Web hosting and advertising
 

What web hosting services have you tried? What do you like or not like? Wix is one that I have my eye on. They seem to have a lot of really good clean templates that also adjust to mobile devices as well.

On that same note, what are people's experiences with Google AdWords? Is it worth it or is your site visible in general search results? I never click ads so I am curious what experiences people have with those.

I will bump this for the afteenoon crowd just in case anyone has any input.

I use WIX for my Official Author web page.

http://ringohalfcan.wix.com/jeff-wilson?fb_ref=Default

Pretty easy to navigate, build the site, and it is free. I have maxed out on my data so I am not able to add more pages until I upgrade it.

I have been happy with Google Plus to link all my social media and post stuff on. It is free and has a world wide audience. I have never paid for any Google advertising, just building up connections. I have a lot of views in the short time I have been on there.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JeffWil...cialAuthorPage

I work with AdWords all the time and it can be really successful depending upon what you are trying to accomplish. PM me and we can get into it a bit more if you'd like.

Never used Wix, but i built a site for a customer using Weebly, which is similar. It was insanely easy to make a pro looking site. I just grabbed one of their templates and swapped in my own graphics. Or you can just be lazy and use one of their templates right outta the box.

So does Wix make you have .wix in the URL?

Would people find you on Google plus in similar ways they do Facebook as in just sort of by word of mouth and likes, etc?

Thanks. Once I get going I'll be sure to reach out for tips.

I can see a non-designer using a template, but no graphic designer worth his/her salt would. Too many out there today claim that job title when they're really not. A creative graphic designer should be creative and original. Those are the real pros. Even my printer complains that too many out there just learn a program but can't even prepare their files for print properly. They don't even use fonts properly either—a dead giveaway.

Ehhhh..... Graphic Designers and Site builders aren't the same thing.

Customers are comfortable using/seeing certain formats. Look all over the internet, most formats are exactly the same. That familiarity makes your site easy to navigate.

Pages that are loaded with flash can sometimes be a pain for customers with slower machines. If it's not easy to navigate, a customer may simply click it off and shop elsewhere.

There's a point in which getting too creative is counter-productive.

There's nothing wrong with using templates. I would recommend using one and plugging in your own artwork. That way, it has the look of a custom site, with the reliability and functionality of something pre-built.

Also, not every small business owner is an HTML expert. Ever use Dreamweaver? Complete pain in the ****ing ass if you're a novice.

There's a ton of allure to using templates, and you can plug in your own artwork to give it that custom feel.

It's also a great way to keep the cost down.

Mr.Tegu, check out Weebly. They'll allow you build your own site and then host it. You can see it live and in action on the web. Then, you can purchase the domain if you like it.

If you don't, you still have a free site that's ready to go.

So you can code.....right?

First off, I'm probably considered a self taught hack by those who still do this for a living.

I've always used godaddy for hosting and never had a problem. Never used adwords and the sites have always worked into the top end of google rather quickly. I build with dreamweaver, but it seems like most people don't want to pay what it costs to build so a decent template gets quickly/cheaply reworked to fit their idea. All small scale stuff though as I don't take it too seriously.

Nope.

Then shut the **** up about templates.