The design portion of the website is the graphic portion. It includes things like the type font that is used, the colors, the way things are arranged on the screen, and how information is arranged on different sizes of screens. To get a taste of the power of web design, I recommend CSS Zen Garden.

This can be one of the most challenging areas of website design. If you choose a standard functionality program like Joomla or Google's Blogger you will find that there are many pre-made templates available. Changing the whole look of your site can be as simple as pushing a couple of buttons. Depending on the industry you are in, you may be able to use a standard template, or you may want to have one custom designed just for you. I recommend that writers in particular should choose something unique, because you don't want to blend into the crowd. As a writer, you are less interested in building customer confidence levels than a site that is selling products. For a writer, your product is on display in the content of your website. The design and layout of your site should not detract from your content. Allow your personality to show.

Choose your design to highlight your level of professionalism and your unique qualities in order to market your self effectively on the web. Also, it is a good idea to periodically update the look of your site. Just as you would repaint the rooms of your home or decorate for the changing seasons, you can decorate your website. This helps keep the look of your site fresh and entertaining and will encourage people to come back frequently to see what you have done this time.