Advice please! A website I can update easily...

[mabh]

I'd really appreciate some advice from anyone who understand the murky world of websites!

I have a basic website that was written for me, but I can only update in through the man who wrote it.

Are there any pre-packaged 'empty' websites or any programmes I could use on the one I've got, to keep adding features or a blog?

I probably sounds very thick , but that's why I'm asking the question! Any suggestions?

Thanks

Mabh - on my website it's been created so there is a Twitter feed running across the bottom. So the main content of the site remains the same but the Twitter changes just as often as I want to update. There are two good things about this:
1 - (for the moment) having Twitter makes me look like I'm up with modern tech etc
2 - 140 characters ain't that much to fill in each day.

Your man who wrote your site ought to be able to add this feature in for you.

HTH

A couple of suggestions:

a) set up a blog using Wordpress.com and ask your 'man' to link from your website to your blog, then you can update the blog whenever you like. The downside to this is that it will be completely separate to your website, but that leads me to option b

b) use Wordpress to replace your current website then you can update it whenever you like. By using 'pages' rather than 'posts' you can make your own website using Wordpress and then you can explore all the different plugins to add more functionality when you want to (or when you're feeling brave!).

If you're really wedded to the design of your website (it's look & feel) then these might not be viable options because for non-technical users Wordpress just offers a range of themes that you can apply and do some basic customisation. If you have some technical skills you can adjust the design of Wordpress reasonably easily.

I run several sites on Wordpress and find it incredibly flexible and easy to use.

Another cheap/easy option is the Mr. Site package. It gives you templates to create your own site with e-commerce, twitter, forum, e-mail contact etc. options. The package includes domain transfer/hosting, you get 1yr free with the option to renew annually. You get technical support and most importantly for me you can access it at any time and change content/update figures etc.
I found it to be a cheap,easy option and you are not held to ransom by any web designers!!

Fab advice - thank you very much.

I'll go and look into all those options.

Dh used to use Mr Site but found the designs were a bit boring and didn't sell his services well. He has now switched to a similar template thing but with loads more options. Will try and find out which one it is. Costs are roughly similar to Mr Site.

Thanks island that would be very helpful.

It is

www.4templates.com/view/website-templates/

You have to change the little box to show prices in pounds

Thanks island

If I didn't need to tinker about with web techy stuff as part of my job, I'd be using a hosted blogging system such as WordPress.

You can point your web address at your blog, add text, have static pages and include your twitter feed all in one place. It also does some work in making your blog visible to others as well.

Hi Mabh I don't understand the murky world of websites at all, which is why I use ADobe Contribute to update mine - all you need is the FTP information for your website and you can update the text yourself, it's dead easy.

You can't change the structure of the site but you can add pages and upload PDFs etc to it, and it's really easy to use. Cost about £70, you can buy it online, download it immediately and away you go. Definitely worth a go IMHO!

What do you sell?

Sorry, I don't know where I've been .

Thanks HGDad and Snowtiger. I think those are the options I'll go for, as other people have mentioned them, too. And Contribute is actually cheaper than I thought it was.

MrsGok I am a freelance marketer-cum-copywriter. Hence the need to showcase my wares.

Thanks for the help, all.