Web Site Creation

Web Site Creation and Management Software

Obviously web sites come in all shapes, sizes and levels of complexity.  Streaming video, animation, Macromedia Flash implementations all add "pizzazz", however, they entail quite a bit of work (and technical knowledge) to implement and can actually be detrimental, if they distract your prospective users/customers from content that is not easily graphically enabled.  So, you'll need to make some choices before you choose your web development environment. 

1. What type of web do you really want/need?  Does it need a lot of "flash" or is getting content across more important (easy to read and print out). 
2. Are you willing to "do it yourself" or would you rather pay someone else to develop the concept and your site itself.  There are a number of folks doing web site design, (1234 Find Web Designers, IT Moonlighter and ELance are all web sites where you can find folks who are MORE than willing to help you out).
3. If you've decided to "do it yourself", remember that the tools/environment you purchase sets you down a path - converting can be very painful if you decide to do that in the future.  So,  are you planning to do ecommerce?  Then you'll need a package that either already includes an ecommerce engine or one that compatible ecommerce software has been developed for.
4. If you aren't much into figuring things out for yourself, are there training classes available (locally is best) for the software package you are thinking of using?  Also, its best to check places like Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble to find books that are available to help you when you get stuck - and trust us, you WILL!
5. If you plan on building a more "complex" or "interesting" site, we strongly recommend that you purchase a development "suite" from manufacturers like Adobe and Macromedia.  You'll save money over purchasing the software in "pieces" and you won't have to worry about software interoperability becoming a problem.
6. If you are going to do "ecommerce", make sure the software you choose supports the number of products you require as well as supports areas like sales tax and possibly XML integration with your suppliers (more long term perhaps).  Also, packages that integrate with your accounting software (i.e. QuickBooks or Peachtree) are a BIG PLUS and will save you tons of time when you need to know where your business is at financially.
7. Finally, make sure that when you choose your web hosting service provider (if you already haven't) that their services support the development environment you are using.  A good example is that if you are using Microsoft FrontPage and FrontPage Extensions (functionality needed to implement interactivity on a FrontPage web site), your web hosting provider must offer a service that includes support for FrontPage Server Extensions.

   Web Home Office Reports

And, for all of you "do it yourselfers" out there, some basic things to remember when constructing that new web site with your web development software.

• Remember the basic steps -
  • Decide the purpose of the site, what it needs to do and what your goals are for it.
  • Get your information together and organize it  - alphabetically, by topic, by priority, whatever!
  • Map out a structure for the site and how the information will be linked together
  • Decide on graphics and other "add-ons"
  • Be consistent
  • Keep updating and maintaining the information!
• Make sure the site is easy to read and navigate
• If folks are purchasing goods from you, MAKE IT EASY TO BUY!
• Be conscious of your visitors' needs for security and privacy
• Be serious or fun - BUT BE DIFFERENT!

Some vendors offer more than one package in this category.  We'll review them in table format within that vendor's detailed review.

Web Site Creation and Management Review

Web Site Creation Software*

(Rankings - best, 5 symbols, worst, 1 symbol)

* A = Amateur, R = Rookie, P = Pro,

Adobe

Simple Start-Up - นนน1/2

Adobe does not make "simple" software per se.  Adobe delivers instead feature rich software that can be used by both the beginner and the professional to deliver rock solid, interesting and powerful web solutions.  What that all means is that you will invest your time in not only the construction of the web site, but also in learning how to use this feature rich software.

