NEVERENDING SAGA: Building a website for free

[Marty]

OK for those new here, its no secret that as I become older, my brain is shinking..... A LOT.

So.....As everyone here seemed to like useing webs dot com for their free website I got on board. Especially since my farrier even used it and convinced me that any one with Zero knowledge can do this easily. I took that to mean me. She told me she paid them $17.95 for a year a couple months ago for her domain and I thought that was a great deal so I signed right up.

First thing I wanted to do was purchase that $17.95 domain name and no extras. It would not let me. Then it would not let me click out of it until I agreed to pay $74.95. So I said this is no good and proceeded to have a panic attack when I still couldn't click out of it. Eventually I figured out to hit the back button (dummy alert) and then I got routed all over the place and ended up back at the domain thingy 5 minutes later that now said I would pay $29.95 only. Not wanting to quivel I was ready to go for it when this offer jumped up in front of me telling me if I buy one domain, I will get another one for free if I buy something from one of their sponsors.I don't want two, I just want one. Guess what? There was no clicking out of that page the back button was not working until I listend to their free 40 second video advertisement. Then I was free to go.

Called my farrier and she said she had no idea what on earth I was doing and none of that happened to her. Its obvious, I'm the chosen one. Said for me to delete the website and begin again. Now I can't delete it because I can't find the delete button. Had to look all over the place to find it. Oh, there it is. Delete. It refused to delete because it said I had to log in. HUH? I am logged in. So I'm clicking out of it and this time I could click out. Now I have to log back in and guess what? Says my password is wrong. Are you kidding me? Its not wrong. I even checked my caps lock and I know its not wrong. But they said its wrong and would send it to me. Ok, You guys tell me what it is and send it. Got it. See? Told you I knew my password. I log back in. Now guess what? It says they are experiencing some kind of change over so my request is going to wait. This is a joke right?

Now I'm talking to my friend who says she doesn't know what my problem is but none of this happend to her either. Told you, I'm the chosen one. Said to delete the whole thing. And I'm like "I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THAT FOR THE PAST THREE STUPID HOURS!" So now I'm logging back in yet again and it tells me that password and ID has been taken? How the heck does that happen I do not know but this is no good.

Ok, so I can't delete my website with the password that they think I don't know and the no-click out of pages. So where it stands now, is anyone's guess. I'm in, I"m out, who knows but I'm pooped out and will work on it another time. I'm going to grab my new best friend Benadryl and hit the hay. Good thing I never paid them.

So anyhow, do you all think that $29. is a good price for a domain name? Too much, too little? What do you say?

 

[kaykay]

No no no that is way too high! I have never paid over 9.99 for a domain and many are only 4.99

Now having said that how many years is it for 29.99??? It has to be more than one year?

 

[Jill]

Gotta factor in the value of your time and frustration, Marty. I'm sorry, but $30 / year isn't going to hit my radar as far as being an issue. A done deal is something that can be marked off the "To Do" list... and for just $2.50 a month if it is just for a year.

 

[anoki]

Marty....I'm sorry you had all those problems trying to set it up.....but....

thanks...I needed that!!!

Can't wait to see the finished site once you get everything sorted out, which I know you will!

~kathryn

 

[ohmt]

Sorry you're having so many problems Marty! Yes, I pay the $30 per year for my domain name and after doing my research I thought that was a pretty good deal. I actually get the package-can't remember what I paid for the upgrade with no ads. It's the smallest one webs has and an awesome deal. I have pages and pages on my website with tons of pictures and still have a ton of space left. I pay less than $100 per year for it all (I think somewhere around 60 or 70) and don't have to pay someone to do my updates so works out great

Hope things turn around for you! Sometimes when I get really frustrated I turn off my computer and save it for another day. Usually that clears my head and everything works better for me.

 

[Marty]

I shouldn't start projects when i'm too tired to focus and its HOT and i'm cranky. That's what happened because today it looks pretty easy. (Banging head on desk) and have no troubles logging in but there are a couple things I am stuck on.

I did get a notice via YAHOO who is running a domain name special for $3.95. I picked out two other names and they are both taken anyhow so I have to figure that out too. (kicking the wall with foot).

Think I'm going to wait on this whole thing until after the CMHR ONLINE SHOW because its a lot of time putting it together and I can't focus on too many things at once. Got horses to wash and care for, housework piled up the ying yang and I'm trying to finish two card orders and get them shipped out and Amy just puked so I'll get back at website building another time. (Hot and Cranky in Tennessee) I need a Mental Tidy.

 

[SHANA]

Marty try Piczo.com. That is what I use. It is free and I have had no problems with it.

 

[Helicopter]

Oh Marty your post made me laugh and laugh because I too have been battling Webs for several weeks.

Tears and all....REALLY!

I've always been considered a reasonably intelligent person but Webs had me beat. Apparently you really can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Anyway just a few days ago I decided to have another go and at last started to make headway. I now have a Homepage and most of a Girls page done.

