First decide what you going to offer a product or service.

Decide on a "theme" for your website. If you are selling party supplies you may want confetti and balloons as a background theme. The theme needs to go along with your theory of what you going to do.

Have a business plan and go by it.

After you decide what your theme is you need a domain name for the business www...com or net, biz, etc.

Then you need to register your name at a register company. We use godaddy.com for our registry. You can go to a register company and register the name or have your host do it for you. If the host registers the name let them know you would like the name transferred to you. The reason is if you decide the host is not right for you or the site is not right for you, if the site is in your name you can sell it or move it. If the site is in your host name its up to the host to let you move the site. Some host will want to keep you and not turn it over. Best deal is to have the website in your name.

There a place called http://www.dnsstuff.com or you can go to other registeries and check to make sure your site is in your name. If you need help I can help you.  

Once your name is registered you need a hosting company. Host is like the landlord they rent you space to hold your website.

You can use freeweb, homestead and other freebies but they are not recommended for good placement on search engines. If the customer comes to your site and sees a lot of advertising that is not yours...they could be distracted from your business. It is highly recommended to find an affordable wahm and get started that way.  

Unless you are going to build your own website, you need a  web designer. Look around you will find affordable designers. I recommend finding a wahm friend to design the site for you. Some of the wahms will take payments. The site may not be in your name until you do the final payment. 

Often times the designer will host the site for you all in one price.

Each domain name has to be registered to name servers. This points the name to the host that host your site. Your routing your domain name to a host company.  You set your name servers to whatever your host has for name servers. Often host will help you with this procedure. ns1.starliteserver.net is an example of a name server. There has to be atleast two name servers. When I register a site for a client I set the name servers at the same time.

Once your name is set to name servers and hosted on a site. Then your designer designs the site. Or you can opt to use a site builder. Some site builders are free with hosting company some have a small fee.

Build the site with theme of your business. Make sure it lerks to the people you want to attract. You do better if it in a uniform matter where the whole website looks similar.

If your site is ecommerce where it sells products you will need a merchant account. I recommend if you do not have one with your store company to sign up for paypal. It free sign up and small fee for use. You don't get charged for non sales.

Once the site is all set up with paypal cart, etc. Your site is well navigated your products are on the site, your next step is to advertise the site.

Meta tags should be added for search engine placement. If the host does not do meta tags you may need someone who is wise in SEO work. Search engine placement. They should add the tags and do search engine placement for you.

For example if you sell flowers ...can I go on yahoo and find you under flowers. Its highly recommended to try to get on the first page. Sometimes that is not easy. It something you work for.

Adding links, meta tags, and correct wording helps. 

You need to let everyone know you have the website.

Advertise your site in your signature lines on line networks

Find places to place small fee ads or free ads

Have a banner for your site exchange banners. When you can afford to you can add your banner to online malls and other advertising sources

If you like online parties do an online party and share your website

Make sure you have the paperwork! Get a logo and spread that logo everywhere! Have the logo on your letterhead, on your business cards, on your catalogs, and wherever you can advertise.

Take advantage of any free advertising offered. Some paid advertising could be recommended in reason. You want to make sure you make your presence known. 

Spread the word! It sounds like a lot of work but if you have a good host or designer they should help you in the process.