We are trying to decide on how best to get started to create a website. I was hoping to get from feedback from those of you with experience with starting a website.

What site do you use to host? Is it free? If not, what are the costs? Does it offer the options needed to make it effective?

I am sure those of you who already have a site know what other questions I should be asking. Please share that with me too.

Thanks for your help, it is really appreciated!

Beth

We use ICDSoft. It's not free, runs about $70 a year for hosting and domain registration. You're unlikely to get reliable ad-free hosting for free, and the $70 we pay is well worth it. The support from ICDSoft is unbelievable, the best I've encountered in working with almost a dozen hosting companies on various projects; it's email only, no phone, but you get answers within an hour, and they've always been good answers.

If you'd like design help, post back and we'll figure out a way to communicate.

Thanks MIdad for your hosting information.


bolson61-
Have you read this article yet? www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/arti...o-website-that-works
Lots of helpful information in there.

Also, here's a link to an old message board and Facebook thread about PTO websites... maybe you'll pick up some ideas there.


For those of you who have had a hand in your group's website, please jump in!


Just a reminder that there is no soliciting in our community forums.

Thanks,
~Lisa

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Midad, thanks for the suggestion. I'll check it out.

Lisa, I had looked at the article and that will help once we decide which site to use for our website. You mentioned a link to an old message board; could you please post it?

Thanks,
Beth

Beth,
Here's the link to the old message board thread:
www.ptotoday.com/boards/21-day-to-day-pt...0-pto-website#154608

~Lisa

You can use any host and domain registration you like. There are a variety of inexpensive good hosting companies out there. Host Gator, QTH.com are 2 I know of off the top of my head. You can Google for more.

Depending on what you want to your PTO website to do will determine what platform you use. WordPress is great for simple things and there are plenty of plug-ins for calendars, pages for different areas, you can upload forms, etc.

There is a new company out there called DigitalPTO.com too. They provide a free basic PTO website (not your own domain though) as well as 2 upgraded options that will give you your own domain. The upgraded versions do have annual fees.

If there is someone in your PTO who is knowledgable about web design you can probably go with someone like HostGator, etc. and let them build it for you. I use WordPress for my personal blog and love the flexibility of it.

There are small companies that will also build websites and provide hosting services as well. Again, Google can find them for you. Keep in mind if your PTO is 501(c)3 you can have a .org instead of a .com

Here are some nice examples from our area -

www.soepto.org/
scepto.org/
schiffpta.org/
www.bmspto.org/

We don't have our own website yet but I'm working on it. I just need to decide what I want to present to the Board as far all of it goes. I'm still trying to find out the district's social media policy!