This is the former cool websites, tips and tricks forum...we've retooled a bit, and moved it here to the Resources category so that we can all help each other out based on experiences.

Feel free to share your own techniques and wisdom on creating a website that draws and keeps attention from visitors. Feel free to ask those nagging questions about search engines, software, and weird HTML codes...

Hello, Last week I finally committed to a web hosting company and bought one year with ipowerweb.com for basic hosting. I figured I would build my own basic website with their web builder. But I am dense when it comes to this thing and have been able to do only my template and logo. I cant figure out how to do a layout or anything else. I am stuck. I am a psychotherapist and specialize in helping men with anger and other issues. Also forensic psychology (assaults, murder, dui's). Trying to develop an appropriate site but just can't seem to make it happen. Any suggestions?

Wow, two years between the initial post and the reply? That's gotta be a record (lol).

Congrats on starting up your new site, and welcome to the wonderful world of websites. When you refer to the "web builder" are you talking about an application proprietary to your host? Are you open to learning some basic HTML? What's your level of comfort with things technological? Did you ever use WordPerfect (there's a reason I'm asking this)?

I'll be happy to try to help you get rolling if I can...

Thanks for the possible help; if I can understand enough. I could barely get your questions. Nonetheless, I am to sign on to my webbuilder site: www.theangryguy.com/vdeck, and build it with these tools that I don't understand. I have found a couple of really cool background templates that I have saved but don't seem to be able to figure it out. I am willing to learn anything (HTML) but have limited time and believe I am better suited to writing what to say, not how it will look.

Evan L. Katz, M.C.

Hi! It looks like your web host is offering you a tool called vdeck to administer your website. I've not used that one before, so I'm afraid I can't help you with that. You might ask your web host if vdeck has a website building tutorial or something (I took a quick look myself and couldn't find one easily).

THere are lots of generic HTML tutorials on the web...just type "HTML tutorial" in google and you'll see what I mean. Any of those can get you started, but it sounds like you might want to take on a partner for your site who can do the design, while you write the text.

Thanks for the feedback and the offer for help. Well, I finally did it. After all the searching for web creators, asking for help, reading tutorials, etc. Check it out: www.theangerguy.com. I am an expert in helping men identify, own, and deal with their anger in a positive way. My techniques work, as evidenced by all the men who have regained their lives. A book is next!

I have 4 pages up so far and did it myself! Amazing! Now I am going to try and figure out how to add hyperlinks to other secondary pages. Question: I have submitted my site to google and lots of other search engines, but when I type in the website or phrases from my site, I have cannot get the site to come up in the search engine at all. Any help in showing me how to make it show up in the search engines? Thanks for all the replies.