Mac Lists

7 Ways to Create a Website on a Mac

I've been developing websites on my Mac for seven years and I've tried many of the applications available for creating different types of websites, including photo albums, blogs and HTML sites. In this list, I briefly describe some of the options available for creating a website with Mac OS X.

1.  Photo Album Software

The easiest type of website to create is a photo album and there are several applications available for Mac OS X users. If you own iPhoto, you can export any album as a website and in minutes have your beautiful photos ready for posting on the web. Do a search on MacUpdate for "photo album" and you'll find several other one-step photo website applications.

2.  MobileMe Web Galleries

If you have a MobileMe account, you can create a Web Gallery/photo album and easily upload photos to it at anytime. See my earlier list on Reasons to Purchase MobileMe for more information on Web Galleries.

3.  SeaMonkey Web Browser

SeaMonkey, the latest version of the old Mozilla web browser, has a built-in web design feature. Select the Composer window in SeaMonkey and you'll find a simple, relatively easy-to-use web page design platform.

4.  iWeb

All Mac computers come with a web design application, iWeb, included in the iLife package, usually found on your Mac's Install disk. iWeb is not the best web design application on the market, but it works well for beginners who want a moderately easy-to-use web design application. With iWeb, you can create photo albums, blogs and regular web pages.

5.  Third-Party Web Design Applications

There are several good third-party applications that you can use to design a website with Mac OS X. These range in price from the free Kompozer to the expensive Dreamweaver, but most have the same basic features, letting you create photo albums, blogs, contact forms, and complex HTML sites. Also included in this category are Sandvox, RapidWeaver (my favorite) and Freeway.

6.  HTML Applications

If you're a "build from scratch" web designer, you might prefer an HTML application. Do a search on MacUpdate for HTML and you'll find a wide-range of HTML applications for Mac OS X. My favorites are TACO HTML Edit and Rage Web Design.

7.  Online Blogging Platforms

If you just want to blog or create a simple website, your best option might be an easy-to-use online platform like Blogger or Squidoo. Just sign up for a free account, select a theme or topic and start blogging. Many social networking sites, like MySpace, also offer free blogging platforms, so this is another option.

Creating a website with your Mac doesn't require artistic talent, HTML knowledge or money. You just need a little bit of time and the right application or platform for your purposes. This list has, hopefully, helped you narrow down your options.