Web Design Software

In today's global economy, every company—no matter its size—needs a Web site. Educational institutions and associations, as well as individuals, also have Web sites to communicate information to their audiences. You could pay a Web designer or, if you want a more affordable option, you could build your own site with Web design software.

Choosing Web Design Software

There are two things you need to know before shopping for Web design software: (1) whether your operating system is Windows or Macintosh, and (2) the kind of HTML (hypertext markup language) editor you need. HTML code determines the way pages are displayed in an Internet browser. Professionals have learned HTML code; novices use software that operates much like Microsoft Word documents. If you don't know HTML, look for software that automatically inserts the code for you. Some Web design software includes color-coded HTML to teach you what each HTML tag does.

When shopping for Web design software, a visit first to the FAQ page of the site advertising the software will give you an idea of the complexity of using the software.

Features To Look For

You will want to buy a program that includes a tutorial; many also include design and navigation tips as well as advanced design tips.

Web site add-ons, such as message boards and forums, counters, mini polls, password protection, live Java chat, etc. come as separate software, although there some companies that offer a variety of these add-ons in one package. You can buy Web design software that includes just the basics or software that includes flash effects, a drag-and-drop program for building forms (includes drop-down lists, check boxes, etc.). If your site has a large amount of content, you may want to buy a program to create your own customized search engine so visitors can easily search your site.

Newsletter software is another add-on. Some of these software packages include the functionality to create, edit, and maintain your contact list as well as keep track of the number of clicks on a link for each mailing.

Dreamweaver is the industry-leading Web development software. This program involves the ease of dragging and dropping appropriate fields of content onto a Web page and includes styles for managing content and making it easy to make changes.

Web design software prices range from free programs (simple fill-in-the-blank templates) to under $500, and up to several thousand dollars, depending on the functionality and add-ons included.

By Kathleen Goolsby