About Website Builders

Website builders can do more than help you build and publish your website. They can also register and renew your domain name. 

Website builders will offer you a website "package" to purchase under a contract. The package is a contract for a specific period of time. The package may include just your website or it may include your domain registration and domain email. Free website packages usually come with pre-inserted ads. To remove the ads you will need to "upgrade" (purchase a higher level package). 

Some website builders allow you to change the look of your website by selecting a different template. Others do not, which means when you are ready for a different look you will need to start over.

Websites built from templates can never be transferred to a different website builder or website host. They can only be edited or deleted. You will first need to sign up (have an account). Even if you delete your website you will still have an account unless you request for it to be deleted. 
 
Website builders offer tutorials and searches often lead you to a number of videos to learn more about them and how they differ from each other.

Here are two sources to use when deciding which website builder best meets your chapter needs:



The website builder for my chapter's website and for this site is Jimdo.com and it has proved popular with ASG chapters who are coming online.



Creating a Website Builder Account

Here's a common walk through to create an account with a website builder:

1. You will need an email address to create an account on the website builder. The person creating the the account becomes the account holder. (If the person creating the account has access to their chapter's email account, use the chapter email address in this step when possible.)

2. The account holder can now create a website within that account

3. The account holder will be asked if they want to purchase a domain name for their website

(Steps 2 and 3 may be reversed. Some website builders first offer a domain while others first offer a website template.)

4. The website builder will ask the account holder for billing information including a credit card.

REMEMBER: Websites are a totally separate product from a domain even though it may be part of a website package. You can be a website owner without being a domain owner. You can be a domain owner without being a website owner. You can also have a website builder account and not have a website or a domain.