Element321, maybe you could beta test it when it's done and tell me what needs fixing? Any other ideas or thoughts? Please feel free to speak up if you're against the idea, too - I'd hate to work on it and then find out folk would rather use the exchanges forum!

Thanks for the compliment, Nell! I've had several personal email conversation about websites with Kate, as well as with another gardener writer, and will share some of my thoughts here. In general, we are well served to design most websites in a common format, because that is what people (and search engine spiders) are used to seeing. This is a menu either across the top or down the left side (or both)  title and logo at the top, and the splash page content on the right. At the last GWA meeting in Vancouver, I got a very valuable piece of advice about the left-side menu. One of the speakers mentioned that your links should finish the sentence: "I want toÂ." So the link could be "Contact Kate" or "View KateÂs Portfolio" for example. It should be easy to find contact information. If you go with ads, they should be unobtrusive, and it should be easy to tell what is your content and what is an ad. I have been testing Google ads on my site for awhile I think that the way IÂve used them is not too conspicuous, but IÂm not fully convinced about their usefulness at this point. The text should be easy to read. Sounds self-explanatory, but IÂm amazed at the number of sites I visit with small fonts, or pale colored lettering. I personally find black backgrounds too dominating, and flashing or moving symbols annoying. When putting content on the site, you have to first think of your overall purpose for designing and paying for the site in the first place. If you are looking for work as a garden writer, then there should be some samples of your writing, a resume, and some illustrations at the very least. (The mention of illustrations is important  People are used to seeing photos or illustrations presented with text, and will more quickly leave a site that is all text.) A page of links on your site will help bring people to you, through a "back door." (They are searching for one thing on a search engine, and your website appears.) As I explained to Kate, one of the best things I ever did was to hire someone to help me with the website. When I was doing it all myself I would have to re-learn the software every time, and so my updates were few and far between. Now I can email new articles, photos, and schedule updates to the woman who helps me, and within a couple of days the changes are made.

I like tripod, they have a very simple to use template type webdesign that anyone can use it is called trillion, I have one of my websites on tripod. I like it better than bravenet but bravenet is also a good free one. have you checked with your isp most give you a generous amount of free webspace to create a website, I am on verizon and they provide a good amount free and you can purchase more if needed. The verizon one does not have ads on it but any of the free ones will have ads on them that is how they make their money some are worse than others. tripod Bravenet bravenet will send you quite a bit of email about their stuff so be prepared for that, tripod has never ever sent me any email. Both have photo album features and guest books and even blogs all kinds of goodies to add on, music too if you want it.

Thats better than me. My real name is Alice Ann. No Judy at all. It's a long story. Always been called Judy,hate Alice!!!! In school someone gave me the nickname of Cuder(don't remember why), tried using that as my screen name but it was already taken so I did it backwards, reduc500!!! And I'm not even a redneck!!!