top of page

Search results

1588 results found with an empty search

  • What makes a good website: 13 must haves + implementation tips

    Get started by: Creating a website →  | Getting a domain → Whether you're launching a new business website  or redesigning an existing one, understanding what makes a good website is crucial. This guide offers practical advice to help you build a high-traffic website. Learn how to create a website that excels by enhancing key website features such as navigation, trust signals, mobile-friendly design and site speed, ensuring it not only looks great but also performs exceptionally well. Creating a website  that represents your brand and captivates your audience is a challenge many business owners face. While pre-made website templates  can make website creation  easy but its also important to customize them to make sure your site stands out. Ready to make your website? Use the Wix AI website generator  to get started today. What is a good website? A website is your brand or business online and its often the first impression for potential customers. It should blend branding, design and content to tell your story and drive visitors to take action. A good website should excel in both its form and function — with a clear purpose, visually appealing design and intuitive navigation. A good website performs well for a diverse audience (think page speed and loading, as well as accessibility) and includes advanced site security. In essence, what makes a good website good websites is its attractiveness, functionality and invaluable contribution to your business's success. If you are just getting started, learn more about what is a website .  13 elements that define a good website Clear intent and purpose Simple site navigation Engaging web design Cohesive branding Quality visuals Clear CTAs Relevant content Strategic Search Engine Optimization Good performance and infrastructure Easy accessibility Mobile friendly Security measures Credibility indicators free website templates 01. Clear intent and purpose A good website instantly communicates its purpose. Know your audience and address their needs, interests and challenges directly. By understanding your target users, you can tailor your content and design to resonate with them effectively. For example, if you're looking to create a site to sell products, make selling your top priority. With every decision, ask yourself: Is this helping users buy my products? Defining a clear purpose takes time and will influence how long it takes to build your website. To get started, consider these factors to clarify your new website: Identify the primary goal for each page:  Before you start designing or writing content, decide what you want the page to achieve. Is it to inform, to sell or to entertain? Keep this goal in mind throughout the creation process. Understand your audience:  Know who you're talking to and what they're looking for. Use language that resonates with them and provide the information or solutions they need. Keep it focused:  Don't overload your pages with too much information or too many calls to action. Stick to one main message per page to avoid confusing your visitors. Use headings and subheadings:  Organize web content  with clear headings that guide users through your page. This helps them quickly find what they're looking for. Test and get feedback:  After launching a new website , gather feedback from users about their experience. Use this information to refine the intent of each page and make improvements. Learn more about how long does it take to build a website . 02. Simple site navigation A good navigation system can help boost engagement, conversion rates and user satisfaction. When visitors easily find what they need, they stay longer. Ensure any page on your site is within three clicks of another. A clearly displayed, well-structured menu and logical page hierarchy make navigation straightforward and enjoyable. When it comes to making a good website it's worth considering building a plan for all your website pages from the start of the process. This means creating a clear website plan that includes your planned and potential future pages. This allows you to then build a url structure for your site that is clean and consistent. This in turn can also mean you avoid having to make fixes to your url structure later. Nitsan Eiges, Team Lead Technical SEO at Wix.com Below are some key elements to consider when making sure that your website is easy to navigate: Keep the menu structure straightforward:  Limit the number of items in your main navigation menu. Too many options can overwhelm visitors and make it hard to choose where to go next. Use descriptive labels:  Make it clear what users will find when they click on a menu item. Avoid vague or clever labels that might confuse visitors. Include a search function:  For larger websites, a search bar is essential. It allows users to quickly find specific content without having to navigate through multiple pages. Make sure navigation is consistent:  Use the same menu layout across all pages. Consistency helps users learn how to navigate your site more quickly. Prioritize content:  Arrange menu items based on their importance or relevance. Commonly sought-after pages like 'Contact' or 'Products' should be easy to find. 03. Engaging web design When it comes to what web design is , it isn't just about aesthetics; it’s about creating an engaging experience for your visitors. A visually appealing site captures attention, keeps users engaged and encourages exploration. Aim for a unique, effective and user-focused design that stands out and delivers. Craft a website design  that's both beautiful and functional with these best practices: Use a clean layout : A cluttered webpage  can be overwhelming. Stick to a clean layout with plenty of white space to make your content stand out and easy to read. Choose the right color scheme : Colors can influence how users feel about your website. Select a website color palette  that reflects your brand and is pleasing to the eye. Select readable fonts : Your text should be easy to read across all devices. Use typography  that is large enough and have high contrast against the background. Incorporate multimedia : Use images, videos and infographics to make your website dynamic and engaging. Ensure they’re relevant and add value. Visuals help users digest information more easily. A demo video can explain your product better than a long article. An infographic telling your brand story is much more engaging than plain text. Optimize for interaction : Design elements like buttons and links should be easy to find and use. Make sure they're sized appropriately for both desktop and mobile users. 