To be on the internet you need a website, or do you

The conventional wisdom is, "In order to make money and become successful on the Internet, the first thing you will absolutely need is a decent website." Admittedly, a website is what most people think of first when considering advertising on the Internet. And, things have certainly changed since the early days.

When the Internet revolution started web pages were simple text on a screen, with possibly a little bit of color and graphics if the webmaster was experienced. Now, with technology improving by the day, a basic website is not generally acceptable in business.

Information Technology classes in schools now cover Internet resources quite thoroughly, as the use of computers has been revolutionized by the Internet. The major reason people now use their computers is to go online, for any number of reasons.

Many people, particularly the youngsters, have some knowledge of HTML and in many cases can put together web pages that would have made the original experts blush. It is likely, then, you know someone with this skill – and for a good rate, they will create a website for you that will bring in plenty of customers.

With a numerous selection of website design programs available today, knowing HTML isn't even necessary. Also Google, for example,  provides a website section as a free service. With many templates to choose from, and other features, you can design a layout that best suits your needs.

If, however, you lack the creativity gene and don't have a friend or family member who can put together a good website, then you may need to outsource the work to a professional. This can be expensive depending on what you want, so as a holdover it is worth setting up a free blog.

There are many free blog sites available including WordPress.com (.com not .org) and Google. They can be customized to look like any other website, and will aid you in making enough money to pay for a professional to design your website later. You may even find it fun and simple enough to skip the website and say "I did it myself."