | | | suddenly beautiful, I thought, looking at my creation. |
| tutorials and help sections. You can create websites | | | | It looked like a real designer had done it with some |
| in pretty quick fashion at both locations. Let's talk | | | | of that fancy software for webpage design. I kept |
| about Squidoo first. | | | | trying other templates in this fashion until I found the |
| Squidoo lets you create what they call "lenses" that | | | | one I wanted and clicked to select it. Done! |
| become your bone fide website. It will have its own | | | | There are other WYSIWYG (I pronounce it |
| domain name of your choosing, but the URL will also | | | | wizzie-wig just for fun) websites out there, but for |
| contain the name "squidoo" in it also. Some people | | | | pure ease of use starting out, I would stay away |
| are turned off by this, but it's all for free and is | | | | from trying to learn to use more difficult software |
| extremely simple to learn to use. These two | | | | for webpage design and go with one of these until |
| characteristics in my mind make it a no-brainer, | | | | you gain more confidence. |
| especially for us newbies over sites requiring you to | | | | |