04. Cohesive branding Cohesive branding on your website is key to building trust and recognition with your audience. Ensure every element on your site mirrors your brand's values and aesthetics. Create a strong brand presence that resonates with visitors and sets you apart from competitors. At its core, branding hinges on trust—think of it as a relationship between two individuals: the customer and the brand, which represents the business. Within this relationship, authenticity plays a critical role. It builds trust and creates emotional bonds. It fosters consistency, engagement and reduces reputation risks. Yaya Aaronsohn, Head of Brand Maker at Wix.com Use these tips to help you create a professional website  with cohesive branding: Define your brand identity:  Know your brand's colors, fonts and style. Make sure these elements are consistently used throughout the website. Use your logo strategically:  Place your logo design  in a prominent position on your site, like the header or footer and ensure it links back to the homepage . Create a brand style guide:  A style guide can serve as a reference for maintaining consistency across all pages and elements of your website. Align content with your brand voice:  The tone and language of your content should match your brand personality, whether it's professional, friendly or quirky. Be consistent with imagery:  Use images that complement each other and align with your brand message. Consistency in visuals reinforces brand identity. 05. Quality visuals Quality visuals are key to an effective website. They convey information quickly, evoke emotions and enhance your site's look. Create a visually appealing website that helps improve user experience . Here's how to ensure your website's visuals are up to par: Use high-resolution images : Blurry or pixelated images can make your site look unprofessional. Always opt for high-quality, crisp visuals. PNG  files often provide better quality. Be selective : Choose images that are relevant to your content and resonate with your brand message. Each visual should serve a purpose. Optimize for speed : Large image files can slow down your site. Compress them to reduce load times without sacrificing quality. Consider originality : Stock photos can be useful, but custom graphics or photos can set you apart and give your site a unique feel. Ensure accessibility : Use alt text for images so screen readers can describe them to visually impaired users, making your site more inclusive. 06. Clear CTAs Clear calls to action (CTAs) guide your visitors towards the actions you want them to take. Whether it's making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter or contacting your business, create clear and compelling CTAs to boost conversions and achieve your website's goals. Creating effective CTAs is simple and impactful with these tips: Use action-oriented language : Start your CTAs with verbs like 'Buy', 'Subscribe' or 'Learn' to encourage immediate action. Make them stand out : CTAs should be visually distinct from other elements on the page. Use colors that contrast with your design to draw attention. Keep it concise : Your CTA text should be brief and to the point, clearly stating what will happen when it's clicked. Place them strategically : Position CTAs where they're most likely to catch the user's attention, such as above the fold or at the end of relevant content. Test different versions : Experiment with different CTA designs and placements to see what works best for your audience. 07. Relevant content Relevant content is the backbone of a good website. It's what draws visitors in and keeps them coming back for more. By prioritizing relevance in your website's content, you'll attract the right audience and encourage them to engage with your brand. To ensure your website's content is on point, here are some actionable tips: Know your audience : Understand who you're writing for and what they care about. Tailor your content to meet their needs and interests and use appropriate language for their knowledge level. Stay on topic : Keep your content focused on subjects that relate to your brand and industry. This helps establish your authority and keeps users engaged. Update regularly : Fresh content can help improve your SEO rankings and shows visitors that you're active and up-to-date. Be helpful : Provide value through informative, educational or entertaining content. Solve problems, answer questions or share insights. Optimize for SEO : Use relevant keywords naturally within your content to improve visibility on search engines without compromising readability. Quality over quantity : It's better to have a few high-quality, relevant pages than many low-quality ones. Prioritize quality and relevance in all your content. 08. Strategic Search Engine Optimization Building a visually appealing and user-friendly website is just the start. Your site needs to attract web traffic . Strategic SEO makes your website discoverable by search engines and your target audience. Focus on SEO practices to boost your site's ranking in search results, increasing traffic and driving business growth. Leveraging SEO and integrating it into the website creation process is vital. Various studies have shown that organic search is the single greatest provider of traffic to websites - with that being even more pronounced within the B2B context. To that, traffic from organic search, when done correctly is essentially built to last (with proper maintenance over time, of course) and forms a crucial part of a site’s long-term growth. Mordy Oberstein, Head of SEO Branding at Wix.com Implement these SEO features  to help improve your site's visibility and ranking: Conduct keyword research : Identify the terms and phrases your audience uses to search for your products or services. Incorporate these keywords into your content naturally. Optimize meta tags : Craft descriptive and keyword-rich meta titles and descriptions for each page to improve click-through rates from search engine results pages. Create quality content : Search engines favor websites that provide valuable and relevant content. Focus on creating high-quality original articles, start a blog  and include product descriptions. Optimize images : Add relevant keywords in image alt tags and file names and ensure they are web-size-optimized so they don’t slow your website down. Use an image resizer  to reduce the size of your images. Improve site structure : Ensure your website has a logical hierarchy and