Setup

• Unless you'd like to invest in dedicated servers, the first step you will need to take in managing your Web site is choosing a web host. If you don't need your Web site to have many features like forums, shopping carts or users, there are several free options that might suit your needs.
  
  For most commercial purposes however, you will probably need to register a domain name and pay a monthly fee for web hosting. When choosing a host, write down a list of features you feel are necessary, like database support, blog hosting or site analytics, and shop around to make sure you get all the features you need at the best price possible.
  
  

Content Management

• One of the most important aspects of Web site management is choosing how you will manage your content. The most basic way to do this would be to simply upload HTML or CSS files, images or whatever else you might need directly to an FTP server. This process can be time consuming however, and requires a certain degree of web expertise.
  
  A much easier method would be to utilize a content management system. Content management systems allow you add pages and update your web site directly from your browser, with very little to no web programming knowledge necessary. These can be bought and installed on your server or custom designed by web programmers, but they are often included in web hosting packages or can be added on for a relatively small monthly fee.
  
  If you don't plan on building a very complex Web site, and simply need a few pages with frequently updated information, utilizing a blog publishing platform can be a simple and relatively inexpensive solution. Blog publishing platforms are essentially simplified content management systems, and they have become very dynamic in recent years, making them a good option for a variety of applications. In addition to managing content, the major blog publishers (Blogger and WordPress at the moment) usually provide free hosting and a free sub-domain (i.e. yourname.publisher.com).
  
  

E-Commerce

• As with content management systems, many web hosts also offer shopping carts either as a part of the web hosting package or for an additional monthly fee. If your web host does not offer a shopping cart, or you would not like to pay an extra fee, you can set up a shopping cart for free through PayPal, though there are often some fees for credit transactions.