While I am very familiar with seo and ppc. I have absolutely no clue how to get started outside of registering a domain name(not that I could say where the best place to do that would be), when it comes to constructing a website. If someone wanted to put together a professional looking website, what would you all reccommend to get things started. The site will have about 30 pages total I would think, with the ability to expand as necessary. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
I.M.O. it depends on many things. Is it a personal website or should it function as a company site. Will the content be static or will it be a dynamic site. This are just a few questions, I think, that need to be answered before a good answer can be given. As a general rule I think it’s important to get a good understanding of HTML and CSS. When it will be a dynamic site, at a later point, you should make yourself familiar wit one of the server side scripting languages.
Hey, I know nothing about seo and ppc! 
As you may know, when you get an account with a web host, you don’t just get a place for a website, you also get the ability to upload and run certain programs on your web host. This forum, for example, is made by vbulletin. If you got a license from them, you too could put forums like these on your website. Shopping carts are another example of software that you buy, rent, or get free, and install onto your webhost without needing a high degree of technical skills.
There is a type of software known as Content Management System (CMS). As the name indicates, a CMS lets you manage your content without worrying about the website itself. You don’t have to learn how to make columns, or fuss with getting the masthead just right on every page. Instead, you select a theme that gives your entire website a uniform look, and then you focus on entering the text and uploading the pictures.
For what you describe, I think a CMS is the way to go. If you pick the right one, it will let you start simply and then do more and more as you learn. I happen to like WordPress. It’s really a blogging system, but eh… a blog is a very simple CMS. You’ll hear of names like Joomla, Drupal, and Mambo, but bear in mind that those are industrial-strength products for large websites (theonion.com is or was built on Drupal). You need a Honda, not a Boeing.
Check out http://php.opensourcecms.com. It’s very informative. Good luck!
If I did read MTRSEO’s post right, which I think I did, does he want to learn, or at least make an attempt, how to make a website. Not knowing how to make columns, as you call it, would be a very bad Idea! What do you do when that column is not aligning with other content? Or the masthead is suddenly beneath the footer? Ask someone else to fix it?
You make a good point, donboe. I should have explained better that I believe a CMS not only makes it easier to setup and maintain a website, but also makes it easier to learn web development. There is so much to learn today – FTP, cPanel, chmod, HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, MySQL – that it can be very discouraging, especially if the person wants to get started soon.
So let’s say they use a CMS. They’re still going to have to learn some things, just not as many. They’ll have to learn to configure their MySQL and FTP users. They’ll have to learn to get around in their admin panel. And they’ll have to learn to install and run the package of PHP scripts that is the CMS.
And you know there are always some problems or questions, so the person will have to go to the support forums, and maybe they’ll have to make some code changes they’re told to do. Or maybe they’ll have to install some plug-ins for more features. All this is very simple for someone with experience, but it can be very difficult for a beginner. It will be challenging enough.
Once the website is up and running, the person can take the time to learn as much as they want to learn. It’s much easier to learn when the job is done and you can relax.
I know that using a CMS, may it be Joomla, Wordpress, Drupal or any other around, can be very tempting but I would never advise someone to start with it. Don’t understand me wrong, I don’t say not to use them! I only thing it’s not a good idea to set up a website, which you know nothing about. Than it’s very easy to leave things as they are, because they are not always as easy as you described. Some time ago I was asked to have a look at a joomla sytem and, although I’m quite familiar with server side scripting, It took me quite some time to figure things out. Leave alone how the page was scripted in the first place.
Thanks for all the great feedback everyone, so far so good. I think I am going to outsource having the site built, and take the time to read and educate myself on how to build a site before attempting it. Any ideas on the best place to secure domain names? I am familiar with 1and1, godaddy, and register. However I feel like there are most likely lesser known companies tht provide more. Im looking for the domain and email. If I have someone else build the site should I purchase hosting as well or leave that to my site builder?
I think that is personal as well For quite some years I have names through godaddy and Tucows. I’m very happy with the service they provide, so why change. But I’m sure there are many others around, with the same kind of service. Maybe you find some answers on this [URL=“http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=98”]Sitepoint Forum dedicated to Domain Names.
thx donboe, i will check that out and see what turns up