The world sees only Armstrong, but behind this cycling phenomenon is an incredible team. Actually there are two teams. One is group of cyclists that support, protect and lead Armstrong during actual racing. The other is support team no one sees. This consists of all coaches, trainers, therapists, medical staff, chefs, team managers, mechanics and even people who drive support vehicles.

So what does this have to do with your website? As I go through my annual TDF withdrawal, I have begun to equate US Postal Service cycling team to a well performing Web site. Here is a relationship of various elements.

1) Message The message Armstrong sent to his competition this year was, "Don't even think of messing with me." It was a very strong statement. What message does your Website portray? Do you tell your site visitors right up front what it is your company does, what problems you solve and how? People will relate to real problems your company solves for clients.

2) Focus Armstrong has a team of elite cyclists whose only job is to support their team leader. Think of all pages on your Website as support for your message. These are pages people will look at and read to learn about your company, your services and your products. Enforce your message, provide clear and understandable information, be consistent. Most importantly, stay focused.

3) Identity The "posties" (as US Postal team riders are called) all wear same blue jerseys. Each team has its own colors. Your Web site pages should all look alike. I have seen many sites with a "killer" home page, yet rest of site is mundane. Often, subsequent pages seem to degrade and change in design and layout. I begin to wonder if I am still on original site. The same logo should appear on every page and be consistent with your navigation. People should never have to wonder if they have left your site, regardless of which page they are looking at.

4) Support Just as US Postal team has a plethora of behind-the-scenes support people, your Web site needs hidden support.

Ok, you know all that, but how do you go about process of building one? Where do you start?

First off, you are going to have to accept a couple of facts. Unless you want to pay someone else to build your site for you, you are going to have to deal with HTML. Other things you may want to do on your site may require you to deal with JavaScript's and CGI scripts as well.

Now, I may make a few people mad here, but avoid free web sites that require you to use their own menu driven site builder and do not allow you access to actual HTML code of your site.

These don't allow you to add java or cgi scripts, force you into using their methods of taking orders from your site, and restrict your site set up. You have to use their themes for color and design, you won't learn HTML ever, and you will never really be independent.

Now that I've said that, consider your own goals, time, and investment. The free sites can be helpful, but you will be limited. However, for many of us, free is only option to begin with.

HTML is essential, though. Depending on your goals, time, and money, you do have a couple of options. There are user friendly programs like Microsoft's Front Page that don't require you to look at actual HTML code for most part. However, it's going to cost you more than other HTML editors will. The cheapest I've seen it go for is $129.

Other editors like Coffee Cup HTML Editor work in HTML code, but they do most all of coding for you. This is a great program that comes with a 30 day free trial. Then costs $49 to register and keep. http://www.coffeecup.com

There are a multitude of other HTML editors available, including some free ones. Search for them at: http://download.cnet.com/downloads and http://www.zdnet.com

None that I've found are as easy to work with as Front Page and Coffee Cup editor for those starting out, nor do they have as many options. However, there are many more than I have spent time looking over.