If U Got A .com - Holla

[gullyjewelz]

Just what kind of software did you use to build your .com?

Who did you use to host it?

Anyone use a "template" from another website or software?


FEEDBACK IS GREATLY NEEDED!!!

[Fieva]

Just what kind of software did you use to build your .com? I usually do all of the scripting myself (when I had the .com) but when I get some time to really put it down, I'll sit down with Flash and do some ish. If I have all the pics and music etc. that I need, I can usually get a demo site tested and ready to move to an actual site in about a day or so....erhm 24 actual hours

Who did you use to host it? I normally use GoDaddy to host the sites. Good prices, reputable company, easy to get help if you need it.

Anyone use a "template" from another website or software? My advice to you is don't do the template thing, most of them are too easily identifiable. If you can, find someone who knows the stuff (usually college students strapped for cash) and offer them some money ($200.00 should be enough) to help you design a demo site at least. If you can do that then you can usually copy the demo to the actual site.

[gullyjewelz]

I knowz a little but a very a little ; ; ; i took a class on basic html a long ass time ago -
i was researching the template thing, cuz i have seen some folk (even folk doing magazines) use sites like homestead.com and freetemplates.com and templatemonster.com

i was gon use 1 of them, just cuz they go 4 so cheap - like $5/month once u have did the do with the their templates . ... and i was thinkin of doing 2 - one for music and one for real estate . . .

[threefourteen]

DotNetNuke is the way to go... I'm a web developer by day, and this thing saved me so much time... its free and open source and you can buy plugins that add functionality for pretty cheap... check it out.

http://www.dotnetnuke.com/

Basically you start out with a blank slate, then you add pages and set up the structure of your site, then you add modules to each page that provide and manage the content...

I also use the plugins from http://www.ventrian.com/... good stuff.

After you get the structure of your site set up you can create a skin for the whole thing and then skins for the modules as well. I created my own skins for my site but I do that kinda stuff every day so it was easy...

I went with godaddy for hosting, got the cheapest package... so its like $48 for a year. GoDaddy has a thing that automatically installs DotNetNuke for you on your site and sets up the database and all that.. pretty handy. There's some things I don't like about them, but I've been able to work around most of that. I've also heard good things about webHost4Life... but cant comment on them.

GoDaddy also has other free open source CMS (content management systems) that you can automatically install like drupal and some others for linux... can't remember any of their names right now.

check me out here:
www.threefourteenbeats.com

[bigtuckballa]

I used Dreamweaver, FrontPage, and Swishmax for the flash on my site.


BigTmusic.com

[Killah_Trakz]

www.killahtrakz.com

hosted by .mac 100 bucks a year (free 4 me)
go daddy domain name
site built with iweb
but soon to be redone.

[dirtyp]

http://vidzking.com
New website to promote videos. Something like youtube but you can use any kind of video.

I used drupal on this one. But theres a lot of cms programs depends on your knowledge and what your trying to do. Its a lot easier to do a forum or blogs. Then something like this with videos uploads. Im coming out with a Rap promo page and a Radio one too. Ill use my various sites to offer promo packages.

I plan on dropping a myspace music like site soon. These are complicated projects. I been distracted by this and havent got much recording in.

I also have
http://mintdollar.com
http://waronyou.com
http://ronpaulforum.info
http://miamieventspro.com under construction.

Do not I repeat do not use Godaddy for hosting. Their C-panel is confusing and doesnt work good with drupal & wordpress. I use them to register my domains then I transfer them for free. They me be the best register but it ends there. You have to call them for service and they charge. Hostgator has fixed all my dumb mistakes for free with no hassles.

P/S/ I host with Hostgator I will pay you $30 to sign up through me. I get a 100 commission, research them there the best.

[tone_aot]

www.bandzoogle.com. Tons of options. $20 a month for your own url.

