WYSIWYG Web Editors

WYSIWYG (which stands for What You See Is What You Get) Web Editors are software programs which enable you to create web pages without the need to know or use HTML codes.  The codes are automatically created by the program, itself, (behind the scenes) as you type and create your web page.  By the way, don't get confused if you see these WYSIWYG editors referred to as HTML editors.  They mean the same thing!

If you can type (even with one or two fingers), you can use WYSIWYG web editors. And if can use MS Word or similar word processor, you will have a similar tool bar on your text editor which enables you to choose fonts, font sizes and colours, embolden text, highlight and underscore them or use italics.  Furthermore, just like MS Word, you can center your text, left or right align or even justify your text on your page.  The instructional codes in HTML are created behind the scenes as you go about creating your web pages.  Although I do know the basics of HTML and can troubleshoot, if need be, this entire website has been created using a WYSIWYG web editor. It's easy to use and great fun, too!

WHICH TEXT EDITORS SHOULD YOU CONSIDER?

As with most software programs, there are a number of them about.  One or more text editors are totally free and others are not.

Here are a couple of FREE programs I've chosen for you to consider.  If your budget is tight you can still create perfectly good web pages and upload them to your host account using one of the FTP Software programs discussed in earlier pages. 


NVU - pronounced (N-View), is totally FREE and can be downloaded from the official NVU site.  Names of products change with upgrades but you'll be taken to the site, regardless.  I have not used this text editor but I gather that it is quite a good web editor and very easy to use.  You can find out more by visiting the site and reading up on the information given.


Another FREE WYSIWYG editor is Composer - This popular FREE software is part of the Mozilla Suite and it, too, can be downloaded by going to the Mozilla site and selecting the operating system used on your PC (for example, Windows, Linux, Mac) which appears under the "DOWNLOAD" heading on Mozilla.org's site.  In Jim Edwards' Home Study Course, he demonstrates (step-by-step) how to create web pages using Composer.  He even shows you how to download the software and install it on your PC and begin to set it up for use!  Couldn't be easier!

WYSIWYG Web Editors That You Have To Buy

Whilst using free web editors are fine and they do the job more than adequately, they may not have built-in facilities that other web/HTML editors offer which means that you will have to do a little more extra work to get a similar effect. 

For example, one web editor, in particular, is highly geared towards internet marketing and SEO (search engine optimization) which means that it gives you indications of how effective your web page may be with the search engines, even before you upload it to your web host.  Other features built-in to these paid for web, HTML or text editors enable you to set your website page layout just once so that no matter how many web pages you create, every page layout will be automatically formatted to look the same so far as header graphics, right, left centre and footer panel settings are concerned as well as font style and colour. 

Other advantages are too numerous to mention here but you can investigate further by visiting the particular sites and reading up on the features and benefits offered. 

Here are three that I would recommend but I have included useful information for you to decide which program would suit your current skills, resources and budget.


Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 - Microsoft's web editor has been a popular choice for most internet web site creators.  It is very user-friendly, the learning curve is not too steep and web pages can be created with relative ease.  The tool bar for this program is very similar to that found on Microsoft Word. So, again, choosing text style, font colour, alignment and other coomon features couldn't be easier. 

Whilst this web editor was part of MS Office Suite,  Microsoft is no longer marketing FrontPage.  Instead, it has just launched the replacement to FrontPage by introducing two different web authoring tools.  However, new copies of FrontPage 2003 are still available with other retailers and support from Microsoft for licensed users of FrontPage 2003 will continue for the foreseeable future. 

Just Google "Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003" and follow the links that come up and then choose the most appealing link.  At the time of writing, the price varies between $190 (approximately £99) and $600 (approximately £300)!  So be wary of paying too much.  Also make sure that the product you choose is new, sealed and can be registered with Microsoft so that you may get free support.  If you are in full-time education (school, university or any other academic institution), you can get an "Academic" version at a fraction of the full cost.  You will, however, have to provide proof of your student status!

I have no knowledge of the new web authoring tools introduced by Microsoft, so no further information about them is available, here.  If you are interested, visit Microsoft's official site for detailed information. 


