by Sarah Dopp

There are many ways to get a website. With the intensely competitive market out there, you need to know the basics before you invest. Start here.

The 6 Basic Elements of Every Website

1. Domain Name - your website address: www."your_name".com
2. Web Hosting - where you store your website files
3. Content - the information and "other stuff" you provide
4. Graphic and Layout Design - the visual appearance of your website
5. Programming - your website's functionality
6. Maintenance - how you keep things up to date

The Top 5 Ways to Save Money on Your Website

1. Research, ask lots of questions, and then research some more.
2. Start with what you have. Do you already have images, articles, or public relations documents prepared for your company? Dig them out!
3. Do some of the work yourself. If you have the skills, many web developers appreciate it if you can contribute content, design, or even programming elements. It helps guarantee that the site will meet your needs.
4. Don't rush into anything. Spend as much time as it takes to plan your perfect website. It's very expensive to realize your site won't meet your needs after its been built.
5. Read every word of this guide. You can navigate with the links below.