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How do you go about building your business or personal website? There are so many options on the Internet. Which should you choose? Should you build it yourself? Choose a web designer? Learn web site design? What method should you choose? Which is fastest, cheapest or easiest?

Bringing things into perspective, you actually have 3 main choices when deciding how to get your website built. This is based on the assumption that as a busy person with set business goals you don't really want to re-train as a website designer and learn CSS, HTML, ASP, PHP, graphics, Flash, multimedia, video editing, web site hosting, FTP, SEO etc.

So what choices are available and which is best for you? That depends on your goals, time constraints and financial resources.

You could:

a) Find a website designer or company to design your site, according to your requirements or if you aren't sure what you need, you can thrash out your vision with them until you get exactly what you want.

b) or you could sign up to one of those web hosting packages that include a *build-it- yourself website package. Some are free additions to your paid web hosting subscription; others you pay extra for.

c) otherwise, you could sign up to or buy a Do-it-Yourself software wizard package. With these you build your site step-by-step on the internet and pay the vendor a flat one- time fee or pay a low monthly subscription for as long as you have the site.

The best option for you will depend on who you are, what products you sell or market, the aim of your web site, who you expect to visit your site, how comfortable you are with computers etc.

Let's examine each of these options:

- If you want to produce your website yourself but lack the skills.

- You have little or no money to pay for a package or a designer

- You don't mind hosting adverts on your site to pay for it.

- Your site is just a personal site, forum or blog.

- You don't really need a professional, high quality, cutting edge, or modern design site that will be viewed by business clients.

- Your site doesn't need to include any special tools such as polls, forums, online payments etc.

Then you may want to choose one of the packages that you get for free with web site hosting; but watch out for the small print on the cheap packages, there could be bandwidth limitations (limits on how many people can view your site monthly) or restrictions to the features available to you.

If however,

- You need a professional quality business website and can afford it.
- You have a particular design in mind or want to control exactly how it looks.
- You need to be able to edit, administer or add on new website pages at any anytime
- You wish to include special tools, video, flash, audio loops.
- You require a custom built e-commerce / online shop, community portal or otherwise specialized site.

It might be best for you to contact a website designer or developer who will help you construct a customized website.

Finally, if:

- You are comfortable with using computers and picking up new skills.
- You would prefer to pay a low monthly fee long term to paying a fairly large amount now.
- You can devote the time to build your website.
- You don't require any professional website advice or marketing advice.

Then go with the subscription or fixed cost website building option.

Any of these options will enable you to get your website up and running in a short time. How satisfied you will be with the result will depend on how much you are able to match your skills and resources to the choices available.