How to Build a Website From Scratch in Simple Steps

Establishing an online presence is an absolute must for any small business owner. A professional, engaging website conveys credibility and reliability and allows you to market your business online. While creating a website may seem daunting, you can make a customized one on your own.

No matter what type of site you want to make, this complete guide on how to build a website from scratch will guide you through the process. We recommend checking out our website launch checklist for more tips and ideas to ensure you’ve included all the necessary elements.

If you’re ready to start building your website and are just searching for a platform, we recommend Wix’s website builder to get you off the ground running.

Define your goal

Whether you are creating a business, blog, or portfolio website, defining your website goal will maximize the benefits of your online presence. A clear understanding of your objective will help you shape your brand identity and determine what assets and design effects to include on your site. This may differ depending on whether you plan to monetize your website. Elements you may want to consider:

Blog

Photo Gallery

Social media links

Online store

Chat feature

Members area

Once you’ve narrowed down the purpose of your website, you’ll want to create your brand identity. This is another aspect that will impact your site design, from the tone of your microcopy to your logo to the color of your buttons.

A great way to get started is by creating a simple idea map with a pen and paper. Write down the type of site you plan to make in the middle of your map and think about words and phrases that describe the vibe you’re going for and your brand voice. Then, write each in separate circles stemming from your initial idea. Once you’ve broken down your brand into individual elements, it will be much easier to continue to the next step of the process.

Conduct competitor research

To build an engaging website from scratch, it’s imperative to understand your target audience and do some competitor research. You’ll want to understand what content your potential visitors are interested in and what information they seek.

To do this, search Google for websites similar to what you envision yours to be. Go through the relevant pages and look at what type of content they provide: blogs, community forums, social media feeds, testimonials, or Q+A sections.

You can check out the People Also Ask section on Google search results pages. This provides insight into what your audience wants to know – essentially handing you more ideas for valuable content.

Explore visual options

The visual layout of your website is its most crucial element. You’ll want to explore your options before settling on the visual imagery and design. To get started, look at this professional website template database to see which best fits your vision. Whether you’re a creative professional looking for portfolio templates or want to create an online store, there are dozens of customizable options. From simple website templates to more complex ones, there is plenty to draw inspiration from.

Then, just like in the previous step, note what your competitor sites look like and check out other visual platforms, like Pinterest and Instagram. These examples will provide insight into what fonts, colors, web design styles, and trends your audience gravitates towards. However, you can still copy what’s already been done. Essentially, you want to understand the visual imagery and messaging of the audience your website is meant to serve.

Choose a domain name

Choosing a domain name is one of the most exciting parts of designing a website.

Your domain is like your website’s address and permanent home. Choosing a domain name can be simple. While your name needs to be memorable and unique, fields typically include the name of your website and the name of your business, followed by an extension like .com or .org. If you are still trying to find the perfect name for your business, try a website name generator to help get the ball rolling.

Website builders like Wix offer free domain names, but you can also pay for a personalized one. This is advantageous because it will improve your website’s credibility with people and search engines. It will show visitors that you’re a professional, trusted brand, allowing people to find you more easily online.

Design your website layout

Using a low-code, no-code website building software, you don’t need any code (or, in cases of no regulation, very little) to create your site–it’s already built into the interface. Additionally, WYSIWYG software, like the Wix Editor, reveals real-time design changes and edits to the user interface. You must choose your website template and develop a solid idea of what visual elements you want to include. Then, compile your website design ideas to create one cohesive layout. This is where the bulk of your work lies.

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