Basic Website design + Monetizing it

[Positively Negative]

Hi Forum,

So I've been wanting to create a website for a few years now.
Finally I got some motivation and have decided it will be my 2014 baby

I've registered the .co.za domain. WHAT NEXT?!
Can you guys please advise on the easiest way to actually create the website now.
I work in Tech Support so I just need some guidance on the easiest way.
Once I get the basics,I'm sure I'll be able to manage on my own.

Eventually I would like to monetize ads on the site itself.
If there are better viable options besides an ad-sense account, please let me know

If it's wiser to spend cash on the site itself, I'd rather do so than having it look too 'cheap'.

I'm absolutely nooby with regards to web development.

I could Google for help, but I've always enjoyed forumites advice rather

Thanks ahead for any tips.

 

[koeksGHT]

Your asking for help for a site you don't know what will it do.

If you have an idea/service it will give us something to go on.

You could setup a wordpress blog and stick some ads on that, easy enough for most people. Get the right niche

 

[Dion Disco]

I started with the same vision about 6 months ago.

Registered domain, chose hosting site and got going in Wordpress. No experience in coding and learning as I was going along - but have now hit a brick wall.
Will have to find a Wordpress expert for coding help before my little project becomes the next Facebook ;-)

Good luck to you, and enjoy the journey

 

[c10n3d_0r6]

If your project is as big as Facebook, it would probably be better to design something from the ground up than try make WordPress work for it.

As for the ops question, there are different facets to web development. If you site is just showing content then a WordPress install might be the way to go. If you want custom functionality, it might be possible with WordPress plugins. If it is something more bespoke then custom development will be the best option.

 

[Hostking]

If you want to design a website I would always recommend learning a few things first. It's nice to understand HTML first as Wordpress does use it in their blog posts and page creations under the "Text" option.

Alot of people do not like w3schools.com but I would recommend using it start off with and learn some very basic html coding before even going into Wordpress.

It's fun to learn these things and wish you the best

 

[jambai]

I think Wix or Weebly is better than wordpress to start out with.IMHO

 

[Reelix]

Alot of people do not like w3schools.com but I would recommend using it start off with and learn some very basic html coding before even going into Wordpress.

Web Dev with several years experience here - I still occasionally use it for the elusive css tag I'm forgetting

 

[rward]

If you want to design a website I would always recommend learning a few things first. It's nice to understand HTML first as Wordpress does use it in their blog posts and page creations under the "Text" option.

Alot of people do not like w3schools.com but I would recommend using it start off with and learn some very basic html coding before even going into Wordpress.

It's fun to learn these things and wish you the best

You are speaking of developing a website, not designing it

Designing a website has nothing to do with HTML, wordpress, scripting, programming, etc.
Developing the design that a designer has done is HTML, wordpress, scripting, programming, etc.

 

[rward]

If it's wiser to spend cash on the site itself, I'd rather do so than having it look too 'cheap'.

Do this.
Because you're starting out, you're going to pay R500 ($50) for a site/theme that is complete, all you need to do is add some info.
That's 5 hours of work at R100 an hour. If you think you can make a better looking site in under that amount of time then go for it. Hell, even a R1000 ($100) theme could be worth it - depends on if you have that kind of cash to splash.

Wordpress with a good theme would probably give you the most functionality out the box. Plugins should give you most of what else you might need.

 

[Positively Negative]

If you want to design a website I would always recommend learning a few things first. It's nice to understand HTML first as Wordpress does use it in their blog posts and page creations under the "Text" option.

Alot of people do not like w3schools.com but I would recommend using it start off with and learn some very basic html coding before even going into Wordpress.

It's fun to learn these things and wish you the best

I think Wix or Weebly is better than wordpress to start out with.IMHO

Web Dev with several years experience here - I still occasionally use it for the elusive css tag I'm forgetting

You are speaking of developing a website, not designing it

Designing a website has nothing to do with HTML, wordpress, scripting, programming, etc.
Developing the design that a designer has done is HTML, wordpress, scripting, programming, etc.

Do this.
Because you're starting out, you're going to pay R500 ($50) for a site/theme that is complete, all you need to do is add some info.
That's 5 hours of work at R100 an hour. If you think you can make a better looking site in under that amount of time then go for it. Hell, even a R1000 ($100) theme could be worth it - depends on if you have that kind of cash to splash.

Wordpress with a good theme would probably give you the most functionality out the box. Plugins should give you most of what else you might need.

Thanks for all the feedback guys!
Think I will definitely look at this Wordpress option a go.

