Jeff Siarto, the new co-author of Head First Web Design (and my boyfriend), shares the best resources for creating or improving your blog, online portfolio or personal website. Listen to the podcast and check out the links below.

Start a Basic Blog

Although there are many blogging options, we recommend Wordpress.com. It's free to start a blog using yourblogname.wordpress.com.

Create a Custom URL

To create a custom URL, such as yourblogname.com, you must buy a domain name. These typically run from $10 to $40 per year, although you should generally pay no more than $15 per year for a .com, .net or .org domain. Check out Namecheap or GoDaddy to get started, or look at ICANN's complete list of accredited registrars.

You can map the domain name to your Wordpress blog for $10 per year. For more on this, read Domain Registration and Mapping on Wordpress.com

We also recommend using a WHOIS Guard-type service to protect your privacy. Namecheap offers a free year with new domain name registrations.

Host Your Own Site

Although free hosting may be a good place to start for those on a budget, there are some limitations. For more control and features, higher bandwidth, no ads and more storage space, you might opt to host your own site for. Expect to pay around $100-$200 per year for good hosting (we recommend Dreamhost).

Create an Online Portfolio

If you're looking to go into a creative field, an online portfolio is a must. If you don't have any experience with web design and don't have the budget to hire someone to do it for you, check out Squarespace. This service lets users create custom websites without any programming knowledge.

Consider your blog or online portfolio an investment in yourself. Ultimately, the more professional your web presence, the more impressed your potential employer will be. This could make all the difference when it comes time to look for a job.