OfficeLive Users: The Cheap Easy Solution to Replace OfficeLive Site #smallbiz

On January 31, 2012, Microsoft announced that it will discontinue the OfficeLive free website hosting and storage service. There are a lot of the website builders out there Word Press and Yola make it incredibly fast and easy to replace your OfficeLive website.  You can buy a domain name from GoDaddy.com and be up and running in a few days. The folks at office live have also made it way easier to transition your domains to another provider. I use GoDaddy.com and they make it pretty easy to transfer a domain to them. I personally  have two sites in OfficeLive (http://pradviser.net and http://retailsecrets.net) and now I have to migrate them to another content management system. I recommend all current OfficeLive users to migrate their sites to Yola.com. I have been a Yola Silver customer for almost three years I have over seven websites in Yola and I must tell you it is far better than OfficeLive and way easier to use!

Top Benefits of Migrating to Yola from OfficeLive:

- Easy user interface                 - Html and Text WYSIWYG widgets  - Google Adsense integration
- Preview before Publishing     - Easy Navigation editing                     -  Google Analytics Integration
- Social Media Widgets            - Use flash, javascript or query and much more!

This is the actual Yola user interface. As you can see it is easier to use and there is more options to enhance pages.

Download the PDF of the above image: Click Here 

Although Yola is free for up to 5 websites with free hosting and limited file storage you are much better off buying the Yola Silver Package if you plan to launch more than one website. With the silver package you can build 25 websites, plus receive a free custom domain, 5 GB of storage, premium phone and email support, unlimited premium templates (which are usually way more customizable headers and site backgrounds) Plus, Get FREE advertising credits worth $100 with every Yola Silver purchase. Limited offer, sign up now!

Here are some of my websites in Yola today check them out:

http://glutenfreedays.com/ (using premium template in Silver Package)

http://emailmarketingfreeoffers.com/ (free template)
http://localeventplanner.com (free template)

http://enewsletterfreeoffers.com/  (free template)

http://retailsecret.com/ (free template)

One more thing: There is a downside to web-based website builders with free hosting - all sites are on the same servers so you suffer the consequences when there is server outage. But if your website is not mission critical to your business, then if you lose some up time it won't make that much of a difference.  Check out the service providers to find out what type of security is used on the servers.

It helps to know something about html. Here is some recommended Do-It-Yourself Website Reading:

*FREE*Download the Build Your Own WordPress Site Guide now, and read it on your computer today! With this free guide you will also receive daily updates on new cool websites and programs in your email for free courtesy of MakeUseOf.

The Really, Really, Really Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Own Website: For Absolute Beginners of All Ages (Really, Really, Really Easy Step-By-Step Guide To...)

Building Web Sites All-in-One For Dummies

Build Your Own Web Site The Right Way Using HTML and CSS, 2nd Edition

Creating a Web Site: The Missing Manual

Good luck folks!