So, you want a great web design? Here's the best place to start. Purchase Dreamweaver (the newest version) from Adobe! I've been in the web design profession for over 10 years now, and Dreamweaver is a gift from CyberHeaven. There is so much you can do, yet there is so little you have to learn in order to create basic websites.

I'll be honest, I haven't learned all the web design tricks Dreamweaver can do, but I know enough to make great looking sites in a matter of a few hours! To get started, we'll need a domain name, a web host, and someone to give you great advice on web design!

I recommend using IX Webhosting for your Web hosting needs. I've used them since 2003, and they are absolutely wonderful! Simply go to their site, and select a plan. The cheapest plan is great if you don't need a database. You can always upgrade later, so this would be a great place to start. You'll get at least one free domain registration with your purchase, too! Here's a very important note: always try to register a "dot com" name rather than another extension such as "dot net". This is important not only for your web design, but also your search engine placement that we'll work on later. If you really need a name that is taken and you must use a "dot net" name, it's not detrimental. Also remember to keep your domain name as short as possible and easy to remember for your customers! A great web design won't do you any good if no one can find it!

Next, choose the Linux option rather than Windows. You don't need to use a Linux operating system, so don't panic! This is just the type of hosting service they'll provide for your site. It's a matter of opinion, but I prefer the Linux server. Enter your info and credit card number, and you'll be signed up instantly for web hosting!

While IX Webhosting takes a few minutes to set up your account for you, we'll go back to our web design software, Dreamweaver. The first thing you'll need to do in Dreamweaver is give your web design a home. This is your Web hosting server! As the versions of Dreamweaver change, these instructions might vary somewhat.

First, you'll click "Site" on the very top toolbar, and then "Manage Sites". Next, click "New". Depending on the version you have, it may ask you what type of site you want to set up. You'll want to set up an actual website, not an ftp server.

The first thing it will likely ask for is the URL (domain) of your website. Type in the entire domain name here. Next it will probably ask you to name your site. This is just for you, so the site is recognizable if you have several sites. After that, it will ask you if you'd like to use a server technology. A safe bet for IX Webhosting is to just choose "yes" and then in the drop down box, choose PHP mySQL.

Next, choose how you want to develop the site. You'll choose "Edit locally, then upload to a remote testing server". It will also ask where on your computer you'd like to store your files. Click "Browse" and browse to the folder where you'd like to save all your files for this site. If you don't have one, you can go to a folder such as "My Documents", right click, and make a new folder. Next, you will be asked how you connect to your testing server. Choose "FTP". In the first box, enter your server name. This should be in your welcome letter from IX Webhosting. It will be something like "example.exmplesite.com". In the next box, enter a forward slash, and then your domain name without the "www" and then another forward slash. For example: /examplesite.com/

Next enter your login and password given to you by IX Webhosting and then click "Next". You can leave the default entry for "the root URL" on this section. Just click "Next" again. On this page, choose "No, do not enable check in checkout" and click "Next". You should now have your site set up complete!

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About the Author

Leslie Wright is the owner of Web Design Wright Now a site that offers full service web design, self service web design web hosting, and search engine optimization, along with other small business resources.