My problem at the moment is with Photobucket which disappears after every use and has to be loaded again.

Has to be an easier way.

So far I've just used the Free version (no money asked for and none given) and once I get that sorted out I will probably upgrade.

When you say you were told that the password and ID were already taken.........they were already taken by you. So you just need to log in not sign up again........or words to that effect.

:GoGetUm

Come on Marty....we can do this.....yes we can!

 

[Marty]

Bless me father for I have lied.

OK truth I am still having a bit of trouble with it yet again and I did get a little of my housework caught up.

Hey, as far as domain cost, heck yes I want a deal! If anyone else out there is stuck on a lousy fixed income called old farts social security so you'd understand that a website in my house is considered an unnecessary "frill." (I'm making faces at my husband and he doesn't know why) So alas, budget minded conscientious humble modest me is going to eventually pull this off.....But it doesn't make any sense to pay a premium when I can get the same thing cheaper. I have unleashed the Bargin Hunter in me! rarrrrrrr

I did our business website for our flooring store a couple of years back on Freeservers and that was sooooo easy and actually fun. I might just see what is happening over there and also I'm going to check out Yahoo. But I still need that Mental Tidy.

I can do this I can do this I can do this I can do this

 

[HGFarm]

Marty, since you already paid your fee, I would continue with what you were doing. You probably got one of the packages that doesnt have the commercials on it.

When you sign back in, are you logging in or trying to sign in where it says to register or sign up?

I have had no problems with webs.com at all. I have a no commercial website with plenty of space and a domain name, which they registered right away. Make sure you choose the option while setting up your site to make the main address your new domain name. If you dont, it doesnt connect your site to that name.

If you have questions, post them here- I bet others can help you. I would be glad to help you with what little I know, LOL

 

[Marty]

I didn't pay them anything. When I got to that page and it wasn't what I thought it would be that's when I looked for the exit. I'm still not deleted though, not sure why but I'll get back to it when I have time. Guessin they want to keep me there.

 

[mydaddysjag]

Im in the process of building one on webs too, sometimes its slow, but I havent really had any trouble

 

[Marty]

Been shopping: Here's my best deal so far: Freeservers. Domain Name is $19.95 per year BUT the site is $4.95 per year with NO ads

 

[Marty]

So here's my latest update: I received an email from some guy who is peddling my domain name that I lost for the grand total of $499.00. Then, I receive another email from a different guy, and he tells me it is not for sale at this time. HUH?

Well anyhow, I decided I don't even need that domain name anymore because my new website is not just about my horses. I am including my handcrafted cards and my books that I sell and other stuff depending on how many pages I actually will be allowed.

So I did sign up with freeservers. Thought I would remember how I made the one for our flooring business but no such luck. I seemed to have gone brain dead sometime in between then and now. That is scary.

Naturally my ADD is running on high so I can't figure anything out so I spent the better part of two nights fretting about it, having to remove all sugars from my diet (just for now!)suffering without my pepsi fix, craving the chocolate pie I made sitting in the fridge waiting for me to devour it, wearing out my back button, banging on my delete key, and using very descriptive potty language in front of my dog. Good thing the Hus was in bed because he doesn't know I really know all those bad words.

They don't have a template that I would like in the color I would like where the menu is where I want it so right there I had a little hissy fit. Tried to use a blank one which I thought I would be able to use my own decorated graphics that I made for it but no such luck. You can only add text where it says you can add text and graphics or photos in certain designated places. So I got my panties in a wad trying. Now I have an ugly color template that I don't like. But hey, its not the end of the world. I'm just disappointed that I don't know how I'll be able to decorate my home page for the holidays! Geesh I miss my webmaster.

Nevertheless I did figure out some of it tonite after I finally gave myself one heck of a Mental Tidy. Its going to be disappointing and not what I really wanted but it might turn out better than nothing.

 

[kaykay]

Marty sorry I went MIA hubby got some heat exhaustion at a show and got sick

Im betting you can edit in the html file and add whatever you want but thats a lot more work.

Sorry you didnt get what you wanted!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

They don't have a template that I would like in the color I would like where the menu is where I want it so right there I had a little hissy fit. Tried to use a blank one which I thought I would be able to use my own decorated graphics that I made for it but no such luck. You can only add text where it says you can add text and graphics or photos in certain designated places.

I think text and pictures have to be seperate because if they overlap, the text becomes part of the picture and that uses a lot of bandwidth, and also makes the text less sharp. (I am finding out a lot lately, while working on the site for our button society!) If you keep your text and pictures separate you can have a lot more information on the site. Text hardly uses any bandwidth at all.

jpg pictures are better than gif pictures.

I think it's a good idea to have plenty of text; folks with slow connections have something to keep them on the site while waiting for the pictures to load.

Thumbnails that go to larger photos off the site are a good way to save bandwidth on your site also. That might be useful for your cards.

Be sure to let us know when it's Open To The Public so we can start shopping!