clean URL structure. This makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your pages. Build backlinks : Obtain links from reputable websites to boost your site's authority. Guest blogging, partnerships and creating shareable content are effective tactics. Local SEO : If you have a physical location, ensure your website is optimized for local searches by including location-specific keywords and setting up a Google Business Profile. Add structured data : Also often know as schema or markup this helps search engines better understand your content and the intent behind it. 09. Good performance and infrastructure Behind-the-scenes work is just as important as what users see. Prioritize performance to enhance user experience, engagement and search engine rankings. A well-performing website offers a smooth and enjoyable experience, encouraging visitors to stay longer and engage more with your content. What often gets forgotten when talking about choosing a website builder is the capabilities of the infrastructure that’s promised to you - the reliability of the hosting, the level of security that’s in order to protect your visitor’s data, and of course your site's speed. Even if infrastructure is not the first thought that comes to mind when it comes to making a website, if it’s not robust enough, it can cause large headaches for website owners when trying to scale a website later on Esin D. Habif, Product Marketing Lead Outbound at Wix.com Here's how to ensure your website performs at its best: Optimize loading times:  Compress images to webp for optimal  website performance  and use caching to speed up page load times. Wix does this automatically, ensuring fast-loading pages that keep users happy and reduce bounce rates. Good page speed is an essential part of any great website. Ensure high uptime:  Choose a reliable hosting provider to minimize the risk of your site going down. High uptime  rates are crucial for maintaining accessibility. Mobile optimization:  With more users on mobile devices, ensure your site is responsive and loads quickly on all screen sizes. Regularly update software:  Keep your content management system, plugins and scripts up to date to prevent performance lags or security vulnerabilities. Wix, for example, does this automatically for all sites built on the Wix platform. Monitor performance:  Use tools like Wix Analytics  or Google PageSpeed Insights to track your website's performance and make necessary adjustments. Web hosting plan: Choose a hosting website  that can handle your website's traffic and technical demands. Consider upgrading as your site grows. 10. Easy accessibility Understanding web accessibility  is key to fostering inclusivity, meeting legal standards, enhancing user experience and future-proofing your site. Ensuring website accessibility  isn't just about inclusivity—it’s about reaching a broader audience and improving overall user satisfaction. Build a site that’s welcoming and usable for everyone, regardless of their abilities or limitations. We should “design websites with accessibility” at the start of a business. With Wix, users can create a website with accessibility settings built right into the Editor, ensuring your content and design comply with the global standards. Wix’s Accessibility Wizard then scans the website for accessibility issues and suggests fixes. Nir Horesh, Head of at SEO & Accessibility at Wix.com Use these tips to make your website is accessible to everyone: Use alt text for images : Describe images with alt text so screen readers can interpret them for visually impaired users. Create a proper heading structure : Make sure your website headings follow a logical order and are tagged correctly. This helps users with assistive technology, like screen readers, understand the page structure and purpose easily. Ensure keyboard navigation : Some users rely on keyboards, rather than a mouse, to navigate websites. Make sure all interactive elements are accessible via keyboard. Choose legible fonts : Select fonts that are easy to read and have adjustable sizes to accommodate users with visual impairments. Provide transcripts for audio and video : Transcripts help users who are deaf or hard of hearing understand multimedia content. Test for color contrast : Ensure there is sufficient contrast between text and background colors to aid users with color vision deficiencies. Perform accessibility testing : Use accessibility checkers to identify and fix any issues. Consider having your website evaluated by users with disabilities for feedback. 11. Mobile friendly Most people access the web on smartphones and tablets, so having a mobile-friendly website is essential. A poorly performing mobile site frustrates users and negatively impacts your brand. Mobile users want quick, easy access to information and services. A mobile-optimized site meets these expectations, providing a seamless experience on any device. Focus on mobile-friendly elements to enhance the browsing experience, leading to increased engagement and conversion rates. Follow these steps to cater your sit to mobile users: Touch-friendly navigation:  Design buttons and links large enough to be easily tapped with a finger. Fast loading times:  Optimize images and minimize code to accelerate loading times on mobile devices. Avoid Flash:  Use HTML5 instead of Flash, as it's not supported by most mobile browsers. Test on multiple devices:  Regularly check your site on various devices to ensure compatibility and a consistent user experience design . 12. Security measures Preventing a security breach is more affordable than dealing with the aftermath. Strengthen your website's defenses against potential threats to ensure a safer environment for you and your users. Prioritize protecting users’ personal information with multi-factor authentication, SSL certificates and secure hosting. Enhance the your website security  with these tools: Use HTTPS :  Secure your website with an SSL certificate. This encrypts data transferred between the user's browser and your website, protecting sensitive information. Keep software updated:  Regularly update your content management system, plugins and any scripts you're using to patch security vulnerabilities. Implement strong passwords:  Use complex passwords for your website's backend and encourage users to do the same for their accounts. Regular backups:  Regularly backup your website so you can quickly restore it in case of a cyberattack or data loss. Conduct security audits:  Identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. This proactive approach keeps your system safe and secure. 