Starting an Online Business All-in-One For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

You Can Do It! Make a Build-It-Yourself Site

The thought of turning site maps, content lists, and other plans into a fullblown Web site can intimidate almost anyone — especially someone who has never created a Web page. To create Web pages in the early days of the Internet, you had to know the specialized computer code HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and be able to write that code by using a program such as Notepad. Now, however, you can find many tools to help you design your own site without having an extensive knowledge of HTML.

That said, knowing how to use some HTML is still a good idea because this knowledge gives you more control over the site-building process. Although Web site tools can create a lot of HTML code and help you build functions quickly, you might have to edit the work those tools do to make your site faster, smoother, and easier for customers to use. You have to direct these efforts to make sure that your site is an effective communications tool for your customers to do business with you. These Web site tools can help you get something done, but you have to provide the “why's” of the Web page: Why is it being built, and why should customers use it?

A good first step is checking with your Web hosting company to find out which site development tools it provides. Most hosting companies have site design tools and templates that work with their servers, and can ...