If you want to launch your own website but are unsure what to do first, pay attention to the following list.

First, you need to buy a domain name. Before you purchase your domain name, it will benefit you greatly to be aware of the following guidelines in finding a domain name that will work for you.

Select a domain ending with a .com.

Easy to spell.

Easy to say over the phone or in person.

Does not include numeric characters or dashes

Try to include alliteration or other elements to make it memorable.

If possible, describes your product or service.

Now here are a few exceptions. If you are starting a personal blog (and by personal, it may be business oriented but it belongs to you), then it's perfectly acceptable to use your name even if it's not easy to spell.

Another possible exception is the last criteria I listed. The best case is to have a domain name which is descriptive, but there are many sites where this is not the case. The best example is Google! (You would think a better name would have been "TheBestSearchEngine.com".) Give some thought to your target audience and what makes sense to them.

Second, locate a reliable web host and sign up one of their plans.

Third, set up your site. Your basic decision here is whether to go with a traditional "static" site or a blog. Blogging software is becoming incredibly popular and easier to use every day, and platforms such as Wordpress can be adapted for many different purposes.

Fourth, you will need to put content onto your website. If you go with a blog format, this step is incredibly simple.

Fifth, you will want to set up a schedule and program for promoting your site. After all, what good is having a website if no one knows about it? Some ways you can promote your site include article marketing, video marketing, viral friend scripts, press releases, forum marketing, and blog commenting.

Putting up a website can be quite taxing but can also reward you in more ways than you might realize.