Want to set up your own website, but not sure where to start? Well, the simple way would be to learn the basics of HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), write up a page with the bare essentials and plonk it straight onto the Internet. But I'll bet you've seen plenty of those in your cyber-travels - ugly little suckers aren't they? That's because, while HTML is a simple language to learn, for precision layout and functionality you need more than the basics at your disposal.
However, there's no need to rush off immediately and begin a web design course. The beauty of the Internet is that lots of people share their ideas, create things for free (just because they can), and allow others to use them free of charge. It's just a matter of knowing where to look. Armed with this knowledge, you can add just a little of your own inspiration (and perspiration) to come up with something fantastic for absolutely no expense.
First off, if you're just after a basic, informative website, then you don't need anything overdone in the way of functionality (like user comment systems, story administration etc). All you want is a website template, which you can modify quickly with your own colours, graphics, and content, ready to go live on the Internet at the drop of a hat. If that's the case, I'm going to give you just one very solid piece of advice: go to the Open Source Web Design website. You can browse different designs for hours, to find your perfect layout (or maybe you'll get lucky straight up!), which you are then free to modify as necessary (with your own basic HTML and perhaps CSS skills). Hey presto, you've got a kick-ass looking website! How easy was that? Just make sure you pay some respect to the original author of the template by abiding by any conditions he may have set for using the template, and perhaps also by adding a 'Designed by' tag to the bottom of the page to give credit where credit is due
But what if you're looking for something a little more functional, with reader interactivity and extra-easy day-to-day content administration? In that case, you could start with something pretty simple, like a free blog (by now, everyone knows of Blogger and similar setups). But they do look a bit the same sometimes, and perhaps you want even more power. You might need to step up to a free CMS package (Content Management System) - there are now a wealth of possibilities here, head on over to OpenCMS to browse the list available (this website runs on Drupal). OpenCMS is great, because you can actually literally try each of the systems out before you decide. A note though - most of these require some system administration skills to setup and update when necessary. So, if you don't have those skills, or you don't have an associate who does, then you may need to pay for a server-CMS joint package (ie. when you pay for your server, you pay a little extra for the CMS to be already installed).
Perhaps you are not so much after a website, but a forum? If so, there are two free packages which appear to stand out above most others. PHP Bulletin Board is extremely well-known, and has been around a while, so is a good bet. The other option is the enthusiastic young up and comer with all the new and fresh moves, SMF (Simple Machines Forum). As above, you may need some sys-admin skills in setting these up, or alternatively look around for server packages which come with the bulletin board included.
As you can see, just in this short article we've been able to point at numerous ways of setting up a quality website for free (excluding the cost of server hosting). With a little application and effort, you can create an excellent website in no time at all at very little (or absolutely no) expense. That means - you have no excuse! It's the cheapest and fastest way to get your thoughts published. Get to it.