The first step to setting up a Web site is to design the site. What kind of material do you want to publish on the Web? Do you plan to include company information...product information...order forms...applications...data? How do you want your home page to look? With most Web authoring tools, you can choose from a wide array of templates, customize a template, or design your own page from scratch. The best way to decide on your design is to surf the Web. Which sites do you find to be the most effective? Which ones grab your interest and compel you to read on, compel you to buy?
If you're designing a site from scratch, you may find it useful to make a thumbnail sketch of your home page. Once you have the basic design of your home page, you need to decide what subsequent pages to include and how to navigate your visitor to those pages. It is often helpful to create a flow diagram similar to the one you create when designing an application. Once you're pretty sure how you want the site to look and flow, you're ready to move to the next step.