Yes, it's easy and you can be "up" within the hour. Here are the steps to making your first banner, placing it on your home page and making your first distribution to banner exchanges. The only presumptions are that: You are maintaining your own web page and know some HTML code. You have some knowledge of graphics software. You have some knowledge of how to upload a file to your directory. The page you are advertising is not under construction. And the page you are advertising has some content of value to a visitor, and the content meets your website hosts's guidelines. Want banner made for you? Try these: Crecon Banners Easybanner Animation Online

PREPARATIONS Have "index.html" page ready. Own graphics software. Own FTP upload software or have Browse capability from your browser. Have website host's banner on at least one page and read your website host's requirements.

1	Open up your graphics design software. If you don't have one, I can suggest the easy shareware application, "Paint Shop Pro", which you can download from Ziff Davis, unzip and get started right away. Select "New" and set "Image" size to 468 x 60, which is the size of all the banners you see at the top of your GeoCities pages. Select the text tool, click on your new banner, type the name of your web page, and save as "yourname.gif".* *Hint: You would not want to save as a bitmap because the files are much too large.
2	Go online. You need not be connected to the Web at this point, or you can have your File Manager open, it doesn't matter. If you have Browse capability, click Browse button on File Manager page below the Edit buttons and enter your banner name in the form box. Skip the next two instructions. If you do not have Browse capability from your browser, open your FTP software. For first-timers, I recommend the easy and free "FTP Explorer" from WinFiles formerly Windows95.com under "Internet Utilities". Connect to your page and drag your new banner.gif to the upload window. It is now available in your directory! Open your page in "edit" mode. Type < IMG SRC="banner.gif" >. You will now see your simple banner on the page in "Preview". Save your file.
3	Exit File Manager. Select "Members" and then "GeoGuide Manager". If you do not have a GeoGuide on your pages, follow the instructions for configuring one, return to your page to place the GeoGuide code, save the file, return to GeoGuide Manager and activate the guide. Now, at the bottom of the GeoGuide page, select the option to allow you to advertise your banner free in GeoCities and follow the steps, pointing to your banner in your own directory. Read the reasonable GeoCities requirements. You are done! At this point, don't complete this step until you have perfected your banner and completed your website pages. You will not be permitted by anyone to advertise an incomplete site. . . .