How do you create your own website / blog

[kt.]

I want to create my own web page / blog but which site is best to use.  I have never done web design so it need to be simple.  Want to put my allotment stuff on it and some photos.  Cheapest possible and free would be even better.  Suggestions please. ???

[kt.]

[1066]

There are a few free sites, all are good, I think it comes down to personal preferences. The main sites of Wordpress, Blogspot and Tumblr, will lead you through it, with minimum effort and technical skill needed to set up a basic, but good blog.

I found it's a matter of getting used to "new" language being used, terminology etc, but all have excellent help pages, and don't be afraid to make mistakes, you learn from them  ;). It's like anything, you gradually get better at setting things up, laying them out etc. The one thing I would be carefull about is the sizing of the photos you upload, I think smaller is better.

I read an article this week that tumbr has overtaken Wordpress as the most popular, but it is a much more paired down version, basically you don't get as many features, but that suits a lot of people who are using smart phones or are coming into blogging from using twitter.

I wouldn't bother paying for a hosted site, particularly for a hobby.

Hope you have fun, and let us know how you get on  :)

[lincsyokel2]

I wouldn't bother paying for a hosted site, particularly for a hobby.

Hope you have fun, and let us know how you get on  :)

I own www.freedebate.co.uk It costs me £2.99 for the domain name and £3.99 a month to host it. I use it to store stuff, including my CV and other stuff (so i can include a hotlink to the CV if i apply for a job), I also am using for a couple of pet projects, (such as an online searchable version of Whites 1856 Lincolnshire directory), and also it gives me a separate mail domain to which i can add or invent mailboxes (eg i could have  allotments@freedebate.co.uk if i wanted). It also support phpbb, so i can at some stage upload php based  Forum or blog software.  Having your own domain has 1001 uses.

[1066]

I sort of agree with you, as I own several domain names relating to my company/business, and have hosted websites, and of course email addresses. But if you are wanting to start out, doing something for free, where it is all laid out/set up for you, seems a good thing for a hobby. - but each to their own  ;)

I'm currently trying to sort out a blog / web site for my OH, and a new venture, so I'd be interested to hear what other sites people use

[Larkshall]

I use two blogs, one is hosted by my website hosts, the other is my cycling club blog where I do reports on our Tuesday Senior Rides. For anyone to use the blog they have to be accepted by the administrator (you, if it's your blog), they will have an ID and password.

You don't need any proprietary software to use it, you just type in text and upload photo's. I find it easier to prepare my reports in Open Office then highlight, copy and paste.

Regarding my own website, I have a 5GB allowance and if the blog is very active it would need good housekeeping to make sure you don't exceed the allowance.

[Mrs Ava]

I have my blog on blogger.com.  And here it is. http://allotmentnews.blogspot.com/

[lincsyokel2]

I just tested phpBB and Wordpress, seemed pretty easy to set up. The blog had an interesting problem which turned out to be some files the ftp missed on upload (i have a female ftp client, its very moody)...........

[Squash64]

I use a free (to charity and voluntary groups) website builder for our allotment website -  www.growit.btck.co.uk
and blogspot for my feral cat blog - http://allotmentcats.blogspot.com/

Both are very easy to use, I don't have any training and didn't have any problems with them.

[bluecar]

Hello Squash.

Do you have a link to your website builder. I assume you still have to register a domain - how did you register yours and what is the cost.

Regards

Bluecar

[Squash64]

Hello Squash.

Do you have a link to your website builder. I assume you still have to register a domain - how did you register yours and what is the cost.

Regards

Bluecar

There is no charge, it is free to community groups and charities.  The only drawback is that you have to have .btck.co.uk after your name, but it's not really a problem.
You don't have to pay for a domain name.

Go to www.btck.co.uk and look at 'Register for an Account'.