Creating your Site

Outsourcing versus D.I.Y.

Learning how to create a website can be done in a weekend if you are already comfortable with computers. This is especially true with the help of tools like FrontPage and DreamWeaver. If you have an eye for style, we feel it is good experience to build a site for yourself. However, keep in mind that you will need to learn how to use a graphics program (such as PaintShopPro or PhotoShop) and HTML. Because there are MANY books and tutorials online that cover this, we will not explore this further. We simply recommend that you get a book from your local library or read some of the many tutorials on the Internet.

On the other hand, you may not have the artistic talent or computer skills to do it yourself. Or, you may wish to add complexities that are far beyond someone that is not a computer professional. In this case, you must hire someone, but please keep in mind that all web developers were not created equal. There is no standard qualification to look for. Some excellent web developers may be the college student next door or a pricey IT firm (if your requirements are complex). What we recommend is that you look at examples of past work more than anything else. Past performance is the best indicator of future performance.

Next: Hosting your site