You will note from the title that this article is for the beginners. The very first thing to consider is what kind of software you will use. It is what is known as a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) web site editor. It enables webmasters to create websites without knowing any HTML. Those of you who write HTML code like a second language will probably not care for it very much. The latest version, FrontPage 2003, has great improvements from the older versions, like the split screen which allows you to see the HTML code as you edit. Even if you don't write your own code, the more familiar you are with HTML, the better off you will be. FrontPage 2003 also lets you do a find and replace over your entire site.

HTML-Kit is a must for any aspiring webmaster. You can download a completely free copy at Download.com. HTML-Kit is not WYSIWYG at all, but if you start working with more advanced options like php, cgi, .htaccess, or any of the other many file extensions, you'll need this one eventually. If you are looking to practice a little with a small website for free then try Bravenet.com. You can get 1.5 GB of bandwidth and 50 MB disk space. This isn't very much compared to a host you pay for, but it can help get you started if this is your first outing in web page development. If nothing else it's great free practice for the real thing.