First Im so glad I actually found a site like this. OK this is an odd request- OK here goes:

For years Ive been fascinated with websites. I first got interested in it back in 1999 using the old Acmecity sites. Then from 2001-2007 I helped run a Star Wars collecting website. I have learned so much about sites from basic graphics to php. For the past few years, I've considered getting into webdesign at least as a free lancer. A year and a half ago I had gotten my first paid gig.

So I figured what the heck- I put together a portfolio page (got a second gig) but basically have just been unhappy w/myself. I really dont know as much as I feel one should know to make this worth getting paid and I have just having trouble finding a style or putting together something that works.

Its a ton of things- for example-I use a 24in iMac so basically Im using either Safari and/or Firefox so I design based on that- then look at sites on smaller monitors using IE and just get upset at myself because people dont see what I see & in my opinion- most of what they see is just plain crap. I've tried different programs from AOLPress, Dreamweaver, iWeb, Komposer, First Page and even building something based in Photoshop. I customize others templates whether its in SMF/Tiny Portal, PHP Nuke, Joomlah and Cube Cart. Ive been reading CSS sites and just trying to make stuff work. And now I just discovered my first paid now now totally redid the site.

I do reallize its a confidence issue. Somedays I feel real good and others like now- I don't. Thats why doing this for a real living was outta the question. I have to much depending me drawing a blank with this. I think I just need to talk to people who do stuff like this and think on the same creative wavelength. Going to school is outta the question right now as I am already in course for my CCNP.

Here are some samples of my stuff- not looking for site reviews just some overall guidence- I dont know)

www.typeparents.org - SMF/TinyPortal reworked theme added elements to frontpage via photoshop.

www.dubsontheboards.com (second page gig) modified in Dreamweaver/Photoshop (car graphics are NOT mine)

www.chrisosaurusrex.com originally done using iweb after crashing too many PC users- I redid it using Photoshop.

http://www.type1parents.org/delzartnweb/ portfolio site done using iweb- WARNING may crash IE users. I am currently reworking this- and this is where my problems started

Any advice/direction would be great

Well, one thing that I saw was some of your text is actually in image form.

That is always a nono because then search engines can't find it.

Also, about the confidence, the design is really the easy part, integrating it into the web is the hard part. You will almost always find a compatibility issue when you try to please multiple browsers. (which you should do)

The bigs that you want it to work with are Safari (whichever is the newest one), Firefox 3+, and Internet Explorer 6 (maybe 7 now) +.

You just have to work the code in new ways to get it to work for other browsers. There is a moderator here who I am sure will make an appearance (LadynRed) and tell you everything I missed.

You will almost always find a compatibility issue when you try to please multiple browsers.

Not really, the BIG problem is really IE6, and to some degree, IE7 and IE8 should behave a lot more like Firefox now so even fewer problems with it.

My advice, forget the programs like Dreaweaver, Komposer, FrontPage, etc. and learn to do your coding by hand, HTML and CSS. Once you have those down pretty well, TOOLS like Dreamweaver can help you with productivity.

I highly recommend this book if you're not yet familiar with building sites using CSS: http://www.sitepoint.com/books/html2/

Thank you both for responding!

Originally Posted by Madman340

Well, one thing that I saw was some of your text is actually in image form.

That is always a nono because then search engines can't find it.

Also, about the confidence, the design is really the easy part, integrating it into the web is the hard part. You will almost always find a compatibility issue when you try to please multiple browsers. (which you should do)

The bigs that you want it to work with are Safari (whichever is the newest one), Firefox 3+, and Internet Explorer 6 (maybe 7 now) +.

You just have to work the code in new ways to get it to work for other browsers. There is a moderator here who I am sure will make an appearance (LadynRed) and tell you everything I missed.

I was kinda forced to go the text in image. I wasnt worried about about search engine for them either. I had a bunch of odd shaped boxes fitting in a small space- the most important was a content slider I liked- Its now gone so Im actually restarting that site.

The other one was an emergency- its for a fund raiser and the site built using iweb was crashing IE users- since most of the world users IE- I needed to fix at least that page FAST. If you looked around (and were able to load) the other pages there you wouldve seen what I had up there.

The design is fine- its getting it to work,

Originally Posted by LadynRed

Not really, the BIG problem is really IE6, and to some degree, IE7 and IE8 should behave a lot more like Firefox now so even fewer problems with it.

My advice, forget the programs like Dreaweaver, Komposer, FrontPage, etc. and learn to do your coding by hand, HTML and CSS. Once you have those down pretty well, TOOLS like Dreamweaver can help you with productivity.

I highly recommend this book if you're not yet familiar with building sites using CSS: http://www.sitepoint.com/books/html2/

Yeah- it was definitely IE6- getting people to switch for some reason is a huge undertaking- even to IE8.

Im sooo interested in using CSS- I will certainly try and give that book a looksee. I found a site, Ive became quite fond of that uses samples of CSS built stuff.
http://www.cssplay.co.uk/index
I do know HTML but CSS is gonna be fun- I had no idea what you can do with it until I saw that site.

Again - Thank you both.

Then you need to take a look around this one: www.csszengarden.com if you want to see what can be done with CSS. EVERY design there is done with the SAME html file, it's all manipulated using the CSS.

Originally Posted by LadynRed

Then you need to take a look around this one: www.csszengarden.com if you want to see what can be done with CSS. EVERY design there is done with the SAME html file, it's all manipulated using the CSS.

Awesome- will do!
Thnx again!

Give yourself some credit, don't be down on yourself! You will achieve something as long as you continue to work at it...Momma said they'd be days like this...My momma said.

Good Luck