24 free and cheap design resources to help you build your site
By Andrew Mallory

One of the questions we often hear from our Advanced Mentoring
clients is, "How can I build a website? I don't know the first thing about
site design!"

You don't have to build your own site if you don't want to. You
can always outsource the job to someone else.

However, it's a good idea to learn as much about web design as
you can. Even if you get someone else to build your site, you should learn
enough basic HTML so you can make any necessary changes to your site
yourself.

It'll save you a lot of time -- and money! -- if you don't have
to hire a contractor every single time you want to update your site.

The good news is, you don't need to study for weeks on end to
learn how to use today's most popular design tools. Lots of them have been
built with complete novices in mind and come with great tutorials that walk
you through the whole process.

And the best thing is, lots of them are really cheap to use --
or even free!

Here's a list of the top 20 resources we recommend to our
top-paying clients. If you want to learn how to build your own site from
scratch -- or want more control over a site that's currently up and
running -- be sure to check out them out!

1. Domain tools

Your domain name is your business's "address" on the Internet,
so it's crucial you choose the right one. Try to find a domain that gives
browsers a hint of what they'll find at your site.

Tools to help you get a domain include...
a.. Wordtracker (www.wordtracker.com) -- to locate possible
domain names with popular keywords
b.. Nameboy's "Gen" (www.NameBoy.com/gen.php) -- to get more
ideas for domain names
c.. Domain tools (www.DomainTools.com) -- to see if a domain
name is available
d.. For registering domains: www.GoDaddy.com
2. Website hosting

Your web host is responsible for ensuring your web site is
always up and running at top speed. If you site is always down... or if it
takes ages to load... you're going to lose money. So it's essential you
choose a host you can trust!

Here's our favorite hosting solution: www.1and1.com

3. Basic HTML tutorials

There's plenty of software you can use to build a site without
knowing any code at all. But it's actually helpful if you at least
understand the basics of HTML. For some good free HTML tutorials, check out
these sites:
a.. www.Davesite.com/webstation/html
b.. www.HTMLgoodies.com
c.. www.PageTutor.com
d..
http://www.webreference.com/authoring/design/tutorials.html
4. Design tips & resources

For some great tools and information on simple, effective
design, check out these sites:
a.. SitePoint: www.sitepoint.com
b.. Builder.com: http://builder.com
c.. Useit.com: www.useit.com
5. HTML editors

"HTML editors" are software programs that allow you to design a
webpage with little knowledge of HTML -- and they're as easy to use as any
basic word processor.
a.. Nvu (www.nvu.com): Anyone can use this free tool to create
and manage a website -- even if they have no technical expertise or
knowledge of HTML. (In fact, I'm using Nvu to write this article right now!)

b.. Dreamweaver (www.dreamweaver.com): This is a tool that's
very popular at IMC. It's good if you're willing to spend some money to get
additional features not available on the free HTML editors out there.
6. "All-in-one" website builders

If you're a bit intimidated by technology, you may want to
consider an all-in-one website builder, where a company provides you with
all the tools you need to quickly piece together a site.

Go here to find our favorite: www.MarketingTips.com/allinone

7. Resources for designing your web site

For good articles and resources on developing effective
navigation and a simple, user-friendly site architecture, check out these
sites:
a.. Webmonkey: www.webmonkey.com
b.. AnyBrowser.com: www.anybrowser.com
c.. WebDeveloper.com: www.webdeveloper.com
d.. Web Page Analyzer:
www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze
e.. NetMechanic: www.netmechanic.com
8. Adding "extras" to your site

You may want your site to go beyond basic HTML, especially when
it comes to automating chores and making it more interactive for visitors.
You can find "extras" -- like forums, content management systems, and
shopping carts -- at these websites:
a.. www.HotScripts.com
b.. www.cgi.ResourceIndex.com
c.. http://ScriptSearch.com
9. Hiring a designer

If you can afford it, it's a good idea to hire a web designer to
build the initial "template" for your website. Typically, this should
include a logo, navigation menu, and the overall "look" for your homepage.
Then, you can make tweaks as necessary later on.

For a good, affordable designer, try: www.eLance.com

So, those are the tools we most often recommend to people. What
are YOUR favorite design tools? Are there any that aren't on this list? Go
to Derek's blog and tell us about them! We're always on the lookout for
great new resources to share with people.

[Ed. note: Andrew Mallory is one of IMC's Advanced Mentors and a
frequent contributor to our exclusive Internet Entrepreneur Club. To Learn
more about the benefits of joining the Internet Entrepreneur Club, please
visit: www.marketingtips.com/internetentrepreneurclub]