Create Your Own Website - Static HTML Sites

Whether you want to create your own website for business, a hobby, to start making money online, or you just want a personal website where you can share pictures and stories about your life, a static HTML site is probably the easiest to set up.

A static HTML site doesn't really seem different to the end user. You can tell if a site is static if the web pages end in .html or .htm - at least, this is true most of the time! This site is actually a static HTML site. I made it using a website builder called XSitePro, although there are many other choices out there.

At its' most basic, if you know the programming language HTML, you can use a HTML editor like CSE HTML Validator to write your site with. However, this is a time consuming option even if you know HTML. A website builder, on the other hand, will let you create your own website using a 'Point and Click' type of system. It is very intuitive and easy to use, and most of them have built in templates that you can use to design your site. They make life a lot easier.

The choice you have, in broad terms, is between website software that you operate from your browser, or software that sits on your computer and then uploads the files to your web host. Most of the hosted software that you operate from your browser is charged at a monthly fee, whereas software on your computer tends to be a one off cost. Usually, the latter is cheaper in the long run. This is particularly true if you plan on creating many sites.

A lot of the hosted website builders create dynamic websites, not static. This doesn't really matter however. The main thing is that it will do what you want when you create your own website. The exception to this is SiteBuildIt, which is a hosted solution with a yearly fee, which creates pages in HTML. They also create RSS feeds of your content automatically, which is an advantage. And they include special modules that allow you to easily include video and affiliate links on your site. For someone wanting an all-in-one package, who doesn't plan on building many sites, they remain a very good choice. - Especially considering the ongoing training and support, including a very active forum, that is part and parcel of the package.

If you plan on building a number of sites, I think XSitePro is the best option, particularly if you want to make money with your site. They have more features than I could list here, so it's best to look at their site directly.

For some people, particularly if you just want a personal site, or don't have a few hundred dollars to spend on a website builder, using one of the free hosted versions, or a content management system like Joomla, or Drupal, would be the best option. If you do want a simple HTML website creator that won't break the bank, you might want to check out Kompozer. It's actually free, so that's pretty affordable! You can check out some of the features of Kompozer here.

Like a lot of free software, figuring out how to use Kompozer might take more of your time than you'd prefer. For that reason, we found a step by step video series that shows you how to set up your website with it. You can check it out here.