Website building???

So I've learned that some websites that you use to build your site are higher on the search engine than others... I don't know where to start or what to use??? Any suggestions?

Your question raises a huge bunch of issues, and would basically mean teaching you everything about websites to answer your question. Can you be more specific about what you want to know? ie which technologies to use (flash/html), search engine optimisation techniques, how to build websites, prebuilt templates, etc.

I think relying on a search engine is totally missing the boat. More important is face-to-face contact & word of mouth from satisfied clients. Networking & handing out your cards should be the first step. Giving them your URL is the second, to illustrate that you're the person for the job.

Like Tim has touched on its a bunch of factor. Top search results for commercial use are usually paid spots and its not cheap either. Google isnt as big as it is because its a free search engine. Next would be popularity. The more hits the higher you move up. Other factors include key word and other coding features that help you get there as well. Its all the little things together that make the big picture. Unfortunately you cant learn it in a day and you really cant learn it from someone posting a how to on the net... Lots of patience and trial and error as well.

http://www.searchengin​eforums.com/

Darn... ok well I really don't know anything about it so I guess I'm going to have to have my fiance do it. He said he would I just didn't know if he knew what to use. I guess I don't REALLY care how high it is on google... I gues it was just one of the things I read about and stuck out in my head I just donb't want to use one that won't show up at all is there like a website that you use to start building your website???

Lelasmama05 wrote in post #5478603
Darn... ok well I really don't know anything about it so I guess I'm going to have to have my fiance do it. He said he would I just didn't know if he knew what to use. I guess I don't REALLY care how high it is on google... I gues it was just one of the things I read about and stuck out in my head I just donb't want to use one that won't show up at all is there like a website that you use to start building your website???

Yahoo webhosting has some pretty good deals and I believe they have some site design tools you can use.

Lots of people just buy a Bludomain website and go with it. That's more flash based though.

So you have to buy them? hmmm... why did I not know that? I should have! I'll have to check out the yahoo ones. I wanted to get my website out first so I could put the address on my business cards.

Don't build your own using an online too, it'll look exactly like you did. Steps for you to do:
- Go to godaddy.com and register your domain name
- Select a website template company. Check out bluedomain.com , bigfolio.com, livebooks.com, or google "photography website templates". Choose a website, pay, it'll go up
- Log in and add your text and pictures.

Easy.

Thank you... I will have to have hubby play with it when he gets home. I thought I was getting better with this kind of stuff but I guess not

Hi there, for just starting out I would highly recommend using Photoreflect.com. They are who I currently use.

PROs: 1. VERY user friendly, you don't have to know anything about website to design to use their software. 2. They handle all of your payments. This way you can accept credit cards without having to buy equipment. 3. A professional looking site for a reasonable price. 4. Lots of website templates to choose from. 5. You have the choice of thousands of labs nationwide that work with the website software so when an order comes in, you simply proof it and hit send and it goes straight off to the lab. they'll either ship the prints to you or directly to the customer without the lab name on the packaging. 5. No upfront cost.

CONs: 1. They take 18% of every sale you make. 2. The look is not as streamlined as the more expensive sites (ie PhotoBiz). 3. You don't have the ability to manipulate much of the template, other than to add your logo.

To me, the pro's far outweigh the cons for someone just starting out. I also bought a domain (from yahoo) that automatically redirects to the PR site so that I don't have to use the long photoreflect url. It's very easy to set up.

example: my photoreflect url is www.akaphotography.pho​toreflect.com
to get to my site simply go to www.amykillian.com

If you want any further info, please PM me as I have been using them for about 3 years and I am fairly knowledgeable in their processes/software.

Hope that helps!

Thank you!So much! WOW! %18.... that is kind of a lot. I will have to look around and see what I can find but if it's all I can do than I might have to. I just had no idea you even had to pay for your site let alone %18! I guess I'm just kind of in sticker shock... but I will have to get use to it.

Lelasmama05 wrote in post #5478988
So you have to buy them? hmmm... why did I not know that? I should have! I'll have to check out the yahoo ones. I wanted to get my website out first so I could put the address on my business cards.

Someone is probably saying the same thing about your photos...It takes a lot of work to create a site from the ground up. What they charge for templates is peanuts compared to having one custom made. You can go the free route, but you wont be different than anyone else.

cory1848 wrote in post #5492448
You can go the free route, but you wont be different than anyone else.

Of course you won't be different than anyone else if you go with a purchased template either. Especially if it's from one of the more popular companies like BluDomain. I liked the first 100 photographers' sites from them I saw, then it got old.

LOL! I was thinking the same thing. I just dont want something someone else made. I'm going to see if Bill knows how to build on and if not I'm going to see if any of my family member do. I'm sure if anyone my cousin does.