Your Own Writer's Website
Like mine, only with your mug on the front!

I have SO many people asking me how I did this website and I would love to help other writers get something basic up right now. I can absolutely do the same for you and show you how easy it is to maintain your own website. As you learn (and you need to!), you can customize it yourself or purchase a new, jazzy template elsewhere. For now the goal is to get you online fast!

How do we start?

You'll need a domain name to start. They cost approximately $7.99 - $9.99 for one year from godaddy.com or $14.95 to $22.95 per year from me (depending on whether you choose .com, .info, .name, .biz, and so on). Both have discounts for multiple-year registrations.

What's the difference?

I would personally choose the cheaper fee, but if you want to support small business, go with the domain from my hosting service.

What about the site?

I will freely give you your own template just like mine in the same or another color. This template would not have any words, links or photos like you see above, below and on the left besides a generic title, a home page and a links page. Just a colored outside, a blank inside and all the behind the scenes tables needed to keep the structure as you fill in the site.

What if I need more?

If you need the template customized with pages and links, I charge $15.00 an hour to build blank pages linked from the side and bottom like my site. Exactly like my site with the same font, style, etc...

I don't do masthead graphics (mine is literally just typed in where you see at the top of my site "Gina Ritter.com") but I know some places you can GET graphics made for a price OR freebie tops like you see here: vi411.org).

How do I customize my site?

I use Dreamweaver which is like Frontpage only more expensive and confusing to learn if you're not a techie *sigh* but you can use Mozilla or any other website editor.

You could also go with Wordpress software that's free and have someone help you install things like the meta tags plugin, the template, etc... Wordpress is a blog software that's GREAT and your site shows up in search engines instantly every time you post. It's easy to edit with no costly software.

Will you customize and update my site for me?

I will (temporarily) using Dreamweaver, for a fee of $15.00 an hour (instead of at least $50.00 an hour like the pros). But only if you're nice to me and tell me I'm funny. And hey, you can easily learn to do this yourself!

What about getting the site online?

AND what's more (I'm starting to feel like a TV commercial) I can set you up online right away with hosting for $8.50 per month until you can find your own host. This would be your own site broadcasting online, not mine. So people would go to www.YourSiteNameHereNotMine.com.

But I like you and I want to stay!

First of all, you hardly know me and I only have three bedrooms for a family of five. But if you insist, you can stay with my very reliable hosting program for as long as you want but please understand I am not a formal "hosting company" so I am not great at tech support.

So you're hosting but are not a host? This is so bogus!

I can get you the support you need and get back to you with help, but it's not the same as calling directly to tech support. It might take a day or two. I just cannot offer a lot of support, sorry! I'm trying to just get you online fast and you can do the rest.

Then why the offer?

To get you started! Just to get your site online THIS week! Next month when our $8.50 hosting contract is up you are free to go. You're free to go before that, but I keep the $8.50. It's easy :-)

If you'll need extra support or want the security of it, you can find someone else at any time. So you're always free to go - I'm just here to help get you started!

Where should I go for hosting then?

I recommend www.HostingCT.com for the same package you'll have with me - at their affordable $9.95 a month deal. It's a very easy transition from me to them.

They're a small business and know what small businesses need. They've served me well for over three years and I have NO complaints. And come on, I will complain when I have a reason to.

What do I get for paying you $8.50 per month?

With the site comes a stats program so you can track who comes in and 5 e-mail accounts with your domain name. It also comes with a few other bells and whistles.

How do I pay?

Personal check, cashier's check, money order or Paypal. Credit cards possible in the near future. Fee must be received before I can do anything. If you're staying longer than one month no the hosting service, you will need to pay the hosting fee on time each month.

Break it down:

So that's a free template like mine.
$10.00 to build blank pages and links (one time fee).
$8.95 a month for hosting.
$15.00 an hour (instead of $50) if you want me to add content and photos to your pages (now or in the future).
ALL prices subject to change, check back here.

Are you ready?