When you’re building an online presence, it’s important to have a professional-looking Web site.  While many small businesses face a financial challenge in getting their own Web site published, the bigger obstacle is more often a lack of in-house talent to create the design.

One way to get your business Web site up and running is to use Web site design software, such as Web Plus X4 from Serif.  While there are a number of Web design software offerings to choose from, Serif’s Web Plus design software offers e-commerce functions for adding a shopping cart and secure payment processing to your site. You can also include interactive features such as blogs, Flash navigation bars, and videos to your Web shop.

You can access the PhotoLab from within WebPlus X4 to edit images just as you would with a stand-alone graphics program. (Click for larger image).

Since we reviewed WebPlus X2 back in June, the company has released a new version of the software, WebPlus X4, and added a number of new features for business and e-commerce site design.

The Basics: Using WebPlus X4

One reason that this type of software appeals to the novice Web designer, is that Serif's Web design programs use an interface that is similar to most desktop publishing software packages — which many small business owners are already familiar with.

All you need to do is create or edit existing Web site templates to design a business site. You can insert each element to your site, such as video, images, or e-commerce functions using easy drag-and-drop features. The software renders the HTML code to create the different pages within your site, however more experienced designers can do more advanced HTML work on their own. 

Note: Before continuing on to learn about the new features in WebPlus X4, we recommend that you read our WebPlus X2 review to learn more about creating your Web site using Serif's Web design software.

What’s New in WebPlus X4

WebPlus X4 gives an individual or business all the tools they need to create interactive Web sites. Many of the interactive features from the previous version have been expanded upon, and a number of brand new interactive and design features that have been added in this version. 

The QuickBuilder Bar lets you drag-and-drop text, image, Flash and other common objects directly on to your page. (Click for larger image).

One of the big features in the new version is the QuickBuilder Bar. This bar appears under your work area and is a platform for quick access to drag-and-drop, commonly used Web-design elements — text, images, photo galleries, Flash and more — onto the page you are creating. Once you drop the element to your site template, you can adjust the size and placement by dragging the edges until you are happy with the way it is displayed on the page.

Other new features in WebPlus X4 include the following:

• Online Bookings: A new feature that lets you provide online scheduling for hotel rooms, restaurant tables, sporting facilities, or any similar service.
• Flash Navigation Bars: You can use this feature to create customized Flash animated navigation bars to add style to your site and make site navigation easier for your visitors.
• Color Scheme Designer: A new color wheel lets you create complementary color schemes for a Web site design. You can also use a basic wheel to instantly lighten or darken select regions in your template.
• Integrated Photo Editing: The new PhotoLab lets you edit your images directly within WebPlus X4. PhotoLab has a number of features that you would expect to find in stand-alone image editing programs, such as the capability to remove image backgrounds. Plus you can instantly enhance your images using more than 70 effects and adjustments.
• Google Gadgets: One-click drag-and-drop access lets you add some of the top Google Gadets to your site, including Google AdSense and Google Maps. You can also easily integrate Google Analytics into your Web site.
• Content Management System: The new CMS feature lets you add quick updates and news to your site. You can edit site content from any computer with an Internet connection and you can also set up unique logins for multiple site editors.

If you have an existing Web site that was designed in the older version, you can open and save it in WebPlus X4. If you are starting from scratch, you’ll find that Serif has included a number of new templates to help you find a layout that best suits your needs.

Pricing and AvailabilityWebPlus X4 is available for Windows Vista or Windows XP, and is also compatible with Microsoft Windows 7. The software retails for $99.99. You can purchase WebPlus X4 directly from Serif and other major retailers such as Buy.com, Frys and Amazon.

Vangie Beal is a veteran online seller and frequent contributor to ECommerce-Guide.com. She is also managing editor of Webopedia.com. You can tweet with her online @AuroraGG.

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