I basically have zero knowledge on how to design web pages. I bought a domain name through Google and tried to design a front page through Google apps. I hated it and found it hard to make it look the way I wanted.

I know how I want the front page to look and would like (if possible) to design it myself in order to save money. Is there software that will allow me to design the page the way I want? Is doing something like creating logins for a web age too advanced for someone like me who knows nothing?

Any advice or help is greatly appreciated!

Select and download a Web-page editor. Several simple editors are available for free; Netscape Composer is one. These editors let you see what your site will look like as you build it, so you won't have to learn HTML or other programming languages.
Usually your Web-page editor will give you specific instructions about options such as naming your site, creating different sections, creating backgrounds, adding links and inserting images.
Oh make sure you pages are compatible with both Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer. Don't get too fancy with CSS or VB Script. Netscape cannot interpret them well, if at all.
Enjoy!:)

Anyone else have any other suggestions?

There are loads of WEB page editors out there. Some free, some costing. Some of the easier ones to use are Microsoft Word and Publisher. However, they are only good for simple, non interactive pages.

ScottGem would you say doing something like having people login and register with the site would require the assistance of a professional?

Other than expensive programs, no... although if you have Microsoft word, you can set up a page how you would like it and then save the file as an html file. Under "view" "Html source" you can select the HTML to use if they require actual script. I use Dreamweaver for my software of choice, but before my company bought this program I had to jimmy a way through word... that is the only way I know without you knowing html. Do you know if you have Microsoft Front page included in your office suite? I don't work on PC often, but I know this worked for us for a time.

Yes I would. Having a login, especially one where you want to remember the user, would take more than simple HTML coding.

I used MS Publisher for these two sites.

Answer Center Home Page (http://www.answercenter.biz/)

And

Mail Depot Home Page (http://www.maildepot1.com/)

I know virtually nothing about web design. I just played with it until I got something I liked.

Publisher is very user friendly and you can drag and drop easily. I bought Front Page, too and couldn't make it work like I wanted, either.

ScottGem would you say doing something like having people login and register with the site would require the assistance of a professional?


This makes me think maybe you should look into an open source web application like Dot Net Nuke (DotNetNuke > Home (http://www.dotnetnuke.com)) or Mambo (http://www.mamboserver.com/). These are very easy to learn and extremely easy to maintain wihtout html knowledge. You can read about them on the websites and get support. Last I checked they were free to use... but you need to check and see if your server/domain accepts them. I know for a fact Godaddy will work.

Awesome! Thank you guys so much. I had no idea where to start with any of this or what was worth my time and what was worthless.

I used MS Publisher for these two sites.


Nice design, but who is the host for those, they are really slow!

Lowesthosts

I don't have much bandwidth to work with (boss is thrifty!)

lowesthosts

I don't have much bandwidth to work with (boss is thrifty!)

I feel your pain...

If you want to allow users to log in, and have sortof like a community, you could try installing PHPnuke. It's not really for beginners, but it isn't too advanced. It's just basically uploading it to your host, and setting up a database. The directions aer pretty good, too, and there are lots of modules out on the web for it.