Don’t underestimate the job. If you don’t get a kick out of wrestling with a new computer program and mastering it, this probably isn’t for you.

Do take some time trying out the idea. Go to Google and search "easy websites." Click on a few and you’ll get a good idea of the prices and what the main features are.

Don’t consider offers that seem too good to be true. They are, and it’s usually not worth the time it takes to check them out. Free sites are probably bait and switch situations, and will offer poor support.

Don’t go the other way, either, and pick an expensive service. There’s no reason to pay more than $5 or $10 per month for a simple five-page website.

Do pick a major company for your first try. We favor Godaddy.com right now. But Yahoo.com and Intuit.com also have good starter website building tools.

Do check out available domain names. Go to www.whois.com and see what names are available: www.drjones.com, www.stevebrown.net, etc. But don’t buy the name right away, because the site-building company you eventually select may get it for you for free, or at a discount -- and will handle all the set-up.

Don’t make a long-term commitment at the start. Prices are lower if you sign up for six months or a year, but that’s not a good idea untill you’ve been up and running for a few months, and feel confident in the service.

Do experiment a bit if you want to spend an hour or two trying out a few sites. Almost all programs let you get started without giving them a credit card.

Do schedule a significant block of time for constructing your site. Two hours is probably minimal--four to six hours is better. Learning to use any site-building tool can be frustrating. You have to work through a few problems before you see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Don’t start building your site without a little preparation. Here’s what you’ll need for starters:

(1) A picture of yourself in digital format.

(2) A good heading at the top of the site. There’s no advantage in putting your name in big bold letters at the top of the page unless you’re already so famous that your name excites people’s interest. Instead, you should lead with a "benefit" or the promise of something useful: "You can make things better" or "Life doesn’t have to hurt." If that seems too aggressive, keep it more neutral: "Compassionate, professional therapy."

(3) A short two or three-line explanation of what you do.

(4) Three or four paragraphs of text to spell out the benefits that clients can get when they work with you.

Do try out the program’s technical support when something stops you cold. This is both a good test of the company’s dedication to support, and a way to overcome the start-up hurdles. Telephone support is far better than email support for a beginner, so check the company’s telephone hours before you get started on the project. If they stop answering the phone at 4:00 in the afternoon, think about another company.

Don’t let "the perfect" be the enemy of "the good." You can always make changes and improvements after your site goes live. Nothing will motivate you like seeing your own website, up and running.

Good luck.