How to craft your own website

Web Publishing How to craft your own website

Web sites from the pre-Toolkit: Who wants to hire an agency to create your own homepage tinkering, his side just himself - offers practical help. The magazine "T3N" presents six systems. The results speak for themselves.
The business idea is found. The office is rented. Finally is the one-man company. Besides the actual performance - ie the part of the work that makes money - make as many tasks that many fall by the wayside. Even the marketing. And so no wonder a few founder on the lack of customers. It is quite logical: no one buys something from a company that he does not know. Therefore, the creation of a dedicated website for all the young but also older small businesses should be mandatory.
Web designer or modular?
Of course the best solution, a qualified web designer to create the commission's website. Finally, a sophisticated information architecture and the optimization of content to search engine friendliness are at least as important as the technical functionality and the superficial appearance. Where the funds do not allow, however, can be achieved with modular systems also produced good results. The offers presented here can not replace an expert though, but it will cover the most important aspects as possible.
Some sites will include very little content - for example, because the competition is not to reveal too much about your own business or want because you want to make as a going concern locally only one way into the net teaser, intended to convince the customer of the store visit. In these cases one can in principle rely on the services of website construction kits. The best of them even offer industry-specific templates, so that the professional impression is fully respected. Of course, a certain creative spark of creativity and an understanding of basic precondition for the "Site Build" are. For even the most stringent templates to make it, for example, that they defiled with font size 800th
The quality of today's home-kits is amazing
Today's Web site kits have in common with the shabby building block collections of ten years ago, nothing more. Instead, present the party products in a quality and versatility that a web designer as if the sweat of their own future prospects may float on the forehead. Today there are no more reputable suppliers, getting used to the strong solutions to the knitting patterns of popular in the late nineties Geocities leads in the portfolio.
There are still differences on several levels. For example, some providers focus on Flash as a technology, others in HTML, some on a mixture of both. Also, the degree of adaptation is different and refers to the question, how deep one can intervene in the building sets the code. The simplest solutions are based on a limited adaptation of ready-made templates, while others were present almost as an online competitor to Dreamweaver. Here it is in the pre-selection important to assess his own knowledge realistic. For existing facilities will also be used in most cases.
Regarding the functionality, current systems offer everything that is standard modern websites - some even up some more. Thus, for example, chat features, or integrate protected content areas and use your own JavaScript and HTML / CSS.
Common to all the kits template-based approach. This is the closest approach of an untrained amateur designer. Some systems also allow you to start with a blank screen.

 offers six kits that do not require Flash. Because Flash is still not extinct, though, is not supported in particular Apple's IOS platform, ie on iPhones and iPads.

