In the first two steps, Step One and Step Two, we discussed Domain Name Registration/Reservation and then getting a web host to publish your web site files to. In this step, the thrid and final step for the sake of our discussion, we will look at the elements of web site design.

Step Three - Web Site Design
Web Site Design is a rather large area of explanation...that is, each web site design is going to be different based upon the needs of each client. To say that no two web sites are similar is about as near the truth as you will find in web site design. In order to get a good understanding of web site design, you will need to ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you have the ability to author web pages through the use of HTML or similar web programming languages?
• Do you want to let someone else handle the task of designing your web pages based upon your themes or ideas?

If you are of the DIY variety and have some experience with building web sites, then chances are you are not going to need to hire the services of a web designer and thus save time and money by being able to create and maintain your site yourself.

We receive a lot of questions about web design but perhaps the most common question is, "how easy is it to learn how to design web sites?"

To say it is easy is not always the right answer. Some people learn quicker than others while some have no knack or desire to learn how to code for web design. It is possible to learn how to design but if you've never had any experience, you need to ask yourself if you have the time it will take to learn.

Let's presume that you do not have the time or desire to design your own web pages - and that is the main gist of this discussion because web designers will ultimately already have the experience and will need to read no further.

Web design basically starts with an idea or collection of ideas that a new web site owner will want to eventually see as their web site. These ideas of course need to be conveyed to their web site designer. Such methods of getting the ideas across are by taking a few pieces of paper and creating a layout for the web designer to work with. In some cases, I've worked off a few notes jotted on a napkin. In any event, the client got their points across and their web site was built from these basic ideas.

These ideas are what I like to term as the planning phase keeping in mind that just about anything can be changed, edited, altered or deleted as the web site pages begin to take shape. But the initial ideas are very important so that the web designer knows what approach to take in building your web site.

Your web designer is a good place to start for asking what can and cannot be done with a web site. Most designers have much experience in knowing what works and what doesn't. What seems to attract visitors and what tends to distract or discourage visitors. My overall policy when working with a new or potential client is to discuss in depth what the overall focus and goal of the web site is going to be. This way I can truly feel that I am steering the client in the right direction and making their site a success from the very start.

Textual information and pictures are of prime importance in designing a web site and really need to be the focus in the planning phase. It is best to keep textual information to a few, well worded paragraphs rather than using too many words which will quickly tire your visitors. And again, text can be edited as often as needed to suit your style and approach.

Pictures on the other hand are worth a thousand words if not more. A really good, crisp picture will help get a point across or make the sale rather than a blurry, distorted picture which leaves the visitor or prospective customer wondering if they are not going to get the same quality in real life!