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The thought of designing your own Website shouldn't send you running. Current design software programs take most of the guesswork—and pain—out of Website design.
Choosing the right software is the easy part. Mastering the software will take time and patience.
Everyone's Website needs are different. The following types of Website design software will help you choose the one that meets your business needs and skill level.
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Software
This popular design software allows you to "see" your site as you build it. It's similar to using a word processing program in that you don't see the actual code behind the design unless you choose to.
Paid software programs include Adobe Dreamweaver and Microsoft FrontPage. The advantage to these higher end programs is their rich feature sets and flexibility. You can look at and modify the underlying code but it's not necessary to complete your design.
Lower end programs—like you might find in office supply stores—are less flexible. And they won't have the depth of support available with programs like Dreamweaver and FrontPage.
The primary disadvantages are price and learning curve. These programs range in price from $150 to $300+. And even if you're intimately familiar with word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs, learning a Website design program will require time and patience.
HTML Editing Software
This software is for those more interested in learning HTML. Before you dismiss it, let me explain why learning HTML can be advantageous.
Learning HTML helps you understand how the Web works. Once you learn basic HTML elements, you'll know how to update and troubleshoot your own site much quicker. Like mastering any new skill, it will give you much more appreciation for how different designs appeal to different audiences.
HTML will also give you the knowledge required to customize templates. If you're concerned about starting a design from scratch, using templates designed by others is a great way to get started.
And, of course, if you're planning to start a Web design business, knowing HTML can help you establish credibility.
Hybrid Software
This most commonly refers to software used exclusively online. Many Web hosts offer some form of proprietary design software for their hosting clients. This software can usually be added to a hosting package or used for free as long as you remain a hosting customer.
The advantage to this software is its easy to use, point and click interface. You'll be able to customize templates and publish your files immediately.
The disadvantage to this software is its inflexibility. You'll be limited to certain templates which may make your site look "cookie cutter" rather than exclusive.
Finding the right Web design software depends on your skill level and your willingness to learn and adapt to different software types. Whichever route you choose, be open to trying new methods and learning new skills.
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