Excellent post Crank Girl.
I hope I wasn't coming off too harsh but in a way I wanted too.
Just do it.
Try something simple first and you will have a whole new set of questions once you start.
I'm a tight wad too when it comes to paying others for my work, but there is a
certain level that we all must pay as web site owners.
Here are some FREE templates for anyone to use and you don't need a cart type set up
but IT TAKES A LITTLE WORK. (not much a little)
http://freesitetemplates.com/templates/b...ore-2.html
NOTE: With these type templates all you need is shopping cart buttons like from PP
and I already have the simple code for that to make that easy for you too.
It's not daunting, not non doable but just some time and usually not that
much time once you get past the fear and the few changes
you need to make to make it your own.
If you can use a key board and a mouse and have a simple HTML editor...
YOU CAN DO THIS.
Most the "codes" that are in these templets don't need to be messed with.
It's just basically changing a few things to suit appearance and
adding product to your site, (and Cart buttons), uploading it to a server like
at TT for instance, and your on your way.
oscmax and Zen do have a few small challenges to overcome but again
they are doable guys and girls.
It's NOT rocket science it's more of a feeling by those who never tried
of being overwealmed by looking at STUFF they really don't need
to worry about and just giving up.
(I almost gave up with the cart types too and thanks to Bell I pushed forward and got it done)
Honestly timing is also a factor and NOW may not be the time to make the transition.
You can (like I did and Cranky is doing and maybe others)
wait till the slowest time to make the move and you can even
keep your other site or store operating while you build the NEW or FIRST one.
In my situation I have two sets of web pages (sites) going on TT's servers.
The old site with the original URL's that are ranked HIGH (page 1, 2, and 3
of major search engines)
that are NOW all transformed to look like the new site but all in static pages...
And the new oscmax site which is a mix of static pages and dynamically pulled pages.
(different url's)
I am chomping at the bit here to help others but time is becoming a factor as the
heaviest sales time of year is approaching rapidly and
before long, I will not be able to look up, let alone take time and work for FREE for others.
I'll tell anyone who is lurking or who will do it NOW.
Get a domain name NOW get a package from TT NOW
58.95 plus what ever your domain name costs.
LET ME KNOW and I will help you get at least a landing page and FREE temple
site up and going in a matter of a few days.
It will take a level of commitment and a trust to allow ME to get it up there
and then turn the keys over to you and walk you through
the process of how to work the site yourself.
I have always wanted to do this and have helped a few in the past.
I am of the thinking that you must SHOW the new owner how to operate the site
so they don't NEED to pay someone else's every time they want to make a change,
add a product or do anything to the site.
Again it is doable and I am one who can "usually" show you how and
put it in layman's terms you can understand and become a confident
web master with out knowing all the BS terms and back end stuff that
you don't need to worry about anyway.
YOU CAN DO IT.....