Thread: New Website

First off I already know and understand that nobody is going to take me step by step in building a website, but I'm hoping I can be pointed on the right path. I don't have any money to invest, but being out of work, have some time I could invest. I would like to know what site would be the best to get a free website, or one for cheap. The site would have to allow me to add several different pages, and include password prompts, ect.
There will be a main page, or information page about the site. (this will actually be more then one page, but is seperate from the website being purchased by the client for their use).
There would be a link on the main page to allow the client to purchase the usage of the site, as well as set up the passwords required.
Then the website itself will have several different areas of focus.

In other words it's not just a small website or blog type of thing. It will end up being a huge, thought out website geared to help people manage their business's.

Any and all help is much appreciated.

jportz, Thank you for the response. I haven't had an easy go at anything so far, and if I start this it will actually be my second business. My first business is sitting idle due to the lack of finances and help to run it. (cabinet shop) I failed at that business the first time due to lack of knowledge, money, and will. I personally hit a "Great Depression" that lasted several months.
In those months my business slacked, and I closed it. Had I not curled up in a ball on my bed when my wife left me I would still be going strong. Now I am at the bottom again literally. There is no money, no way to get educated, no help. Just an idea that in my mind, is amazing, and could turn my life around for good. This is an idea that I did search for, and had 0 results, so the competition does not exist. I almost feel as though I'm starting Ebay before all the other "sell on" sites sprouted up.

I was thinking about something I may be able to do and I ask that everyone tell me what they think. Because I don't have knowledge of how to make this thing, what happens if I start a blog, lets say on blogger, and basically design all the pages, add the pictures, videos, etc that I want etc. I'd set this blog to private so nobody could see it. As soon as all the information is on it, and I have my layout I could just have a web developer copy it and add the password bars, etc to make it a website. Is that do able?

Again thanks for the advice. I know it will be a tough road, and I hope that I can continue on it without giving up. I also wish you luck on your endeavor.

Dear kolwdwrkr

Sounds like you have been thru some tough times.

Creating a website is easy. Getting traffic is another story.

If you can write compelling content and provide solutions you can generate traffic.

If you have no money. You can start a blog for free.

Most business' require some capital.

I have been working with "site build it" and have been pleased with the results.

SiteSell.com, E-business Success. Simple. Real.

Massive success to you

Thanks for the responses guys, and I appreciate the fact that this site stays positive. About the "no competition" statement I made. You are all right, there are services that provide what I want to provide on my site. So in essence there is a lot of competition. The problem is that you have to search for it and everything is seperate. Being in the business and industry has helped me considerably with this idea because I've had to search for things I needed too.
So what I would like to do is gather information that a cabinet shop would seek and compress it into one site, as well as a ton of other features I truly believe are needed by the small shop. I don't want to be an information "prude" but I feel like with the economy in the state it's in that there are a lot of people more capable than I am that may take the idea and run with it. That would be devestating to me because I have already been through the ringer on one business, I don't want to go through it on another. My first business is salvageable, but I would need to acquire funds to save it. Until then, the license remains valid, as well as my fictitious business name.

I don't understand why there isn't a way to get a bail out like the other companies. My business employed people too that I had to let go. But nobody seems to care. I'm not alone. The government bails out banks and the auto industry. But what about the woodworking industry? These people are building the banks you are working in, and yet if they go out of business it's no problem. Personally, I think they should make it so that if they bail out a bank, the bank has to bail out a small business. Make it a chain reaction. You can bail out all the major industries all day long, but if the small business's fail the economy will fail. Who do you think purchases from the "big" business's? That's why they are big to begin with.
Everyday a small shop closes, and a small amount of money could have saved them. In my case $150,000 would bring me current and pay for marketing. But lets forget about the 150k, and give 50 billion to an industry that will just outsource overseas anyhow. Sounds logical to me. When I talk about the small shop, I don't mean just woodworking. I mean auto mechanic shops, small ma and pa shops, gift shops, etc.

