Author Topic: Input Regarding Website Style (Read 7644 times)

Chimney Top · « **on:** February 05, 2014, 01:52:04 AM »

I've been building a website recently using Google Sites and Wix.

Here are links for both:

http://dillonfries.wix.com/dfries81 Wix

https://sites.google.com/site/dfries81/ Google Sites

The Google Sites website is basic, however it is free. Not much interactive material, but it supports Archive.org links, Youtube links, as well as Google Drive folder download links. It's a blog page...

Wix is much more interactive with a lot features and apps and is free w/ ads (about $150/year upgrade includes 10 GB's storage, domain name, no ads). However, apparently it will not support Archive.org media players. It is iframe/html and while Wix supports this, you can only use one code within the website. So you can't use multiple codes/content. I hope this is not the case (I've posted a question in the help forum)... it's not much different than only being able to post one video hosted on youtube.

So, any feedback on which site you prefer taking into consideration the benefits, limitations, and price I've encountered so far?

Thanks

Chimney Top · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2014, 03:16:24 PM »

Anybody? Feedback?

It will take awhile to post all the content, so I am deciding on the layout...

Marshall7 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2014, 03:37:43 PM »

Instant reaction - I like the look of the Google page better.

cd2go · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2014, 10:47:12 PM »

Just from a quick look and user perspective, the wix is much more professional and uncluttered; I would like visiting that one better.

Phil Zone · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2014, 11:20:50 PM »

The thing I noticed most was the wix was way slower to load.

runonce · « **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2014, 07:13:37 AM »

The Wix site looks nicer...

But take a stab at WordPress...

http://wordpress.com/

I build everything with it these days...

willndmb · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2014, 09:54:37 AM »

Quote from: Marshall7 on February 05, 2014, 03:37:43 PM

Instant reaction - I like the look of the Google page better.

same

Chimney Top · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2014, 12:47:27 PM »

Quote from: Phil Zone on February 05, 2014, 11:20:50 PM

The thing I noticed most was the wix was way slower to load.

The Wix site has transition crossfades (out/in) with page views. These settings can be adjusted.

acidjack · « **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2014, 02:01:56 PM »

We use WordPress for nyctaper, which you can customize with various themes, and definitely supports the various kinds of code you want to embed.

earmonger · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2014, 02:26:11 PM »

If you can go ad-free the vibe is much better. That alone would tip me toward Google--or wordpress if that turns out to work well.

One thing on the Google page is that the artists list is weird, at least as my Chrome browser displays it. There are gaps in the artist list that are actually the rest of the artist links--maybe the names are being displayed in blue on blue?

Chimney Top · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2014, 03:44:54 PM »

http://dfries81.wordpress.com

OK, I've deleted the Wix.com and Google Sites, I like the wordpress page...

here is the link.

http://dfries81.wordpress.com

runonce · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2014, 09:04:18 PM »

Press On! - Looks good...

runonce · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2014, 09:13:00 PM »

Quote from: Chimney Top on February 13, 2014, 03:44:54 PM

http://dfries81.wordpress.com

OK, I've deleted the Wix.com and Google Sites, I like the wordpress page...

here is the link.

http://dfries81.wordpress.com

Make your "Contact" link top level link - take it out of the drop down.

Add "Contact Form 7" plug in...

Add "JetPack" statistics plug in...

Add "Home" link to menu...

Play with your widgets (right side column) - that looks like the stock set - just add one of your own, and all those stock widgets will disappear.

earmonger · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2014, 12:30:20 AM »

Looks elegant.

I wonder if you could make your header (D.FRIES NON COMMERCIAL etc.) a smaller font or shorter than 3 lines, because when I go to the Artists list I have to do a lot of scrolling and re-sizing to get anywhere into the alphabet.

ScoobieKW · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2014, 09:51:16 AM »

Best Wordpress audio player (free) is MP3-jPlayer. Allows you to embed playlists for multi-set shows. Also has a popup player so users can listen while they navigate your site.

See it in action at my blog, http://kennedy-williams.net/scoobiesnax

Chimney Top · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2014, 04:15:39 PM »

this is a Wordpress.com website, not Wordpress.org... didn't know the difference until I attempted to add plugins, widgets, etc. Shouldn't be an issue to move the site to .org should I want to develop the theme more and use more plugins.

I'm considering Soundcloud unlimited plan... upload is unlimited and playlist embedding is supported in Wordpress.com (and .org). You can download each track individually in the player. However, should Soundcloud ever have an issue with terms of service for whatever reasons the account could be disabled. It's not bad at $135/year for unlimited hosting. Blue Host is $300/year for VIP plans (larger capacity storage).

ScoobieKW · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2014, 04:24:22 PM »

I self-host on Servage.net.

WordPress installer in their control panel.

Cheap, my own domain, unlimited bandwidth and storage.

Chimney Top · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2014, 06:49:45 PM »

Quote from: ScoobieKW on February 17, 2014, 04:24:22 PM

I self-host on Servage.net.

WordPress installer in their control panel.

Cheap, my own domain, unlimited bandwidth and storage.

