Background: I am a 35 year old family attorney from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Goal: I want to build a functional but attractive legal information website. It will be content rich. It does not require e-commerce, links to social networks, registration, or anything else like that.

Progress: I have a domain name: albertafamilylaw.ca. I have hosting via GoDaddy. I am looking to build my website without any scripting. I do not like GoDaddy's website builder. I liked what I could do with Wix, but I refuse to use Wix due to the fact that it is super slow and that it has incredible amounts of negative feedback with respect to billing.

The Problem: I would love to find either a program that allows me to build a website as nicely as Wix without having to pay monthly for it. I simply want to design it, upload it to my host, and be done with it. That way I can focus on content.

What I'm not willing to do: My time is a scarce commodity. I am not going to learn html or learn any other type of scripting language.

The skinny: Given what I have listed above, what website building software program would best suit my needs? I intend to have this website up for a long time, so even a $199.00 program is preferable to a monthly charge.

I would actually suggest you to find some free website templates, make changes and upload... or you could hire someone to do it... since you actually refuse to learn to code.. that would be your best bet.... but if it may help let me give you a link to some free templates

40 Free HTML/CSS Templates | NaldzGraphics
40 Free Elegant HTML/CSS templates | Noupe
99 High Quality Free Templates | InstantShift

iWeb on a mac, it's free with every Apple computer. It's a WYSIWYG editor, easy to use and surprisingly flexible.

Why don't you just search for a template in Google? There's plenty out there, some are even free!

Soo.. you would have him spend thousands to buy a MAC just to use that program?

As for templates -- good suggestion, but if you don't want to learn ANY html, then even templates are not a good solution for you,since at least some html knowledge is needed to work with templates. While I understand your time constraints as an attorney, HTML is very easy to learn.

I would suggest that your best bet would be to hire someone to set you up with a Wordpress site. Let THEM handle modifying the template to get the design and features that you want in place, then all you have to do is put in your content. GoDaddy hosting plans include WordPress, so you just need someone to get the front end done for you.

Indeed. The available templates are a no go because they require scripting.

I was more interested in a PC Suite that is top level oriented (not anything like Dreamweaver) and reasonably priced.

There has to be something out there. And again, I will not be hiring anyone...this is not a commercial project. If I start my own law firm I'll hire someone to design a website and not until then.

Edit: Again, it must be as easy to use (or close to it) as Wix is. Otherwise I might just take a chance with Wix.

Wix creates FLASH web sites, something you don't want anyway - not if you want to have your content found in the search engines.

I don't know that there IS any ONE tool that will let you just push buttons and go w/o actually needing SOME level of html knowledge. Even if you find one, if something breaks or is out of whack, w/o any html skills at all, you will not know how or be able to fix it. You do not need to know how to do scripting to set up a WordPress site, which GoDaddy supports, that's as nearly 'one button' friendly as you can get for what you're looking to do. There are thousands of free and low-cost WP templates available that are relatively easy to install.

Given your 'requirements' you could try Coffee Cup's software - http://www.coffeecup.com/designer/
I've never used it, but the price is reasonable and appears to be close to what you want. You can even get a Free Trial of it to test it out.

Originally Posted by LadynRed

Soo.. you would have him spend thousands to buy a MAC just to use that program?

well you can pick up a nice MacBook for less than 900€. And oddly, it does much more than just run iWeb.

900 euros = $1800 usd - if he doesn't want to hire anyone to do this for him, do you really think he's going to spend money on another computer - one he's probably not used to using.

I will recommend you to hire someone expert web developer who can create your website according to your needs.

Originally Posted by LadynRed

900 euros = $1800 usd - if he doesn't want to hire anyone to do this for him, do you really think he's going to spend money on another computer - one he's probably not used to using.

900€ for a macbook = 999$ in the US.

I've had a lot of the clients over the years that have actually taken this option because of the Mac's simplicity - using iWeb they can build their website and using Pages they can take control of their promotional material.

It's a sound investment. Could easily be written off as a business expense if it's time to replace whatever hardware they have right now. Kills two birds with one lovely laptop

900 euros = 1247.2200 US dollars - better check the exchange rates

Buying a laptop, JUST to build a web site seems like the sledgehammer approach when all that's needed is a fly swatter

Originally Posted by LadynRed

Wix creates FLASH web sites, something you don't want anyway - not if you want to have your content found in the search engines.

I don't know that there IS any ONE tool that will let you just push buttons and go w/o actually needing SOME level of html knowledge. Even if you find one, if something breaks or is out of whack, w/o any html skills at all, you will not know how or be able to fix it. You do not need to know how to do scripting to set up a WordPress site, which GoDaddy supports, that's as nearly 'one button' friendly as you can get for what you're looking to do. There are thousands of free and low-cost WP templates available that are relatively easy to install.

Given your 'requirements' you could try Coffee Cup's software - http://www.coffeecup.com/designer/
I've never used it, but the price is reasonable and appears to be close to what you want. You can even get a Free Trial of it to test it out.

Visual Site Designer. That's PERFECT. Thank you.

I bought it last night, and it is exactly what I wanted.

LadynRed, do you design websites? Because if I ever decide to go out on my own, I'd be looking to hire someone who actually LISTENS.

Originally Posted by edgray

well you can pick up a nice MacBook for less than 900€. And oddly, it does much more than just run iWeb.

I'm a PC enthusiast. I'll never use a Mac. Ever.

Unless I can start building Macs from scratch in 100 lb extended atx server cases.

Originally Posted by LadynRed

900 euros = 1247.2200 US dollars - better check the exchange rates

Buying a laptop, JUST to build a web site seems like the sledgehammer approach when all that's needed is a fly swatter

things are always cheaper in the US (you lucky people! ) The MacBook is on the Apple website for 999$ ... it's just so much more expensive over here...

but it gives you more control than just building the site, future updating and changes etc will totally be in their control.

Originally Posted by Albertalawyer

I'm a PC enthusiast. I'll never use a Mac. Ever.

Unless I can start building Macs from scratch in 100 lb extended atx server cases.

you could of course just buy MacOSX and install it on your existing PC. It'll have iWeb on there too. Takes a little hacking around, but it is possible!