Before you go out there and get a website started, you really need to think about who the target audience to the site might be, what they are looking for, and how that relates to the website. Will the visitors be shopping, searching for jobs, researching information, or just be entertained while they surf through the pages of the site? You will need to decide what type of visitors you are after and then decide what is best for them as the client and for you as the service provider. Once you've figured this out, aim for somewhere in the middle that is able to accommodate for the needs of both sides.

Now if you are creating the website for someone else as opposed to making one for yourself, it is also important to keep the needs of the purchasing company in mind. Try to remember that many of the people who hire web designers to create a site for them don't really know what it is they need, and will be looking to you to help guide them towards a decision on which approach would be best to get them the site that they are after. If you end up creating a site that doesn't really fit their needs or the needs of their visitors, they won't be able to get as much out of their website as they possibly could have and you probably won't be getting their business or the business of their colleagues in the future.

On the other hand, if you are going to be both the owner and designer of the website you are to be creating, then you'll have to sit down and figure out for yourself the things you'd like to get out of your website. At this point, it can also be beneficial to picture in your mind both the things that you desire in the design and the things that a visitor might wish to see once they've come to your site. Think about the kinds of things they will be doing, be it purchasing goods, learning information or just having fun. If you were only a visitor on the site, what would you like to see implemented into the design and functionality?

One major benefit of building and maintaining your own website is seen in regards to the money factor. It essentially costs you nothing other than your time to build it, and update it when the need should arise. This can save you hundreds, or possibly even thousands of dollars depending on how extensive your website becomes. When thinking about this option, is good to also think about what skills you have, and what skills you think you can learn. There are many resources out there for web developers that range from learning basic html, to the high-end coding concepts needed for larger projects. If you are willing to take the time to learn, virtually anyone can build a website.

Even if you aren't a master programmer, because lets face it, most of us aren't, some applications, such as Macromedia's Dreamweaver and Microsoft Office's FrontPage, will essentially build the code for you, which is why they are referred to as WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) programs. The only downfall to this is you are limited in what you are able to do with your web page. Though, it is obviously easier than coding the entire site yourself, if you don't know at least any basic design or coding concepts, it can be hard to come up with something professional in appearance. Plus, these programs are usually rather expensive.

On top of all of that, you also have to think about what fits in with your lifestyle. If you are a very busy person and don't have much time right now to maintain and update your web space, then it's probably best to keep it simple. Otherwise you are free to decide on just how elaborate you want the end product to be. Will it be a small personal family web page, or a full blown e-commerce business site? It's really up to you.

If you've thought long and hard about creating your own site, and don't think you have the time or know-how to build it yourself, another option you should consider is contracting the job out to a web designer, who would create the design and implement the website you want. Obviously with this choice you'd be looking at paying a fee that could range anywhere from less than one hundred dollars to tens of thousands, if not more. Depending on how large and complicated the website in question is to be, you can be looking at paying anywhere from a small amount of money (for possibly a static html page) or a much larger amount (for a dynamic database integrated flash site, for example). These people are the professionals in their field, and you have to pay for their expertise.

Keep in mind, if you are planning on building a non-profit website, you can usually get free hosting provided by a company on the internet. If you are unable to code the site yourself, you could also commission a volunteer to design and create a website for you and your organization. Most designers don't mind doing this, especially the beginners who might still be in school, because it helps to fill out their portfolios which can be essential to their success as a designer after they graduate. The experienced web developers also like doing this sort of thing, because they can clock their hours spent on the project and use them as a tax write-off once that time of the year happens to roll around.

Granted all this seems like a lot to think about, but if you really do want to create a website that can represent you or your company with any sort of integrity, it's incredibly important. The web is a very competitive place, and if you want to make your presence known it's best to do it right. Trust me your visitors will thank you.