7 Essential Online Tools for Non-Webmasters
by Jinger Jarrett
I've built and edited all of the web sites I use to run my business.
I wish I could take credit for the look, but I can't.
I purchased a nice business template I liked, to use as the basis for
all of my sites. You don't have to do that though.
Even though I continue to maintain my sites myself, I couldn't do it
if I didn't have some great tools that make it easy to do.
There are some really terrific tools you can get, for free, that can
help you build and maintain an eye catching web site. You can even communicate
with your customers or create interactive sections on your site that will
continue to drive traffic to your site over and over.
All of the tools offered here are absolutely free to use. Bookmark them
and save yourself a ton of money and time.
1. Templates
If you're really ambitious, you can design your own web site from scratch.
Unfortunately, creating and designing a web site from scratch can be
time consuming and expensive. I have yet to find a free graphics editor
that will help you create the kind of stunning graphics you will often
see on the web.
There are plenty of free web site templates available, even for business,
and you can often use them by simply leaving a link to the site designer
at the bottom of the page.
Free Site Templates - http://www.freesitetemplates.com - This is my favorite.
I once used their templates before I bought my own. You'll find hundreds
of designs here, and no annoying pop up windows while you are browsing.
This site has recently undergone a redesign of its own and is very easy
to navigate.
Free Web Templates - http://www.freewebtemplates.com - This site offers
hundreds of free designs you can use. There are also links to other resources,
including graphics, newsletters, and affiliate programs.
2. Sales Page Template
Pertinent - http://www.pertinent.com/tools/letter-builder/sales/index.asp
- This nifty little tool is one I stumbled across by accident while surfing
the Web looking for something else. I haven't seen a template like this
anywhere else.
It allows you to type in your information for your sales letter. You
can preview what you've created first.
You definitely want to bookmark this site. The webmaster is constantly
adding new templates like this you can use for your business, and they're
all free to use. If you have a newsletter, don't forget to add it to the
directory while you are here.
3. Banner Creators
You'll find plenty of debate on the Web about whether or not you should
use banners on your web site. However, a banner creator can serve another
purpose for you: you can use it to create an original and unique header
for your own design.
Free Online Banner Creation
http://www.total-harmony.com/promotion/banner_creation.html
- Rather than give you one or two links to some banner creators, you can
go to this site. It offers several different places where you can find
banner creation tools.
Also includes a description of each site.
Cool Text - http://www.cooltext.com/ - If you are looking to create a
text banner, this is a great place to start. You can also make logos for
your business.
4. Graphics Editors
Graphics are definitely not my strong suit. I find graphics programs
to have a steep learning curve, and since I don't use that many graphics
on my web site, I don't have a graphics program on my computer anymore.
(I would recomend Paint Shop Pro as I found this to be the easiest to
learn - ed).
Even if you don't use that many graphics on your web site, occasionally
you may need to change the size, or add text to a graphic you are using.
There are some very easy tools online. You can quickly crop your graphics
or add text to them and have them done in a few minutes.
Gif World - http://www.gifworld.com/ - This site has a complete graphics
program online you can use to edit graphics or put text on them. It's
very easy to use. The
only format is gif though.
You'll also find plenty of links to graphics sites where you can find
plenty of nice, and free graphics to use.
Image Majik - http://studio.imagemagick.net/MagickStudio/scripts/MagickStudio.cgi
- You can use this template to edit both jpeg and gif formats. It's also
very easy to use.
JPEG Wizard Online Optimizer! - http://www.jpegwizard.com/ - Since some
graphics files can be quite large, causing them to load slowly, you can
use this tool to optimize all of your jpeg files so they load quickly.
Spin Wave - http://www.spinwave.com/ - Offers both jpeg and gif optimization
and compression.
There's also another type of graphic editor you can use online if you
need ebook covers for your web site. Below are two places I recommend.
Oritz - http://www.oritsfree.com/Free_Ebook_Covers.html
Free Ebook Covers - http://freeebookcovers.homestead.com/covers1.html
5. Interactivity (Javascript and CGI/ASP)
Ever wonder how webmasters create those cool special effects on their
web sites, or are able to offer message boards, chat, classifieds etc.?
They use scripts.
There are two types of scripts I would recommend you become familiar
with: javascript and cgi (ASP are 'active server pages' running on Windows
web servers - ed).
Javascript is very easy because it usually only requires that you cut
and paste the script into your site. Javascript can be used to create
mail forms, tickers, pop ups, etc. (be warned that Javascript can be quite
CPU intensive and if you use too much Javascript on a web page it can
seriously impact the performance of the surfers computer - ed).
Cgi/asp scripts perform more complex operations. They can be used for
anything from members areas to classifieds, message boards and more advanced
chat.
If you can read and follow instructions, you can easily set up your own
killer applications on your web site.
How do I know this? Because I learned how to use javascript and cgi by
reading and following the instructions.
Certainly, not all scripts will be that easy. Start with the simpler
ones and learn how to use them. Once you feel comfortable with the easier
scripts, try using more complex ones.
The most important thing to remember when using scripts, particularly
cgi, is that, you need to make sure you upload the files in ascii mode.
Otherwise you can get some really nasty 500 internal server errors that
can be difficult to solve.
JAVASCRIPT
Java - http://www.jars.com/ - This site bills itself as the #1 java resource
online. You'll find plenty of scripts for your site.
Java Boutique - http://javaboutique.internet.com/ - Offers plenty of
applets and scripts including games. Very easy to use and set up.
CGI CGI Extremes - http://www.cgiextremes.com/ - searchable list of hundreds
of cgi scripts.
Free Scripts - http://www.free-scripts.net/ - hundreds of CGI scripts
easily organized by category.
6. Customer Support
Providing support for your customers and affiliates is one of the most
important things you can do on your web site.
At one time I used Human Click - http://www.humanclick.com - on my web
site. All of the top marketers recommended it.
Human Click changed to a pay model, and the only place to get it free
was Bravenet - http://www.bravenet.com.
A few weeks ago, when I was updating the messenger services on my computer,
I stumbled across ICQ Panels.
ICQ Panels - http://www.icq.com/panels/
- allows you to have a complete messaging system on your web site for
your customers. This includes a place where customers can send you email,
as well as chat with you in real time over the ICQ network. Customers
can also easily page you, no matter where you are.
I found it much easier to use, and ICQ has so many features that you
can have a complete messaging system for your business without shelling
out any money.
You can see a live example on my site:
http://www.smallbusinesshowto.com/pcc.html
7. Web Site Promotion
Sooner or later, once you have your web site set up, you'll want to
attract new visitors. Unlike the baseball field in "Field of Dreams",
you have to do more than just build it to get customers to it.
Once again, I am recommending ICQ. It offers you an opportunity to promote
yourself in many different ways. Here is a list:
Promote Yourself and Your Homepage on ICQ
Join or Start an ICQ Ring
Join the ICQ Banner Exchange
Post Your Special ICQ Site
Post Yourself on Popular Search Engines
ICQ - http://web.icq.com/webtools/pageme-distribute/
Building a web site can be a time consuming and expensive process. Without
the right tools, you can end up with a web site that looks like a Picasso
painting, instead of a professionally designed virtual business presence.
Use these tools, and you'll have an established web presence that will
keep your visitors coming back for more.
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Jinger Jarrett will show you "How to Really Start Your Business
in 30 Days." Get her free ecourse here: http://www.smallbusinesshowto.com
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