Here is a handy check list for those of you getting ready to venture onto the web. Most of these things are optional. It is possible to just go to a website designer and say "Here is my money. Let me know what you come up with!"

However, if you are like most of us, money is critical. The more items on this list that you can accomplish, the more money you will end up saving. The more organized you are, the less time your web designer will have to spend doing the items on this list.

And you will be in better control of what your Website looks like, save money in the process, and end up with a quality website that you can be proud of. So please print out this list. And I will see you on the web!

• Webspace:
  Have you decided on a vendor for your web hosting service?
• Webcode:
  Will HTML, XTML, and CSS be sufficient or do you need to have CSSP, JavaScript, Flash, DHTML and/or ASP?
• Uploading:
  Can you handle this task or do you need to delegate it to a designer?
• Your Goal:
  Have you decided who your target audience is?
  What do you want your website to accomplish?
• Domain Name:
  Have you registered your domain name?
  Or at least come up with 5 alternatives?
• Basic Design:
  What do you want your site to look like?
  Any thoughts on navigational structure? Any thoughts on colors?
• Web Pages:
  How many pages do you invision?
  What will the individual pages be called?
• Content:
  Have you written content for every page?
  Is it spell checked and ready to be e-mailed?
• Graphics:
  Do you have photos, logos, and clipart?
  What pages will they be placed on?
• Updates:
  Do you have a plan for frequent updating?