I just need some final advise & tips though.

So I registered the domain.co.za name last month. I paid for a 3 year lease to it.
I now need to understand how I will be able to link my site eg. www.mysite.co.za to the wordpress platform?
Also, more importantly, can I monetize through these platforms.
I would like to banner ads on the site ,do services like Wordpress etc allow for this?
Do they also allow the .co.za domain to link to them?

So yeah, the difficulty I'm having is understanding the linking between the domain i bought (.co.za) to one of these platforms.

If I go to Wordpress now, should I be able to pay for a slick theme and then just update accordingly/weekly etc?

I know I sound completely nooby here, but I honestly am ! :/

 

[koeksGHT]

Thanks for all the feedback guys!
Think I will definitely look at this Wordpress option a go.

I just need some final advise & tips though.

So I registered the domain.co.za name last month. I paid for a 3 year lease to it.
I now need to understand how I will be able to link my site eg. www.mysite.co.za to the wordpress platform?
Also, more importantly, can I monetize through these platforms.
I would like to banner ads on the site ,do services like Wordpress etc allow for this?
Do they also allow the .co.za domain to link to them?

So yeah, the difficulty I'm having is understanding the linking between the domain i bought (.co.za) to one of these platforms.

If I go to Wordpress now, should I be able to pay for a slick theme and then just update accordingly/weekly etc?

I know I sound completely nooby here, but I honestly am ! :/

Signup with adsense and they offer the advertising.

You still don't know what the site is about? You just want to make money from air?

 

[Positively Negative]

Signup with adsense and they offer the advertising.

You still don't know what the site is about? You just want to make money from air?

Of course not, that would be insanity
I've built an online following since 2007
I have pretty well established Facebook,Youtube,Twitter platforms already.
I want to now centralize them to a website.

I have an adsense account already set-up for some of my Youtube channels.

Generally can you make some good cash through ad-sense through a website?

This is more like a side project that I want to grow in the next 2-3 years.
My aim would be for it to take off nicely so I can leave my suffering in the corporate IT Support slavery system

 

[koeksGHT]

Of course not, that would be insanity
I've built an online following since 2007
I have pretty well established Facebook,Youtube,Twitter platforms already.
I want to now centralize them to a website.

I have an adsense account already set-up for some of my Youtube channels.

Generally can you make some good cash through ad-sense through a website?

This is more like a side project that I want to grow in the next 2-3 years.
My aim would be for it to take off nicely so I can leave my suffering in the corporate IT Support slavery system

Adsense is best option, do you use it on your YouTube vids?

Just link domain to your webhost's wordpress installation, get/design a theme and go for it

 

[House]

Well, here is my 2 cents...

If you are serious about your baby, do not make use of free hosting services. Go to a proper webhost, either here in SA or abroad and create an account. You can start off small and upgrade hosting packages as your site grows. Just look for a webhost offering quality Linux and cPanel hosting.

So, once you found a hosting provider and the account is set up, you simply make the nameserver changes at Uniforum and in a few hours your site will be live.

Once the DNS has propagated, and the site is live, and your hosting provider offers cPanel, you will often find they have various software you can install from your cPanel account - one of these will be Wordpress (if you decide using this platform). You can have it set up in a few clicks. (Alternatively, you can download the Wordpress package from wordpress.org and install it yourself).

Next will be to look for a theme. There are many sources on the Internet where you can find free or paid themes. Theme installation is fast and easy and can be done from the Wordpress platform. Many themes already come with Ad spaces, so you will simply add your ad codes in the theme settings page in Wordpress.

Now you are ready to create categories, pages and start posting...

 

[Reelix]

do not make use of free hosting services

You'd be surprised what you can get for free if you look

 

[Positively Negative]

Well, here is my 2 cents...

If you are serious about your baby, do not make use of free hosting services. Go to a proper webhost, either here in SA or abroad and create an account. You can start off small and upgrade hosting packages as your site grows. Just look for a webhost offering quality Linux and cPanel hosting.

So, once you found a hosting provider and the account is set up, you simply make the nameserver changes at Uniforum and in a few hours your site will be live.

Once the DNS has propagated, and the site is live, and your hosting provider offers cPanel, you will often find they have various software you can install from your cPanel account - one of these will be Wordpress (if you decide using this platform). You can have it set up in a few clicks. (Alternatively, you can download the Wordpress package from wordpress.org and install it yourself).

