I Want to Learn How to Build Websites!

Shannon writes, "I want to learn how to build websites for my company, but I know NOTHING about it. Where should I start? The information out there is overwhelming."

I totally understand your frustration because I've worked with small business owners and non-profit organizations who wanted a website but didn't have the money to pay a web designer. As you know, an online presence is an essential marketing tool for your business, and learning how to create one will save you money in the long run.

Here are three ways to get your started:

1. Take a college course:  Honestly, this is the best way to get started, especially if you don't have a basic understanding of HyperText Markup Language (HTML). If you don't have the time or money to go back to school, there are many universities that offer courseware online, as well as tutorials. 

2. Pick up a good book: My favorite training books are the Visual Quickstart Guides. These books have tutorials with plenty of screenshots to guide you through web design programs such as Dreamweaver or Frontpage. Anytime I need to learn a new program, I usually buy one of these books to get started.

3. Online Resources: There are plenty of online resources that will guide you through the web design process. I can't tell you how many hours I spent reading through short tutorials on weekends. I think you should pay a visit to Lynda.com, which Dory wrote about recently.

Some Tools To Get You Started 

There's no easier 'click and drag' way to create a good-looking customized website than to use web editors such as Dreamweaver or Frontpage. I personally recommend Dreamweaver if you can get your hands on a copy.

Start thinking about a great domain name for your site that's both short and snappy. You don't want to make the domain name too long (www.thegreateststoryevertold.com).

You'll also need a hosting company. Yahoo! Small Business Hosting is great because it includes most of the tools you need, including Yahoo! Site Builder, a free domain name, and blogging tools.

If you need some layout inspiration, check out Template Monster. They have some great looking templates.

This post can really turn into a series of posts about web design because there are just so many details to cover. So let me know if you have any more questions in the comments below.  

Disclosure: Yahoo!, Inc., owns and operates Yahoo! Tech as well as Yahoo! Small Business.