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Best way to learn to build a web site for the beginner?

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joeker56
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Joined: 8 Dec 2008
Posts: 5
#1 · Posted: 8 Dec 2008 20:27


Hello all. I am fairly new to PL and have been really diligent in going through the course slowly and gethering a good understanding. I feel like I understand many of the topics in bits and pieces, but have a hard time stringing it together. I have heard a lot of positive things about SiteBuildIt, but what is the best way for a beginner to learn to make a decent website without spending alot of $$. Id be willing to spend good money once I learn a little more of the ropes, but for now, I just want to learn how to create a good webpage (learn coding, can you strictly use blogger?, etc?)

happywife
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Joined: 14 Aug 2007
Posts: 1565
#2 · Posted: 8 Dec 2008 22:57


I think SiteBuildIt (SBI) IS the BEST way to learn because of the amazing way it is laid out both in the training process and in the tools provided.

It's NOT the cheapest way, however, in the short run. You can learn a lot of the coding and 'stuff' for free from w3schools if you are the type that can pick up that kind of information and grasp a working knowledge of it.

I've learned a good bit of coding now that I've got a good working knowledge of site building, but I couldn't grasp an understanding of it all by learning the coding first. It was like getting the cart before the horse for me - but we all learn in different ways and have our strengths and weaknesses.

You can try learning the coding first and see if you seem to be able to 'pick it up' quickly. If not, it is definitely worthwhile coming at it form the other direction like I did - knowledge of proper site building, then coding.

Anyway, you are going to want your own domain and paid hosting in the long run, most likely. If you think you will, it's a good investment to put that money toward at least 1 SBI site so you learn to 'do it right' the first time.

After that, if you want to buy cheap hosting and the other tools separately, at least you'll know exactly what you need and why and will be able to build a successful site.

That's my .04 cents (inflation!). Hope it helps.
Blessings,
Angie

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mountainmom5
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Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 3099
#3 · Posted: 9 Dec 2008 00:37


And if I may add - Angie is the bomb when it comes to helping you out with your SBI site...

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Joined: 22 Sep 2007
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#4 · Posted: 9 Dec 2008 11:39


Hi Joeker56,

It's good that you are taking your time to carefully absorb the material in PL.

Though I am not a member of SBI, I did look under the hood quite extensively. I found that the owner of SBI very much knows what he is doing. I also feel that the value is extremely high. Furthermore, SBI shares my personal philosophy on many online marketing topics and technology topics.

The price is amazingly low for what you get when you join.

Aside from that, you'll learn most (but not all) of the online marketing fundamentals from PL by the time you finish the course. Be sure to download and read all the eBooks, watch all the vids, and read all of the articles - view everything.

Continue to read and interact in this forum. Check out other online marketing sites. Consider purchasing SBI.

There are five basic ways to build a site: WYSIWYG editors - similar to using a word processor (just type and add images, vids, and audio. The editor does the coding for you.), wizards, coding from scratch, blog software, and hacking apart templates.

I've had experience with all of the above and each form has its pros and cons.

If you learn to hack templates or code from scratch, you'll have to first learn HTML and CSS through the intermediate level. It takes around three or four months of full time learning and practice to master these languages through the intermediate level.

If you go with hosted blogging, you can probably read up on it in a few days and go for it.

If you intend to do self-hosted blogging, reading and practice will take a couple months just to get your blog up and running well.

You will have to know about security, plugins, hosting administration, monitoring comments, managing email, and other things.

WYSIWYG is quick and easy but tosses in bloated code.

Wizards are like WYSIWYG in via step-by-step. Some toss in bloated code while others generate clean code.

These two can be limiting if you want to add anything advanced or fancy.

So, you'll have to decide how much you want to know about coding when making your choice. I took the time to learn HTML, CSS, and several other programming languages. I know that few are willing to master web coding, but it helps quite a bit and I recommend it. At least learn HTML and CSS.

You can join SBI and use their tools on your first site. You can always learn coding later on. You'll have to learn which order you'd like to learn things. That choice varies from person to person.

Just make sure you master the fundamentals of online marketing before you do anything else.

