Having to know HTML has been for many years the one thing that has prevented people from building their own website. There was an unspoken belief that ordinary, i.e. non-technical, people would need to consult experts if they wanted an internet presence.

Modern software marketers claim that anyone with a computer and internet connection, can easily build websites without the need to learn HTML.

In this article we discuss if this is really true or not.

With some new web software programs, the emphasis has moved away from "coding" to more of a step-by-step user friendly approach. Simply typing your website information onto pages just as you would using a word processor can result in pages being generated automatically into web pages. Many programs use WYSIWYG technology. This stands for "what you see is what you get".

Most modern editors format the entire HTML in the background. If you can use Microsoft Word then you can use these programs the same way. Just type.

So Is The HTML correct?

Some purists would argue that WYSIWYG programs make messy or bloated HTML code and the web pages may not be fully compliant to international standards. Some web pages may display slightly differently in different browsers.

In the end, having a website live on the web is better than not having it up there. The making of a website even if HTML is unknown. Even though the HTML code may not be "perfect" the resultant web pages are still normal looking to the user.

When looking for designs, you can easily import your own graphics and designs into most modern website building programs. There are many templates (or skins) you can buy or download for free.

The booming market of first time marketers has created a whole industry of easy to use website programs and the vendors have shown a great understanding of the needs of novice website builders by producing comprehensive manuals and tutorials that lay out each step.

The tutorials are so user-friendly, with a common sense approach, that even beginners should be able to complete a simple website in just an hour. With a domain name registered and a hosting company enlisted, their first website can be 'live' in minutes.

In addition to the tutorial, beginners will find a wealth of information on related forums of web software providers. The training and supporting forum has a broad knowledge spread. There is always someone to answer a novice's questions, either the creator or a team member or a fellow user via the forums.

Not all easy web software programs are only for the new. Upon further inspection there are powerful website design package that are also ideal for intermediate and experienced internet marketers.

Many come feature packed with tools for site map creation, search engine optimization and some have an Affiliate Wizard for affiliate marketers.

Investing in other solutions will not be required. Modern web builders stretch even for the advanced marketer.

So the results are in - and they look pretty good for the first time web builder.

Web design for a competitive business isn't easy, especially when you add e-commerce (the buzzword for buying and selling online) to the mix. Thankfully, many service providers have basic web hosting templates available to their customers at little to no cost depending on your package. More complex templates can be quite expensive. Companies that provide hosting with templates make setting up and maintaining an e-commerce website possible for people without the expertise to do it themselves and without the money to hire a professional to design their site from the ground up.

When purchased separately from your web hosting package, a template can run anywhere from $20 for a basic, simple web template and well into the hundreds of dollars for a more complex, custom design. For the majority of small business owners, basic templates designed for businesses are usually a safe bet.

An e-commerce template may include basic pages, search and navigation tools such as a virtual shopping cart, but it will be up to you to find your own online payment processing - most often through a third party provider such as PayPal. A web search for "online payment processing" will provide you with several options.

As an alternative, you might want to consider a turnkey solution such as eBay Stores or Yahoo! The designs of sites like these make e-commerce solutions for small business accessible to everyone. Be sure to read the find print about transaction fees and other costs before you decide.

Questions to Ask about Functionality

1. Does the shopping cart accept debit cards and online checks?
2. Is there a limit to the number of products, services or categories you can set up?
3. Does the site offer automatic notification of orders and transactions?

Questions to Ask about Cost

1. What are the basic monthly fees?
2. Are fees charged on a per transaction basis?
3. Is there a setup fee? If so, what is it?
4. How are taxes handled?

Talk to other business owners about their choices and do your homework. The right solution is out there for you, you just have to be willing to do what it takes to find it!

One should agree that content is the main thing that keeps visitors coming back for more to your website. Without content, your website is a dead duck in the water. Here are 5 smart ways you can create content for your website without breaking an arm and a leg:

1. Outsource Your Content

You can hire a professional freelancer to create content for you. This is an easy way to get your content created hands free. But the only problem is cost. If you have tons of extra cash lying around, then this is a viable option.

2. Use RSS Feeds

By installing RSS feeds on your site, you can have fresh new content generated practically on the fly. RSS Feeds can typically grab content from new blog posts around the web, news sites and other websites. You can also promote your content via RSS feeds using FeedBurner.

3. Use Blogs

Create a blog and allow people to comment on your posts. The comments are also a way of creating content for your site, only you are not writing the content, your readers are.

4. Create A Forum

A forum is one of the best ways to have tons of content created for you by others. If you have a popular forum, you'll have loads of fresh new information posted by the forum members.

5. Leverage Articles

Take reprint rights articles from article directories and publish them on your own website. There's a whole world of articles out there on article directories that you can use as long as you include the resource box with them.