Resource Lists Home > Marketing and the Web > Web Development and Maintenance

Web Development Resources

Consultant and Freelance Sources, Copyrighting Material, Creating PDF Files, Free Articles, Graphics Sources, Storefronts and Merchant Site Design, Syndicate Sites, Web Creation Tools, Web Site Development Services, Web Hosting Directory

Storefronts and Merchant Site Design

The basic Bigstep.com site is about $30 per month as of this writing, with additional functionality available for a fee. Some of the options available are credit card processing and search engine submission.

FreeMerchant will supply you with a basic site for about $10 per month. They also offer additional packages with progressively more functional tools.

Yahoo! Stores start in the mid-$ a month. They offer additional packages with increase functionality such as coupons. Other premium services are also available.

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Web Hosting Directory

HostSearch is a searchable directory of Web host providers. Search criteria include cost, disk space, platform, monthly transfer amount, features, and programming type. The site also includes a 1 – 10 rating system to help you find quality services.

Consultant and Freelance Sources

Elance is a marketplace to hire professional service providers for your projects. Categories include Business Strategy; Graphic Design and Multimedia; Web Design and Development; and Writing and Translation. There is no charge to post a project.

Monster.com’s Talent Market matches free agents with employers who are searching for independent contractors to complete finite project(s). You can post your project to the site for mid-$.

Smarterwork is a managed marketplace for business services. Businesses post projects for certified experts to bid on. Project categories include Business Consulting, Writing, Marketing/Creative, Web Design, and Research.

Guru.com is a community of “gurus” (experienced people who have decided to freelance) and businesses that have a need for freelancers or consultants. Businesses post available projects, then the Guru.com software matches the project to appropriate individuals. Freelancers and businesses can also search the site for relevant project/freelancer matches. Guru charges a 5% match fee when you find talent through the service. 

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Web Creation Tools

Frontpage, is Microsoft’s Web development software. A large percentage of sites on the web were created with Frontpage. You can purchase the stand-alone program for mid-$.

Dreamweaver is Macromedia’s Web development software. Many creative designers prefer Dreamweaver to Frontpage because of its flexibility. The full version is priced in the low-$$.

GoLive is Adobe’s Web development software. The program is designed to work smoothly with Adobe’s other design products – Photoshop, Illustrator, and LiveMotion. It is priced in the low-$$.

Web Site Development Services

Syndicate Sites

The Womans-Net Syndication service is updated weekly. Choose from eleven different topics, including small business, search engine positioning, and Health/Wellness. 

Moreover pulls content from 1800 sources for their free continual web feed. Choose from more than 20 categories and numerous sub-categories.

The Web-Source Syndicator service service puts a complete, new article on your Website each week. You choose the topic(s).

Free Articles

FindSticky.com is a directory of free content sites. A recent count showed 139 free content sites in 15 categories.

EzineArticles.com provides free content for your Website or ezine. You can find articles by searching the site or drilling down from several major categories. Request an article and it will be sent via autoresponder. As always with free content, the article must be kept intact and the resource box included when you publish it. Also, notify the author where you are using her/his article. The site also offers a free newsletter announcing new articles.

Creating PDF Files

PDF Online conversion service, will convert your files into PDF or HTML format for free. They support files up to 5MB in rich text, simple text, MS Word, MS Excel, or MS Powerpoint formats. BCL also sells Adobe Acrobat plug-ins.

Easy PDF, by Visage Software, lets you create PDF formatted files. The software is priced in the low-$.

Adobe Acrobat is the original software for creating PDF files. Acrobat reader is a free download (customers will always be able to read and print your documents, at no charge, with the reader). The current version of Acrobat – for developing documents in PDF format – is priced in the low-$$.

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Information About Copyrighting Material

The Copyright Website explains copyrighting and reviews several copyright infringement court cases. Covers visual, audio, and digital copyrighting.

The U.S. Government Copyright Office site includes FAQ about copyrighting as well as a link to the copyright application. Fees are explained in “Circular 4”.

Trademark Booklet (Trademarks are different from copyrights) - US Government booklet explaining basics. Page includes links to apply for trademark online.

Graphics Sources

Clip Art Warehouse, contains thousands of images, most of them free for your use as long as you include a link back to Clip Art Warehouse.

morgueFile.com contains an archive of photos for use in creative projects.

Google Image Search searches over 150 million images and quickly returns thumbnails of the images. I searched on “globe” and got 26,600 results, with the first 20 displayed, in .06 seconds. NOTE: This search creates thumbnails of images from all over the Internet. Images can only be used with permission from the image owner.

Clip Art Connection, contains numerous links to free clipart and graphics sites.

Jupiterimages features stock photos, stock footage, photo objects, clipart, illustrations, fonts, animations and flash components from several different suppliers.

Foto Search Stock Photos allows users to search from more than fifty quality stock photography vendors at one site. They can also find clipart pictures; royalty-free illustrations, motion stock video clips, vector maps, and background clip art imagery. (Note: Royalty-free items require initial purchase.)

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These resources were originally developed as companion to the strategic marketing plan development book How Much for Just the Spider? Strategic Website Marketing for Small-budget Businesses. I've updated them as additional appropriate resources come to my attention. In developing these resource lists, I scoured the Web for resources useful to small-budget businesses and entrepreneurs. I looked for sites and services that would help you learn more about Internet Marketing and help you get things done efficiently. My focus is on services that appear to be designed for the needs and time frames of small businesses. Bobette

To the best of my knowledge, resource information was accurate at the time of this writing. Current programs may vary from those reported here. Please let me know if you find any outdated information. Although my intent is to list only upstanding products and services on the site, I cannot personally  make any guarantees. It is wise to check any company out before purchasing, signing any agreement, or making a commitment. Online fraud bureaus and consumer groups are one way to do this. Among them are The Better Business Bureau (and BBBOnline), Fraud Bureau, The Federal Trade Commission, the Internet Crime Complain Center , Complaints.com, and Scambusters. Bobette