Own web site?

[serendipity2]

Hi can anyone tell me the best way to go around getting my own website cheaply?

I am a lone parent working part time and I am also trying to start up my pwn photography business. It's been my dream for many years, but just advertising in shop windows etc isn't getting me anywhere.

I have the talent but just need to get myself known
Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me!

[A.Guest]

Have a look here - it might be what you are looking for

http://www.freewebsites.com/

Good luck!

[vehelpfulguy]

The problem with setting up a web site is you need to host it somewhere, and also understand web design and so on.

Why not just set up a blog?. You need no web skills to do that.

You can do it here for free:

http://www.blogger.com/start

Here are some photographers who have set up a blog (I just searched on blogspot and photography)

http://theonlinephotographer.blogspot.com/

http://gorillasites.blogspot.com/

http://thetravelphotographer.blogspot.com/

[vehelpfulguy]

Here are more photographers using a blog to promote their work and business:

http://canlasphotography.blogspot.com/

http://barcelonaphotoblog.blogspot.com/

http://amysteinphoto.blogspot.com/

http://russroca.blogspot.com/

[fo3nix]

I would suggest you do the following:

1) Buy a domain name from here: http://www.123-reg.co.uk/

But don't pay for hosting there. You can own a domain name, but have no hosting system at all. You can host from anywhere.

I'd recommend you sign up here:

http://web-mania.com/

Buy the cheap �25/year ish hosting package. On top of the �5 or so for a domain name (try and pick a short, good one), it's not that much money.

You can then get to business with adding stuff to your site. Perhaps the easiest way to do this is to use a CMS like Wordpress:

http://www.wordpress.org

But it does require some know-how. But all of this stuff does.

[serendipity2]

Thank you so much everyone for taking time out to reply to me! I have quite an assortment of ideas here to try and I can't wait!

[webdude]

Good advice from fo3nix there - but all I would add is to use 123-reg for your hosting as well, it will save a lot of hassle in the long run if your domain renewals and hosting chages are all within the same company. I have over a dozen sites with 123-reg, they are not the fastest hosts by any means, but shared servers never will be, but overall I am happy with their service over the past 10 years. They charge �1.85 a month plus a one-off fee of around �10 when you first setup the domain.

You will need to know how to design and create your website, and you will also need suitable software for the design and for the ftp upload to 123-reg.

[squarebear]

I too host many websites with 123-reg and have always found them excellent and reliable with practically no downtime.

[webdude]

Quick P.S. - When choosing your domain name, try and get the word photography in the name, it all helps with serach engine promotion, and increases your sites ranking in Google and others.

[serendipity2]

Thanks so much all of you! You have been a great help to me! I can't wait to get started!