There are several things you should know that will not only make the process of putting together a site easier and more efficient for you, but also make the site interesting and easier to find and navigate for your visitors. After all, even though it is your site, the site’s audience, or lack of it, will determine whether or not the site was worth the time and effort you put into it.

There are several ways to obtain help to learn how to make a website and most of the information does not cost anything. You can go to your local library and find books about website making, or choose from the vast amount of tutorials online to show you how to make a website. Most of the information you find will agree that the actual contents of the website is more important. The words should be plain, simple and easy to understand. The words should not elaborate or fancy.

Figure out what the purpose of your website is. Whether it is a personal site just for pictures and videos to your family or a site to share your expertise on a certain subject with the public, your intended purpose will have a lot of bearing on how to make a website. Once you have a clear idea of what you want, start gathering information and putting it together. For example, a family photo sharing site could either group photos chronologically or by event - it’s all up to you.

The next step is finding your site a home. If your internet service provider does not offer web space, you may want to search the internet for free hosting. Before deciding on a host, remember to compare it to other available services. Some sites offer more space, while others allow various scripting services, templates and helpful templates to help you learn how to build a website.

Now that you’ve finished these steps, it’s time to bring everything together. The simplest way to do this is to use a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor, which allows you to put together and edit pages visually, rather than writing your own code by hand. Learning how to write HTML and CSS on your own is a more complicated method, but also fun if you have the interest.

A third possibility is the use of tools that your hosting company provides to you. These tools often include such things as website templates, colors, and styles, as well as clip art that can be used to make changes on your site with one click. For many people this is the way that they create their first site, afterwards moving on to WYSIWYG editors, eventually coming to the point of using both a WYSIWYG editor and their own knowledge of HTML code.

It is very easy to go overboard when one is practicing how to make a website. You cannot forget that people are coming for the content. Content is king. Funny pictures, bells and whistles are cute novelties for a second or two, but will not hold anyone’s attention. Such frivolities also slow down load times and detract from the main point.

Various resources are available for free to help you learn how to make a website. Numerous books and online tutorials can teach you how to build a website Decide on your website’s purpose and start gathering information. If your service provider doesn’t offer web space, search online for free hosting. The simplest way to bring everything together is by using a WYSIWYG editor, which allows you to design and edit visually, instead of writing code. You can also take advantage of templates or tools associated with the hosting account. They can help with colors, styles and clipart. Content is the most important aspect. Don’t let flashy images overshadow the essentials.

- Tem Balanco