The website I want to come out with doesn't have to make me rich. I don't need to be a millionair. I just want to be debt free and live without worrying about missing a payment. If I had a small house in Colorado and my truck paid for I'd be tickled. It would cost less then $300k to make my dream a reality. I think that my website would also help shops save money simply by saving them time. And that is what costs the most. This site would be geared to be a management system. You can do anything from setting up meetings with employees, to using an existing contract template for your clients. You would have training videos for everything from sexual harrassment and shop safety, to the actual process of producing what it is the company makes. (in this case cabinets). It would have a "main page" for the business owner that he can make his own (like myspace), as well as ad a portfolio.

There are a lot of shops that don't have a web page because it's to difficult to make. So this would make it easy for them. They could also change account settings, have resouces for local materials, there would be sponsors for equipment and accessories, and on and on. He would be able to basically manage his business from one site. I would also make it so that there would be a chat room for his business. This chat room would accessible with a password he would give his employees. I want to do this because it would eliminate the need for installers having to return to the shop at any given time, as well as eliminate the morning meetings. We all know that 30 minute meeting turn into 45 easily.

So thats it in a nutshell. There is a lot more to it, but you get the jist. I didn't want to do that, but it seems as though more people are willing to help if they know what they are helping with.

It's interesting to hear about your situation. My brother made custom window shutters for years and closed up about 2 years ago, he had the same issues as you did and that was in a good economy. Hunter Douglas/Home Depot/Lowes always underbid him and he wouldn't lower quality or materials or source it from China to compete.

Anyway, thats beside the point. My recommendation as a non-web but IT guy is to use Wordpress. Get a host that has a single-click install program (Dreamhost does) and find a template, I recommend one of the Revolution templates due to ease of use (now StudioPress Themes). You will have to do some customizing but it will start you off with a incredible looking site.

As a matter of fact, if you want, I can host it for you and get you set up on my account for now and get Wordpress (or whatever) installed if you would like, I have unlimited bandwidth. Just let me know.

GL!

Does WordPress allow you to add features like passwords and such. My website has to have a main page, which will explain what it is I am selling. Then it will have to have a page to purchase and set up a password. Then it will have to automatically send an e-mail to the buyer with a receipt and password verification.
The pages after you buy it are as follows:
log in page
Main profile page. This page is the master control page for the purchaser. He can change passwords, do work orders, emails, etc. He can also set up a portfolio.
He should be able to give his clients an address for them to look at his site and portfolio.
Employee information pages would include how to videos, chat, etc.

There is a lot to it because it's basically made so that the business owner can "opporate" his business from this site, communicate with employees, etc. It eliminates the need for meetings, gives them a website, gives them templates to a variety of forms, etc.

In other words it's going to be a bitch to set up by myself. So knowing the right site to use will definitely be key. Maybe I'm biting off more then I can chew with this one, but I think if I can make it work it can be great. It will also lead to additional features and expand beyond the woodworking community. I know, I'm crazy. I could just hang my head and stick with a day job and struggle ;-)

it sounds to me like you are trying to setup a shopping cart feature. If you search here in the forum you will find lots of useful information about e-commerce software. OSCommerce can be installed for free, for example, but needs changes to make it work decently. Others run on joomla (virtuemart, for example) and are easier to configure but also require some work.

Good luck with your project.

Thanks andviv! The shopping cart feature is one of the things I will need. That would at least allow them to purchase what I am selling.
So now we figured out how to get from my store to the owners new page. Now I need to go from the owners new page to the employees page. So I need a password feature that will allow them access to the educational material. I also need to set up a chat line between the employee pages and the "Boss's Page". That way they can set up online meetings. Any suggestions on these two features?

To make the site itself, has anyone used Go Daddy? And is the OSCommerce features usable there? I am still considering SBI.

By the way. In the short amount of time I have been here at this site it has been nothing but inspiration, positive attitudes, and best wishes. I wish I found this site a long time ago. Thank you all for your support. It's much appreciated.