Good luck,

~Newbie Shield~

joeker56
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Joined: 8 Dec 2008
Posts: 5
#5 · Posted: 9 Dec 2008 20:07


Thanks all for the good tips. With SiteBuildIt allowin gyou to host one site, it seems like its more of a learning tool or a program to have one really great site on - am I right? PL seems to say the way to making the steady stream of income is by having multiple sites (20 - 30+) Thanks again everyone. I may take some courses on web language or use online resources.

happywife
Gold Member
Joined: 14 Aug 2007
Posts: 1565
#6 · Posted: 10 Dec 2008 00:35


joeker56:
Thanks all for the good tips. With SiteBuildIt allowin gyou to host one site, it seems like its more of a learning tool or a program to have one really great site on - am I right? PL seems to say the way to making the steady stream of income is by having multiple sites (20 - 30+) Thanks again everyone. I may take some courses on web language or use online resources.


Yes and no. I have 4 sites with SBI, so you can have as many as you like, but you pay for each one.

Having more than one site is definitely going to bring you in more income as long as they are done well. You can have 100 sites that don't get any traffic, and you don't get any money.

That's why NS was stressing the importance of learning to do it right in the first place.

Enjoy the process,
Angie

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leealexis
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Joined: 10 Dec 2008
Posts: 24
#7 · Posted: 15 Dec 2008 06:28 · Edited by: leealexis


Personally I do not recommend SBI for following reasons:

1. It's too expensive. Through my years of experience I find that you often want to build more than 1 websites. Most newbie do not make money or select the wrong niche in their first site. If you want to build second websites with SBI, it means couples hundreds more.

I used a share hosting site which allows unlimited domains hosting. It cost only $9.90 per month.

2. It does not support data based driven scripts and wordpress platform.

I see that SBI sites claim to have top 3% of Internet traffic. It is based on Alexa rank. However, I have little beef with this 3% statistic...

The reason is rather simple, alexa rank as traffic measure is highly inaccurate.. If you installed Alexa toolbar and visited a website, it will have a record. Now, it is not a toolbar bundled with explorers. You need to actually download the toolbar separately. However, how many internet users you know have alexa toolbar on their computer? If anyone is interested, this article explains really well:
http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/03/07/why-you-should-completely-ignore-alexa-stats

Having said that, Ken Evoy does have some free manuals which are pretty good (long winded, though). You will succeed with you applies the strategies, though SBI is not really needed.

Some SBI fans may not like what I have to say, but that's just my opinions though.

If you are a newbie, I highly recommend you sign up with reputable shared hosting. Some companies will offer free domains. A package should cost about $100 per year.

Then, install wordpress and pick up a template you like (free). Next, implement everything you learned in this forum, Ken Evoy's guide and Profit Lance.

SBI is not a magic bullet to online success. You need persistence and hard work.

Alexis

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happywife
Gold Member
Joined: 14 Aug 2007
Posts: 1565
#8 · Posted: 15 Dec 2008 07:36


leealexis:
Some SBI fans may not like what I have to say, but that's just my opinions though.


Hi Alexis,

I'm a big fan of SBI, but I think we are all entitled to our opinions, of course.

Have you ever actually used SBI? Users tend to become 'believers.'

leealexis:
2. It does not support data based driven scripts and wordpress platform.


Actually, I believe it does. It didn't in the earlier days, but the program is constantly being updated and evolves with what is most relevant. If I remember correctly, that functionality was introduced a year or so ago.

leealexis:
1. It's too expensive. Through my years of experience I find that you often want to build more than 1 websites. Most newbie do not make money or select the wrong niche in their first site. If you want to build second websites with SBI, it means couples hundreds more.


I certainly have more than one site, that part is certainly true. But I do make money with my first site (the most, in fact, at this point). It may not turn out to be the most profitable of my sites in the years to come, but I'm loving what it's doing at the moment.

Once you understand and realize what it is you actually GET with an SBI package, it doesn't really seem expensive. If you bought everything separately, you'd spend much more than the cost of the package.

But the real beauty of building with SBI, particularly for newbies (like I was), is the brilliant way it is laid out providing you with the step by step instructions and tools needed to get the job done.

