So you need to do to a website quickly? Here are a few tips to consider:
1. Define the job.
What do you want to do the website? Successful projects are those where the intent is well defined. Do not go halfway curious purchase of software or services you do not need. Changes can be very expensive mid-build, just like building a brick and mortar house!
2. Suit up for the purpose of planning.
They just want a simple website, as a placeholder? Want something even an amateur can edit? Or you want a CMS with Ajax and a coffee maker?
A super-simple website: Use a text-to-HTML generator to create web pages from text files. Then use an index-generator on an index HTML page to make these files. Tart these pages in a WYSIWYG Web page editor. Then FTP upload to your web hosting account. Voila! A super-simple web site.
What do you want to be something more?
Get a web hosting account with Cpanel and Fantastico. Look for the 'Wordpress' option in Fantastico, and install it. Then click search engine optimized theme for your blog, the default installation is not search engine friendly.
Hey presto, you have a Web 2.0 Site! Blogs are good, because Google likes them, and you can edit them easily from their admin panel.
Do you want something more complicated? Consider using free.
3. Use freelancers for jobs you lack the skills for.
If your budget? The key to the best works are: a) a detailed information as possible about what you want and b) write your specification in simple, concise terms will be. Their work is probably from someone who's first language is not English must be performed. Most people give a vague specification and get it working are not happy with.
Choose someone who had a lot of favorable reviews recently. Pay in stages. Use the free website escrow service. Do not expect to get paid more than you, and do not be cheap, if someone does a good job, they deserve a bonus, not carping.
4. Promotion is as important as content.
A site can only be good if people know it. Promotion on the Internet is primarily a) "word of mouth" and b) links. The latter site will help you move the Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs). So you need a website that want something that people really had (to generate word of mouth) and get back links to free search engine traffic.
Links can of free articles, press releases and submitting your site to some directories can be found. Fire it off, then forget.
5. The more you learn, the better, but ...
It is good to learn how the software works. You can customize or fix if it goes wrong. You can talk to a developer in his own language.
But ...
Try to keep your eyes on the prize, the ultimate goal of the project. Avoid getting bogged down in details. The Internet if full of geeks living in their mother's basement, the ins and outs of any software that you know can imagine. Their bosses, the are that the _REAL_ money.
Concentrate on the end goal. Make better decisions and will make the journey much less stressful
