The era of free web templates and other user-friendly web site authoring tools has arrived. Putting together a web site has never been easier.

While HTML and FTP have been around for a long time and may be the most familiar tools for creating and uploading files to a web site, they certainly don't represent the only way to do it.

Integrated Tools

Some web authoring packages include free web templates and have built-in file transfer functions which automatically upload individual web pages or your entire website.

Microsoft's FrontPage is an example of this type of transfer method. In order to take advantage of it you need to have FrontPage "extensions" installed on your website. You can request this feature from your web host, although most offer it for free.

Most web hosting companies also provide web site building packages with integrated programs that allow you to build and publish your site using a common interface for both functions.

Free Online Tools

Another approach to web site publishing is the online web site builder.

Most web hosts give you access to browser-controlled software that lets you lay out web pages using free web templates and see what they look like right away. These tools are commonly referred to as WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) and, when you are done, the page is automatically saved to the proper location on your server.

This type of page-building tool is excellent for the novice and is typically available through the control panel of your hosting account.