Best website design software for a newbie?

[chiped_wood]

I am creating a website for a small business, it does not need to be very complex but I want it to look professional to give the business a good image.

Currently I am using the tool on the site I am hosting with but I am finding it is restrictive as they want me to upgrade to the full version at £5 a month!

http://www.southport-surveyors.co.uk/index.html

Also if anyone has a little advice about getting higher up in google for me that would be great. Right now I don't come up in google at all, even when you search the websites URL.

 

[nibinaearr]

You need to submit your website to google. Also I recommend creating an xml sitemap and adding it to your google account (see sources for both).

I personally use Photoshop and Dreamweaver but these are professional tools and take a long time to master. I've heard of people using Gimp instead for image editing. You can using Dreamweaver in the design view for drag and drop style code creation, but honestly it creates but ugly code and breaks every rule concerning quality code.

Another approach is to learn XHTML and CSS and do it properly. Learn some design skills and copy a good template to give yourself and good design. It takes time but it's worth it.

 

[Charlie]

Notepad is the single best piece of software for web design available
Combine it with GIMP for graphics

And you might also want to actually submit your website to Google first

 

[HTMLfreak]

Webs.com
weebly.com

webs.com is my first option because it can do more that weebly such as create a guestbook and members (if required)