creating a website

useful resources for making your own website

For folks less familiar with HTML, but who still want to make a website:

Google Sites
It’s not the prettiest option, but Google offers a service for generating webpages/sites. It is fairly flexible and ties in with other Google services in ways you may find useful.

WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a blogging service. However, web designers often use WordPress as a content management tool for generating websites. The free accounts on WordPress.com don’t come with the same degree of options you’d get if you had your own web site and installed WordPress there. However, the version on WordPress.com is still a useful way to start. The different WordPress themes available for your blog will give you many layout options and give you more options than you’d have with Google Sites. If you’re looking to do something more visual, you might find a WordPress blog preferable to Google sites. (Please note: WordPress.com has less options than are available with the full WP download or with their paid services. You’ll want to narrow your searches to the free options.)

Wix.com
Wix is another free website builder. Many people like the options for styling and page-layouts that Wix offers. It also appears to be relatively easy to learn. If you are annoyed by the WordPress dashboard and want a tool that’s a bit more focused on page-layout and design, you may prefer Wix.

Adobe Spark: Page
Spark is a free and web-based graphic design tool from Adobe. There are three main components to Spark: Post, Page, and Video. Each can be used in your browser or via an installed app. Page offers templates and allows you to create dynamic webpages. Useful for web-based presentations which can be contained on one page (rather than a full, multi-page website).


For folks who know HTML & CSS:

000webhost.com
Free Web Hosting with PHP, MySQL, Cpanel & no advertisements.

Web Hosting at Your School
Do you know HTML & CSS? If so, you might want to generate your own site. Many colleges and universities offer web hosting for students and faculty. Check with your school’s tech support services and ask if this is something available to you.

BBEdit (MacOS)
Useful HTML and text editor for MacOS. Helpful if you are looking for something more basic than Adobe’s Dreamweaver.

Filezilla (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Filezilla is a popular free and open source FTP client. (Filezilla also offers free FTP server software for Windows users.)

Fetch (Mac)
Fetch is a low-cost and reliable FTP program for Mac users. As of 2023, it costs $29.

Do you have another tool or service you like? Let me know and I’ll add it to the list!