Product Description

The number of Internet sites has tripled in the last three years, which means that more and more businesses, organizations, and individuals are building Web sites. Filled with pointers on devising a building plan, registering a site name, developing server space, and filling a site with eye-catching pages, this friendly guide will help you transform simple Web pages into professional Web sites. The CD-ROM contains CGI scripts, Web design tools, and graphics creation tools.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #472208 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-31
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 408 pages

Amazon.com Review
If you're just getting your feet wet in Web site construction, the first big hurdle is figuring out where to start. Building a Web Site for Dummies lightens things up with humor and makes the challenge of building a site far less daunting.

This book doesn't zoom you right into coding HTML, although it covers the markup language quite well. Instead, it offers a much higher-level look at site design by examining the general questions of navigation principles, affiliation possibilities, building communications with your users, and other wide-ranging topics. For this reason, the book covers a lot of ground and offers a broad perspective on site design that transcends simple page coding.

A couple of the more useful sections on Web site tools and e-commerce cover useful utilities, such as NetMechanic, Statbot, and Spinwave. The chapter on e-commerce helps you get to know the ropes of selling stuff online, and points you to online malls, fulfillment services, and currency converters.

The companion CD-ROM contains evaluation versions of useful tools, such as Paint Shop Pro, HomeSite 4.5, Fireworks, and Dreamweaver. You won't find all of the knowledge that you seek to become a Web site guru in this book, but you will gain perspective and learn tons of useful tips and tricks. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered:

• Designing a Web site plan
• Web page construction 101
• Using scripts and applets
• Site navigation
• Graphics handling
• Multimedia
• Site tuning
• Using content providers
• Message boards
• E-commerce
• Affiliates programs
• Publicity

From the Back Cover
Go from Web surfer to site developer with this friendly guide!

Includes tips and tricks to jump-start your site development

Size up your site needs and create a functional building plan
Did you know that the Web is about 15 million sites strong today — and growing? Get it on the action using this friendly guide. Inside, you'll find helpful explanations and shortcuts on creating, publishing, and administering your site, from creating cool graphics to finding free Web space.

Discover how to:

• Register your site name
• Find server space
• Create eye-catching pages
• Set up a commerce site using the latest tools
• Promote your site on the Internet

• Evaluation versions of Paint Shop Pro and HomeSite 4.5 for Windows
• Trial versions of Fireworks and Dreamweaver from Macromedia, Inc.
• Statbot Micro by Moorglade Design Group

About the Author

David and Rhonda Crowder were selling hypertext systems in the days when you had to explain to people what the word hypertext meant. They have been involved in the online community for over a decade, when David was SysOp for the FidoNet BBS, Taliesin's Dream. netwelcome.com/">NetWelcome sites. LinkFinder holds a four-star rating from NetGuide magazine, and NetWelcome is the recipient of several awards, including NetGuide's Gold Site Award. David founded three Internet mailing lists that are now owned and run by Ziff-Davis. David and Rhonda have coauthored three other computer books. They live with their cats in Miami, Florida. ;

David and Rhonda Crowder were selling hypertext systems in the days when you had to explain to people what the word hypertext meant. They have been involved in the online community for over a decade, when David was SysOp for the FidoNet BBS, Taliesin's Dream. netwelcome.com/">NetWelcome sites. LinkFinder holds a four-star rating from NetGuide magazine, and NetWelcome is the recipient of several awards, including NetGuide's Gold Site Award. David founded three Internet mailing lists that are now owned and run by Ziff-Davis. David and Rhonda have coauthored three other computer books. They live with their cats in Miami, Florida.

Customer Reviews

A good Dummies book
Read the title! This is not an HTML book. If you are hoping to be able to code your first web site after reading this book, you might struggle a bit.

This is a decent book on how to construct a web site. As with most "Dummies" books the explanations seem to drag. However, I have found that they can be a good introduction to a subject, if the reader is truly "in the dark".

If you have never written any type of computer program, or if you struggle with using your computer, and are still set on creating your own web page (go for it; they aren't that tough) buy this book and "HTML for Dummies". The combination of the two will get you up and running.

Real dummies: just say NO...
When the "Dummies" series books first came out, they were truly for "dummies". Apparently not so anymore. Right on the cover of this book is the phrase "Go from Web surfer to site developer". Well, web surfer I am, and what I was looking for was a book to give me the ABSOLUTE BASICS about creating a web site. This book assumes that you as the reader, already know how to create a web site!! HELLO!! If I knew how to create a web site, I wouldn't need the book, thanks. Page 2 "Foolish Assumptions": "We figure that you have some kind of experience with creating web pages." WHAT?! I thought this book was going to turn me from a surfer to a developer. Page 27: the first line of chapter 3 reads "This chapter's here just in case you need a refresher on basic web page building before..." CHAPTER 3! Refresher! This book obviously should be titled "Enhancing Your Web Site for Dummies". This book does not even explain to a "Dummy" how to create the file necessary to create a web page. What a waste of twenty bucks.

OK For general Ideas
If you are looking to code a webpage or site, buy this book along with HTML 4 for the WWW by E. Castro. Castro's book is easy to follow and deals with multi-browser webpage construction. This Dummies book does give you a good feel about the practical things to consider when constructing a website. Not just about creating a page with links and pictures, but about practical navigation construction and how to build websites for a particular audience (ie. websites for your family versus an e-commerce site). Some useful info here, but they should not jump into HTML without creating a good feel for it in this book--try Castro's or HTML for Dummies--becuase this book could have served one better if it stuck with the key ingredients for a decent site, then had a small primer for HTML or recommended good HTML books. For other website design books, try Web Usability by J. Neilsen. This is an ok book that deal with the problems associated with website construction--Web Usability has color pictures and is not dependent on any one design software package.