.ORG Web sites come in all shapes and sizes, from small, simple sites with few pages to larger, more complicated sites that use sophisticated programming and backend databases to keep content current and dynamic. But no matter how big or small your Web site will be, careful planning at the beginning of the process will help ensure that your site meets your needs.

Step 1: Define your goals
Whether you are creating a new Web site or redesigning an existing one, answering some basic questions will help you define your goals and determine what type of site you need:

• What are the goals of this Web site? To introduce people to an organization? Serve as information resource? Promote dialogue and interaction? Raise funds?
• Who are your key audiences?
• What do you want them to do? (Take some action, learn something, bookmark the site and use it as a resource?)
• How fancy does your site need to be technologically?
• How often will the site be updated? Who will do the updates?
• Who will be involved in decisions about the look and content of the site?
• What is your budget?

If you already have a site but are planning to redesign it:

• How many users currently visit the site? Who are they? What do you know about them, if anything?
• What do you like from the current site?

Step 2: Plan the site
After you have determined your goals for the site, you are ready to start the process of creating the actual site.

• Identify a host for your Web site. Hosts offer a variety of packages to meet your needs. Prices range from $5 to $100 or more per month depending on the size and technological requirements of your site.
• Register your .ORG domain name. (See our list of registrars.)
• Create a site map, showing all the sections of your site and pages within each section. This will serve as the blueprint to guide you as you develop the site.

Step 3: Design, write and develop the site
The next steps are to begin creating the look of the site, writing the text, and doing the coding and programming. Whether you choose to hire a company to help you or decide to build the site on your own, the Internet has a wealth of resources — from online tutorials to templates and samples of code — that are available for you to use and adapt to your own needs.