13. Credibility indicators and testimonials Credibility indicators on your website can greatly influence how users perceive your business's trustworthiness. When potential customers see that others have had positive experiences with your brand, it boosts their confidence in making a choice. Include these indicators to reassure visitors of your legitimacy and expertise, helping to convert them into customers. Here's how to establish and showcase credibility on your site: Display contact information : Make it easy for visitors to find your contact details. This transparency builds trust. Showcase customer testimonials : Share positive reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers to demonstrate the value of your products or services. Highlight certifications and awards : If you have industry certifications, accreditations or awards, display them prominently. Publish case studies : Detailed case studies can show potential customers the tangible results you've achieved for others. Maintain an active blog : Regularly updated content shows expertise in your field and helps establish authority. Common website challenges and how to fix them Visitors leave too quickly Slow loading pages or a cluttered design drive users away before they even see what you offer. Large uncompressed images, unnecessary animations or complex menus can overwhelm visitors in seconds. Streamline your layout with plenty of white space, optimize images for fast loading and use a simple consistent menu structure. For example, an online store could feature featured products above the fold with a clear menu linking to categories. Even subtle tweaks make a difference. Use descriptive headings so users know exactly what each section offers and make buttons easy to find and tap especially on mobile. Adding a “back to top” button or sticky navigation helps users stay oriented and explore without frustration. These small changes keep people engaged longer and reduce bounce rates. Low conversions Visitors may browse your site but never take action if CTAs are unclear or forms are too complicated. Replace vague buttons like “Click Here” with action-oriented text such as “Get Your Free Quote” or “Book Your Session.” Place CTAs where users are already engaged like after reading a product description or at the end of a helpful article. Test different designs to see what drives results. For instance, A/B testing a bright orange “Subscribe Now” button versus a standard blue one could reveal which color converts better. Simplify forms by only asking for essential information—fewer fields often lead to more sign-ups or inquiries. Poor SEO performance Even the most beautiful website won’t attract visitors if search engines can’t find it. Failing to include relevant keywords, meta descriptions or alt text keeps your pages buried. Conduct keyword research and naturally weave target terms into headings, image tags and body text. A local bakery, for example, could optimize pages with keywords like “fresh bread delivery [city name]” to appear in nearby searches. Site structure matters too. Clean URLs, internal linking and an organized hierarchy make it easier for search engines to crawl your site. Use a sitemap and structured data markup so search engines understand your content. Security and trust concerns Users hesitate to share information on a site that feels unsafe. Without SSL certificates, secure passwords or clear contact details, visitors may bounce. Enable HTTPS, regularly update plugins and software and add multi-factor authentication for backend access. For example, an eCommerce site showing a padlock icon at checkout signals safety and builds confidence. Trust can also be visual. Include testimonials, case studies and recognizable certifications prominently. A small graphic showing “As Featured In” logos or a verified review badge reassures visitors instantly. Regularly backing up your site ensures you can recover quickly from issues without affecting user experience. Outdated or irrelevant content Stale content makes a site feel abandoned. Visitors expect up-to-date information, whether it’s blog posts, product descriptions or pricing. Regularly refresh content, highlight seasonal offerings and keep visuals current. A café could update its menu page each season with photos of new drinks or dishes. Content relevance also means solving current user problems. FAQs, how-to guides or tutorials help visitors engage while boosting SEO. For instance, a fitness brand could add short workout videos to complement articles about healthy habits, keeping users on the site longer and returning for new resources. Accessibility issues Some users can’t interact with a site because it isn’t designed inclusively. Missing alt text, poor contrast or small clickable areas create barriers. Add descriptive alt text for images, ensure sufficient color contrast and use larger touch-friendly buttons. A travel blog could label images of destinations clearly for screen readers, allowing all users to enjoy the content. Headings and keyboard navigation make pages easier to scan. Proper heading structure helps screen readers guide users logically and ensuring every button and form field is accessible via keyboard improves usability. Testing your site with accessibility tools or real users can reveal issues you may have missed and make your website welcoming to everyone. What makes a good website FAQ How often should I update my website? There’s no strict rule for how often to update a website—it depends on your business type and industry. However, refreshing your content every few months is a good practice to keep it relevant. Regularly check for broken links or outdated information that might need quicker updates. The goal is to provide users with accurate, up-to-date information and show that your site is actively maintained. How important is user feedback on a website? User feedback is invaluable for enhancing a website's user experience and effectiveness. It helps businesses understand user interactions and identify areas for improvement. By actively seeking and considering feedback, you can continuously evolve your website to meet your audience's needs and preferences. Positive customer testimonials also boost credibility, serving as social proof for potential customers. What is the ideal website load time? The ideal website load time is 2-3 seconds or less. The longer a website takes to load, the more likely users are to leave. Slow loading times can also hurt search engine rankings and user experience. To boost your website load time, optimize images, minimize code and use a reliable hosting