Many years ago I got my first Web site-building experience when I volunteered to design and launch a politically-oriented Web site for a friend.

Even though I had plenty of previous computer experience, there was a steep learning curve involved. I took self-taught crash courses in computer graphic design, the HTM programming language, artistic publishing layout principles, file transfer protocols, Web site hosting and domain name registration. I did all the work for free.

A few years later my daughter, who I was training to be a full-fledged computer geek, landed her first paying job at the age of 15, designing a Web site for a local doctor's office. She was paid $300.

Things have changed dramatically since that time. Numerous companies have made designing and launching a Web site a simple affair. A vast array of tools exists at little or no cost to help the inexperienced designer achieve acceptable results. However, many of the old school principles remain the same and should be understood before building your first Web site.

The first thing you need is a domain name. This is the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) "address" by which your Web site will be found on the Internet. You see URLs in the address bar at the top of your Web browser when you visit a Web site. Think up an easy to remember domain name and then register that name with a "domain name registrar." This officially marks the name on the Internet as being exclusively yours.

Registrars such as Godaddy.com and Aplus?.net can also host your Web site, meaning the photos, graphics and text making up your site reside on their computers, or "servers." It is these Web hosting servers that provide your Web site's link to the Internet. Registration and hosting plans are inexpensive, starting at $4 or $5. If you don't mind other people putting ads on your Web site, you can find Web hosting that's free.

One of the biggest considerations is the look and "feel" of your Web site. Web hosting services also provide free or low cost Web site-building tools that can be easy to use if you are reasonably computer savvy.

For many people though, the best choice is to hire a professional Web site designer. Many lack the time, ability or inclination to master the expert techniques, language skills and artistic sensibilities that a professional can provide. For some Web sites, this doesn't matter. But others, such as those engaged in business or Internet commerce, need the professional touch.

Many homemade Web sites are so cluttered, difficult to use and visually busy they drive away visitors rather than attract them. Too many pointless, animated graphics, multiple font sizes, conflicting color schemes and grammatical errors can be so distracting, the visitor can't figure out what is being communicated on the Web site.

See it big, but keep it simple.