There are plenty of websites about designing websites out there, but does anyone know of any specifically about designing for web hosting websites? As we all know, they are a breed unto themselves.

Also, has anyone here gone through the process of making a web hosting website for themselves despite limited design skills and ended up with a good looking website? Could you tell me how you went about doing it?

Ive made my own sites several times, and asked someone else to do it when I didn't have time. Lots of photoshop, javascripting and frontpage. There are quite a few designers around here, that can do specifically designed webhosting sites. www.intercen.com is one I know of. designbyportell.com is another, theres more I could list, theres quit a few of them that are regulars around here to

I used a free template to make my web site. Also a free banner to make the heading. there are great links for a beginning webmaster at rebsweb.com. I have two hosting sites you can look at. nuvistas.com and harrypotterhost.com

http://www.***************.com also sell cheap templates for webhosting companies, but I suggest you get your own unique design from a designer.

Edit : Seems like they are banned on this forum ;)

Why would they be banned?

For my site, www.utaria.net, I threw that together in an evening to get something up. I know its not the greatest, but it works for the time being.

When I get my new servers online, I plan on unveiling my new site that a graphics design friend is making for me. He is actually making a template/skeleton site, and I am putting in the data. This can be sneak previewed at www.getpunch.com/utaria/ He is doing this great service for free, because I am hosting his site for free, plus all his webdesign customers he will host with me, and all my clients who want web design, I refer to him.

You just got to love the business equivalent of symbiosis. :D

I gave up on designing my site and bought a template, which I am working on now. It would take me 40 to 50 hours to design what I bought for $50. They are going to customize some of the flash for me since I do not have the time to do it. If you have the time, and the talent, it is worth it. I have a limited staff, and don't want to spend a couple thousand for a custom site. I found a template that I liked, I am customizing it to my preferences. I will have it done in two days.

I used dreamweaver for my current site, which I am now using to edit my template.

They are probably banned for so many people trying to resell their templates on their website. The best thing to do is either make your own, or go out and purchase and exclsuive template.

Cisco, you could likely get a REALLY NICE template (psd file) from a designer one elance.com for $100-200 which isn't bad at all considering it would be exclusive.

I'm starting to think that the best thing to do is hire a designer through a site like that and then reverse-engineer their design to learn how they did it. Thanks for the advice!

I bought a nice one off template today. It was deleivered I don't have a clue what to do with it. :( I guess it would be easy with a template.

BTW, do you know of any other freelance design sites that do not require you to give credit card information?

I designed my web hosting (http://www.ploghost.com) business back here. Been doing design and programming before I started into web hosting so everything seems to be covered from then on. :)

Cisco... I actually only trust elance. The credit card thing does suck, but if you do it tonight, you could likely have it approved by tomorrow as long as you can view your statements online to get the elance amounts.