I'm looking into this... The site installer is PC only, but the features and price look good.

ScoobieKW · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2014, 07:14:45 PM »

don't worry about pc software.

there is a web installer.
Once you've set up an account, you have a control panel to administer your site.
Installers for Drupal, Wordpress etc are available from the control panel. Any browser will work.

runonce · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2014, 10:00:46 PM »

Quote from: Chimney Top on February 17, 2014, 04:15:39 PM

this is a Wordpress.com website, not Wordpress.org... didn't know the difference until I attempted to add plugins, widgets, etc. Shouldn't be an issue to move the site to .org should I want to develop the theme more and use more plugins.

I'm considering Soundcloud unlimited plan... upload is unlimited and playlist embedding is supported in Wordpress.com (and .org). You can download each track individually in the player. However, should Soundcloud ever have an issue with terms of service for whatever reasons the account could be disabled. It's not bad at $135/year for unlimited hosting. Blue Host is $300/year for VIP plans (larger capacity storage).

Ahh...Didn't know there was a limitation! - I run self-hosted stuff...so didn't know the difference!

I really hate SoundCloud - and once you are paying for some web space/hosting... just use that....and the Google player...or something...

Soundcloud...nice embeds...but otherwise stinky. They've changed their tiers a bit - so I dont really know what I get anymore! I have one of the pay plans...but it's a gyp! IMO

Chimney Top · « **Reply #20 on:** February 17, 2014, 10:52:49 PM »

Quote from: ScoobieKW on February 17, 2014, 07:14:45 PM

don't worry about pc software.

there is a web installer.
Once you've set up an account, you have a control panel to administer your site.
Installers for Drupal, Wordpress etc are available from the control panel. Any browser will work.

Man, Servage looked good, but then I read the reviews. WOW. Numerous posts saying their sites were hacked on multiple occasions. One person had a complete loss of content due to a corrupt Raid HD. Nightmare after nightmare reviews. It's cheap for a reason I guess.

Soundcloud is expensive, but it's simple and it's all I would need... I am concerned however about its growing popularity and potential new stipulations or filters such as youtube that flags content (i.e. WSP covers a Bob Dylan song and it's flagged due to Columbia Records copyright).

ScoobieKW · « **Reply #21 on:** February 17, 2014, 11:05:23 PM »

I've been with Servage for 10 years, no major issues. Occasional short downtimes have been the worst. But for a site that only gets 200 visitors on a busy day, it's fine.

Multiple hackings? Keep your installation of WordPress up to date, and use strong passwords. Nothing different needed than with other hosts.

HD failure? If you aren't backing up your site, you aren't doing it right.

Also remember that they are a very high volume host. Unhappy customers post reviews more than happy, this gets magnified for a large provider.

Cost vs. risk. Your choice.

fsulloway · « **Reply #22 on:** February 18, 2014, 07:17:27 AM »

Quote from: ScoobieKW on February 14, 2014, 09:51:16 AM

Best Wordpress audio player (free) is MP3-jPlayer. Allows you to embed playlists for multi-set shows. Also has a popup player so users can listen while they navigate your site.

See it in action at my blog, http://kennedy-williams.net/scoobiesnax

Is there a way to have a drop down box listing the artists as with the wordpress site?

ScoobieKW · « **Reply #23 on:** February 18, 2014, 03:26:21 PM »

Quote from: fsulloway on February 18, 2014, 07:17:27 AM

Quote from: ScoobieKW on February 14, 2014, 09:51:16 AM
Best Wordpress audio player (free) is MP3-jPlayer. Allows you to embed playlists for multi-set shows. Also has a popup player so users can listen while they navigate your site.

See it in action at my blog, http://kennedy-williams.net/scoobiesnax

Is there a way to have a drop down box listing the artists as with the wordpress site?

My blog is a wordpress site, you could implement it by giving each artist a category, then adding the categories to the menu.

There are also category dropdown plugins you could install.When I want to feature an artist, I usually just search on their name and then send out the URL of the search results.

Chimney Top · « **Reply #24 on:** February 18, 2014, 03:34:12 PM »

Well, I've researched some hosting options and it looks like most 'unlimited' plans are not 'unlimited' when it comes to storing media files. Upgrades/Private Servers are expensive and I'm not going to pay $300/year to host 100-200GB's of mp3's.

runonce · « **Reply #25 on:** February 18, 2014, 08:02:58 PM »

Quote from: Chimney Top on February 18, 2014, 03:34:12 PM

Well, I've researched some hosting options and it looks like most 'unlimited' plans are not 'unlimited' when it comes to storing media files. Upgrades/Private Servers are expensive and I'm not going to pay $300/year to host 100-200GB's of mp3's.

One approach is to make use of free storage plans (soundcloud, dropbox, drive, etc) - those can add up...

Jolidrive app for Chrome is decent for managing these services from a single interface...

http://www.jolicloud.com/

Author Topic: Input Regarding Website Style (Read 7644 times)

Chimney Top

Chimney Top

Marshall7

runonce

Chimney Top

Chimney Top

runonce

runonce

Chimney Top

Chimney Top

runonce

Chimney Top

Chimney Top

runonce