[Mindset]

built mine using frontpage & photoshop. pretty shitty though.. www.mindsetentertainmentinc.net & www.mmgonline.com coming soon. using www.godaddy.com for registration & hosting. There's plenty of programs out there that has good templates, or you can just go search & download some.

[danico4not]

www.lostpoet.com

I used web.com WYSIWYG editor.

[gullyjewelz]

I just built my REAL ESTATE business website - http://www.804properties.com

i used frontpage, photoshop and some free templates i found on the web - feedback GREATLY appreciated!

[gullyjewelz]

aNY OHTER REVIEWS OR COMMENTS? PLEASE NOT ALL AT ONCE (LOL)
0

[NL5]

http://www.nlrstudio.com and http://www.lightningmp3.com

Hosted on a VPS account with slhost.com - crazy good support - 100% uptime as far as I know - super fast connection

Had both sites built on the cheap.

[gullyjewelz]

any one got any advice or links where i can get soem advice about teh site -- http://www.804properties.com
----????

[Fieva]

Homie....I'm gonna be real with you.

I see where you're trying to go with it, but it's not getting it there.


Being a real estate agent is a hard enough hustle these days, but I can help you out with this. Hit me on the PM and we'll talk biz.

But here's what I'll say about it in public...fyi...don't take this as a diss at all. You're my boy and I can't let you go out like that.

1. Take a new self picture. You should wear a suit (with a tie) and a smile. Your pic on there looks like a mugshot. Were this for rap music, I'd say cool. That's a good image for that, but not this. You're presenting yourself as a realtor, so you have to look the part in order to sell yourself.

2. Too many different colors as backgrounds. IMO it's best to keep it all as uniform as you can. It helps everything come together and look more organized.

3. None of your links work at the bottom. This can make you look unprofessional homie. This is also why I typically will make a demo site on a free one that no one knows about so I can test it out before I make it public.

4. Too many scrolling marquees. They distract people and the more you have, the more cluttered your site appears. Usually one will do.

I have more but I'll discuss it one on one with you...simply because I'm not trying to put you on blast like that, but at the same time, I wouldn't be a homie if I was just a yes man and let you fall with those mistakes. I'd expect the same out of all of you guys that know me.


Remember, your site is going to be where you refer potential clients to and in this day and age. With that being said, your website is going to speak for you, whether you like it or not. Let's make it speak highly of you.

Get at me,
Fiev.

[gullyjewelz]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm definitely appreciative of it - I wanted to get something "up" so I could get serious advice from REAL people - not just "yesmen" -

the pic is already taken care of - I would have posted it already, but I have been out of the country with no frikkin net or cell service!

the scrolling marquess - taken under advisement and will change
the multiple colors - taken under advisement and will change
------im also hunting for any other templates that i can assimilate . . .

1 other person said "DO NOT USE NUMBERS in the address - - I know I DON'T SEE THAT TOO OFTEN but wasnt sure if it is a statement of "professionalism" or not . ..

Fiev - I probably will give you a call later in the week - CURRENTLY I AM AT THE CHARLOTTE AIRPORT waiting for 3 more hours for my DELAYED DELAYED DEALYED airplane! (im jusglad charlotte gives you free wifi for net access - I dont think Richmond would even CONSIDER it )

[Fieva]

Originally Posted by gullyjewelz

1 other person said "DO NOT USE NUMBERS in the address - - I know I DON'T SEE THAT TOO OFTEN but wasnt sure if it is a statement of "professionalism" or not . ..

Fiev - I probably will give you a call later in the week - CURRENTLY I AM AT THE CHARLOTTE AIRPORT waiting for 3 more hours for my DELAYED DELAYED DEALYED airplane! (im jusglad charlotte gives you free wifi for net access - I dont think Richmond would even CONSIDER it )

Aiight cool, hit me up when you come back. As for not using numbers in the address, I agree with that, especially in the profession that you're doing. It makes it seem too fly-by-night for most people. I just wasn't too sure what could be done about it at this stage. Nobody wants to get hustled but everyone wants to do the hustling.

