There are many ways to go about designing your site. You've already planned out what your site will include, now it's time to organize the pieces and design what they'll actually look like.

Web Site Design Elements

Here's where color schemes, logos, pictures, graphics come into play. Your website should reflect your business or organization.  Your current brochure, catalogs or other printed materials can often provide a guideline.

Layout

Logos and color schemes come together along with navigation, and other repetitive site elements to form the layout. This can be accomplished by custom design by a web design company or freelance designer, using a professional template, or using a site builder. Learn more about these types of layouts and designs.

Custom Design

Custom designs are created by a web designer. Whether by a freelancer or by a company, you'll get a unique design that reflects your taste and incorporates your business or organization's personality. Can take longer, since the development and design process requires your input and usually a series of revisions.

Templates

Templates give you a professional design and layout. You can usually add your logo to the layout and use the template to create any number of pages. Fast to get started with, and economical, the only drawback is you may come across other sites using the same template. There are programs which design customized sites that are based on templates. This can be a good compromise for some sites.

Site Builder

A Site Builder is more than a design and layout. It is a system where you choose a layout, color scheme and use a web based program to build out your site. For a DIY with no html coding experience, this can be a fast, easy way to start a site. Drawbacks: if you leave the service, your site may not be easily portable, and depending on the package, you may not have the ability to grow your site by adding funcionality.

Content Management Systems (CMS)

Content Management Systems are similar to a site builder, but allow for more customization in design and functionality. Examples of CMS systems include: Wordpress, Drupal, Joomla, CMSMadeSimple, WebGUI and more.