The scope covered by a particular website can vary greatly; it can be a small site focused on one specific topic, or a virtual online shopping mall. Likewise, designing your web site can be a simple hobby, or as demanding as a full time job. How much time and effort will be demanded from you will depend on your goals. Whatever range your site will cover, there are some basic rules and guidelines for web site design.

The first step in website design is to choose content that is appropriate. Your site will not do well if it does not have good and relevant content. The next step is to determine how you are going to design and program the site. You can use anything from a basic WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor to a complex coding language like ASP or PHP. You can also use other options like Flash. The method you choose should be determined by your own qualifications, and what your server is capable of.

Next up is the basic sitemap for your website design. It is key to have a clear plan for how pages on your website will be linked together. This will make navigation more smooth, and you will have less to worry about.

Next step is creating a design. It could be a minimal design, depending on tables for it's structure. Or it could be mostly a graphical design, with lots of eye candy and pictures. At this part, if you're designing a professional web site, you could get help from a graphic design company. Important part is getting a good "make up" that is appropriate with the content of your web site.

Possibly the most important aspect of your web site setup is to take steps to ensure that the public can find your web site easily. You may recall reading previously about servers. Selecting the right server can, in fact, be difficult. It is crucial to find a server that is correct for the content and design of your site. Just because it costs more, won't necessarily mean that it is better. For example, if your site only has HTML codes, it makes no sense to choose a server that offers PHP and ASP support.

As previously noted, promoting your website is critical. It's pointless to create an online site if no one is aware of it. This is the role of the search engine. Formulate a series of keywords that sum up what your website reflects, then register with your preferred search engines. Choosing appropriate keywords and being familiar with the search engine is vital to receiving a good "search engine ranking". If you concentrate on these facets, you shouldn't encounter any trouble with your "website design".