Free Basic Web Design: Doug is offering free basic web design of 3 pages to any AVP group, to help create a simple web presence. This can include a number of things, including contact information, information about AVP and your local group, a short video, photos, etc. To take advantage of creating a stand-alone web site such as this, two additional things are required (in addition to any design...and groups are free to create their own design, and additional pages):• Domain name
• Hosting server space
Domain names range from around $10 - $20 (with some higher and lower exceptions). For AVP sites, Doug is offering to create a free 3rd-level domain name (yourgroupname.avparoundtheworld.info for example). Purchased domain names (through Doug and some others) includes at least one free email account, which can be configured for a main contact (info@yourgroupname.org for example). These type email addresses provide a more professional touch, and can be viewed online as web mail, or in your favorite email client software (such as Outlook, etc.).
Hosting server space varies widely in price. For AVP sites, Doug is offering to place your group's web site on existing prepaid hosting server space for free. This applies both to 3rd-level domain names or paid dedicated domain names (yourgroupname.org for example).
Other free options exist for creating a web presence, such as creating a "group" on Yahoo.com, ning.com, and a host of others. These groups include such features as event scheduling calendars, photos and files upload and exchange, list-serv message board, email broadcast by moderators, setting up a text, audio or video chat room...and more. These features are a huge advantage. The small disadvantage is that customizing the site is limited to the template format provided (some moreso than others). It is possible to create both a private dedicated web site and a group site, linked to each other.
C R E A T I V E W E B M O V E S.C O M is one of many sources for
purchasing domain names, hosting server space, web site services, email packages, etc. CreativeWebMoves.com and this site were created to present these services both to the public and to AVP folks for the purpose of gradually building a clientele and income stream for supporting some of the less-funded AVP projects of AVP - Antelope Valley as one possible alternative (commissions) to grants and cash donations. If you or your group decide to not use these paid services, please consider mentioning them to others if the services and prices seem sensible to you. These services are backed by truly world-class 24-7 support, including weekends and holidays. In my own experience, the support crew backing these services are better than any other I've run into online or offline. People who are sensitive to those of us who have little experience at these things, who go the extra mile to be truly helpful, who take whatever time you need to answer questions and sometimes even to assist in areas not within their domain of responsibility.CreativeWebMoves.com web site has available on the home page, a free service for searching to find out if a domain name you would like to purchase is still available on the web. You can purchase the domain name at that time, or search for more possible names, and exit when ready.
Mobile Phone screen size compatibility is possible to auto-generate using a .MOBI extension domain name in conjunction with another domain name web site without any additional programming or page creation needed (except a link to that version in case someone ends up on the regular site with their phone browser).
Note on the home page of this web site, in the upper left corner, a "MOBILE VERSION" link which leads to a page set whose sizing is more compatible with most phone screens, and which disallows various scripting which would cause problems on that platform. That site is generated using Instant Mobilizer, setup on the hosting server, pointing at www.dougcouch.mobi.