Counters are just dynamic graphics or images of numbers created or displayed by a script.
Depending on whether your site host is (eg, geocities) web admin based or you have an entire server, or part of one with ftp access, you will have to choose between two different ways of getting a counter. Since you probably have a web admin based host you will want to go with the option of using another site to host the script that counts for your site, if you have ftp and a cgi capable server you can put the script on your server through ftp and set up your own counter(s). If you are new to counters, or don't have cgi capablities on your host/server then use another site to get your counter(s) from.

If you want to try and install one yourself, here is a link with a list of some, you need to have cgi capablities to run these. If your host is free then you probably won't be able to run your own cgis.
http://cgi.resourceindex.com/Program...ers/Graphical/