Creating a website - advice

[Chattanooga]

Apologies if a very similar thread exists. I was having trouble with the search function and the thread below, *making a site*, wasn't exactly what I was looking for.

I have been given the job of setting up (or at least investigating) a website for a sporting club that I am a member of. I know next to nothing about computers but unfortunately none of us do and that's why I've got the job. Obviously I know enough to navigate my way around the web, and have enough knowledge to fix basic errors the average user may face, but I don't know anything about HTML or web development in general.

Our website doesn't need to be anything overly flash. It will just be the usual sort of stuff - social calendars, fixtures,results, sponsors logo(s), news, contacts, player profiles etc. While it doesn't need too many bells and whistles, we'd still like it to look fairly attractive.

I've seen certain web hosting sites that offer free building tools for novices. Doesn't anyone know if any are worth trying?

Would anyone be able to suggest some software that's easy to use and worth forking out for?

Or would I be best to just scrap the idea completely, and hand it over to a professional web developer? We'd do this if it was the only feasible option, but would prefer to have it in our own hands for cost & other reasons.

Any advice at all would be most welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

[Jafa]

You don`t need to fork out for anything. Drupal, wordpress and mambo are very mature apps that will do what you require.

 

[13_Stitches]

i wouldn't bother trying to make one yourself it's just a huge pain in the arse, that coming from someone who studied web design. while saying that i wouldn't exactly fork out big $$ to a professional web developer either. just look for a small computer place around town and they would usualy be able to make and host your website for a reasonable price.

 

[Dean3]

Maybe use a joomla template?

 

[fairdinkum]

Two things you need to know about:

1) Webhosting (incl. domain registration)

Mobs like Jumba will host a website for you for peanuts. Domains are cheap too, but you will need an ABN to register a .com.au (anyne can register a .com)

2) Creating the site

There are plenty of free options out there. For instance, Wordpress is a free system that can easily be uploaded to your site, to allow you to begin creating an attractive website. If this is too simple for your needs, you can go for a Content Management System like Joomla which will give you greater flexibility. Both are completely free and both have online communities who can help you learn how to use the systems, and help you with any problems you might run into.


There's a lot to learn, but there are plenty of people out there to help you do just that. I think that if more people knew just how easy it was to become a webmaster, a lot more people would be creating their own sites.

 

[Zeke]

Wordpress.

 

[Chattanooga]

Thanks for the advice so far guys.

Another thing (and showing my complete lack of knowledge here) - is there any real difference between .com.au & .com, or for that matter .org , .net , .biz?

Do they affect the content that I can list on the site? Are they all available for this purpose (sporting club website) anyway?

The only obvious difference I've noted from my own investigations is that .com.au seems to cost significantly more than .com.

I presume there is a reason for this?

Thanks again.

 

[Jafa]

.com will be cheaper

.com.au will bind you to Australian law for trading (which is a good thing if you're the consumer).

Really no reason not to go with a .com address.