Step one for serious Internet writing, blogging, or marketing: You need a website

It always surprises me when I read messages from people who want to start a business on the Internet, or at least have some sort of website, and they ask something like this: "Do I need to have a website of my own? If so, aren't there places where I can get a free website?"

Rule number one for ANY website or work on the Internet: Invest the time, money, and effort to get a website that you can make your own. Do NOT go with a free website/web host if you're serious about a business, professional writing, serious blogging, etc.

So, how do you find a company to host a website, how do you get a website built, how could you possibly afford all that? I'm glad you asked, because here's a place I would recommend, especially if you're new to all this and just starting your first website: Concentric.

Concentric offers a nice set of "complete" shared hosting plans to get you started. They are one of the "all-in-one" type hosting companies, which is probably the best for anyone just starting out. This means they will help you find and register a domain (the "myonlinebusiness.com" name websites use for their web address). Their prices are good, they will help you establish your website, then be there for you as your online business grows and develops. You can get into one of their starter plans for as little as $6.95 a month.

If you're serious about writing, blogging, or marketing on the Internet, you need the professional presence of your own website. Concentric is one place you should take a look at for that purpose.

Technorati Tags: websites, web hosting, Internet writing, writing as a business, writing tips at garyspeer.com