Free or inexpensive web presence? Any suggestions?

[Rachel]

Does anyone have suggestions for a free or inexpensive way to create a website or something that will look like a website?

I want to create a "web presence" that showcases my accomplishments in a certain area, possibly this is something that could grow into a business post retirement.

I don't want to use it to sell anything, and I don't think I want a blog because I don't necessarily want the newer material to be "on top" of the older material.

Maybe I just want a sort of online portfolio?

Any thoughts? Thanks very much.

[cdttmm]

For professional web presence, how about a LinkedIn account? Yes, it's a social media account, but it's designed and intended for people to use as their professional social media communication tool. There's also about.me, which is essentially just a free homepage where people can learn about you and whatever you want to share with them. This is another tool that I use for a professional web presence.

Of course, you could also try creating a tumblr, which is a very image heavy blog of sorts, so depending on what you mean by online portfolio that could be what you are looking for.

Hope that helps!

[Float On]

weebly still has nice free websites and super easy to use. I used it for our business. I never did set up a shopping cart on it, just used it as our info, catalog, web presence. http://www.weebly.com/ I paid a little for my domain so it was our name.com instead of having to be a weebly address.

[SteveinMN]

how about a LinkedIn account? [snip] There's also about.me
Very good suggestions, though, in my mind, tumblr as a Web address doesn't exactly ooze "ready for business".

Another possibility is WordPress, which is free on the WordPress site (in exchange for not having your own URL, which you wouldn't get with LI/about.me/tumblr anyway, and being part of WP's promotional-efforts-by-roulette-wheel). WordPress offers a variety of templates for content, some of which may simplify getting your stuff on the Web.

wix.com offers a free level of hosting, with templates and some assistance and limited bandwidth, which you then can supplement with a subscription (i.e, you don't have to migrate your site). And your ISP/broadband provider also may offer a limited amount of space for free or at a minimal cost with other features.

[iris lilies]

Lots of people, hobby groups, and organizations use Facebook to establish their web presence.

Personally, I don't like the format, but it's where a lot of people hang out.

[catherine]

I would agree with Steve about using Wordpress as a web presence. You can have a static page with your portfolio elements on it and create with a format that doesn't look "blog-gy" There are tons of themes to choose from. The more professional route would be to choose the inexpensive Wordpress.org version.

[Rachel]

This is awesome, thank you all so so much for this info!

[jenna]

I agree with the suggestion about Weebly. It's one of the best free options, but they do put ads on your page.

You also can get a cheap web hosting account (some are only $1 a month) and put wordpress on it. Wordpress is free and has some basic templates that come with it when you install.

I've been helping to write for this site (http://www.expertfrugal.com/category/freebies/) and we use a cheap wordpress account that only costs us about $20 a year.

[Float On]

I agree with the suggestion about Weebly. It's one of the best free options, but they do put ads on your page.



Mine didn't have ads...is that something newer? I paid for my own domain, did that make a difference? I got rid of it last year.

[profnot]

I have a website using webs.com
It's has free templates and free hosting. Easy to use.
It's one of the few free ones Google can find.

I also have free accounts on Facebook, Yelp, Merchant's Circle, CraigsList, HotFrog, and over 100 more. All free - just lots of elbow grease.

My SEO rocks.

Keywords are essential. Not only the ones you know. You must list the ones your CUSTOMERS know. Ask, ask, ask. Every appointment, everyone you chat with, and their brothers.

Example: I always ask what words my clients used to find me. Year 8, someone from a nearby country said USA. There are 4+ million people doing what I do in the US. So USA and US were on all my websites/profiles within days.

Another example: In 2009 + 2010, so many businesses went under I realized the year was a keyword. Now I add "last updated month/day/year" on everything. Refreshes your website/listing, too.

Not rocket science but it takes lots of time. Forget the SEO gurus who say they have special apps/tools to get you instant visitors. (Ex: a friend teaches opera singing. Her guru promised lots of visits. He put a video about how DYI repairs to dings in your RV. Lots of traffic from ppl who do not want voice lessons. TRUE story!)

I don't care who visits my site - I care about who phones or emails me to book an appt. Skip the techs.

Good luck, OP.