Once you've selected a Domain Name it is now time to think about developing the site and finding a server to place it on. There are several ways in which the task of web site development can be tackled. Here are a few options:
1. Develop the site yourself
This is probably the cheapest method for developing a individual site that suits your needs. There are two options here, one is to develop the whole site in a text editor, or use a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor.
Designing the site from scratch in pure HTML is slow, and sometimes frustrating, but if you know HTML well, the results can be surprisingly good.
Many editors are available. Microsoft Frontpage and Microsoft Word can now be used to develop web content. Probably one of the best editors for developing web content is Macromedia Dreamweaver. It allows great creativity and quick development time.
2. Outsource development to web designers
This option can give you a great solution, but it can be expensive. This option is probably the best option if server-side scripting is involved. Scripting is always involved in e-commerce applications.
3. Use web based templates
Web based templates are free on the Internet. Pages can be developed on the web, but usually have strings attached such as advertising, or the pages can only be placed on one server. These types of development tools may or may not be for you, depending on your circumstances.
Other things to consider:
Once you've decided who will be developing your site, whether it be you or someone else, always consider what you want to achieve from your website. Consider the audience and the content you want to deliver, and make sure that all the material is available at the start of development time. Remember, this is probably the most important step. People know a professional website when they see one, and their initial impressions of your business will be given by the layout and aesthetics of your website.
Deploying your site to the Internet is the next step, finding a web host.