provider. Regular testing and monitoring can help spot and fix any issues. A faster website keeps users engaged and increases your chances of converting them into customers. What pitfalls do businesses need to avoid when designing their sites? When designing a website, avoid common pitfalls to ensure an effective, user-friendly experience. Keep the design clean to prevent overwhelming visitors. Ensure clear navigation so users can easily find what they need. Maintain consistent branding to strengthen your identity. Optimize for mobile responsiveness to cater to mobile users. Improve loading times to reduce bounce rates and enhance user experience. By avoiding these issues, you create a website that effectively represents your brand and meets your audience's needs. Regular evaluation and updates keep your site effective over time. What are the top needs and wants of website visitors? Website visitors have varying needs and wants based on their goals, but common expectations include easy navigation, relevant information, visual appeal, mobile responsiveness and fast loading times. They want to quickly find what they need without navigating through multiple pages. Visitors expect up-to-date and useful information to solve their problems. Engaging designs and high-quality visuals make sites memorable. With the rise in mobile use, users expect mobile-optimized sites. Fast loading times are crucial; slow sites can lead to high bounce rates and a poor user experience. Who builds websites? There are various options for building a website, including hiring a professional website designer or using DIY website builders. Professional web designers have expertise in creating custom websites tailored to your business needs, but they can be more expensive. DIY website builders, like Wix, offer customizable templates, user-friendly interfaces and tutorials on how to use Wix , making it easier for individuals with limited technical knowledge to create their own site at a lower cost. Additionally, some businesses may choose to build their own websites utilizing coding skills or by outsourcing to freelance developers. How much will I need to spend on a website? How much does a website cost  is based on the type, complexity and features you need. Hiring a professional web designer or agency for a custom site can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. DIY website builders have monthly fees from $10-$40. Freelance developers' rates differ based on their experience and skill. Research your options and consider your budget to find the best approach for your business's website. How does good website content contribute to its effectiveness? Good content is clear, relevant and engaging, addressing the audience’s needs while reflecting the brand’s voice. It improves SEO, builds trust and keeps visitors on the site for longer. Regular content updates, compelling calls-to-action and multimedia elements like videos or images enhance website content effectiveness. How important is navigation in defining a good website? Clear and intuitive navigation is vital for a good website, as it helps users quickly find the information they need. Logical menu structures, search functionality and consistent design elements reduce frustration, improve engagement and guide visitors toward key actions, such as making purchases or contacting support.

  • What is a favicon and how to create one for your website

    Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →   When learning how to make a website , many people tend to overlook a little finishing touch that can actually make a big difference: the favicon. This tiny addition to your web design leaves an impression that’s much bigger than its actual size—so don’t underestimate its importance. What is a favicon and what makes it such a powerful element in website design ? In this article, we’ll shed some light on its importance, and teach you everything you need to know about how to create one. Building a website for your business, passion project or side hustle should be easy and exciting. With Wix, you can customize and launch a professional website in minutes, no coding needed. We’re all about simplifying the process so you can focus on what matters most–bringing your ideas to life. So why wait? Let’s get started on creating the website you’ve always wanted. What is a favicon image? Favicon history Favicon standardization Why favicons are important Favicons and SEO Favicon challenges How to create a favicon for your website Tips for designing a favicon How to add a favicon in HTML How to add a favicon to your Wix site Testing your favicon What is a favicon image? A favicon is a small, 16x16 pixel icon used on web browsers to represent a website or a web page. Short for “favorite icon,”’ favicons are commonly displayed on tabs at the top of a web browser, but they’re also found on your browser’s bookmark bar, history and in search results, alongside the page url. In some instances, such as on Google Chrome, favicons will even make an appearance on your browser’s homepage. In other words, when you create a favicon, it serves as your website’s icon, or a visual identifier for users to spot your website around the web. A favicon may also be referred to as a shortcut icon, tab icon, URL icon or bookmark icon. Favicon history The first version of the favicon was introduced by Microsoft in Internet Explorer 5, released in 1999. It was a 16x16 pixel icon in the ICO format, which could be added to the root directory of a website and automatically displayed in the browser. The idea of using a small icon to represent a website dates back even further than 199 however. In the early days of the web, before graphical browsers were commonly used, text-based browsers like Lynx would display a small symbol next to the website name to indicate whether the site was secure or not. The concept of the favicon was later adopted by other browsers, including Firefox and Chrome. At the same time the format evolved to support larger sizes and multiple image formats. Today, the favicon is an integral part of all of our web experience's. As custom-designed icons they are used to enhance the brand identity of companies big and small. Favicon standardization Over time favicons have been standardized in terms of their format, size and location on a website. This standardization has developed from a need for favicons to be implemented consistently across different browsers and devices. This process of standardization began in 2005 when the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) published a recommendation for favicons, which said that