Building a Web Site for Dummies [Paperback]

David A. Crowder (Author), Rhonda Crowder (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764507206 | ISBN-13: 978-0764507205 | Publication Date: September 14, 2000 | Edition: 1

A good Web site is a wide open door to all that the Internet has to offer: the potential to connect with people all over the world, attract others with similar interests, and even run your own business. All you need for online success is that door—a site combining clarity of purpose with a well-organized and handsome interface—and you’re on your way to a whole new world of possibilities!

Building a Web Site for Dummies gives you everything you need to take a beginner’s knowledge of the Internet—you know what HTML is, you know how to surf, you can use a computer—and develop it into a mastery of your own cyber-domain. You’ll start from just about scratch and soon be able to:

• Determine your Web site’s theme
• Choose the right structure
• Choose and use the best construction programs
• Plug in scripts and applets
• Get great graphics
• Add other sight and sound fe atures
• Gather feedback from visitors
• Make money on your site—design for e-commerce, handle online payments, add value to your site, and more
• Publish and publicize your site

Building a Web Site for Dummies is more than a construction manual. After all, HTML coding and graphic formats are only the beginning of a good site. Rather, this book provides in-depth insight from two seasoned experts on technical issues, as well as discussing:

• The real secret to Internet success (and it’s not any “new economy” malarkey either!)
• What makes a site truly a site
• Affiliates programs
• Online resources for advice and help
• The Zen of sites

Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned pro with many sites already under your belt, or a rank amateur who’s just hooked up the new cable modem, Building a Web Site for Dummies offers you the tools to get started, as well as refine your approach and philosophy once you’re up and running. With a CD-ROM including design software, graphics, browsers, and other assorted goodies, this book is your ticket to Internet success.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you're just getting your feet wet in Web site construction, the first big hurdle is figuring out where to start. Building a Web Site for Dummies lightens things up with humor and makes the challenge of building a site far less daunting.

This book doesn't zoom you right into coding HTML, although it covers the markup language quite well. Instead, it offers a much higher-level look at site design by examining the general questions of navigation principles, affiliation possibilities, building communications with your users, and other wide-ranging topics. For this reason, the book covers a lot of ground and offers a broad perspective on site design that transcends simple page coding.

A couple of the more useful sections on Web site tools and e-commerce cover useful utilities, such as NetMechanic, Statbot, and Spinwave. The chapter on e-commerce helps you get to know the ropes of selling stuff online, and points you to online malls, fulfillment services, and currency converters.

The companion CD-ROM contains evaluation versions of useful tools, such as Paint Shop Pro, HomeSite 4.5, Fireworks, and Dreamweaver. You won't find all of the knowledge that you seek to become a Web site guru in this book, but you will gain perspective and learn tons of useful tips and tricks. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered:

• Designing a Web site plan
• Web page construction 101
• Using scripts and applets
• Site navigation
• Graphics handling
• Multimedia
• Site tuning
• Using content providers
• Message boards
• E-commerce
• Affiliates programs
• Publicity

From the Back Cover

Go from Web surfer to site developer with this friendly guide!

Includes tips and tricks to jump-start your site development

Size up your site needs and create a functional building plan
Did you know that the Web is about 15 million sites strong today -- and growing? Get it on the action using this friendly guide. Inside, you'll find helpful explanations and shortcuts on creating, publishing, and administering your site, from creating cool graphics to finding free Web space.

Discover how to:
* Register your site name
* Find server space
* Create eye-catching pages
* Set up a commerce site using the latest tools
* Promote your site on the Internet
all this on the bonus CD-ROM
* Evaluation versions of Paint Shop Pro and HomeSite 4.5 for Windows
* Trial versions of Fireworks and Dreamweaver from Macromedia, Inc.
* Statbot Micro by Moorglade Design Group

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (September 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764507206
• ISBN-13: 978-0764507205
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #429,926 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I love to explore things. Ever since I was a little boy, I would poke my nose into every corner where it "didn't belong" just to see what I could find. This attitude served me well in later life as I began to explore the limits of the developing field of computer technology.

When I had mastered that and written several books about it, I began to look beyond into other areas where human knowledge was, in my opinion, deficient. This led me to my current explorations of ancient American history and, curiously, right back to where I had started, blending the best aspects of the high-tech world, such as satellite imagery, with the memoirs of historical individuals to see what each could reveal about the other.

When writing my computer books, I have always striven to create "the book I would want to have on my desk" when I was doing whatever the topic was about. And, in fact, I DO actually use my own books as my favorite references; all false modesty aside, after all, they're the best ones I know of on the topics in question. I would never have signed my name to them otherwise.

It is the same with any book I author. If someone else has already done a good job on the topic, I walk away from it; I never have and never will write a book that just recaps what someone else has already done. As when I was a boy, I surrender to my need to explore, and if there is nothing new to explore, I'm just plain not interested.

If there's an unwalked path, however, you can be sure that I will soon set foot upon it and lead you to places you'd never find with any other author.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

283 of 294 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Real dummies: just say NO..., January 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Building a Web Site for Dummies (Paperback)

When the "Dummies" series books first came out, they were truly for "dummies". Apparently not so anymore. Right on the cover of this book is the phrase "Go from Web surfer to site developer". Well, web surfer I am, and what I was looking for was a book to give me the ABSOLUTE BASICS about creating a web site. This book assumes that you as the reader, already know how to create a web site!! HELLO!! If I knew how to create a web site, I wouldn't need the book, thanks. Page 2 "Foolish Assumptions": "We figure that you have some kind of experience with creating web pages." WHAT?! I thought this book was going to turn me from a surfer to a developer. Page 27: the first line of chapter 3 reads "This chapter's here just in case you need a refresher on basic web page building before..." CHAPTER 3! Refresher! This book obviously should be titled "Enhancing Your Web Site for Dummies". This book does not even explain to a "Dummy" how to create the file necessary to create a web page. What a waste of twenty bucks.

140 of 143 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good Dummies book, October 24, 2000

By 

Water Monkey "Marc B." (Santa Clarita, Ca.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building a Web Site for Dummies (Paperback)

Read the title! This is not an HTML book. If you are hoping to be able to code your first web site after reading this book, you might struggle a bit.

This is a decent book on how to construct a web site. As with most "Dummies" books the explanations seem to drag. However, I have found that they can be a good introduction to a subject, if the reader is truly "in the dark".

If you have never written any type of computer program, or if you struggle with using your computer, and are still set on creating your own web page (go for it; they aren't that tough) buy this book and "HTML for Dummies". The combination of the two will get you up and running.

84 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK For general Ideas, April 6, 2001

By 

"foxyroxychick" (Hawaii, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building a Web Site for Dummies (Paperback)

If you are looking to code a webpage or site, buy this book along with HTML 4 for the WWW by E. Castro. Castro's book is easy to follow and deals with multi-browser webpage construction. This Dummies book does give you a good feel about the practical things to consider when constructing a website. Not just about creating a page with links and pictures, but about practical navigation construction and how to build websites for a particular audience (ie. websites for your family versus an e-commerce site). Some useful info here, but they should not jump into HTML without creating a good feel for it in this book--try Castro's or HTML for Dummies--becuase this book could have served one better if it stuck with the key ingredients for a decent site, then had a small primer for HTML or recommended good HTML books. For other website design books, try Web Usability by J. Neilsen. This is an ok book that deal with the problems associated with website construction--Web Usability has color pictures and is not dependent on any one design software package.