Website Woes

[Loren]

I've given up on a website. I thought I could do it myself, but I can't. All I'm getting is frustrated.

I simply do not have the money to pay someone to make this website for me.

So all of this was for nothing.

And I'm a ****ing idiot.

[Loren]

@ Erin - After I set my domain up, I got a popup message which stated that I was entitled to 1 free page with hosting for buying the domain. They had a simple build-a-site interface, and I used it to build the site that everyone saw. Then I realized that it was so dumbed down that it could do little besides serve as a dummy page, but I liked the page I made with it so far. So I saved my page as an HTML file, found a new webhost, and copied it over (which took three days to transfer). Suddenly I could edit the CSS and HTML! Yay! Then I proceeded to break my page in half. LOL! I have no idea how I did it, either. All I did was open the file in a program, changed 1 URL for the favicon, saved it, and suddenly the page is blank white. @_@ Oopsie. On a positive note, the favicon worked! LOL! I also accidentally threw away the original HTML file. I went back to my godaddy account to retrieve it, and ACCIDENTALLY REDIRECTED MY NAME SERVERS! LOL!! During the three days to re-direct it and another three to re-re-direct it, I thought "you know...I have tons of old friends on facefoot, and a lot of them both owe me, AND do web design for a living!" So I wrote up a proposal, with illustrations and diagrams which took me forever, and sent it to 4 of my friends. Three of them wrote me back, saying that they were too busy to do anything but scan the first part of the message, and the fourth hasn't responded at all. Then I went on another website and said that I was willing to give $300 + 2 of my paintings (which would equal $1500) if somebody would help me. I was told this was an insult to web designers. :( About this time was when I came here and posted this thread. :p I was NOT a happy camper. But now, I've gotten a copy of the original site, DELETED that one program that blanked my page and started using one called CoffeeCup, and now my page is "back". :) It's still not on the root URL, even though I called it "Index.html", and there are still remnants of the admin controls here and there even though I tried to rip them all out, but the favicon works, and the page is not blank. :) The "contact" and "forum" links are broken, and the "build a lamp" link is REALLY broken (you have to reload the page), but at least the page is back! I know you didn't ask for a full history of my page, but I got on a roll and couldn't stop. :p

@ Mrs. T - Very good advice! And thank you. :)

@ James - I would LOVE to do that, believe me, but I absolutely cannot take on even one more monthly bill right now. If I do, then I can't save up for anything else. I've spent a pretty good portion of my life there, and I'm just starting to crawl out of it so that I can actually SAVE UP some money finally! Buying the lamps, domain, and supplies has pretty much tapped me out for a while. But I thank you for that suggestion, and I'll definitely be keeping it in mind!

[T]

Good For You!  And yes just start with a functional website and let it grow from there.  Allow room for suggestions from people who visit and order from your site.  It will happen.  You already have all of us behind you! :)  No one can do everything themselves reach out to your friends for help.  Just give it time. 

[Erin]

Lorin, I know there are all kinds of template-type websites and content management software packages, too. What program are you using to do this site? I use Dreamweaver and know very very basic HTML. Most of the stuff I do is in design mode. I can't write code, but I can understand a little of it. 

[Loren]

Thank you all so much...seriously. Tim, Erin, Mrs. T...you are awesome. :)

@ Tim - I'm trying not to beat myself up...thanks for that. :) And I think you are right. Why do I need to have the grand opening of my website right now? And why does it have to be completely finished, in its final form? It just needs to be functional...it just needs to work. I can expand it later and add cool things like the build a lamp feature, a forum maybe...things like that. And even that, like you said, is not really pressing yet.

@ Erin - I'm struggling with all of it, but I think I can manage the basics...hopefully...soon. LOL! I swear I'm working on it. I actually learned a lot about HTML when I had a MySpace page. But now the extent of my HTML knowledge was gained from making a MySpace page...I can't go much further than that. But I DID learn about tags, and about opening and closing tags, border widths...things like that. I can already tell you that, unless some sort of miracle of understanding happens, I'm likely not going to be able to make that build a lamp web interface myself. :(

@ T - You were so right! That's exactly what I had to do! I'm not a big drinker, but I froze me a margarita. :p And then I just...sat for a while. Aaah. What a luxury! That's when I came to this realization about the whole thing, and stopped stressing so much!

[Tim Gill]

Firstly you are not a idiot, but I know how you feel about it - i beet myself up like this and make mistakes all the time so I do completely understand how you feel.

Creating a websight is not easy - i wouldn't know where to start so I prase you for creating a websight.

I think that you are going quite fast with things - give yourself a brake, let the lamps arrive and then when your ready decided what you want to do next.

As you got quite a fue potenchal orders from us on hear I don't think a websight is needed yet. - Get some orders sorted first then once you know what your doing think about the websight but you should not just give up like this - just give yourself time and take a brake.

[Erin]

You are definitely not an idiot! What part are you struggling with?

[T]

You are not an idiot, don't beat yourself up.  Creating a website for most of us is not easy. Just step back from the whole thing for a bit and breathe and let your mind relax.