The process actually trains you to build each page correctly for the best possible rankings. Sure, now that I've taken advantage of SBI's superior training, I could go ahead and get cheaper hosting, buy all the tools I'm using for free in SBI, and do all the behind the scenes work for myself.

For $15 per month extra each month, it's just not something I'd consider doing. It certainly doesn't fit the 80/20 rule of prioritizing.

leealexis:
SBI is not a magic bullet to online success. You need persistence and hard work.


No, SBI isn't a magic bullet. Is there ever such a thing? It's just a remarkably well laid out program that teaches people who are serious about building an online income how to do it right, and as painlessly as possible.

The persistence and hard work is required for success no matter how you go about learning.

Blessings,
Angie

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SBI - Better than ever! - 90 Day Risk Free Trial
Free ebooks - to help you start
leealexis
Forums Member
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
Posts: 24
#9 · Posted: 15 Dec 2008 07:55


Hey Angie:

You have some valid points.

I am not a user of SBI. I thought of buying it in my early days but didn't after deep research.

From what i've found, you can find alternative from few tools inside SBI easily, eg:

Google Analytic for statistic monitoring
Wordpress for blogging
Autoresponder- use phplist, comes with most paid hosting (by the way, I am not sure if it is a good idea to use Ezine Publishing function of SBI as they never talk about their delivery rate.)
Brainstorming - visit your niche forums, SEO Keywords tool, Google Trends, Yahoo Buzz etc.
Templates: thousands of free templates for various platform widespread across the web

Anyway, I m happy you make money with your website. most people don't !

Alexis

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happywife
Gold Member
Joined: 14 Aug 2007
Posts: 1565
#10 · Posted: 15 Dec 2008 08:23


leealexis:
From what i've found, you can find alternative from few tools inside SBI easily, eg:

Google Analytic for statistic monitoring
Wordpress for blogging
Autoresponder- use phplist, comes with most paid hosting (by the way, I am not sure if it is a good idea to use Ezine Publishing function of SBI as they never talk about their delivery rate.)
Brainstorming - visit your niche forums, SEO Keywords tool, Google Trends, Yahoo Buzz etc.
Templates: thousands of free templates for various platform widespread across the web


Hmmm. Yes, there is no doubt you can find replacement tools for a lot of what is integrated into SBI (although there is much more than you have listed), but if other newbies are anything like me, I didn't have a clue...

1. What I needed
2. Which were the best choices
3. Would they be compatible with each other
4. How in the world would I go about getting them integrated
5. How to use them properly if/when I did get them integrated, etc., etc.

...the mind simply boggles when you don't grow up as a kiddie learning all that stuff. I did not!

It was a breath of fresh air for me to find all of the necessary tools neatly organized with the how's, why's, and wherefore's all spelled out in fairly simple English for me. It was also a great relief.

I haven't seemed to have any problem with my delivery rate with my ezines, but I haven't really discussed that particular subject with other SBIers to know if I'm the exception or the rule.

leealexis:
Anyway, I m happy you make money with your website. most people don't !


As for that, I know I'm not the exception, but definitely the rule. I would venture to guess that most SBIers make money with their websites, particularly if they stick it out past the first year.

As we both mentioned earlier, the persistence and work has to come first. If you have that added to the know-how and the tools of SBI, there is really no reason that I can see why someone wouldn't make money from their website.

Even a poorly chosen niche should make money if it is done properly and consistently.

Okay, I'm off to bed. I'm starting to fall asleep at the computer. That's my cue to call it a night.

Blessings,
Angie

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http://www.angieberg.com
SBI - Better than ever! - 90 Day Risk Free Trial
Free ebooks - to help you start
916 Spartan
Forums Member
Joined: 19 Sep 2008
Posts: 11
#11 · Posted: 16 Dec 2008 01:36


The easiest way I learned how to build a website was to reveiw a lot of websites that I thought were very well put together. They have a lot of similarities. To build a site I reccommend using godaddy.com's website builder...website tonight.

You dont need to know html but you can learn a little about it as you can switch your website back and forth in the editing area.

