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Where should you start if you want to build your own website? Should you first gather the content you wish to present, work on the layout and design, or determine which technologies to use? The first thing you should do is think about who your target audience is. Before you start you to build your own website you need to think hard about who you are building the site for.

The first step is to determine your targeted audience. If your site was about cars, for example, your target audience would be people who love driving or who are in the market to purchase a vehicle. Your content then should reflect characteristic distinctions that will bring you perspective surfers your way.

The next thing to do is to plan and mock-up your site. You should always have in mind the way you want your site to work before you start to think about what it should look like. You should think about what to put on the home page, how your site will be broken into sections and what other features your site will offer. When you have answered these questions, you will be in a position to decide what technology to use and where to host your site. Look for a host that supports the programming language you wish to use and can provide sufficient storage and bandwidth for your requirements.

In order to help you build your own website, many web hosting providers offer control panels that are easy to use and understand. They have utilities that you can use such as design tools. These tools will make it easy for you to build a website even though you don't have much experience. Of course any experience you do have can only help you to build your own website.

After you have chosen a hosting company and determined the type of technology to use, you will want to work on your design. Create a mockup that approximates the look of your website. A mockup can set a particular mood for your website and will help you get your message across. Integrate this look into your master plan as you develop the home page and interior sections. Your hosting provider may or may not have the tools you need for this phase of the project. If it doesn't, then hire a web developer to help you.

Now that the site is up and running, you should watch the statistics closely. They will tell you how many visitors your site is attracting and what features they are most attracted to. As you tweak the design of your site the statistics will tell you if you are on the right track. You may have to change the location of some content, add a site search engine, or streamline the homepage. Let the statistics tell you if your changes are having a positive or a negative effect on your web site.