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Build & Host Your Site

Building a custom website can take a lot of time and be costly. For startups requiring little specialized design or functionality, we recommend using a hosted website builder tool. If you want to go the custom route, you'll need to hire designers, developers, coders, etc.
 
The following tools make it pretty easy to get your site built quickly, without needing to know too much of the technology behind it. They all offer different capabilities, so sign up for their free trials to see how they work.
 
It's also a little known fact by newbies to website building that you don't have to host your site where you register your domain. So find the web builder you like and point your domain to the new host.

Also, be sure to take a look at who's visiting your site by signing up for tracking with your host. You may also want track visitors through another service, like those listed below under Track Your Stats.
 
Contact us if you need help getting your site built. We can get your hosting set up, develop content and structure, and write copy. We also offer maintenance packages, because a website is never done!

  • Online Builders

    Start with a host offering a Web builder tool, then we can help you create content, modify and maintain it.
    • 1&1
    • Bravenet
      Build your site plus lots of free add-ons -- even for the site you may already have.
    • EverPub
      For self-published authors, this tool will help you build your book's website.
    • Headway
      This nifty tool makes it easy to customize Wordpress websites. For $87 you can do 2. Developers can customize CSS too. (10/09)
    • Homestead
      A friend of mine loves this service, but not great if you're a Mac user.
    • Host My Site
      If you're looking for lots of customer support, this is an excellent host. I've used them for years. They're very responsive and can help you over the technical rough-spots. Their builder tool isn't great though, so build your site, then host here.
    • Lunarpages
      Their LPQuicksite hosting includes help from them to create (from a template) and maintain your site.
    • Microsoft Office Live Small Business
      Microsoft is offering tools to rival Google's free tools for building websites and managing your business. Since it's Web-based, it works for Macs too. Don't count on great customer support though.
    • Moogo
      Starts as a free builder-tool from Finland, but even at $15.99/mo. it isn't bad. Nice templates and easy to use.
    • Moonfruit
      Flash-based animation and a very flexible builder tool. If you're a creative business, like a band, designer or artist, this one's for you.
    • Network Solutions
      Easy-to-use builder tool, but has a weird glitch. You can't easily add your logo to their templates, which makes it virtually unusable (updated: Aug 09)
    • SiteKreator
      Nice stock designs, but they'll help you build it too.
    • Squarespace
      If you like the Blockbeta site, you should check out this webpage builder. They offer the best templates and interface.
    • Website Wizard
      Haven't tried them yet, but worth checking out.
    • Yahoo Business
      Yahoo offers both basic websites and ecommerce hosting. This is the basic web hosting package. For ecommerce, see below.

  • Hosted Ecommerce Solutions

    Use these sites to help you set up shop on the Web.
    • Ebay Stores
      Not the same as selling one or two items through ebay. This tool lets you set up a complete shop. As of March '08, the lowest monthly fee. However, be sure you take the "listing" and "final value" fees into account.
    • Shopify
      Offer the best looking templates I've seen so far, and the pricing isn't bad either. But you'll need better than average Web skills to make it work.
    • Volusion
      One of the newest players. They've received some great reviews. Watch for added fees, like the setup charge.
    • Webstore by Amazon
      Amazon offers extensive services if you're looking to sell your own goods. You'll need UPC codes for each product you sell. They offer other services like fulfillment, but it all comes at a price though. As of March '08, starts at $59/month.
    • Yahoo Business
      Yahoo has been a solid player, but it will be interesting to see what will become of them since Microsoft let the buy-out deal go.

  • Track Your Stats

    Your host probably offers tracking, but these tools can provide more ways to view your data.
    • Google Analytics
      Another must-have free tool from Google. Offers graphic depictions of site visitors.
    • Blvd Status
      Currently in beta (12/08), this tool offers tracking with conversion data.
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