You might want to check if your ISP has provided you with a free domain name and some web space because you might want to use them later on.

Have a look at your ISP's website to find out what they offer with your account.

In addition, you will need some web authoring software, which allows you to build and edit the files that will make up your website.

You will also need some FTP software which securely transfers the files that make up your site from your computer to the web host's server where other people can visit it.

Register your site

Every website has an address, or domain name, which you type into your web browser such as www.bbc.co.uk/webwise or news.bbc.co.uk.

The WebWise URL

Often when you subscribe to your ISP, they will supply you with your own domain name and a certain amount of space on their server to build your site.

This is generally for free, however, your domain name will probably be something like http://www.isp.co.uk/yourname/ - which isn't terribly catchy.

If you'd prefer your own choice of domain name, you'll need to go to one of the domain registration companies.

Network Solutions used to have a monopoly on selling domain names ending in .com but now there are thousands of companies selling them.

That's good for prices but can make it a bit difficult to choose the one you want as there are so many companies offering different services.

Some offer the names with free web hosting and other services while some offer them alone. You'll find a lot of them listed at dmoz.com.

Go to nominet.org.uk for a list of all the companies that sell domain names that end in .co.uk.

There is often a minimal charge for buying the domain name, but once you own it, you own the URL and every single e-mail address ending in that domain name.

Hosting your site

A web host is a company that provides a computer, or server, at a remote location, with permanent access to the internet.

This server stores your website pages (and other peoples') so they can be viewed by everyone via the world wide web.