Sometimes when I suggest to people they should learn to create and maintain their own website, they tell me they already have a website and webmaster who handles all that for them. Me too. I’ve had a website for years and always had a webmaster.

But think about it. How happy are you with the results and the money you pay for the service? If your Webmaster is any good and can speak non-geek, he or she is probably busy. So, it can takes days, weeks or even months to update your site or make major renovations. And it can cost you a hefty hourly rate.

I’m not a techie, but this past year, I found some new tools that even a non-propellerhead like me can use easily and effectively. I had one website for years and told my Webmasters (I’ve had several) what I wanted have happen. Sometimes it happened; sometimes it didn’t. Sometimes it happened and took longer than I wanted or wasn’t the way I wanted it to be.

I have taken control and am now redoing my main website myself after creating several other sites from scratch. It’s not only quick and inexpensive, but after the initial creation, I can update and experiment with new elements instantaneously.

More than that, when I get a new idea, I can test it inexpensively by creating a new website and putting it up the same day. I can easily add products to the site and sell them. I can create autoresponders to automatically communicate with people without spending hours writing emails to each individual who is interested in that topic or product.

Harriet Tubman, who freed thousands of slaves through the Underground Railroad, said that she could have freed thousands more if she could have convinced them that they were slaves. I hope the analogy isn’t too dramatic or offensive, but I have recognized and been liberated from website slavery. Are your ready to break the chains of your bondage?

Join us for The Web Whisperers Boot Camp in Santa Fe, New Mexico on January 14-18, 2007 to lose your shackles.