ok so i'm looking to make a website for my ceramics. to start, it'd be a simple landing page with a bio, a contact form, and some photos of my work, but i'd like to have the option to include some kind of e-commerce...... thingy in the future.
as you can probably tell, i do not touch computers for a living. what's the best way to go about that? is there a beginner-friendly way to do this? is it possible to do it for free or on the cheap? are there any ethically sketchy companies i should make sure to avoid?
[boosts and advice *greatly* appreciated]
WHAT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE USING ALREADY NOW! :) The Fediverse! + Shop link later once you're sure...?
@flowers WHAT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE USING ALREADY NOW! :) The Fediverse! + Shop link later once you're sure.
Consider it a 'done for now'?
I see you've been on Fedi for a while, so keen to hear more why.
Summary:
█You have everything to some degree here (for example 4 picture maximum but infinite posts)
█It has follow / favourite / boost and federates already here 'out of the box' :) The other external sites things don't have that by default (more 'plugins to buy or setup)
□ Search is possible via hashtags or other search engine ways (Newer versions of Mastodon allows people to search your posts directly but you can search your own stuff for now *instantly* if not and send to people if they need a keyword not tagged). And they will contact you for more info anyway.
█Accepted by almost all browsers / fast
( more stuff I wrote below might be less for you directly but check it out as I would write to most people asking )
So "Short version / TL;DR":
Use what you have here!
All other ways need payment + a bit of tech know-how for little gain aside the shop which you said would be in future later ...
so testing here with what you have here (my arms open and showing the whole Fediverse) and then a shop (which almost has to be separate) can be a further hassle later. The whole integrated site thing may work but at the same time has reasons why it works (money / profit, less money for you).
█Here will prepare you also for later steps if you really need it instead of jumping in the deep end and causing stress, as it's quite similar to Wordpress (but without buying a Host, no setup, no ongoing payments, no SQL database etc or 3rd party things making it deliberate hassle when moving.
█Wix and a lot of free (from past review) makes you pay more as your site gets popular like a kind of bribe or ultimatum model. And last I looked wasn't the best code or editable (could mess everything).
█Anyway always fiddling a bit to always try get it right with sites, when probably you want your pictures out there to do the talking and get out to people fast... and here is in the simplest all-in-1 way
█Lots of extra considerations for another thing to log in to
█Some sites already tell me no can't let you see site or for newest browsers only and serious block people or looks like it doesn't work - I just close window sometimes and that's it!
On Fedi I think it's more simple and even trusted.
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Expanding on above...
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Now the e-commerce bit I'd have some ideas and ask others here as anyway it would be separate probably or you'd have to 'shop around' for that also!
In short despite any bells and whistles - you have Wordpress here. Paying for more may seem tempting lol but let me know either way how it is.
◘Careful of "Free" in <commercial space> as it's all planned and well designed to be Free At First (or FAF!) and then later catching you out down the line or some models according to how popular / ads and so on.
Same old.
But as you're here, try rolling with it! And even love it's simplicity and see what happens...
:)
(again I know some of this you know but anything you didn't know there or didn't it help a bit?)