Dreamweaver Creative Suite 3 - This web/HTML WYSIWYG editor comes complete with bells and whistles.  It is a sophisticated program of particular interest to and use by professional web designers.  It has numerous features but it is doubtful that a relative beginner to web site creation would need more than the basic tools of this program. It would be like owning a Ferrari but only using a tenth of its power! 

Even more experienced web designers admit that the learning curve can be steep.  It comes with a hefty price tag which will put off all but the more advanced and determined webmasters and web designers who create websites not only for themselves but also for their clients! 

Even though my budget, at the time, would have stretched to this software program, I researched this thoroughly before deciding against buying this package simply because in attempting to learn how to use the program, it would have seriously delayed the setting up of my websites.  I have, since, obtained a copy, by way of a gift, but I have not had the time, yet, to play around with it, much less use it! 

Whilst it has many attractive features and will enable you to do all but swing from the chandeliers, it really does not, in my opinion, justify the expense (for the average web designer) when there is another, less expensive, more user-friendly and as effective solution available and which does something even this top of the range web/HTML editor is not geared, yet, to do - SEO (search engine optimization)! 

I do not think that this web site creation tool is for beginners.  This is a program that you might like to buy when you have built up a website or two and have familiarised yourself with the essentials of website building.  But if you want a challenge or wish to learn more and even download the program for one month's free trial, click here!

XSite Pro - I cannot speak too highly of this program or its producers! It's designed specifically for the online marketer and has in-built Search Engine Optimization tools to help you make your web pages more search engine friendly.  It is extremely easy to use - I have not even needed to read the user manual although it might be wise to do so - most of the features are self-explanatory and their application obvious!  The learning curve, therefore, is almost non-existent. 

If you wish to watch a video demo, XSite Pro's site provides that and much more.  As for the Help Desk, I don't yet know of another product owner whose staff responds as promptly to queries.  Nothing seems too much trouble to them.  This feature, alone, is worth a great deal when you, as a beginner, may want almost immediate help with any aspect of the software.  Average response time has been less than an hour during their office hours and only a few hours outside their normal office hours, even at weekends!

What appeals to me most about this program is that the interface is simple, clear and uncomplicated.  From the moment you launch the program, you are but minutes away from starting to create your web pages. There is little to confuse you. Every tool you need is built into it from the initial design of your website to publishing (uploading) your site using the in-built FTP software. So, like Dreamweaver and FrontPage, you won't need a separate FTP software program for uploading your site to your host account.

You can create unlimited number of websites and unlimited pages per website and these are automatically stored in the software so that you can switch from one website to another (should you wish to do so) to amend and/or add anything to them. It even stores your web host's FTP details, complete with user name and password, so that should you wish to publish each web page that you create, it's just a click away and the whole operation is over in a matter of seconds! You can create any of the following:

• Single Pages Sales Letters
• Multi page Sales Letters
• AdSense Sites
• Affiliate Sites
• Content Rich Sites
• E-Commerce Sites
• Membership Sites
• Personal Web Sites
• School Web Sites
• Family Web Sites
• Informational Sites
• Download Sites
• eBook Sites

Any downside? I haven't come across any that makes much difference for the purposes that I and most website owners expect from a good wysiwyg text editor. You can't for instance, import templates into XSite Pro but then you wouldn't need to since XSitePro comes with its own library of various templates that match the requirements of the types of websites listed above. Having said that, though, I'm sure there is always room for improvement in the form of additional features! To this end, an upgrade version is due to be launched, shortly, and the XSite Pro producers promise that the new version is designed with additional refinements and features to please existing and new users alike.

There is a special promotion, at the moment, which offers you the chance to own the new upgrade (when it becomes available), at no cost, IF you purchase the current version (currently priced at $197) well before the new version is out!  The price of the new version is set to be a great deal more to reflect the additional features!  So if you want to build your Search Engine Optimized website quickly, easily and with as much hand-holding as you may need, AND you want to receive the upgrade without additional cost, then you can secure your copy of the current version, now, by clicking here!