You want to start with the above question because, even with the plethora of WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) programs like FrontPage, Dreamweaver, etc., there is quite a bit more to Web design than using a program to "draw" items here and there. This is especially true if your Website is business-oriented. Designing one's own Website can be very tiring, tedious, and time consuming. Not only must you gather all the necessary information, but you would have to create your own graphics and write the necessary HTML or XHTML code. (Although most WYSIWYG programs will do this for you now, they are still not sophisticated enough to get it entirely correct so you must always augment some aspect of the code to get it running smoothly in all browsers and versions).

Further, you would have to allocate necessary CGI scripts (in order to add some interactivity to the page), publish the site (and if you don't already understand FTP, this is another learning curve), and handle the weekly (if not daily) maintenance.

Even though the above paragraph may seem otherwise, I am not necessarily saying that you should run right out and hire a designer. If you have the time to learn the aspects of Web design, then I suggest that you start there. A good education is always the way to go. Just remember, you won't learn everything you need from an introductory course or just from reading a book.

In fact, even if you do go the route of hiring a designer, you should still learn all you can about the intricacies of Web design, if for nothing else, so you can be knowledgeable enough to understand your designer and be able to maintain your page once the designer has finished it. If you find you do have and want to take the time to learn how to create your own Website, then be sure to find a good, quality course to start you on your way. Look for one that is taught by an accredited and industry-certified instructor. This way you can be assured that they are up-to-date in the industry and not just someone who read a book and decided to teach it. If you're not sure where to start, you can check with your local university, or, if you'd like to learn from the comforts of your own home, do a search for distance educational courses in Web Design.

On the other hand, if you would rather let a designer do all the hard work and get your site up faster, then – again – be sure to also find one that is industry-certified and who has a portfolio of clients similar to your needs. This way you can see what work they have accomplished before and, also, you will have some visual representations of possible designs for your page. No matter which route you choose, be sure to ask a lot of questions and to get everything in writing.