the file should be named "favicon.ico" and placed in the root directory of the website. Their recommendation also outlinked size and format requirements for the icon. The W3C then updated their own recommendations again in 2011, when they added additional image formats and sizes for favicons. They also included support guidelines for multiple icons across various devices. Favicon standardization has had several benefits. The primary one being that it means they are displayed properly across a variety of browsers and devices. Before standardization, they may have shown clearly on one browser, but not on another, affecting the user experience. It's also simplified the favicon creation process for web designers and developers, as they no longer have to design or format them specifically for different browsers and devices. One design and format should work. This also improves and standardizes the web experience for all web users. Learn more: What is web design? Favicon on a web browser Favicon on the bookmark bar Favicon on your browser’s history Favicon in search results Why favicons are important Despite their miniscule size, favicons are of great importance to the overall effect of your website's imagery , improving its user experience, branding and professionalism. User experience: Favicons act as memorable visual cues to your website, enhancing user experience. Since they help users easily locate your website’s tab on their browser and across different applications, such as the bookmark bar, a favicon makes it easier for users to revisit your site over and over again. Favicons can also have a positive impact on the user experience when it comes to mobile. Web design on mobile is all about making an impact, and many times, nothing does that more powerfully, or easily, than a great favicon. Branding: For a truly cohesive brand, even the tiniest of details matter. Despite their small size, favicons contribute to the branding and visibility of your website by extending your brand’s language outside of your site and stamping it onto the web browser. Favicons also add to the legitimacy and professionalism of your website, making it look complete. Credibility : While favicons have no impact on how secure your site is, anecdotally, users seem to trust sites with a favicon. That’s because they signal to users that they’re clearly on your site,—regardless of whether they found you through a branded or non-branded search. Return users : Favicons are a powerful brand identifier, making it easy for your site to stand out, either in search result pages or a user's browser history. Because of this, a recognizable favicon helps users return to your site more frequently. Additionally, when users bookmark your site, a favicon will make it easier to find amongst their collection of other saved ones. Favicons and SEO Favicons don’t have a direct impact on a site's SEO. However, since they make it easier for browsers to identify and improve overall user experience—a favicon’s qualities can organically improve how well your site ranks in search results in a few ways: Favicons can help Google and other search engines identify your website. When Google crawls your website, it looks for the favicon file. If it finds it, it uses the favicon to identify your website in its search results. Favicons can help users remember your website. When users see your favicon in their browser tabs, bookmarks or search results, it can help them remember your website. This can lead to more clicks on your website in search results. Favicons can help improve the user experience. A well-designed favicon can make your website look more professional and polished, leading to a better user experience. Favicon challenges While a powerful brand identifier, designing favicons is not without its challenges. We've put together some of the main ones below, - Limited design space: Turning your brand's logo into a favicon friendly size can be a challenge, especially if you expect it to be able to convey the true messaging of your brand. - Security: Favicons can be used in a number of potential cyber security attacks including malicious code injection, malware, spoofing attacks and phishing threats. - Website load time and speed: As with all web images, favicons must be optimized for website performance, or they can negatively impact a site's load speed. - Accessibility: As a small image, favicons can be hard for accessibility purposes. They can be too small to include explanatory text or other cues. - Compatibility issues: Even with the standardization of files and formats for favicons, there can still be issues with how they display across different browsers and devices, which can impact how they are seen on the web. How to create a favicon for your website First and foremost, a favicon should usually be a simplified adaptation of your brand’s logo. Because it’s an extension of your branding efforts, and it should strengthen the brand identity you’ve already built, rather than distract users from it. To do this, you might consider hiring a professional designer . But you can also make one yourself using a design program of your choice, or several online tools. One such recommended tool is the Wix Logo Maker , which allows you to create a professional and personalized favicon to best reflect your style and needs. You could also use the free Wix icons or Vector Art vector illustration tool found in your Editor. We’ll go over some favicon design tips in the section below, but for now here are important guidelines to keep in mind: S izes The optimal size for creating a favicon is 16x16 pixels, which is the size in which they are most commonly displayed. However, they can appear in larger dimensions too (such as 32x32 pixels). If you need help getting the right size for your favicon , try using Wixel's Image Resizer tool. Here are some standard favicon sizes, and guidelines for when you need to use each: 16x16: Browser favicon 32x32: Taskbar shortcut favicon 96x96: Desktop shortcut favicon 180x180: Apple touch favicon Learn more: what is a pixel Subscribe to the Wix blog  for a weekly dose of fresh web design tips and trends. Files The original favicon format was the ICO. Today, the preferred image file type or vector art for a favicon is PNG or JPEG . SVG is an increasingly popular choice, since more and more browsers are starting to support it. Browsers are also able to display favicons created as a GIF, small size makes GIF favicons harder to see. ICO: Developed by Microsoft, this was the original file format for favicons. It is supported by all browsers and can include several sized images within