Web Design Courses in Cheltenham and Bristol
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        'Design Your Own Website - The Easy Way'


        _Next courses: February & April 2012

        Are you...
        • a freelancer, small businesses, therapist, creative person, or community group wanting to reach more people and generate more business?
        • frustrated at not being able to update your existing website when you want?
        • on a budget that precludes paying a web designer?
        • thinking of starting a business as a web designer?
        • wanting to avoid the hassle of learning Dreamweaver or html/css coding?
        Flyer
        If the answer to any of the above is yes, then this intuitive, non-technical short course is for you. Using a popular, freely available online tool, you will learn how to create effective, multimedia websites, how to optimise them for Google™ in order to attract more custom, and how to use social media tools and offline business skills to promote your message.

        The emphasis is on personal guidance and hands-on training, and take place over a total of 12 hours. Courses are held in Cheltenham, but can also be arranged elsewhere, e.g. Bath, Bristol, Birmingham, Oxford, Worcester, depending on demand.

        Course content

        You will learn how to create web pages using simple 'drag and drop' techniques familiar to anyone who uses windows or Mac. We will be online during the classes, so you will need to bring a laptop that is able to access the internet via wifi (see Requirements, below).

        The course also includes tips on how to use effective graphics and photographs, as well as an introduction to marketing your new website using social networking and freely available online tools.

        The emphasis is on practical demonstration and exercises, and there are a maximum of 8 students, so there will be  opportunity to ask questions and receive some one-to-one guidance. There will also be practice time for you to add your own content.

        By the end of the course you will have your own fully functional website, together with the skills to update and maintain it, using a popular and freely available online tool.

        Please note that the course is subject to cancellation or postponement if fewer than 3 people have booked.
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        Screenshot showing picture being added to page
        (click to enlarge)
        The Exmouth Arms
        2 Wolseley Terrace, Oriel Road (near Cheltenham Town Hall)

        What the course doesn't cover...

        • In-depth knowledge of html coding, css, ajax, etc
        • How to design a full ecommerce or content-managed site
        • Copywriting or graphic design
        The course is not certificated.

        If wanting the skills to create basic multimedia websites for clients, this course serves as an introduction to a highly varied, interesting and potentially lucrative field.

        Afternoon Courses

        _Afternoon Courses, February and April 2012 (12 hours).

        The afternoon course spans four three-hour sessions, on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons at 2.30-5.30pm.

        Dates: Choose from February or April 2012:
        • 14/02, 15/02, 21/02, 22/02
        • 10/04, 11/04, 17/04, 18/04

        Further courses on alternate months in 2012 are planned.

        Cost: £180.00

        Venue: The Isbourne Holistic Centre, 2 Wolseley Terrace, Oriel Road, Cheltenham (see Getting There, below).

        Arrival: Please arrive 15 minutes before the start to ensure that you can be set up and logged in to the wi-fi in good time.

        Refreshments: Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.

        Booking: Please phone the Isbourne Holistic Centre on (01242) 254321 (office hours) or email  info@isbourne.org.
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        Evening classes

        To register your interest in evening classes, please use the form below.

        Please note:

        _Both evening and afternoon courses requires you to open a free account with a third-party hosting service, details of which will be sent before the course begins.

        The service enables you to create up to two websites, in return for which a discrete button at the bottom of each page of your website is displayed, which promotes the hosting service. The Pro version costs around £36.00 per year, and enables you to create up to ten websites, have unlimited storage and remove the button. It is your choice which to go for, but it is suggested you start with the free version initially, then decide later during the course.

        There are no other fees unless you require your own domain name (web address), e.g. www.yourbusinessname.co.uk, which can be purchased for £5.00-£10.00 per year; you want graphics (e.g. logos and banners etc) designed; or if you choose to enhance your website with third-party add-ons.

        Requirements

        • Modern laptop with ability to get online using wifi (i.e. wirelessly)
        • Familiarity with Windows or Mac (i.e. you can use your own computer, are familiar with 'drag and drop' and can do basic tasks such as wordprocessing)
        • Notepad and paper
        • Please also bring a mouse (and mousepad) if you prefer not to use your laptop's touchpad.

        To make the most of the course, it is suggested you write some or all of the content of your website beforehand, and bring it with you on your laptop. If you have any photos or graphics you want to include, please also bring these (in .jpg format). It is not compulsory to bring your own finished material however – you can always add it to your website in your own time at a later date.

        Please note that individual advice on wording cannot be given during the course, although some general tips will be given, and leaflets by recommended copywriters will be available. However, I am happy to give feedback on the content (language, design, usability and search engine visibility) as a separate service once you have your website up and running. Please contact me for details and pricing.

        Your tutor

        Graham Boston has designed websites since 1996, and tutored individuals in web design since 2005. The first Design Your Own Website course took place in February 2011, and have run regularly since.

        He publishes Gloucestershire Connections and is a committee member of the Aquarius Severn Astrology Society.

        Questions

        If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to call me on freephone 0800 118 5322 or (01242) 228796

        Please note that individual advice on wording and content cannot be given during the course, although some general tips will be given, and leaflets on recommended local copywriters will be available.

          Register your interest

          Let me know if you want to be kept informed about future courses beyond the ones advertised. Don't worry, you won't be spammed. Please also say whether weekend or evening courses would be more suitable than weekday afternoons, and whether you would prefer a location other than Cheltenham.

        Getting there

        The Isbourne Holistic Centre at 2 Wolseley Terrace, Oriel Road, Cheltenham GL50 1TH is an elegant Regency building, just by the traffic lights over the road from the Rodney Road car park.

        For some reason, Google maps don't show Wolseley Terr., but it is located where the marker shows, i.e. between Trafalgar St. and Vittoria Walk.

        It's a few yards from Cheltenham Town Hall, and a short walk from The Promenade.
        If you live in Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, Worcester, Bristol, Birmingham or Oxford, there are good road and rail links to Cheltenham, making it a convenient choice for training.

        Parking

        Please do not try to park in Wolseley Terrace itself, as British Telecom, who are directly in front of the building, get very upset!
        There is some free-of-charge on-street parking nearby, in Vittoria Walk, the Bath Road and in front of Montpellier Gardens, however parking restrictions in Cheltenham are currently changing so please double-check local signs.

        The Rodney Road car park, which is just over the road from Wolseley Terrace, charges £10 per day (inc. Sundays and Bank Holidays).
        parking_map.pdf
        File Size: 254 kb
        File Type: pdf
        Download File

        Copyright © Graham Boston 2011. Not to be reproduced without permission.
        Website design by Graham Boston
        • Home
          • Students' websites
          • Testimonials
          • Graham
            • Portfolio
            • Contact
              • Location
              • Private tuition
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              • Freephone 0800 118 5322 / (01242) 228796