There is not one day that goes by where I don't come

across a website that literally makes me scream. No

matter what you surf for, you will always find somebody

on the net that just completely screws up their internet

presence 100. The visitor will

leave and you have lost your chance to 'capture them'.

Web design is a big issue nowadays. The website is

your virtual representative. You have to make the best

impression on your visitors the first time. If you don't

you may have lost them completely. This is just crazy.

You don't need to be a professional web designer to

design amazing websites either. In fact the truth is

quite the opposite. So-called professional designers

have had it great for so long, making everyone believe

that their skills are the necessary component to online

success. It's not; trust me (as an ex-web designer!).

In my e-book, Automatic-Website, I detail three simple

options you can use to design an effective website

presence. In essence these are:

• Design one yourself

• Pay a designer

• Use a professionally designed website template

Each method is accessible to all of us and just depends

on your personal preference.

The easiest method to designing your own website is

to use a HTML editor such as Microsoft Frontpage.

Designing websites with these type of programs is as

simple as typing a word document. Just type in the

text you want, add a few color highlights, a banner

or picture and there you go - an instant website!

Paying a professional is also another option. They

should have the skills to put all your needs together

into a website. One word of caution though. Some

designers get away with charging ridiculous prices for

standard website design. Don't be fooled! You should

pay no more than $80-$120 per page. A complete 5

page website should cost no more that $400-$500 and

is more than enough for the average website owner.

Make sure they are accessible and able to meet your

demands.

The final method you can use is to use website template.

Get the template, plug in your text, add your banner and

BANG! You've got your site! There are so many places

available to get a whole host of templates. Different

styles and designs from contemporary to business and

corporate. Just do a search on Yahoo! And you will find

hundreds of template sites. NB: Purchases of

Automatic-Website have access to 9 professional

templates and future updates from time to time.

Whichever option you choose remember that simplicity

is the answer. Make sure your site is set out in a logical

order and easy to read. Clean lines and plenty of space

will help your visitor read and navigate your website.

Take care in designing your internet presence. It is the

first point of contact with many of your visitors and you

want to make the best impression possible. Do it right

the first time and you can't go wrong!

Good luck with your internet strategy and get designing!