The Web! What a marvel! Everyone is talking about it. Every newspaper, magazine, and TV show gives out these strange displays of letters and punctuations that they call sites. They state that we can get more and learn more if we access these sites.

You may be an Internet junkie or maybe you still aren't sure what all the hoopla is about. Either way you have decided it's time to get involved and set your sites on putting your information or business on the World Wide Web.

The best start is to learn the languages and software manipulations to create your own Web page or pages. If that seems too far fetched find a good Web Site Designer. But be careful! Rates for designers can range from hourly figures of $60.00 per hour to hundreds of dollars per hour. There are also those who charge an initial flat rate for Web site design which can range from $100.00 per page without graphics to $3,000.00 per page with graphics. The Web site design market hasn't established itself yet so remains wide open for the designers. Your main objective here is to shop around and find a designer who will talk to you in a way that you are comfortable and be able to see you or your business the way you see it. Remember if you can't communicate properly now, it's your business or information that might not be communicated properly on the Web later. Also, find the designer who will work with you to help tie the other pieces and costs of the Web puzzle together. You want to get your site in the right place for the right cost.

Your designer can also help you locate the right Internet Service Provider (ISP). The ISP is the business that will place your site design onto the Web using their location as the starting point. Some ISP's will also act as designers for an additional charge. Be wary though, they are the one's who will charge for the amount of storage space your site will require. If they do the design they might not be quite as careful about the space usage.

When choosing the ISP check for monthly costs, storage space charges, maintenance charges, any additional upload charges, and hit charges to your site, meaning how many people can visit your site before you are charged an additional fee. There can also be differences in the above ISP costs if your site is of personal or commercial nature.

Last but not least determine who will be responsible for publicizing your nice new site and at what cost. Again, your designer can be of great assistance in this area. Some Internet Service Providers will do this, but again it will be for an additional cost. Some will state that this is your responsibility. I suggest you find the designer who will do the publicizing for you even if you have to pay the hourly rate. You should expect the designer to do a good and thorough job. The designer's best reward is to be seen and recognized by others on the Web.