Wednesday, February 8, 2012

A Web-site for Free: a New Service Overview.

I have already written about the importance of a web-site. And I have been through some services before. Now, if you are in need of a web-site, or consider to make a new one, include a shop-option (adjusting it for room-booking, of course), you may want to read about my last discovery. Now, this is not an advertising article. I simply want to share my experience, and encourage you to have a look at this service (of course, if you are in need of a web-site).


As I continue to work with Akvariespesialisten Finnmark (it newly changed name to ADA Norge), I investigate different engines for making web-sites. My latest task was to find one that would support a web-shop option, as the company started to import ADA equipment to Norway and other Nordic countries, and decided to make an Internet shop as well. As my investigation went on, I also thought of how one could use such engines for purposes of B&B's, wither including a booking option, or just to make a presentation web-site.

If you have checked the Webs service, you might have noticed that it has a web shop option. Unfortunately, the free version allows to put in only 5 products. The payment methods are also too few. After looking through a number of other engines, I can say that the choice of templates in Webs is also quite small.

I have tried Magento. I read several reviews, and it looked like a good solution. But after a while, even my knowledge of web-design gave up. Far too complicated. If you are an advanced designer, familiar with all kind of codes, you may want to try this service. But it is also a costly one: you get only 1 month of free use, after that you have to pay.

Thanks to my sister, who is working with web-sites in Lithuania, I discovered an engine that I took into use after all. The name is uCoz. Apparently created by some Russian (or Ukrainian) programmers. And as expected - quite genius. Truly, the number of templates blows your mind. As a more advanced in web-design, I could change the template totally and make it to the ADA Norge's likings. If it is too complicated for a common user, the amount of templates at uCoz is so big, that one will hardly ever encounter a similar web-site.

The service is available in several languages, including English, German, French and Spanish. Your own web-site you can make in any language you wish with a bit advanced changes: I managed to create the site for ADA in Norwegian.

The basic elements are for free. For as much as 5,49 USD a month (with some further discounts if you pay for several months, and  free domain name if you pay for 1 year), one gets a Web-shop module. Once registered, one can choose a free domain name, of pay some small amount for a custom one (like .com, .org, etc.)

I could write a lot about my experience with uCoz, but I rather advise you to try it. And welcome to ask me or their tech-support for help. By the way, their technical support is really great: quick, polite and professional. 

Thursday, January 12, 2012

What makes someone leave a website?

It is crucial to have good content on a web-site. But here are some other tips to follow. Click the picture to see it in full size.