Our website was created in another program, so we are having to start from scratch so that we can edit it. I've never done a website in my life and it terrifies me. From what I have read I need to start a new website. Do you recommend I use a template or start from scratch. We have a landscaping business and I have not seen any templates that fit that type of business. What do you recommend.
Thanks, I know I'll be back with more questions cuz I don't even know where to begin.

Hi,

If you go for the CoffeeCup VSD (Visual Site designer), you need to start from scratch, because it's not possible to import an existing site into that programme.

If you are not scared away from having to learn some html, you could try the CoffeeCup Html Editor, into which you actually can import a site.

As for templates, both programmes come with some templates, and it is possible to buy more from our CC Theme store, https://www.coffeecup.com/store/themes/
If you go for VSD, you would have to go for a template especially designed for that prog. As for the HTML Editor you can take any free template you might find out there somewhere. Pictures can be changed out, background and colour schemes too, so I'm sure, if you don't find a ready made landscaping theme, you can chose one you like the layout of and just adapt it. Of course you can also do without a template, just try!

Since this will be your first attempt at a website, you may want to experiment a bit with the two progs before you decide on which you want to use. Download a trial version of either and play around with them for some time. They are fully functional, but of course they will cease to work after the trial period has expired. (and when you buy a registered version, don't forget to uninstall the trial version first! A lot of people forget that, and then they run into trouble with the programme and think it's not working. Just a hint...)

@Carl, what is the URL of your web site.. I would be happy to have a look at the code and layout and maybe see what your up to.

Carl

If you know nothing about webdesign I would not start working with CC html editor as you are going to need html knowlege. Further working from a free website template you may find on the web be aware that it may look just right for you but when you start working with it things are not as they seem and you will need to edit the free template, here again you will need to know html and most probably css as well.

As a novice I would advice you to go with CC VSD. This software is very easy to learn and easy to work with for a novice. They have templates that are specially created for VSD so will be super easy for you to edit the template to fit your needs.

Any problem with VSD well there are tons of people here that will be more then glad to help you step by step on your project.

Hope this helps

Hey Carl,
Can I add my two cents worth in. I assume someone else built your current website & your wanting to edit it and expand the site. As someone has mentioned unless you have HTML experience you are going to struggle with that option. I my self have never actually used HTML, nor do I have an interest in using code. I built all my websites from scratch, not using a template as there were none I liked. It is probably obvious to my visitors for sure that my site may not be as polished as most others but at least I can call it my own. Without going to deep, I have downloaded the CC VSD program to see if a dummy like me could use it. It is relatively easy to use, but you do need to spend time with it to discover how to do things. The best advice I could probably give you now is that before you even start to use the program, plan your web site. A website is nothing more than a stack of documents with links attached to them so that vistitors can go from document to document. Grab your self a bundle of A4 paper and start to design your home page roughly scribling where you want to place pictures and where text will go, and what links there will be. These links of course point to another page. For each link you have on your home page you will need a sheet of paper to design these pages. So work out what each of these pages will look like. Generally speaking they will have almost the same look just have different content. You don't have to have the entire site planned as you will always be adding to it somewhere down the track but at least I hope you are getting the picture of the planning involved. Once you have your basic plan, then open the VSD program and try to make it come to life. Complete the homepage first and then work on the remainder. You cannot create a link to another page unless you have already created that page. So make your pages then add the links to connect the pages to your homepage. The great thing about VSD is that you can place text, pictures, objects anywhere on the page with no restrictions. The program I use currently doesn't work like that so I have to plan much better to get things where I want them because I predominently use tables, a pain for the beginner. I think you will grasp VSD fairly quickly and from what I have seen, the staff & fellow forum users are more than willing to help people develop their sites.
cheers

Hi Carl,
All of the above advice is good, I would just like to add this; don't be afraid to try and don't be afraid of making mistakes. I'm 65 years old, I got started in computers a little more than 10 years ago. I never took a course or even one lesson in computing or web design but managed to produce a site for my (photography) business that (even though the coding is not the best) looks quite professional http://dynamicspectrumphotography.com and a site for our township's activities http://gobigblu.com I got started by using my host's drag-N-drop editor. Then I brought a book on HTML (Teach Yourself HTML Visually by IDG Books) just to learn a little about code and tags and how the pages are made. I've never used VSD or the HTML Editor, but I use Coffee Cup's other software ie menu builder, photo gallery, Direct FTP etc to put the things I can't code (flash, sound, video etc) on my site. If you are not going to use VSD or a template, I strongly suggest that you get some knowledge of using tables as that is the easiest way that I have found to control placement on your pages. At any rate, you will find all the help you need right here, I know I did.
So just jump right in and get your feet wet, Coffee Cup will see you through.