| Do you want to build a web site for your home | | | | templates. Using a site builder is an easy way to get |
| business but find web design complicated? You can | | | | your first web site up fast. |
| find many web design tools online to help you design | | | | Advantages of site builders include: no HTML web |
| your own web site quickly and inexpensively. They | | | | design knowledge is required; they typically include |
| range from web editors, web site builders, web site | | | | pre-designed web site templates; you can upload the |
| templates, to hosting, autoresponders and shopping | | | | site easily without the need of an FTP program to |
| carts. | | | | upload your pages; they usually come with an image |
| If you want to design your first web site yourself, | | | | library where you can download free images, |
| you probably want to use a WYSIWYG web editor | | | | templates, backgrounds and web site headers; you |
| or site builder. | | | | can upload your own images. |
| A web editor is software that creates the HTML | | | | Free site builders usually have restrictions that may |
| code for you. Web editors and site builders help you | | | | include a limited amount of pages, you may not be |
| quickly create simple web sites without the need to | | | | allowed to include custom HTML, and you have less |
| know HTML programming and without having to buy | | | | options for customizing your template and page |
| expensive web design software. | | | | layout than you have with commercial site builders. |
| A WYSIWYG editor helps you design your web site | | | | Free web site builders include 1&1 Website |
| using a "What You See Is What You Get" interface. | | | | Builder, Office Live Small Business, Site2you and |
| You can see what your page will look like similar to | | | | website Wizard. |
| the way your word processing software displays | | | | Many hosting companies offer template-based site |
| what you're typing. WYSIWYG editors are easy to | | | | builders and wizards that will guide you through |
| use and don't require knowledge of HTML. A | | | | setting up your web pages. Using those makes it |
| WYSIWYG editor may be a good option for you if | | | | easy to start creating web pages. Wizards allow you |
| you want to make a small, simple web site quickly | | | | to create web sites easily through point and click |
| and easily without paying for software. | | | | design. Typically, they work like this: You can choose |
| Some of the many good free WYSIWYG web | | | | a layout from their library of web site templates. You |
| editors that are available on the web include | | | | choose a graphic, select the font size, text color and |
| KompoZer, HTML-Kit, SeaMonkey Composer (Mozilla), | | | | navigation button style. You can edit your content. |
| Amaya and Trellian. | | | | You can often add features like a counter, feedback |
| Even when using a web editor, it helps to learn the | | | | form and guest book. |
| basics of HTML to solve some design problems and | | | | Be aware that it might be difficult to make changes |
| make changes. | | | | when using template-based site builders and wizards. |
| Paid editors will give you more powerful features. | | | | When using templates and site builders provided by |
| Dreamweaver is the most popular professional web | | | | your hosting company, you probably won't be able to |
| editor today but has a steep learning curve. You can | | | | move your pages or they won't work properly when |
| get a free trial of Dreamweaver at FrontPage is | | | | switching providers. |
| popular for non-professional users. However, it is | | | | If you want to design your own web site, try some |
| incompatible with other programs, is not receiving any | | | | of the options above. |
| new updates, and will cause problems if you need | | | | Think you don't have the time or know-how to build |
| help from a professional designer in the future. I don't | | | | your own Web site? Then, consider hiring a |
| recommend it. | | | | professional web designers so you can focus on |
| Site Builders help you design your site from | | | | running your business instead of the numerous |
| pre-packaged templates. Sometimes they provide a | | | | technical issues involved in web design. |
| WYSIWYG interface to change elements from the | | | | |