New to Websites

[Martin_T]

Tweet

Hi everyone,

I am totally new to websites would like to learn.
All of the advice I have been getting is that I need to learn php and MySQL.

However, I know nothing about this

I know a little about SQL, but am I right in saying that php is a language like html?
I have been told that dreamweaver is a good piece of software for php. However dreamweaver seems very expensive to buy to learn is there any free or cheap software around?

If you can answer any of my questions or have any other advice for a newcomer I would be very grateful.

thanks,

Martin

[accelerator]

The first thing you need to do is get a good grasp of basic HTML:

Web Design Tutorials

PHP is a very useful skill to have, mainly because it allows you to work with databases such as MySQL. For instance, if you take a look at one of my sites, e.g. Hotels in Bath, I am using PHP to automate the display of relevant merchants in the "Best Bath hotel sites" in the table on the left.

PHP also allows you to easily include similar sections on all pages of your site, e.g. a header section. So PHP is very useful, you can learn it here:

PHP Tutorials

and some example scripts:

Example PHP Scripts

Remember to join a good selection of affiliate networks:

UK Affiliate Marketing Networks

Hope that helps.

Rgds

[accelerator]

Also, Dreamweaver is a great programme but it is expensive for a newbie. It is definitely worth buying as it really speeds site creation time up, but if you are on a limited budget then hand code the HTML for your first site in Notepad. Just use a really simple table design. All my sites are really simple in design, e.g. my cheap mobile phones site, they have a very simple table structure which is easy to create, and that is all you need. Important factors are the selling side of things, see:

Conversion Rate Optimisation

Buy Dreamweaver once you've worked out how to build a successful affiliate site. In the meantime, notepad or the various other free HTML editors.

Rgds

[macnpaul]

I'd question the idea that you need to learn PHP, whilst it may be a handy skill to have you need to start with the basics.

I'm sure there are plenty of very succesful affiliates on here who know nothing about PHP, there are enough ready made scripts and templates out there to get by.

Have a go at setting up a wordpress blog, or download some html templates and then start to change bits, which is how you will pick up things like HTML.

Recommended reading -

http://www.here.org.uk/2008/01/begin...wordpress.html