Website creation is something that does not happen overnight. It needs skills, planning, research and sense of art to build a good website. Previously, it was required to learn HTML (hypertext markup language) to make a website. However nowadays, there are so many options to create your own website without a high level computer skill by using CMS (Content Management Systems) or ready made websites available in the Internet. You do not need to be a savvy web designer or web developer to create a professional website.

What A Content Management System Does for You

A CMS is software that keeps track of every piece of content on your website. It uses admin area to control the content and design of a site. It will allow you to update entire site by making a change one time in the admin area that can carry over to all pages of your site. This means you can change the menu, sidebar, footer, site design, layout, or other sections of your site all at one time without changing every page. With CMS, you can have the task completed in minutes.

The other advantage of using a CMS is that it requires almost no technical skill or knowledge to manage as the CMS manages all your content.

Includes, Style Sheets and Content Management Systems

For the do it yourself webmaster or web developer who is looking to easily improve update efficiency, there is a middle ground between plain HTML pages and full-blown CMS. There are at least two important files which do the control in CMS:

  • Includes

Includes are files that are included in a web page with one line of code. By simply using an include file on your sites, you can allow your entire site to be updated with one change. This allows all pages with that file included to be updated by changing the include file one time.

  • Style Sheets

Style sheets operate in much the same way as includes. One line of code calls a file capable of determining the look of text and graphics on the site. Entire site design and layout can be created with style sheets. An example of the power of style sheets can be seen at http://www.csszengarden.com/. Using style sheets can allow webmasters to change the entire look and layout of the site by changing one file.

The followings are some options of open source CMS that you can use:

This award-winning content management system (CMS) enables you to build web sites and powerful online applications. Joomla is one of the most popular website software because of its ease-of-use and extensibility, and it is free to download as well. Joomla is an open source solution that is freely available to everyone.

Drupal is a free software package that allows users to easily publish, manage and organize a wide variety of content on a website. Drupal system has many features and add-on-modules to make a flexible website.

WordPress is the largest self-hosted blogging tool in the world, used on hundreds of thousands of sites. WordPress is an Open Source project, which means there are hundreds of people all over the world working on it and you are free to use it without paying anyone a license fee. WordPress is completely customizable and can be used for almost any kinds of websites.

There are many more CMS available in the internet, but it is advisable to use a good one and have many users as it usually comes with many template and applications. You can get the list of CMS in this link: http://php.opensourcecms.com/general/ratings.php

By using the above CMS, you normally need your own domain name and web hosting. You also have to download and install the software yourself. More reading about domain and hosting here…

If you need a support that can help you build your site, the paid website builder may be suitable for you.

SBI! is the all-in-one site-building-hosting-and-marketing system of software tools.

BeBiz is an easy-to-use wizard driven system that guides you every step of the way as you create your own Internet business; from finding profitable markets to creating a winning salesletter to taking your first orders. The BeBiz system holds your hand through the entire experience with guides and tutorials so nothing slows you down in creating a profitable online business.

If you have a limited cash to start building your own website, you can always have website without purchasing a domain name or renting a hosting by using a web-based website builders. Visit the following links for Web-based Website Builder options:

  • Blogger – similar to WordPress.com, Blogger is a free web-based platform to create a blog form of website (website blog). Your website blog url will be http://yoursite.blogspot.com
  • Zlio – Zlio lets you create your own online store and picking products you want to sell without registration to various affiliate programs.
  • Webon – Free website builder to create dynamic, stylish and ad-free websites. You can try without registration,
  • Storytlr – You can create your life website by pulling your web 2.0 life in one site, creating your story in a new way or posting your blog.
  • Wetpaint – Wetpaint utilizes the features of wikis, blogs, forums and social networks, letting you build your own social website.
  • Advanced Gallery Web Sites – If you want to sell photos online, you can create your own professional website with this ifp3 photography website.

  • Ning – Ning lets you create your own social network.

As you get serious about your web site, your time will become invaluable. Use a content management system and you will actually have time to have a life beyond your site. A content management system is the best way to maximize your efforts.

We would love to hear about your website creation experience, please share them on the comment box in this post.

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Related posts:

  1. Easy Guide to Create Your Own Affiliate Website

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