one file. This allows you to size and scale your image, without relying on the browser. In many instances, and where a favicon is saved as an ICO and one other file type, the browser will still choose to display the ICO version. PNG: This is a popular file format for favicons since it’s one website creators are very familiar with. It’s an easy format to create, and generally delivers high quality images and favicons. PNG files also have the added bonus of being lightweight, meaning they load quickly. SVG: These files are known for being lightweight. The biggest benefit of this type of file format for favicons is its ability to deliver high quality images that don’t slow down page speed or site performance. In the past, SVG use for favicons has been limited due to a lack of browser compatibility, but this is changing. Transparency : In case your design has a transparent background, be sure to save your file as a PNG with its transparency setting turned on using a PNG maker . Tips for designing a favicon Designing something so tiny may seem like a walk in the park. However, the fact that website icons are so small means that you have to be extra accurate. Here are a few tips on creating a favicon that best suits your brand and website: Simplicity The small size of favicons requires your design to be precise. Refrain from going into too much detail by avoiding elements like small lines, textures or shading. Instead, aim for a bold, clear and simple icon that’s instantly recognizable. Jewelry designer and Wix user Ilaria Bonard i ’s favicon is a great example of a simple favicon design, made up of three simple dots. We also love the quirky fun of Ducknology’s simple favicon — the duck is adapted from their logo, and represents everything that makes this site and brand so unique. Brand identity A favicon should encapsulate the spirit of your website and brand, retaining the same visual language and color scheme as the rest of your website. For graphic designer Bhroovi’s Wix website, the rainbow colored favicon is a continuation of the same colorful visual language as their website. eBay’s favicon merges the brand’s colors with a little shopping bag icon, perfectly capturing the site’s spirit with an abridged version of their logo design. Little to no text If you want to include text in your favicon, limit yourself to between one and three characters. Initials or abbreviations are often good solutions for shortening texts, like your brand name. The Wix website for the non-profit organization Arte , uses the A initial from their logo as a favicon, with an added neon green background to draw attention. Alternatively, the favicon adorning Brooklyn-based Red Fern ’s Wix website has no text at all. Instead, it only extracts the leaf icon from their logo, to create impact while strengthening their brand. Logo use While some logos can look their best even in favicon size, most are hardly legible when shrunken down. If you want to use your logo as a favicon, you’ll probably need to make a few adjustments. Omitting the tag line, or using only one initial, are some of the ways to make logos work in favicon sizes. Notice how Google’s favicon is slightly different from its logo, while embodying the same design values. The favicon shows only the familiar G initial, while seamlessly incorporating all four of the brand colors into that single letter. A different approach was taken by illustrator and Wix user Charlotte Me i , who uses the initials from her hand-drawn logo as her favicon. Color Keep in mind that your site’s favicon will be displayed on different colored backgrounds, depending on the context and browser used. Therefore, make sure to test your favicon on gray, white and black backgrounds before finalizing the design. How to add a favicon in HTML If you have made your site with a website builder, adding your favicon in HTML is not necessary. This step only applies to sites built by a developer. Below is how your favicon image would need to be inserted into the header of the code in order for it to show on your website. Creating your site with Wix? Next, we’ll show you how to easily customize and add your favicon to a site. How to add a favicon to your Wix site Wix sites automatically include a standard default favicon, but you can customize it by upgrading to a Premium Plan and connecting your site to a domain . You can easily change your favicon on your Wix site: In your site’s dashboard, go to Settings. Click ‘Manage’ next to ‘Favicon’. Click ‘Upload Image’, and select an existing image or click on ‘Upload Media’ to upload an image from your computer. Click ‘Add to Page’. You’ll now see a preview of what your favicon would look like on your browser tab. Click ‘Save’, and ta-da! Your website now has a favicon. It will appear on your website’s tab once you hit publish. Testing your favicon Once you’ve inserted your favicon, it’s a good idea to check how it looks in all the places where it will be displayed. When you do this we recommend switching to incognito mode, to avoid caching issues. Now check for your favicon in all the places a user to your site would view it — the browser, the bookmark tab, the browser history, and if possible, in search results too. Not ranking for any organic keywords yet? If your site is indexed, you should be able to find it in search by searching for your company or brand name. Once you spot your favicon, you know it’s implemented properly. This is also a good time to think about how your favicon looks. Does its final visual design manage to capture the essence of your brand? If so, your favicon is ready to share with the world. If you're looking to learn more about Wix image optimization , check out our guide. Favicon FAQ What is a favicon used for? A favicon, short for "favorite icon," is a small icon that represents a website. It's displayed in the browser tab, bookmark list and address bar when a website is open. Favicons are used to help users identify websites quickly and easily, and they can also help to improve brand recognition. Is a favicon the same as a logo? A favicon is not the same as a logo. A logo is a larger, more detailed icon that represents a brand as a whole. A favicon is a smaller, simpler version of a logo that is specifically designed to be displayed in a browser tab. How do I create a favicon? There are many ways to create a favicon. You can use an online favicon generator or you can create one yourself using an image editing program. O ne such recommended tool is the Wix  Logo Maker , which allows you to create a professional and personalized favicon to best reflect your style and needs.

