If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (Full Version)

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myfunbirthday -> If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (2/1/2005 18:00:25)

Hello All,
I have been reading for months that I should break away from the comfort of my editing software and embark on CSS.

I pose this very lengthy question which requires a bit of history....

I currently have a site that places well on Search engines and as a result is the sole support for my family.
http://www.amazingmoms.com
Making changes always concerns me because of the need for the income that is generated. Especially on the birthday party page
http://amazingmoms.com/htm/KidsBirthdayParties.htm

Becoming a web designer was never my intention. I just wanted to share my ideas as a parent.
Well....my site looks old, is difficult to manage (over hundreds of pages) and needs an overhaul. I also have 4 more similar URL's to develop. I thought I would just create a new template to use for all of them so they would work well together. First let me tell you that I am quite dependant on the WYSIWYG properties of FP and
know only enough HTML to create my own look and repair font tags etc. Now that you know the history....here is are the question/s:

*Is there an easy way to changes hundreds of pages with LOTS of content,
if I never used a template to begin with or will I just have to go through page by page?

*Will learning CSS (could take forever)and switching my currently successful site over effect my current SE placement?

If you were me, would you create the new template for all of the sites in CSS and not waste your time switching over the existing site until you were ready to do the BIG change.


ANY advise would be appreciated. I have read many posts regarding CSS and SE effects and it seems that the general
opinion is that it is a toss-up --

I'm interested to *hear* the steps that experienced people would take.

I sure wish I could afford to hire someone for this project :)

Thank you
Kit









jaybee -> RE: If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (2/1/2005 18:49:45)

quote:

Is there an easy way to changes hundreds of pages with LOTS of content,


No. I've literally just finished modding a 500 page site from an FP theme to css. Page by @*&! page.

quote:

Will learning CSS (could take forever)and switching my currently successful site over effect my current SE placement?


It might make it go up the rankings as the page will be mostly content and the spiders will have plenty to read.

My advice. Leave the existing site as it is. Do the new pages in css. When you've got to grips with it and feeling a little more confident, then every time you need to make a change to a page, re-do it using css.

I'm fairly experienced with css and this switchover has taken me almost 4 weeks working 12 hour days.



dpf -> RE: If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (2/1/2005 19:34:55)

quote:

My advice. Leave the existing site as it is. Do the new pages in css. When you've got to grips with it and feeling a little more confident, then every time you need to make a change to a page, re-do it using css.
jaybee is exactly correct. you have a lot at stake -"if it ain't broke - don't fix it"



bobby -> RE: If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (2/1/2005 19:49:30)

quote:

"if it ain't broke - don't fix it"

I agree

I wouldn't bother going back...

Deffinitely learn CSS, but apply it to future projects and such, rather than trying to go back

[;)]



myfunbirthday -> RE: If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (2/1/2005 20:35:41)

jaybee, dbf and bobby -
Thanks to you all-
I had a feeling I would have to go back page by page - I will at some point but I think my page is at or around 500 pages and if it took jaybee that long - multiply it by two for me.

I am meeting with a CSS instructor/friend on Thurs. morning - we'll see if I have the aptitude for it :)

I like the idea of taking on the future projects first.

When I'm ready to undertake the clean-up -->
My husband thinks that I should publish my existing site back to myself as a new web and work on it slowly----then publish back as the amazingmoms.com web when I'm done. That way I can work a bit at a time - will that work?


Thanks again

Kit



bobby -> RE: If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (2/1/2005 23:10:57)

quote:

I had a feeling I would have to go back page by page

Eventually you'll want to do an overhaul. That's a good time to make the change.

And then the next time you have to do an overhaul... you're going to be amazed at how much easier it is to do most of the work from a single file ;)

You can always work one page at a time... that way you can be sure the CSS is working the way you want it to.

Just add the CSS tag on every page (I've used Replace: <body> with <link rel....><body>, find in html, all pages and it works great)

Your inline styles will override anything in the stylesheet, but you can go in and remove them from pages as you get time. As long as you get the CSS set first you shouldn't have any problems.

I'd probably wait until you revamp the site tho. By then you'll have some practice and you won't be as frustrated when it doesn't work right the first time...[;)]

If it does happen to work right the first time then I'm going to petition Spooky to have you banned because that just wouldn't be fair at all... [8D]



myfunbirthday -> RE: If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (2/2/2005 2:16:24)

Thank you -
Very funny - Not only will it probably not work thfirst time - my track record is about four times :)

Oh boy is my learning curve going to be steep. I could barely understand what your response was saying - yikes.


kit



dpf -> RE: If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (2/2/2005 6:51:15)

quote:

I could barely understand what your response was saying - yikes.
i think bobby's wife says that a lot <hehe>



Lazykatz -> RE: If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (2/2/2005 7:30:33)

Hi myfunbirthday,

I viewed your site, very nice. I am currently redoing a 400+ page site with 300+ more new pages, and adding all 8 subdomains into main site.

quote:

Oh boy is my learning curve going to be steep. I could barely understand what your response was saying - yikes.


I thought the same thing, but after reading, trial and error, and all of the help from the masters around here, I am well on my way to launch a new universe built completely with CSS.

Be patient and like everyone else has said, start with one page and learn. What I did was created a template for site in CSS, and now the long process of moving the content into it.

When you run into trouble and need help, it's a click away from the masters here at FPWM.

Good Luck,
Grizz



dpf -> RE: If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (2/2/2005 8:07:51)

kit: one piece of advice that we often give to folks setting out on css and who are scared - dont try to incorporate all css - that is what is so very frightening. try very simple tasks first - fromat fonts for example. give yourself ONE success to build on. good luck



bobby -> RE: If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (2/2/2005 15:46:50)

quote:

I could barely understand what your response was saying - yikes.

This is in no way your fault... as Dan pointed out, my wife would be quick to agree with you... [;)]

Dan makes a good suggestion. Start with your font, then body background color, then move on to working with hyperlink rollovers (<a> tag), etc.

You'll be far less frustrated if you master one small piece at a time, then move on to other things.

You'll eventually find that most elements in a CSS are fairly similar and you can apply what you do for your font to tables, rollovers, etc (to a certain degree)

... there I go, not making sense again... [:D]



myfunbirthday -> RE: If you were me (heaven forbid) what would you do? (2/3/2005 14:41:07)

Thanks to you ALL --
I feel much better.
I just met with my friend (HTML and CSS instructor).
I saw what CSS can do and now I'm phsyched!
I'll have so much more control ---
my husband can tell you that is VERY important to me :)

In the spring he is offering his class for a term.
Which will keep me learning at a pace I can handle. I'll create the templates for the new sites
and leave the $$ making site alone for now - except minor color changes etc.

Then --- I'll move step by step with the big project when I'm comfortable.

The other great thing is that this will force me to learn the HTML as well. As I stated before what I know of HTML is limited to working around FP. I've never created a site from scratch, so to speak.

This will be good for me --- ready for a new challenge!

Now if I could just figure out how to get 500 K visitors to buy products -- all would be right with the Internet world.


Thanks again -
I'm sure you will be hearing lots from over the next few months.

Kit





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