Web Site on a Budget

When budget is tight and you can't afford to buy every software you need, you can try and use programs that you can either download free or use directly from the web. I know I do. Some are good, some are bad, you just got to look around and you will find some good programs out there that are very helpful.

I created the library's Old web site waaaay baaaaack with Netscape Composer. That's when it used to be Version 4.7 of Netscape Navigator. Trying to learn a little more here and there, I've used a lot of programs since that then. I've made simple web pages using other programs such as: Front Page Express, Front Page98, MS Publisher98, Front Page2000 and DreamWearver.

I learned about a program called NoteTab Lite from Fookes Software and with the help of Suzanne B. (Thank You Suzy!) had a lot of fun using it to create the library's New Web Site. I also learned a lot from doing it this way. Anyone that wants to know about an easy to use and easy to learn Editor, should try NoteTab Lite.

Here are some other programs I use:

To reduce picture sizes to thumbnails I use Easy Thumbnails, also from Fookes Software.

To make sure I don’t have any broken links I use Xenu Links Sleuth. It gives you a good detailed report. It tells you all your links by page, alphabetically, broken links list, not broken, redirected ones, the works!

When I get in a pinch with some HTML coding, I go to W3Schools and get very good help. There are also lots of good forums that provide help.

Making a website on a budget might sound cheap, but if you take your time and search you will find some good stuff on the web that won't hurt your pocket an at the same time help you learn some more and that my friend doesn't ever hurt.