If you've never gone to school for web design, building your own website probably seems like a complicated and daunting task. But if you know your way around the internet, you might be surprised how relatively straightforward the process can be, and how easy it is to learn! Most sites built by individuals fall into 3 major categories. First, there are sites for hobbies, like fan sites for celebrities or sites promoting sports or common interests. Then there are the more informative, academic sites, which provide information for students and researchers. And lastly, there are small business e-commerce sites, built by people searching for a foothold in the wide open market that the internet provides. No matter your reasoning for learning how to make a website, there are a few basic tools that everyone needs to understand.