• 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. 
     
    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.
    • Doodlekit
      The new kid on the block, having just launched around January of 2008. Looks interesting, but haven't tried it yet.
    • 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.
    • 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 add your logo to the top of their templates.
    • 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 and ecommerce hosting. This is the basic web hosting package. For ecommerce, see below.

  • Ecommerce Site Builders

    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 cost option.
    • Yahoo Business
      A solid ecommerce option.
    • Volusion
      One of the newest players. They've gotten some great reviews.
    • Webstore by Amazon
      Amazon offers extensive services if you're looking to sell your own goods. They even offer merchandise to sell in your own store, and fulfillment services to (pick, pack and ship). All this comes at a price though. As of March '08, starts at $59/month.