Jimdo is a pleasant and relatively young company from Germany, which manifests itself as aggressive and fresh that one would believe him even old socks. The service has created since its inception in 2004, over three million websites.
Jimdo all content via a so-called inpage editing can be created. This means you are surfing on the page to edit, logs into the system and edit the page as it is displayed in the browser. For beginners, this solution is particularly simple because it requires no ability to abstract art. On the right arranged Toolbar not only does the site itself, but also manage the entire account. Jimdo can indeed integrate flash, but works on the basis of HTML.
Jimdo scores with a very customer-friendly pricing model that provides even a free version. The package includes a free subdomain, some templates and 500 MB of disk space. Page number, and traffic are not limited and even the support is included in the free version. All features such as blog and guestbook modules, image galleries, OpenID integration or use your own templates can be used. Jimdos unique feature is the integration of a complete shopping cart solution, with a maximum of five products is also available in the free version.
Who offers more than 15 products selected, the tariff "Jimdo Business" for 15 € a month and is excited about the full feature set. The differences with the free account are: logo, access to statistics and meta tags, your own newsletter system and no ads. Also waived for business customers, the ten percent commission from every store sales. People who use do not need the shop module, but want to have your own domain and are also not on ads between their content, opt for the monthly tariff "Jimdo Pro" for slim five euros.
Jimdo is available in twelve languages, including German, of course. With a total of 120 templates, intuitive inpage editing and customer-friendly pricing model Jimdo gets a clear recommendation. The later presented 1 & 1 Do-It-Yourself website is based technically on the way an older version of Jimdo.
The Jimdo-shop module currently works only with PayPal but can also be used but that is why mobile. Jimdo all bring our own pages, optimized for mobile devices view. The PayPal payment checkout works on this web app. Maps from Google Maps are interpreted on the phone with the appropriate app. For a Jimdo website is very well equipped for the mobile web.
Jimdo unfortunately offers no native multilingualism. Will you create content with the system in more than one language, can only afford to have a redundant site architecture. Thus, if one of the navigation and content all over the menu item once German, one more time through a menu English. This solution is only recommended if it is not more than two or three languages ​​and is very little content.
Back to the main text: Do It Yourself! Already over 30 000 users of the Site Builder is one joke that was only founded in March 2011 and since then is discussed in the international media startup. No wonder, because Jux introduces an entirely new concept in the industry of home-kits. It is a popular social component: the principle of "sharing".
They have built a page with Joke, you can make it to the community as a starting point for your own site. The idea is that the number of available templates is growing exponentially. However, there also a way of creating such sites in the state of a potential template that you would not have thought up better. But this is no disadvantage, but a principle of community-based development.
Jux thus represents a platform that can be filled by the community not only with templates, but also with application logic and should be. For the simple installation into your own page then provides the back-joke.
Here is the above-mentioned principle, no coercion. In Jux backend, it is also native hernehmen templates that are designed far less daring. Overall, the backend is pretty spectacular, but when called to. The entire process takes place within the site, as far as it relates to existing content, and drag and drop, when it comes to adding new elements. Here, the new content elements automatically adjust the layout specifications of the template. The completion of this offering in any other home builder in the test. Those who wish can then tune in a more integrated source code editor to be HTML and CSS.
Currently - and that should probably stay that way - with the current feature set Jux is completely free. Just for registering your own domains apply. There is talk that may be payable at a later date for other "premium service" fees, but still it is not so far.
Thus there is a clear recommendation joke for those of the English language are powerful because localization was previously unknown. Lark is so far ahead of its competitors as possible to access the source code. Thus, a webdesign-affinity human to make changes if the prefabricated blocks no longer meet the requirements.
The lark at community idea is strong in the foreground. It is therefore not suitable for all those looking for more of a dry tool. It should work with the joke please all who have a high affinity for social networking. Generated websites are automatically optimized for viewing on tablets, otherwise the optics depends significantly on mobile devices used by the template from.
Multilingualism has to offer Jux also only to the extent that one can get with Jimdo. Who wants to build a comprehensive website with more than two languages ​​should rather resort to Edicy.


Edicy is also a relatively new competitor in the market for modular systems. What sets him apart from all other solutions is its built-in multilingualism. If you want that user can select different language versions on the website, no path leads past Edicy. In 16 different languages ​​are supported Edicy, including German. The multilingualism, however, can be used for any language in the world.
Regarding the design of the user interface is based on current Edicy tablet design concepts, giving the user interface (UI) has a very modern touch. The processing of the sites found - as with Jimdo and 1 & 1 Do-It-Yourself website - take the form of inpage editing. Floating controls allow the insertion of new content and pages. At the bottom of the screen you will find more extensive admin functions. Making it possible to completely change the design. Also at this point is the integrated blog module.
In Edicy the use of all functions on 100 MB web space is free - for two user accounts. The larger version with five GB of storage and unlimited number of users as well as advanced statistics suggests a six-month Euro.
Edicy follows a similar format as Jimdo where Jimdos UI looks a little mature. Beating argument for Edicy is however the multi-language capability. A website with toggle German / English is today, at least in the medium-sized rigueur. The different languages ​​are managed using a database rather than in redundant content structures. In this way it is easier to add languages ​​or design changes.
Edicy sites are automatically optimized for mobile devices and enable the integration of Google Analytics and Webmaster tools, and provide opportunities for search engine optimization.


