How to Design a Website

Whether you are developing your own personal website or creating an e-commerce site for your new business, website design can be a daunting task. Fortunately, with the right software and a good sense of what your content will be, it can be as easy as creating a word processing document.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Brainstorm what web pages your website will contain. It is often helpful to make a diagram of how your site will be organized. Make sure to include your navigation structure. This refers to how the pages of your website will be connected.

2. Use paper to make a rough sketch of each page. Be sure to take into account what titles, text and graphics will be included.

3. Select a piece of software specifically designed for constructing multi-page websites as opposed to a simple webpage editor. There are many options available for less than $100. Install the software on your computer.

4. Explore the themes and page choices that are already available on your software. Find the one that best fits your vision for your website.

5. Work through your software's website "wizard" to input your site information.

6. Preview your site in a variety of browsers and on a variety of computers, to determine that your creation looks the way it should in different environments.

7. Upload your site, including all of your pages and graphics to the webserver of your host provider.

Tips & Warnings

• Simple designs are often the best designs. Too much flash can distract from the message of your site.

• Pay close attention to your navigation menu. Make sure all of the pages within your site are connected in a logical manner.

• Don't post pages that state they are "Under Construction." It is best to wait until you have completed your site or start with a smaller website than to have a site that is only half complete.

Resources

• For advanced web authoring software go to adobe.com.
• To obtain information about Microsoft's web authoring software go to office.microsoft.com.