If you're getting ready to build a new website, there are some things you need to know from the very beginning. A lot of people go about the process without giving any thought at all to the underlying concepts that will help them to become successful.

Understand your Purpose
Don't be ashamed if the purpose of your website is to make money. It just makes you human, and a capitalist, and both of those things are alright. If your purpose is to make money, I highly recommend being up-front about it. Make it clear at the beginning of your site that you sell a product or a service. Don't be shy about it.

If you are building a site to inform people, or amuse them, start amusing and informing on page one.

Use the Two-Click Rule
Make sure that almost any page can be accessed with no more than two clicks. This will accomplish a number of goals: it will force you to plan your navigation better; it will help search engine rankings by making your site easier to crawl; and, it will vastly decrease the frustration your users may feel.

Be ready to Market
Make sure that your website will eventually allow you to get information from your viewers. Consider "members" areas or forums very early on, as they can be a great opportunity to contact and interact with potential clients.

Face it: Social Marketing is here
Like it or not, blogging, Facebook, and Twitter are the shape of things to come. If you are building an online presence, be prepared to spend a little time every single day building a reputation and creating new content.