HELP ME! – A Guide to Resources for Web Designers using Cheap Web Hosting

First and foremost, you will run into problems when bringing your website online. You should know this because it is absolutely inevitable. Everyone does. Not only are you not alone, but there is a slew of resources you can tap into for assistance to work out the bugs and quirks with your web site.
Your first resource should be your cheap web hosting company. Have them on speed dial! Even discount web hosting companies and budget web hosting companies can offer you some technical advice and support. If your site is not acting properly, ask them for some general advice or assistance. They might only be able to tell you that there is a problem with your code. At least this narrows down the possibilities for you so that you may move onto the next logical step.

Once you have contacted your cheap hosting provider and ensured there is no issue with your actual hosting package, it may be time to start examining your code. If you paid someone to design your site for you or you used a pre fabricated web page designer, contact this person or company immediately. Tell them what you have done so far to troubleshoot the issue. Many cheap web hosting companies offer design services at budget rates, so if you are looking for an all in one solution, seek out one of these companies.

If you designed the site yourself and still have no idea how to fix your error, do not panic! There are many resources still available to you. If you feel like you do not have the working knowledge to really dig into your website code and actually fix the issue, you might want to seek the assistance of a professional web designer. For a simple error fix, it could be quite inexpensive. If this is the route you choose to take, contact your web hosting company for recommendations on a good web designer or web design company. An alternative to this would be to use a freelance contract website where you simple put out a bid for your project or fix and request bids for experts. Some sites that can do this while protecting the interest of the buyer and the coder include: www.rentacoder.com , www.freelance.com , and www.odesk.com . Because these sites tap emerging economies, you can often get your site fixed quite inexpensively.

Should you really wish to fix the site yourself, there are free resources readily available on the web for you to seek help.

• w3schools.com – This is free site that has very minimal advertising and offers many learning tools such as reference guides, quizzes, and outlines. You are unable to ask general questions on this site, but if you have a conceptual or small syntax error, this site can get you pointed in the right direction. They have guides on web languages like: PHP, ASP, SQL, XML, HTML, CSS , and AJAX. In fact, they even have some conceptual learning items like: TCP/IP, Web Browsers, Web Media, etc. They have been around for many years and are known for their accuracy and thoroughness.
• htmlhelp.com – This site, though it has some light advertising, offers a slew of resources for your disposal. Their forums are excellent, with a community large enough to offer you a bit of free advice. The site also has code validations, reference materials, and many articles on design elements and fundamentals.
• devshed.com – This site has also been around for many years. Though it has pretty heavy advertising, it is so comprehensive that it is definitely worth visiting. They have some of the largest web design forums I have ever seen, that is divided into specific languages. Also, they post articles and reviews to keep you up to date on the latest web developer information. Be forewarned that anyone can submit articles to devshed, so before taking ideas and running with them, get a second opinion. This goes for any web development advice you find. Run it by a second expert so you can be sure that you are not utilizing a poor or inexperienced opinion.

Always remember that you can contact your low cost web hosting company for some assistance in this process. You are paying a budget hosting company to be your web expert. They should be able to connect you with the right people if need be along the way. However, be forewarned that your web hosting company is not your web designer unless you pay for that service. Ask them for advice and guidance, but generally, if there is a problem with your web site coding, your affordable web hosting company will not fix this unless they specifically offer web design services.