Next will be to look for a theme. There are many sources on the Internet where you can find free or paid themes. Theme installation is fast and easy and can be done from the Wordpress platform. Many themes already come with Ad spaces, so you will simply add your ad codes in the theme settings page in Wordpress.

Now you are ready to create categories, pages and start posting...

Ok so I payed like R300 or so for 3 years . I registered the .co.za domain.I did this through WebAfrica.

I'm still a bit confused regarding the host provider and the website itself.
My confusion lies with the setting up the actual site?
Say I go with Wordpress. Do I get the site all setup and designed there (or buy a design) and then link >>> to .co.za host?

EDIT - So basically I've payed for the 3 years through WebAfrica.
Now I need to create the site offline with a 'website builder' and upload it to the host WebAfrica when it's ready to go live? Am I sort of correct on this one...

 

[Positively Negative]

Update :
So I've registered the domain and I've setup Web hosting through Webafrica.

I've hit a brick wall now with regards to the site itself!
So I actually now need to get working on the site and obviously set up different sections on the site etc.
What do I do now?!!!
I log in fine cpanel x via and there is just a load of stuff I have no idea about.
So I scrolled down to the section 'softaculous Apps Installer' and I installed Wordpress there.
I have no clue what I was doing but I seemed to install correctly.
WHAT NOW ?
What is the next step to actually get working on the site and imbed links and set up the damned thing
I see a section that looks kinda promsing with the title 'RVSiteBuilder'. I went in there and played around.
It looks like that is the place I can build the website?
But I'm confused about the Wordpress part.

Really,oh my sheet... I never knew it would be this confusing and challenging. No wonder mofo's make full time bank off
web-site design etc. Any further advise please
I can screengrab what I have in that control panel if it makes it easier...

 

[koeksGHT]

Update :
So I've registered the domain and I've setup Web hosting through Webafrica.

I've hit a brick wall now with regards to the site itself!
So I actually now need to get working on the site and obviously set up different sections on the site etc.
What do I do now?!!!
I log in fine cpanel x via and there is just a load of stuff I have no idea about.
So I scrolled down to the section 'softaculous Apps Installer' and I installed Wordpress there.
I have no clue what I was doing but I seemed to install correctly.
WHAT NOW ?
What is the next step to actually get working on the site and imbed links and set up the damned thing
I see a section that looks kinda promsing with the title 'RVSiteBuilder'. I went in there and played around.
It looks like that is the place I can build the website?
But I'm confused about the Wordpress part.

Really,oh my sheet... I never knew it would be this confusing and challenging. No wonder mofo's make full time bank off
web-site design etc. Any further advise please
I can screengrab what I have in that control panel if it makes it easier...

If you have Teamviewer have some time to help (internet slow tho)

 

[Hostking]

Hi,

If you installed Wordpress successfully you can go to the link it should have emailed you or go directly to your domain name like: http://www.domainname/wp-admin.php - You will not be able to use a temporary url if given to you by them as you will need to update a few values in a table called wp-options via phpmyadmin. I would advice keep it simple and ensure you install the website in the "root" of your domainname.

If you installed it in a subfolder then add the subfolder like http://www.domainname/subfolder/wp-admin.php

Then you can login to Wordpress with your admin username and password.

Also Webafrica have a good support department and can assist you quite well. Give them a call on their support line. I'm sure they will be willing to assist you and confirm everything is in order.

Do not use RVsitebuilder though if you want to really use Wordpress. Choose one or the other. I do find RVsitebuilder easier as you just replace words, images, etc, to design your website. I'm however sure Webafrica has some of their own and I do recommend you contact them for further assistance.

Hope this helps

 

[Positively Negative]

Hi,

If you installed Wordpress successfully you can go to the link it should have emailed you or go directly to your domain name like: http://www.domainname/wp-admin.php - You will not be able to use a temporary url if given to you by them as you will need to update a few values in a table called wp-options via phpmyadmin. I would advice keep it simple and ensure you install the website in the "root" of your domainname.

If you installed it in a subfolder then add the subfolder like http://www.domainname/subfolder/wp-admin.php

Then you can login to Wordpress with your admin username and password.

Also Webafrica have a good support department and can assist you quite well. Give them a call on their support line. I'm sure they will be willing to assist you and confirm everything is in order.

Do not use RVsitebuilder though if you want to really use Wordpress. Choose one or the other. I do find RVsitebuilder easier as you just replace words, images, etc, to design your website. I'm however sure Webafrica has some of their own and I do recommend you contact them for further assistance.

Hope this helps

Thanks very much. It helped
Will give it a go and call them further.