Can't I just build my own website? Sure you can - and I'll tell you how. Here are the steps you need to take to create your own well-built website.

• Try creating graphics for your website in MS Paint.
• Give up and buy Adobe Fireworks ($299) or Photoshop ($699).
• Take the time to learn how to use the program you just bought.
• Create a nice professional layout for your website.
• Open up Notepad and create the HTML for your website.
• Remember that you don't know HTML and then buy Adobe Dreamweaver ($399) to help you build your site.
• Get as far as you can in Dreamweaver without knowing HTML.
• Learn HTML.
• Realize that HTML isn't enough for what you want to do.
• Learn CSS for your site layout.
• Learn Javascript for your client side interaction.
• Learn a dynamic web language (like PHP or C#) so you can display dynamic content on your website.
• You'll need some place to store the dynamic content, so you'll need to learn MySQL, SQL or XML to be able to store your information.
• Once you realize you want some animation and interaction on your website, go out and buy Adobe Flash ($699).
• Learn how to use Flash.
• Learn Flash's scripting language - Actionscript.
• Once your website's done - upload it to a server.
• Go to a friend's house and realize the website doesn't look the same - he's not using Internet Explorer.
• Learn about cross-browser issues and make your website cross-browser compliant.
• Beat your head repeatedly against the wall.
• Give up, and call a professional.

Well, I guess if you're going to end up here anyways you might as well let me handle it from the start and save yourself the aggravation and sleepless nights.