Creating quick affiliate websites

[ian-d]

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What are you affiliates using to create quick websites to promote merchants. There is a few mentions of joomla for speed, any others or do you tend to hand code or use dreamweaver and develop your own?

[stu foster]

I use Dreamweaver and hand coding, depending on whether i'm on the pc or the lappy.

Dreamweaver rules by the way!

Stu

[ian-d]

Oh yes i agree, have used it for all my businesses, but didn't know whether anyone used auto generation software to build sites fast for affiliate purposes?

[Graham@Buyagift]

Although I haven't seen this through, I built a site that had everything working - database connection, category pages, product pages etc. I will then replicate and modify imagery and CSS - should be a pretty quick build.

Graham

[Stellar]

Make a xhtml/css template that is SEO friendly and use that for the basis for all other sites. You can normally ammend the CSS file to make a new site look completely different by changing colours, fonts, layout etc..

Or use a CMS system like Wordpress, Joolma or Drupal (Drupal being the best IMO).

Depends on what you what the site to do of course.. if you are going to being adding content on a regular basis, a CMS system is probabaly the best route. Once you get the hang of a system, it is pretty easy to add it to new sites and customise it.

If it is a simple 5 page mini site, then a CMS is overkill and a simple html/css site is fine.

[max99]

have to say i use frontpage , altho lots knock it im used to it, and the websites i show people ive made with it, well they are v. impressed

[ian-d]

max99 - I'd never go back from dreamweaver to frontpage sorry, but have you tried dreamweaver, you'll never go back either

stellar - Do you have any decent guides on css templates? I've only used css to create font styles on page, but never seperate as a template for all. I've been able to do a lot other than that, so sure i can pick it up!

Does anyone know of a CMS program (maybe Joomla/wordpress?) that can setup reviews for customers to make etc? Have an idea but don't want to code from scratch!

[hyipcoder]

Anyhow, skills in promotion is more important than knowledge in creating a site...

[Stellar]

Does anyone know of a CMS program (maybe Joomla/wordpress?) that can setup reviews for customers to make etc? Have an idea but don't want to code from scratch!

Yes. One word: Drupal! Drupal is ideal for community sites where people can become members and add content.. whether it be reviews, blogs, forum posts, articles, photos, what ever. Drupal does have quite a big learning curve though and there are a few modules you need to install to get the full benefit.. but I think it is worth the time.

stellar - Do you have any decent guides on css templates? I've only used css to create font styles on page, but never seperate as a template for all. I've been able to do a lot other than that, so sure i can pick it up!

Umm.. here are a few sites that can help you learn about css:

http://www.cssplay.co.uk/
http://www.tizag.com/cssT/
http://www.w3schools.com/css/default.asp

In terms of templates.. there are a few around.. here are some great free ones that you can down load and play with:
http://andreasviklund.com/templates/

I'd also recommend this book if you are new to it.. it will explain how to create a site using CSS for the layout.. it is good for learning XHTML as well:

http://www.htmlbooks.net/head-first-...-xhtml-and-css

[stu foster]

max99 - I'd never go back from dreamweaver to frontpage sorry, but have you tried dreamweaver, you'll never go back either

stellar - Do you have any decent guides on css templates? I've only used css to create font styles on page, but never seperate as a template for all. I've been able to do a lot other than that, so sure i can pick it up!

Does anyone know of a CMS program (maybe Joomla/wordpress?) that can setup reviews for customers to make etc? Have an idea but don't want to code from scratch!

if you go to www.hotscripts.com, there are various review scripts in there but i can't vouch for quality.

By the way, you got your header graphic sorted?

Stu

[Leeky]

www.affiliatescript.co.uk

[WR330]

I use Dreamweaver alot, once you get used to it pre-emting what you are typing, and all the different colours, its unbeatable.

As far as actual code goes, Sitepoint do some really good books on it. I use CSS anthology quite alot as a reference book. But they do all sorts, Javascript, PHP etc.... they are a bit on the expensive side..£30 for a book, but well worth it.

[hyipcoder]

I use Dreamweaver alot, once you get used to it pre-emting what you are typing, and all the different colours, its unbeatable.

As far as actual code goes, Sitepoint do some really good books on it. I use CSS anthology quite alot as a reference book. But they do all sorts, Javascript, PHP etc.... they are a bit on the expensive side..£30 for a book, but well worth it.

I agree. If you want quality then use DW )if you know how to do it)... Using a free service does not guarantee better quality. There are a lot of good guys in sirtepoint who can tell you more strategy on how to do this..

[Adeel]

i prefer php, mysql dynamic websites. easy to manage and add more contents. some basic skills on photoshop can help a lot to design banners and buttons.. w3schools is a cool website to learn basic website design stuff for affiliates..


Ciao..

[WR330]

PHP.... ... I've just got a book on PHP & MySQL, its just baffling me! but i suppose in the long run its going to be worth it