This Guide is for the complete beginner who hasn’t the time or inclination to learn the codes normally used for building a website. Bravenet provides a Wizard that will translate your text into the code and allow you to add images and photos. You will not become a professional webmaster as a result of building your website this way but it is an easy method for those who want a quick easy to build website. .
There are some limitations to the system but they have not stopped me producing sites that serve the purpose I intended. You can check these out on the links provided below. A site can be built with no more knowledge than how to write words on Word Document and to be able to copy and paste. The advantage of using Word Document instead of typing directly on a web page is that you can choose font type, size and colour and also highlight. It is also easier to spell check. Improvement would be to have a little knowledge on graphics and if you wish to include photos you need to know how to resize them. I am prepared to provide a heading using graphics without charge.
To build a site with free hosting means allowing some Bravenet advertising to appear on your site and does not allow you to use your own template. You can avoid the advertising by using the paid hosting. Only certain file types can be used with free hosting i.e .htm, .html, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg .png, .txt, .swf, .mid, .rmi, .au, .wav, .js, .css, .ico, .bmp
DO NOT use an Editor other than the Wizard.
Your free hosting gives you 5 web sites but they share the allowed space of 50 MB and 1.5 GB bandwidth. Sufficient unless you are an optimist and expect heavy traffic on your site(s).
As you have the availability of five sites you could start a test site to try the system out. Use any other name except the one you want permanently then delete the site once you are confident.
The initial aim is to build the framework of a site quickly then it can be easily added to.
PART 1 The following preparation should first be undertaken:
(a) A header in large font is sufficient but would be better as a graphic. It should indicate what your site is about. A width of no more than 900 pixels and about 100 to 160 pixels in height is normal. The header will appear at the top of each of your pages. You cannot have separate ones. A way around this is to have an additional one just below the main header as you will see on this site.
(b) Using Word Document type your information but do not use images. They are inserted later.
(c) If you want to use photos they should be no larger than about 40 KB. Templates have a central panel and side panels. To use a photo on the central panel it should not be wider than 480 pixels and in a side panel 160 pixels.
It is best to save all the material you have prepared in a folder for easy access. Do not save the word document as a Web page.
PART 2 Follow the steps to building your website. These will be to establish the site with the first page only. This will allow you to experiment with different templates to choose the most suitable for you project before continuing.
PART 3 Adding pages, editing and tools.
PART 4 Some simple html codes and easy ways to add Slide Shows.
Bravenet have a Forum with six sections where questions can be
asked. Replies are from some very experienced people (not Bravenet employees) who answer as a community service. Alternatively you can contact me through one of my websites.
When you have published your website don’t expect it to be available for everyone immediately.
If you write a book and print it people cannot get it until bookshops stock it. You have to get bookshops to stock it. The same applies to websites except Search engines take the place of bookshops.
The main ones to advise are the following:
Google: http://www.google.com/addurl/
Yahoo!: http://search.yahoo.com/info/submit.html
MSM: http://search.msn.com.sg/docs/submit.aspx
DMOZ: http://www.dmoz.org/
Like bookshops they will decide whether or not they list it and it might take some time.
Contact me via one of these websites:
www.hilfe.bravehost.com
www.ronrainford.bravehost.com
www.helgasailing.bravehost.com
bravenet.com