Here are some web site or general computer tools I've reviewed
These are real reviews of Windows software for the rest of us, web site hosting companies and web software. I've really tried these programs or hosting companies or use them myself. The Outlook email organizer can be used by anyone with or without a web site.
Today, it seems like everyone has a web site. I've been working on the Internet since 1986, which makes me an old-timer - like Al Gore, I guess. Over the years, I've used hundreds of scripts or programs for webmasters and found many of them useless or at best, failed to deliver on their promises. Here are some web site tools I either use, or have installed on web sites I've built. On some of them I make a commission if you buy, on some of them I don't, but recommend them because I like them. I reviewed and tried at least three of the competitors in each category before spending my own money. Mostly these are relatively inexpensive, but are seldom freeware or the cheapest in their categories. To me, they are the best values.
Oh yeah, I am available to design web sites. If you like this one, it is one of my simple designs. What is more important is that you found it. I am good at search engine optimization and that is worth a lot.
Web Site Chat Software
Chat live with visitors on your web site. Increases sales and improves customer service. Try Boldchat FREE now.Web Site Hosting
I have been around the block several times with web hosters. I only recommend web hosting companies I use/have used or friends use. Right now, I needed a service that offered VPS (Virtual Private Servers) and the choice of Linux or Microsoft hosting.
Choose them 1&1 if you want reliable hosting and need extra services. Their dedicated servers are also quite reasonable. They also have inexpensive plain hosting (as low as $4 a month).
I now use ZebraHost and if you really want personal service, Clive there is your man.
Classified Ads For Your Website
You don't see a classifieds section on this site. That's because I bought and tried several classifieds scripts over the years and none of them worked well. Fast-forward to today. I have seen a script on Mexico-My-Space that is simple, works well and seems to avoid spam robots. The script is BM Classifieds, the web site is I've talked to Greg, the programmer and owner and he is really quite a good guy - the kind you'd like to do business with or invite to your barbeque. He doesn't promise you that you will make a fortune with classifieds. But he promises and delivers a solid program.
Outlook Clouding Your Vision?
Outlook email program works well enough until you try to find something. The search function is anemic, the contact function is barely adequate. I've tried $300 programs that turn it into a full-fledged contact manger, but didn't need to spend that just to be organized. I finally found an inexpensive solution (from $35-$80) that makes it easy to organize sent and received emails, search for any word in an email and create groups that make sense. It's Nelson Email Organizer (and no, I don't own the company). Free 30 day trial. It has turned my life around. Try it.
Newsletter and Email Marketing
I have used a couple of commercial newsletter managers as well as the free ones like Phplist. You could get by with the free ones or the cheap ones. Some of the commercial ones are more trouble than they are worth, as are most of the free ones, if you aren't a coding genius. I used SendStudio (now Interspire) and was initially impressed, but found it to not be worth the money. So I don't have a good newsletter program to recommend yet.
Social Networking and Other Scripts
Social networking is the rage now. I tried to run a social network site and failed. The open source programs seem to be good but some have serious security glitches. iScripts below for about a hundred bucks is a decent commercial program. I tried (and paid for) a script by 2CoolCode that cost more and my honest advice is to avoid it.
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Web site design
Dreamweaver (now an Adobe product) is still the best web design program. FrontPage is an affront to many designers. I used it to start and graduated. Namo WebEditor is another I used to use until I wised up. If you are on a budget, it will do. But if you can spring for Dreamweaver. It costs, but is worth it. If you can swing it, get the CS4 bundle.
Web statistics
I am now happy with Goggle Analytics stats and you can get that free. Your hosting program also probably has free AWStats or something similar. For many, that is enough. It was for me for years. I squandered money on VisiStat, which does essentially the same job for a lot of money and makes it really hard to cancel. Avoid them.
Menu Makers
If you want DHTL menus that are truly search friendly, the menu creator here worked fine for me.
DHTML menu creator Menu Creator with site map Complete Web Site tools Mail Expert Follow up tools
Affiliate Managers
An affilate manager program that offers more SEO benefits is Clickinc. Theirs is a hosted program wiht a monthly fee, but they do offer to integrate with your custom shopping cart, which is something that iDev won't do. Check them out here.
Another affiliate manager program that I have installed on clients' sites. It works well and is around a hundred bucks.
FTP programs
Why is something so simple so complicated? I was happy with CuteFtp until they couldn't find my registration after my house fire and would not validate that I had a paid version. So I bought WS_ftp. This worked just fine for 13 months, then kept crashing. Customer support would not support it after 1 year, nor would they answer a simple email. I was not about to spend more money with them.
Got FileZilla (free). Once i got it to work it was fine. Got SmartFTP (trial). Seems to work fine. Tried HS FTPExplorer. Kept crashing. Tried CoreFTP Lite (free). I am really impressed. Will probably buy their Pro version since I believe that everyone deserves to make a living.