Web is definitely not a straightforward tool to bring your website into the net. Rather, web addresses a target group with high expectations, if it were not high-budget, contact a web designer. Seen on the Web's most obvious poaching in the area of ​​the web design industry.
Webs offers the standard tools such as photo galleries and calendar functions and features such as blogs, forums, integration of social media and much more. Similarly, one can integrate Etsy Store-compatible module. There are video blogging, live chat, voicemail and podcasting. In addition, RSS feeds can be read, host and distribute files and documents. A Web site can also serve as lifestream aggregator can be used. Optimized for mobile sites is also a tool.
The feature-richness also has its downsides. Sun Web is one of the solutions with the highest learning curve in our test field. It is clear that those who opt for Web, take a longer-term decision. Although the initial installation of a site as a working basis with a helpful wizard is done within five minutes. Once confronted with the backend, which works with more web will, however, difficult because not very intuitive. Webs even like the association with Microsoft Office. However, in the test were similar except for symbolism not detect functional similarities in the operation.
While offering a free Web account. Unfortunately you can not work so meaningful. This starts with the available space from 40 MB and does not end on the included data transfer at 100 MB. From the Enhanced package for 7.75 U.S. dollars per month of use is reasonable. In this package at least 25 GB of data transfer and 1 GB of web space are included as well as a domain and a handful of e-mail addresses. E-commerce interested can sell 30 products through the integrated shopping system that takes into account not German law in its entirety.
Web users have the English language to be powerful, alternatives do not exist. Web is only recommended for users with a sophisticated understanding of web design. Get this package for the most powerful in the test, even if the shop module is not recommended.
Back to the main text: Do It Yourself! Small businesses that are moving cautiously into the market for Internet services come into it, to 1 & 1 does not pass. 1 & 1 offers not only all internet and telecommunications-related services for years, a website builder by the name of Do-It-Yourself website (DIY) to. The technology behind Jimdo delivered in 2009. United Internet had a 30 percent stake in company, but now you go their separate ways.
Interestingly, 1 & 1 has won a few months ago for the DIY product website to the IT Innovation Award 2011 to the Jimdo had tried unsuccessfully in 2009. 1 & 1 now claims that they had changed the original Jimdo product so much that it had become basically a DIY own product. However one looks at the video tutorials for the product, you can see at first glance that DIY is essentially Jimdo.
However, 1 & 1 offers to actually own and branchenspezifischere templates for use in defined areas. Thus the template for carpenters is actually suitable optically almost universally for carpenters. The necessary adjustments are marginal. Templates are so special, it is not at Jimdo. But the entire editing process and the administration of the DIY website clearly go back to Jimdo.
The difference is mainly in price otherwise. From DIY there is no free version. The product for the private use costs 4.99 €, creating a business website 9.99 €. For comparison, the private version Jimdo costs nothing and the comparable pro version five euros.
1 & 1 does not provide information on suitability of the generated mobile websites. Since the Do-It-Yourself website is based on Jimdo, one could infer their functions. 1 & 1 offers a multilingual product only redundant navigation structures.
Back to the main text: Do It Yourself! Stratos LivePages can be tested without obligation. They therefore differ significantly from the 1 & 1 DIY product. While this can also be tested for 30 days, but not without comprehensive registration of all personal data and payment information.
LivePages is an independent and modern product, whose form resembled something of CAD software. It is safe for absolute beginners to get used to. Here, there Stratocaster effort possible to support the users extensively in the creation process. Sun are available for virtually every step informative and helpful video tutorials and extensive online help.
follows a five-step sequence LivePages. First, choose the industry, then the template, then divided it into his Web site pages and sub pages. Then run to the content and finally the work is published. Only at this point Stratocaster expected to decide whether to buy the product or not.
Database pages are available in three price ranges. The basic version costs € 3.90 per month. It manages up to 20 pages and includes at least one domain from the popular TLDs area - including "de." - As well as 25 e-mail inboxes. The tariff "Unlimited" monthly for € 8.90 points on the page limitation and brings even with a blog module. In addition, the package includes two domains and 50 mailboxes. The largest variant with the beautiful name of "multimedia" has three domains with 150 e-mail accounts as well as ten blogs and space for 5,000 images and 720 minutes of video.
The workflow is transparent, understandable and easy to learn. The prices are moderate, in German language. Whether one appeals to the surface, is ultimately a matter of taste. In a direct comparison between Strato and 1 & 1 because the latter is the Jimdo-technology front.
Database pages are on the current state of affairs is not optimized for mobile presentation. Multilingual sites can be managed only through redundant structures.
Website builder and founder of small business: A Recommendation
In any case, nothing wrong with making the inclined modular user if he decides to Jimdo. Will we prefer to entrust one of the industry giants, should be a little deeper into their pockets and 1 & 1 Do-It-Yourself website select, based at least in Jimdo.
An advantage if you opt for one of the largest provider Strato or 1 & 1 lies in the fact that several birds with one stone. Because in addition to your own website you can get the same the corresponding domain, e-mail accounts and the entire digital basic component supplied.
This innovative concept provides the brand-new competitors joke. Whom the use of the English language presents difficulties should not, in any case take a look at the system now completely free throw, even if in the end, but perhaps for Jimdo or 1 & 1 decides.
Multilingual websites are required, you should come back to Edicy, which is certainly not a disadvantage. After all, the operating concept is on the same line as that of Jimdo. Edicy offers a very good mobile support.