Web Design

Hi guys this tutorial is going to focus on creating your own website. Now keep in mind that having a website of your own requires a lot of patience, a good understanding of business, creativity, and will power. The success of your website is literally dependent on these virtues, if not a few others. Basically you have to put time in, to get what you want! If you aren't serious about having a website, you might as well stick to a blog (as i am doing right now).
Now to the good stuff.

Steps to take:

1) Get a basic list down of the different coding languages.
Some examples would be HTML, CSS (cascading style sheets used to style HTML pages), PHP, XML, and the list does go on. Google it here!

NEXT


2) You will hit road blocks (just saying).

Now that you have a list down, you may have also collected some knowledge about these languages. Try not to confuse yourself, and keep a clear mind. Understand that these languages are not meant to be confusing, they have their logic behind them and once you get the basics down, the more advanced stuff will become a piece of cake.

Start with HTML. There are plenty of sites out there which you can go to and collect information about HTML and CSS while youre at it. The two go hand in hand. I have provided a great video for you here that has taught me a lot personally but it also walks you through the steps and thought processes of creating a basic HTML website. 5 stars out of 5 for this one:



this guy has some great material.

So next, once youve practiced all the things hes explained and once you feel comfortable with HTML and CSS, you can obviously put the knowledge to work! Now he uses notepad, which is an option for sure, but if you want something a little more... conducive? go ahead and either "aquire" dreamweaver (cough) or aquire (cough) a very useful program called Visual Site Designer. This program is a GREAT "What you see is what you get" type of program. It allows you to create and view your website with the click of a button on the side panel. Much like Paint? Definitely worth the bucks, as the knowledge you earn in return is priceless. ;) Now thats wise.

You can use this program to create (and later review) a basic website, and tailor it to your liking! The designs can come out looking decently professional (see my example website) if you've got that understanding in business i mentioned earlier! ;)

Example:
www.eXtrinsicTrendz.zymichost.com

i would like to note that i am using a free hosting service for my website: Zymic Host
and these guys offer a very nice free web hosting service but of course its not as good as the ones you pay for! Sorry :(

practice on this before you decide to buy anything!


Now that you've learned so much and come so far... Arent you just itching to create a masterpiece?! I'm sure you are. But where do you start?!

Hmm well the answer to that question, is an IDEA. ;)

ideas can come to you in the wierdest of moments but ideas are also lost very quickly!! Much like a dream.
Ive found that to combat this, there is an app for that! lol just kidding.
But there is a program!!

Yessir, i have a link to it in the blog!
It is a concept mapping software.. now this takes me back to grade school, where i absolutely hated mind maps and concept maps... but trust me this helps a LOT!!

Getting your ideas down, seeing them connected... it really solidifies (not sure about spelling right there) them in your mind! Organisation is very important in webdesign as well as in life (but mainly in webdesign), and like literally half the battle is organizing everything!

This program is free to distribute and to use, so go wild! no illegal torrents for this one :O


You can find more Coffee Cup Software (the makers of Visual Site Designer) on their website.
They have some very, very useful tools.



Ok now here is another approach to webdesign. Im gonna let the video do the explaining, because its very straight forward.. Again you will want to "aquire" the right software: Adobe Photoshop, etc...

BAM!


dont feel limited to the content on this tutorial, there are many videos out there!

Once you have watched that, learn how to incorporate all that you have created on adobe photoshop, preferably in adobe dreamweaver! The transitioning between is much easier, seeing as they are both by adobe!