No, you do not need to know HTML to build a website. We have met people over the years who make a living in web design without it. A little HTML does help, and you can learn it at your own pace.
Why you can skip the code
With most content management systems, like WordPress and Joomla, you do not need to code. The text editor writes the code for you.
A content management system gives you an editor that works like a word processor. You type, add photos and click Publish. The system writes the HTML for you.
What a content management system does for you
Think of the editor as a word processor for your site. Bold, bullet lists and photo placement all work with buttons. Behind the scenes, the system turns each click into clean code.
This is why a business owner can update prices, add a new service page or post news without waiting on a developer. Our hosting includes a CMS you can use from any browser.
Does it help to learn a little HTML?
Yes. Understanding basic HTML certainly can help. You can learn basic HTML and CSS online at your own pace. Search for a free beginner lesson and try a few tags.
A few simple tags cover most of what you need: headings, paragraphs, links and images.
When a little code pays off
Say you add a link and it goes to the wrong page. With a little HTML you can open the code view, find the address and fix it in a minute. Without it, you would wait for help.
The same goes for a stray line break that pushes a heading too far down. You spot the extra tag and delete it. Small fixes like these are why many owners learn a few tags.
You do not need to memorize anything. Keep a short list of the tags you use, and look up the rest when you need it.
The four tags most owners meet
These four lines show a heading, a paragraph, a link and an image.
<h2>Our services</h2>
<p>We build websites in Omaha.</p>
<a href="/contact-us/">Contact us</a>
<img src="/images/team.jpg" alt="Our team in Omaha">A little HTML helps you fix small problems, such as a broken link or a stray line break. Most owners never need more than that.
How we teach you
We build sites this way. Our Omaha web design service includes training on the back end of your site. You learn to add pages and graphics, change content and post to your blog without writing code.
A new site with five pages and a contact page is $300. It is usually ready in 3 to 5 days. You can still edit the code if you want to.
What about hosting?
Hosting is $149 a year for CMS (WordPress) sites and $129 a year for non-CMS (HTML/PHP) sites. New hosting comes with our Quality Assurance Promise.
If you have questions about how to design your website, or you need help with Omaha web hosting, call us at 402-813-4034. We are open every day from 7 am to 10 pm. You can also fill out our contact form.
Common questions
Can I use WordPress without coding?
Yes. You type in the editor, add photos and click Publish. WordPress writes the HTML for you.
Which HTML tags should I learn first?
Start with headings, paragraphs, links and images. They cover most small fixes.
AboutRod and Tami Atwood
Rod and Tami Atwood and other Websnoogie contributors write the Websnoogie blog. Rod has built websites since 2004 and founded Websnoogie, LLC in Omaha in 2012. Tami is co-owner, content editor and billing expert. Call us at 402-813-4034 or write to staff@websnoogie.com.
