Tired of those omnipresent Internet references reminding you that your own small or medium-sized business is not yet connected? Don't worry. Today the question is not so much whether to have a Web site, but rather how much you're willing to do on your own. The following seven steps cover the basics of what's required to get started. Some of them are clear, simple, and can be accomplished with little or no previous technical experience. Others are more vague and complicated, but not prohibitively so. If you're one of those who believe the best way to get something done is to do it yourself, the time has never been better to venture onto the Web.

Step 1: Conjure your domain name

Your Internet domain name is a lot like the name of your business. Today most business names do double duty as domain names. For example, if the name of your business is Exotic Salsa your domain name could be exoticsalsa.com, and your site would likely be >www.exoticsalsa.com