1. Can I have a website for free?

You can have content on a website for free but you cannot have your own website for free.  It's probable that your Internet Service Provider gives you web space as a part of your service.  This will basically be content that you add to their website.  There are also many other websites to which you can add your own content.  A big one you've probably heard of is MySpace. There are many, many more to choose from:

Click here for a big list of free webspace sources

Some of the downsides to this:

You cannot use your own domain name, such as www.mysite.com.  The link to your pages will look something like this:  www.someothersite.com/mysite.html, or worse yet www.someothersite.com/pages/mysite.html.

There are many limitations to how much space you get, what content can be put there and where it all goes.  You cannot design the page yourself differently than the "template" you are given.

Your pages will have plenty of ads on them - and you have no control over what ads are placed there.

A good amount of time is needed to "learn the ropes" of how to make the best of it.

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2. Can I make my own website instead of paying someone to make it for me?

Absolutely! This involves buying a domain name, getting a hosting account (or hosting it on your own server) and having the knowledge and tools (software) to construct the site.

1. The domain name and hosting account: There are tens of thousands of companies you can buy domain names and hosting accounts from.  We recommend GoDaddy for the purchase of the Domain Name and Lunarpagesfor the hosting. 

NOTE: Do NOT think that the biggest company is the best deal.  In the case of domain names and web hosting the opposite is true! For example, the "going rate" for a domain name is about $9 per year and you can even find them for less, yet some of the larger Domain names such as Register.com still charge $35 a year!

This same idea is true about website design companies; Many of them, especially the big ones, are charging rediculously high rates.

2. Constructing the site: Web design software is the way to go...and we recommend Adobe Dreamweaver

Note: If you are a student or teacher, or are using the software for a non-profit organization, you can get it for a big discount.  Check it out - and download a free trial - at the Adobe USA Store.

If you learn the software and buy it, you can then get a domain name if you don't already have one, and a hosting account, and upload the pages to the internet.

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