Just my opinion for beginners.

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leealexis
Forums Member
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
Posts: 24
#12 · Posted: 16 Dec 2008 01:38


Spartan is right.

A lot of web hosting companies have website builder that does not require html coding knowledge.

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joeker56
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Joined: 8 Dec 2008
Posts: 5
#13 · Posted: 20 Dec 2008 08:37


Thanks Everyone. Has anyone used the Bluehost site that Andrews mentions in the PL course? They have a sitebuilder function and am wondering if it's a good beginner's way to go?

leealexis
Forums Member
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
Posts: 24
#14 · Posted: 20 Dec 2008 09:26


hey there..

Pretty much every hosting company have newbie friendly site builder.

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jadimon
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Joined: 27 Oct 2007
Posts: 84
#15 · Posted: 22 Dec 2008 23:30 · Edited by: jadimon


Download Nvu for free to any computer. No real ram requirements.

Go see Avenator's channel on you tube for excellent free tutorials on use.

Also download paint . net for free and use it along with your nvu.

All free and easy.

I trust I'm not violating any rules with this post. It's late here. Good night everyone.

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leealexis
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Joined: 10 Dec 2008
Posts: 24
#16 · Posted: 23 Dec 2008 06:37


Personally I prefer Wordpress as site builder.

If you are interested, you can refer to my sig where I give away step-by-step guide(free) on how to build a profitable website from sractch.

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040107
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Joined: 14 Apr 2007
Posts: 352
#17 · Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:56


There are lots of excellent suggestions here!

But the best way really depends on you as an individual and keep in
mind that everything has its price.

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soorya
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Joined: 7 Feb 2009
Posts: 5
#18 · Posted: 11 Feb 2009 08:29


Hello Happywife,
I'm evaluating SBI seriously and needed a few clarifications. 'm very impressed by your knowledge and commitment to its usefulness!

-Does the extra 100 dollars as part of the valentine's promo provide just an extra website or something else as well?
-Are all your sites in your signature built using SBI's methods?
-Given that I 'm a relative newbie and have absolutely no idea about what niche to base the site on, will SBI guide me in choosing my niche as well?
I started with selling 'passport to wealth' and some affiliate marketing of clickbank products an year back but gave up after some time. Im keen to learn and build an online business the right way this time!

Look forward to your feedback.
thanks.

happywife
Gold Member
Joined: 14 Aug 2007
Posts: 1565
#19 · Posted: 12 Feb 2009 21:49


Hi Soorya,

I feel like I've already answered this question, but I don't see my reply, so I'll try again.

With SBI, when you buy the "program" what you get for the usual $299 per year is the training, tools, domain, hosting, etc. for one website. It's a complete package with nothing else required (except your time and effort).

With the Valentine promo special sale, you get a complete second package for the extra $100. That means you can build a second site or give it as a gift to a friend, or sell it to someone else who is interested in starting an online business, too.

If you decide to keep it for yourself, you have 9 months to activate the second site, so the "clock" doesn't start ticking on the 1 year package until you activate it.

Yes, all of my sites are built using SBI and their methods. Having built the first one with them with no prior knowledge, I recognized a good thing when I was onto it. I've continued to use them and will do so indefinitely.

The SBI process WILL help you choose your niche, too. They have a brainstorming process and tools that you use to help you narrow down a niche that you will be interested in and that is profitable. Don't worry about not knowing what you want yet. That may be to your advantage not to have something ingrained in your head already.

I think if you are willing to give a one year commitment to building a website business using SBI and follow their step by step Action Guide to the letter (more or less), you will be very pleased with your results. The first year is the toughest because you are going on faith and hope.

Once you see how it works you will be more and more encouraged to continue putting in the effort to grow your business and increase your earning potential.

Blessings,
Angie

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SBI - Better than ever! - 90 Day Risk Free Trial
Free ebooks - to help you start
bdkfreedom
Forums Member
Joined: 3 Dec 2008
Posts: 106
#20 · Posted: 14 Feb 2009 14:31


After reading every post on this thread, I see everyone has failed to mention the easiest site builder out there...and it's free! wink,wink!

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