These days, businesses large and small are using their websites to educate potential customers about their businesses. You’ll find that many potential customers will visit your business website before they reach out to you to learn more about your products or services. And what used to be an expensive, intimidating prospect –business website development – is now free and easy enough to do on your own.

How to create a business website:

1. Get a domain name or URL
2. Find a business website hosting company
3. Create HTML files - the code that displays what you see on the screen
4. Upload or publish your HTML files to your business website

You can take care of all four steps of business website development for free by signing up with Microsoft Office Live Small Business. In addition to business website hosting and easy-to-use site design tools and templates, you'll also get free business e-mail accounts and business applications, including a convenient Web-based Contact Manager to help track customer relationships. Office Live Small Business also offers a number of add-on features and services, including sales and marketing tools to help your business prosper online. Among them: Custom domain name registration E-mail marketing Search marketing E-commerce – both on your website and on eBay

If you want to be more hands-on as you develop your website, Microsoft has additional products that allow you to create your HTML files:

Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 If you need a simple website without a lot of customization, use the website wizards in Publisher 2007 to put together your site. Publisher 2007 is included in the Microsoft Office Professional 2007 suite. Download a free trial of Microsoft Office Professional 2007

Microsoft Expression Web If you have some design experience and are looking to create a business website, Expression Web is a professional design tool that will enable you to create a professional website. Download a free trial of Microsoft Expression Web

If you need a highly-customized business website you might consider hiring a professional designer, although that can be costly.