Website builders

Wordpress is probably a good option for your friend
because there is a lot of support and development
for it. Learning Wordpress is easier than learning
how to build a whole site with a basic HTML editor
like Kompozer... or even an advanced one like
Dreamweaver.

Wordpress, despite it's limitations, is the platform
to know these days. Easy to install, easy to learn,
lots of themes and plugins too.

Yes. You can have a front page that, to the visitor,
looks just like a static HTML page. On the back
though you have easy integration of plugins and
stuff for ecommerce.

If he insists on going static I suggest he pony
up the cash for XsitePro. Wordpress is free.

WordPress pages are dynamically generated, but that shouldn't matter as long as your home page looks and acts like a normal static page.

Look for NVU. Its a free, static site builder.

You can have a free 30 day trail of Dreamweaver (although I found that very hard to use) MS expression (which I think replaced frontpage) and is easy to use or one called coffeecup , which I have not used but herd good things. Use the 30 day trail, make some dosh then go for the paid version of your choice.

I tried NVU but found that lacking.

It took me a long time to figure out how to edit
website templates. If your friend wants to do that
he should hire a tutor or hit the books. Editing
templates or Wordpress themes is not the sort
of thing most people will find intuitive.

I wouldn't expect good template editing features
or instructions in any free HTML editor. You get
what you pay for.

There are many WSOs for static sales pages for Wordpress. Try typing in a search for wordpress+sales pages or something similar.

Ina

If he has bluehost, then they've moved from fantastico deluxe to simple scripts as a preferred installer. I've found simple scripts to be really easy, upgrading my wordpress and joomla stuff with no issues.

However, if he wants a fairly snazzy site without having to learn anything, then I'd suggest that he create a post on elance.com and get some quotes there.

First though, I'd check out the recommendation above for web work, because as is true with all things, a personal recommendation is best.

I have a commercial website that I created myself, but had it improved greatly with help from a webmistress on elance, though it actually took 2 of them to get it the way I wanted, and even now it doesn't look quite as professional as it might.

So basically, either learn how to do some simple things yourself or pay someone to do it for you.

Wordpress seems pretty good, and is blog focused, if that is your friends plan. It should be easily installable no matter who the hosting company is.

Installing something like zencart or oscommerce might be worth paying a pro to help out.

Another low cost method is to find something that you like, and then copy it. You still will have work to do, but a lot of the work will be done already. Change the verbage, colors, and pics, and yer done. Installation for free products and plugins can be very frustrating, but has the benefit of being cheap - and there really is a lot of help available online if you are willing to put in the effort.


hth

bd99

I think your friend should just pay someone and have it done right the first time. It always amazes me that people who own businesses don't want to invest any budget on what is arguably the most important part of their business; their web presence.

hello,

I will create your website as per your needs on very cheap price.

There are so many options such as Drupal, Textpattern, MovableType, Joomla, and Wordpress

Just choose which one you like best