Building my own website

[Dubb]

My background: several years experience with cad + graphic design (adobe suite, 3d modeling etc), though I have very little experience in the web sphere, and nothing since setting up a tripod page in 1999. I have some C++ experience and can remember some of the html I learned way back when (definitely need a brush up though).

I'm about to embark on setting up a website to host my online portfollio, resume, some files, and get an email that isn't @gmail, @yahoo, or whatever (looks more professional)

My plan of action:

-Domain name from godaddy, was going to do the 5 year deal to save a few bucks and not have to worry about it for a while.

-hosting from telnap, the $25/yr package - though I have a question about that: their site says 24.95/yr with no hidden fees, but then the details also list a $2.50/ monthly charge, so that's actually $55 a year? A little deceptive...

I assume it's easy to tie the domain name to the hosting site (telnap gives you a static IP which you give to godaddy?)

as far as building the site, I have alot to learn. I have a small video clip I want to play as an intro, then loop underneath a navigation menu - I assume this part will have to be flash (shouldn't be too hard for me to learn) - but is there another better/easier way? alot of flash sites really fall into generic depravity IMO, I'm dead set on avoiding that.

the actual portfolio navigation should be pretty simple - click on type of project, click on specific project, then overview text + serries of thumbnails, etc.

Are there any good web tutorials or books on modern day web design? I'd do best with something technicaly oriented that doesn't spend much time lecturing on good layout, etc. I know what I want it to look like and how I want it to work, I just need a resource to fill me in on how to pull it off.

tips, tricks, any and all info appreciated!

 

[kamper]

I was gonna say that something simple that conveys the important info is much more important than impressive graphics and thereby discourage the opening video. But I guess if you're advertising yourself as a graphic designer that's not so much a good idea

But really, I would start simple, start with the info, and then incrementally add the fancier stuff as you get better at it. It's not an easy thing to produce a stunning site right out of the box even if you are experienced and I think having something ambitious but shoddy isn't good (as you already realize ).

The usual place to start on the basics is http://www.w3schools.com which is good for beginners and as a reference for some topics, but can be pretty underwhelming when you're looking to get really good at a specific web technology.

 

[DeviousTrap]

Originally posted by: Dubb
-hosting from telnap, the $25/yr package - though I have a question about that: their site says 24.95/yr with no hidden fees, but then the details also list a $2.50/ monthly charge, so that's actually $55 a year? A little deceptive...

I assume it's easy to tie the domain name to the hosting site (telnap gives you a static IP which you give to godaddy?)

The $25 a year price is a yearly price, there is no monthly charge. Usually yearly hosting is calculated with monthly x 10, so the monthly price you are seeing is what it would have cost you per month if there was no required yearly payment instead.

Telnap will give you two nameservers. Nameservers are what tell your domain what IP address to resolve to. Then when you order your domain from godaddy, godaddy will ask for those nameservers and you will input them.

 

[buttwhacker]

Actually the price for the website is pretty good but what is your bandwith requirement per month, specially if you have a lot of graphic files on the site it will require having some good bandwith. Usually places like these who are very cheap in hosting have exhorbitant prices for bandwith and other stuff, look into that.
Personally I think powweb . com is a good hosting site with some very great features, costs $94 per year and you dont pay and free domain name too for that period....... well just take a look at their websites and you decide.....