[gullyjewelz]

OK - BACK IN THE STATES! DID A FEW UPDATES . .. FEEL FREE TO WEIGH IN NOW -
HTTP://WWW.804PROPERTIES.COM

[austin4130]

Damn, fiev is the man! haha.

anyway, the site looks much better now. it looks a little simple, maybe a little unprofessional still. one thing that caught my eye, the top nav section with all the links, the pictures of houses, and your picture, are all squished and it just doesn't flow at all.

[Fieva]

Much better, especially the color. I agree with austin completely though. Here are my new recommendations.

1.) I would only use one picture of a nice house or a city landscape.

2.) I would invest in some Photoshop work, the more you can do to make it catchier to the eye, the more professional you will be taken as. I would advise a nice banner up top that says 801properties along with any slogan that you want to use that would be fitting. I would also advise changing the text links and creating buttons instead.

3.) This one is actually tough for me to advise because I know your intentions are good. I would not link to other sites unless I either owned them or networked with them. Buying and Selling 101 is good for most people, but it can also detract them from buying from you (rather than someone who will candy coat what they want to hear). Also it makes you look more like a middleman, less like a realtor.

4.) This is just a question, what is CVRMLS and how does it apply to you? The answer will give me more input. I'm assuming Central Virginia Real Estate or Realtors, but the MLS is throwing me off...maybe I should Wiki that. Okay I did, so everyone knows the MLS is Multiple Listing Service (see I learned something today).

Also instead of having the links of the cities there, I would think that a drop down with them on there would work better (if they opened up in a separate page or a frame inside the whole site).

5.) The huge table line that you have as you do down the page isn't a bad idea, but it doesn't align right with what you have up top with the links. You may want to consider tweaking that layout just a little more.

On that note, I have a LOT of stuff and issues on my mind that's messed up right now, but I've been waiting to see what you could come up with so I could help you out a little more.

Fiev

[austin4130]

haha again, fiev said what i wanted to. photoshop is essential, man. get a nice layout for the site, slice up an image map, then code that hoe up.

[Sir_Doof_Alot]

I use Godaddy for domain/hosting. Then I install Joomla (which you can do through Godaddy's community).. Joomla works wonders. Easy to use and navigate. There is a little bit of a learning curve, but it's worth it..

www.straightedgeradio.com

I've been building websites for ... almost 10 years now. (I started when I was in the 6th grade.

I went from writing basic HTML, to going to Frontpage.. (Which I still use for www.drhuggiebear.com), PHPNuke, then went to XOOPS, now I'm addicted to Joomla. The modules are free, and easy to install and use.

For some freaking SWEET templates, go to Rockettheme.com... They aren't too expensive, (50 bucks for 3 months).. but once you download a template, it's yours forever. I am using a modified version of the template for the www.straightedgeradio.com (right now a motorcycle template I am making for a shop in the next town.)

But yes... definately Godaddy/Joomla.. Unbeatable.

[Fieva]

Originally Posted by austin4130

haha again, fiev said what i wanted to. photoshop is essential, man. get a nice layout for the site, slice up an image map, then code that hoe up.

Photoshop has saved my ass more times than I can remember. Expensive but WORTH IT!!!!

[gullyjewelz]

YEA I GOT PHOTOSHOP! BUT DAMM IM NOT THAT GOOD WITH IT. IM STILL ACTIVELY SEARCHING TEMPLATES TO BORROW - THE BEST ONE I FOUND COSTS 740 BUCKS, SO THAT IS JUST OUT OF TH QUESTION . . . BUT IF ANY ONE HAS ANY IDEAS ON . . . HOW TO ASSIMILATE IT . . . CHECK IT OUT -

http://www.realestatewebmasters.com/...lue-lightblue/

[Fieva]

Get at me an I'll help you out.