Beginning to design your website can seem overwhelming at best. What? I have to learn HTML, CSS and become a technological web geek genius? That may be the case, indeed, but if you are serious about designing your own website, there are valuable resources online that can help you get started. The first step in designing your website is simple. Open up a free email account from HotMail, Yahoo or Google so you can store all your web design information and keep it separate from your regular email. The next step is to create your website!

To create your website, you need a domain name, or the URL address, that visitors will go to when viewing your site. Choose a name that is catchy, memorable and defines your business appropriately. A good domain name will stick in the minds of the people you meet without having to scribble it down on the inside of a matchbook for them to recall later. A domain name is registered for a period of time and must be renewed after a year or two years, depending on the host server.

Building your site. In order to create a website, you have to build it with language web browsers can understand. This code is called HTML and the basics can be learned in a short period of time if you are focused on writing the code for your own website. There are editors that can be found online that will write the code for you but the options are limited.

Learn HTML using Notepad in Windows. If you are building your website on a PC, Notepad is a free program that allows you to completely write HTML from scratch. Once you have learned the basics of web design with HTML, upgrade to an HTML editor.

Get your brilliantly written code up on the Net!

* Find a File Transfer Protocol Program (FTP) that will take the code from your computer and put it online.
* Your website will be stored online through a web hosting service.
* Shop around for a host, you can expect to pay between $10 to a few hundred dollars per month, depending on how much space and memory your site will accrue online.
* Consider setting up a free email service through your website to keep visitors coming back.
* Include discussion forums or chat rooms in your website to increase traffic.

Creating your own website from scratch is not the easiest job in the world but there are unlimited resources online to help you design your website for free. As with everything, hard work and determination will pay off in the long run, so invest some time in creating your website and learn a new, invaluable skill!