Site builder or site syudio

[jackfitz]

Hi I'm a newbe so forgive my ignorence. I planning to build a website selling clothes and would like some advice, which wuold be best site builder or site studio?

[virtvir5]

I don't suppose you'd consider a text editor and an HTML tutorial.

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by jackfitz

Hi I'm a newbe so forgive my ignorence. I planning to build a website selling clothes and would like some advice, which wuold be best site builder or site studio?

Please, please, read this thread before you decide--there really are better ways:

Site studio/builder alternatives even novices can use

You might also think about using Wordpress, which you can install through cPanel, via Fantastico, and which many newbies here have found easier and more practical than either Site Studio or Site Builder.

[dobro]

Gwyneth, I installed Wordpress and went through the 'getting to know you' bits on its website, but as far as I can see, it's blogging software, right? Can it be used to assemble an ordinary website? (I know, I know - as if such a thing as an ordinary website exists lol.) But I'm not interested in blogging at this point - I just want to get some pages and pictues and mp3s up. Can Wordpress do that?

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by jackfitz

Hi I'm a newbe so forgive my ignorence. I planning to build a website selling clothes and would like some advice, which wuold be best site builder or site studio?

I should stress that if you want to do any kind of selling, the worst possible way to build a site would be with these online site-creators. Not only do they not integrate well with e-commerce apps (which may be what you want), you'd have to start all over if you ever wanted to move your hosting account.

Originally Posted by dobro

Gwyneth, I installed Wordpress and went through the 'getting to know you' bits on its website, but as far as I can see, it's blogging software, right? Can it be used to assemble an ordinary website? (I know, I know - as if such a thing as an ordinary website exists lol.) But I'm not interested in blogging at this point - I just want to get some pages and pictues and mp3s up. Can Wordpress do that?

Yes...look through the themes and see what looks most like what you want. Though if you envision only five-ten pages, NVU/Kompozer may make more sense.

[dobro]

Okeydoke. I'll start with Wordpress and just a few pages.

By the way, I also installed Kompozer and went through some baby steps with it. When I type in the URL of my site, it displays the Hostgator Getting Started Page. Hm? I expected a blank page, since I haven't created anything for my site so far. If I had put something together in Kompozer and published it, would it have nuked the HG Getting Started page?

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by dobro

By the way, I also installed Kompozer and went through some baby steps with it. When I type in the URL of my site, it displays the Hostgator Getting Started Page. Hm? I expected a blank page, since I haven't created anything for my site so far. If I had put something together in Kompozer and published it, would it have nuked the HG Getting Started page?

Yes, a comparison might be an empty lot in a new subdivision. After you sign up, there may be a "sold" sign (or may not) until you start building something.

Kompozer is on your PC's hard drive, and you can either save your pages to disk, then upload them, or "publish", which is essentially saving your pages to your server.

[GvilleRick]

You would need to make sure that the page you create in Kompozer that you want for the default page is named index.html or index.htm and is in the public_html folder. The name should all be lower case letters. I can't remember what HG uses for their default page on accounts, seems like it was default.html or something similar but it has been a while since I had my shared account. You can just delete that page if you wish using an FTP program or the File Manager in cPanel.

[dobro]

Originally Posted by gwyneth

Yes, a comparison might be an empty lot in a new subdivision. After you sign up, there may be a "sold" sign (or may not) until you start building something.

Kompozer is on your PC's hard drive, and you can either save your pages to disk, then upload them, or "publish", which is essentially saving your pages to your server.

Or both save and publish, which allows me to back up.

When I dump the Getting Started Page, it'll be cutting the umbilical cord lol.

[dobro]

Originally Posted by GvilleRick

You would need to make sure that the page you create in Kompozer that you want for the default page is named index.html or index.htm and is in the public_html folder. The name should all be lower case letters. I can't remember what HG uses for their default page on accounts, seems like it was default.html or something similar but it has been a while since I had my shared account. You can just delete that page if you wish using an FTP program or the File Manager in cPanel.

Cheers. I'm starting to glimpse doorways finally.

[GvilleRick]

Originally Posted by dobro

Cheers. I'm starting to glimpse doorways finally.

One of the most important things in creating web pages, in my opinion, is patience. Take things one step at a time. Too many folks get frustrated and give up when things don't come easy.

[striddy]

Originally Posted by dobro

I installed Wordpress and went through the 'getting to know you' bits on its website, but as far as I can see, it's blogging software, right? Can it be used to assemble an ordinary website?
.....
I just want to get some pages and pictues and mp3s up. Can Wordpress do that?

Yes you can certainly do that with wordpress.

Creating "pages" in wordpress is what you want to do. "Posts" are blog entries.

[dobro]

Originally Posted by GvilleRick

One of the most important things in creating web pages, in my opinion, is patience. Take things one step at a time. Too many folks get frustrated and give up when things don't come easy.

Thanks. Yeah, there's a lot of stuff not coming together all at once lol. But I know some stuff today I didn't know yesterday. I suppose that's a step. :-)

[jackfitz]

If I was to use wordpress to build my e-commerce website can I use hostgator or any other templates? I'm still confused by it all but I am grateful for everybodies input.

[striddy]

Originally Posted by jackfitz

If I was to use wordpress to build my e-commerce website can I use hostgator or any other templates?

Not quite sure I understand your question.

There are e-commerce plugins for wordpress like this.

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-e-commerce/

[dobro]

I think Jackfitz is asking if templates are interchangeable and usable by any webpage-authoring program he uses. So can the free templates offered by HG be used in a program other than Site Builder, in Wordpress, for example? Maybe he means that.

[GvilleRick]

The templates would not work directly with WordPress but a Google search for WordPress templates (or themes) will turn up a number of possibilities. The Wordpress themes are actually easier to use in general than a template.

[dobro]

Originally Posted by GvilleRick

The Wordpress themes are actually easier to use in general than a template.

A theme is not the same as a template, and is easier to use in general.

Thank you. Another piece of the puzzle snaps into place.

[jackfitz]

Thanks for all your contribtions much appreciated.Yes dobro was right in what I was trying to put accross. If you have a look at my website which was built for me by a proffesional that is what I want to achieve but selling childrens clothes so you can see I am hoping for a full e-commerce site.
Take a look and maybe someone can tell me which would be best to build it.

www.inscent.co.uk

[dewt]

The first thing that sprang to mind when I looked at it was WordPress. I've never used it (I prefer to hand code the small sites I do) so I am no expert on it and can't give you advice, but if Striddy and co say that there are plugins available that will accomplish all you want to do then I would tend to go with their advice. They tend to know what they are talking about and don't just 'bump their gums'.

A big bonus of using WP is that there is a wealth of expertise in it so you will be able to get help on any problems you have, while SiteBuilder etc have very limited expertise around the place. Don't underestimate how important this can be.

If at any point in the future you decide to move your hosting from HG to some other (lesser?) hosting company, you would be limited in your choice if you were to go with SiteBuilder/Studio. You would only be able to go with hosting companies that offered the program that you chose. With WP you could choose any company that will allow you to install your own software (virtually any reputable one).

Hope this is of some help.