Light is faster than sound. That explains why some people appear bright until they open their mouths!

Web design software for a novice - Serif Webplus X4

Looking to develop your own website and unsure if you can? I too never imagined I could develop a website. Thought it was all HTML programmers code but I took the leap and researched budget and free web design software before I purchased the Serif Webplus X2 package from PC World.

It is very good and complete, allowing you to use a standard template, create forums and even e-commerce. It allows you to learn the web layout techniques without worrying about the HTML stuff; that may come in time. Their support is really great too!

Though the package can be purchased cheaply on the web, I researched it and found that the one PC World sold had 4 CD’s, a good manual and a free years’s hosting compared to only a couple of discs for discounted web offers. (Extra discs contain templates and resources. You get what you pay for as they say, and this cost me £59.95 - not cheap when there are so many free applications out there. UPDATE: Serif X5 now launched!

I initially created a simple template and just dumped loads of stuff on the web as I am not good at graphics.  I initially bought the package to develop a locksmith package for my nephew and you can see this site as an example at www.lockexpr.co.uk.  

My clever colleagues at work are using a great and free open source package called Joomla. This is real great for big commercial sites but it is not easy to use, for me at least. www.joomla.com If you want a great web developer to build a corporate site without getting ripped off then try this guy at http://www.cache.co.uk. Alastair is a REALLY clever guy who can program just about anything!

Web Hosting recommendation

I got alerted to this great hosting service at www.one.com where you can get a site name and a year’s hosting for as little as £10.34 and subsequent year’s hosting for £1.99 a month. I have bought around a dozen sites as they are so cheap.

Serif Webplus X4 - review

I must have been one of the first to get my hands on the new package and it was a bag of nails at the start, but after a number of upgrades (free) it has returned to being a great product and has many useful enhancements plus a good E-Commerce package that I’m still not using. The price has jumped so it takes some justification, but I’d better its a better package than the cheaper ones and knowing what I know, I’d pay for it Though I’d try to negotiate with serif. I am spending far too much time on web design as it just draws me in. I now also have; My blog here, the Basinsgtoke model boat club, a locksmith and a model shop. I’m still learning about layouts because I’m not a graphics person

I really am a fan of this software and am certain that, like me, you too could design your own sites.

SAVE on this package!

Call Serif on 0800 376 7070 and I’ll bet you can get a discounted price. They make more profit selling direct.

Ask for 4 discs and the standard black and white manual. They also have a coloured manual that you could add for a few pounds.

Web design software and website recommendations