Options for Website Development

Countless people are trying to figure out how to build their website.  They know they need one.  They have an idea what they want it to look like.  They know what they want the website to do.  In many cases, they even know the domain name they want to use.  But the real question is: where do I start?  Who can build it for me?  What’s it going to cost?

As it turns out, there are many different options available.  In fact, there are as many options available as there are websites on the net.  But a few stick out as particularly good approached for you to consider.  This article will review three strategies for getting your website up and running.  In reality, there are countless subcategories within each strategy but this overview should give you a good start to begin your planning.

The first strategy is also the cheapest.  You can use the Joomla CMS Web Application Framework to build your website.  Joomla is an open source project, meaning it was developed by loosely affiliated developers around the world and it’s free to use.  Yes, you read it correctly.  It’s absolutely free for anyone to use.  You simply download the platform and install it on your server and you’re good to go.  There are also countless extensions you can download and install, enhancing the functionality of your website.  The beauty of the platform is that you can log on at any time and make changes or adjustments to your website, all by yourself.  Joomla is a powerful content management system and you can quickly put up a feature-rich website without paying a penny.

The second strategy is to host your website with a company that offers a template-driven web application framework of their own.  More and more hosting companies are offering platforms like this and they’re a great option for non-tech-savvy people who want to get a website up quickly and be able to modify it whenever they like.  These platforms offer similar functionality to Joomla but they tend to be more intuitive and easier to use.  They are also being upgraded regularly and usually have some sort of user support line as well.  While basic hosting might cost $10 per month, the inclusion of these platforms might increase your cost to $20 or $30 per month.

The last strategy we’ll discuss in this article is the actual hiring of a web developer to put your site together.  This is obviously the most expensive option but it does come with some distinct advantages.  For starters, you can design the website any way you like.  You’re not limited to templates or layout options.  You can do whatever you like.  You can also incorporate custom functionality Joomla or the template-driven platforms don’t offer.  And in many cases, today’s developers can incorporate administrative back-ends so you can change content whenever you like.  There’s no question you can get the Cadillac treatment with a custom web developer.  The only downside is that it’ll cost you a lot more money.

There are dozens of options I have not even mentioned.  This article is intended to get you started; give you some basic categories to consider.  Look around and do your research.  I only request that you take a look at the inexpensive options before making your final decision.  You might be surprised at the functionality available through Joomla or the platforms offered by hosting companies.  They can do a really nice job and will save you tons of money at the same time.