Cost - $$$1/2

Adobe offers a number of software bundles that include web creation tools.  They include:  Creative Suite 3 Web Premium at $1,599.00, upgrade $499.00 that includes Adobe Dreamweaver CS3, Adobe Flash CS3 Professional, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended, Adobe Illustrator CS3, Adobe Fireworks CS3, Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional, Adobe Contribute CS3; Creative Suite 3 Web Standard at $999.00, upgrade $399.00 that includes Adobe Dreamweaver CS3, Adobe Flash CS3 Professional, Adobe Fireworks CS3, Adobe Contribute CS3; Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Standard at $1,199.00, upgrade $399.00 that includes Adobe InDesign CS3, Adobe Photoshop CS3, Adobe Illustrator CS3, Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional; Creative Suite 3 Design Premium at $1,799.00, upgrade $599.00 that includes Adobe InDesign CS3, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended, Adobe Illustrator CS3, Adobe Flash CS3 Professional, Adobe Dreamweaver CS3, Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional; Creative Suite 3 Production Premium at $1,699.00, upgrade $799.00 that includes Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional, Adobe Bridge CS3, Adobe Dynamic Link, Adobe Device Central CS3, Adobe Acrobat Connect, Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended, Adobe Flash CS3 Professional, Adobe Illustrator CS3, Adobe Soundbooth CS3, Adobe Encore CS3, Adobe OnLocation CS3, Adobe Ultra CS3; Creative Suite 3 Master Collection at $2,499.00, upgrade $1,399.00 that includes Adobe Bridge CS3, Adobe Version Cue CS3, Adobe Device Central CS3, Adobe Stock Photos, Adobe Acrobat Connect, Adobe Dynamic Link, Adobe Indesign CS3, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended, Adobe Illustrator CS3, Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional, Adobe Flash CS3 Professional, Adobe Dreamweaver CS3, Adobe Fireworks CS3, Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional, Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, Adobe Soundbooth CS3, Adobe Encore CS3, Adobe OnLocation CS3, Adobe Ultra CS3.

Pricing for Adobe products are outlined below. 

Time Savings - นนนน

If you plan to have a "high end", interactive site with animations, streaming media and more, Adobe's products will help you attain your goal in an efficient and effective manner.

Ease of Use - @@@1/2

Adobe products are NOT simple to use for the uninitiated.  However, if you invest the time, you'll find that the results are more than worth the time and money invested in the software and training you'll need.  (Adobe offers a wide variety of online training classes at $129.00 per class - GoLive, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat - everything you'll need to effectively construct your site.)

Works With - YYYY

Adobe's software is designed for both the Windows and Macintosh environments.

Support - pppp

The Adobe support site is comprehensive and well designed.  Adobe offers a multitude of training classes to help you get started and improve your utilization of their software.  Additionally, Adobe provides a forum for users and experts to discuss problems, solutions and even interesting new ways to use the software to solve business problems.  If you need more help, Adobe offers phone support plans - $39.00 per incident or $159.00 for unlimited support for one year.

Features - iiii1/2

Adobe's solutions are feature rich and integrate well with their other industry "benchmark" software, Photoshop and Illustrator.  Additionally, the software is very well designed for inclusion of high end graphics, animations and streaming media.  An "extra" is the ability to author pages for wireless devices (small screens, low bandwidth) and deliver 3D content over low bandwidth connections as well.

Overall Rating - %%%%

You can't go wrong purchasing Adobe software UNLESS you are unwilling to take the time to learn to use it effectively.  Additionally, if you don't and won't EVER need the functionality that Adobe solutions deliver, it is a high price to pay for development of a more basic web presence.  Therefore, purchase Adobe if you want more than the basics and have the time, expertise and energy ($$'s too!) to invest to realize the potential of these powerful software packages.

Boomerang Software

Simple Start-Up - นนนน

Boomerang Software's web creation software is simple to install and begin using.

Cost - $$$$

Pricing for Boomerang web creation software is detailed in the table below.

Time Savings - นนนน

If you use Boomerang's web site and e-commerce solutions, you'll have your web presence or e-commerce site up and running quickly and efficiently.

Ease of Use - @@@@

Boomerang Software's site creation software have straight forward user interfaces.  Constructing web or e-commerce sites using their software is a "doable" task.

Works With - YYY

Boomerang's solutions are designed for the Windows environment only.

Support - ppp

Boomerang has a fairly extensive FAQ but email support only.  We find this problematic when you are working with your web site where an outage can cause your business to lose significant cash flow.

Features - iii1/2

We think the best feature in WebPage Designer Gold is the integrated instant messaging program that includes encrypted chat, voice over IP and FTP.  If you would like to use your site to cost effectively and securely communicate with business partners, this function would be a real plus.  If you already are using FrontPage or DreamWeaver MX 8, Boomerang's e-commerce solutions will make it a fairly simple task to turn your web site into a web store.  Each version includes store templates and automation to make the task easier (though this is NEVER a simple task).

Overall Rating - %%%1/2

WebPage Designer Gold is basic software with a nice hook for communicating with customers and business partners (secure IM program).  The FrontPage and Dreamweaver e-commerce solutions are real plusses for web site owners using those site development tools that want to turn their web presence into a web store.  However, we're concerned about relying on email tech support when it is a web site/e-commerce site and web site or e-commerce dollars functionality that are at issue.