  • What is a splash page and how to create your own (+ examples)

    As more of life takes place online, businesses are looking to engage with their target audience quicker, or fear losing them. Gen Z’s typical attention span clocks in at a mere 8 seconds , while Millennials can hold focus for 12 seconds. To make a valuable first impression online, add a splash page to your website. This strategic page, also known as an intro page, greets visitors before they even reach your homepage—and can engage them immediately. This article will explore exactly what a splash page is, why it’s useful, and how to add one to your website. We’ll also show you some great examples to help you build a splash page of your own. Ready to make a splash? Start by creating a website of your own. What is a splash page? Splash pages capture a visitor's attention before entering your website. Your splash page introduces them to your site and then leads to the homepage. A splash page can both benefit your branding and marketing efforts by maintaining brand consistency and messaging, and be used for a variety of practical scenarios. From a design standpoint, this web “accessory” will enhance your website’s look and impress viewers with flair. Splash pages may also utilize more web design elements such as animations, video and unique elements than a website’s main page. Splash page vs landing page vs homepage Many web users confuse a splash page with a landing page or homepage, but while these three web design assets share similar forms, they perform different functions on a live website. A landing page is a destination, a single page that gets visitors to complete an action or click through to an end goal. Your homepage acts as your website’s main page. Apart from images and a description, a homepage typically also includes a navigation menu that visitors use to browse through the site’s categories and pages. Why use a splash page? A splash page can perform many functions on your website. Browse through the options listed below and decide your own splash page’s purpose. Focus on just one or two goals to keep it short and sweet. Charm visitors Use complementary visual elements on your website’s splash page to show off your work and grab your users’ attention. This clever marketing tactic can work for any business site, but it especially shines for art, photography or design portfolios. Some of the best website designs use splash pages to show off photographs, graphic designs or videos and give visitors a taste of what’s to come. Advertise a launch or event Use a splash page to showcase a soon-to-be-released product or an upcoming event and further your marketing efforts. This can effectively notify visitors and create excitement around your upcoming launch. With this marketing momentum in mind, add a contact form to your splash page for extra engagement, letting visitors know that you’ll use this information for future updates. Restrict access to your site If your website deals with sensitive content or products that are restricted to a particular group, a splash page is a smart way to add a prominent disclaimer. For example, an online alcohol store can use a splash page to ensure that visitors to their website are of legal drinking age. Allow visitors to choose a language or region Building a multilingual website will make information about yourself or your brand more widely available by providing translated and localized content for users. A splash page can provide space for users to choose their language and location preferences before they arrive at your website. This makes for easy navigation and a pleasant user experience. Alleviate wait times While stellar website performance and page speed are of utmost importance for users, there are, in fact, times when a page or screen needs to load. Particularly for mobile websites, splash pages can be used to display creative elements (like a loading bar) to indicate the remaining time until the next screen loads. As Khalil Habashi, technical and UX designer for Wix, explains: “On mobile, there is way less incentive for users to wait. Especially because mobile users are out in the world, on-the-go and time is a commodity. That's why today, mostly on mobile, you see gamification of splash screens with tap gestures and swipe features. It’s a creative and playful way to keep users engaged while they wait.” Habashi also explains that this gamification approach is only appropriate for mobile splash screens, since on desktop, users browse differently; they’ll likely click to another window or leave. For desktop users, it’s recommended to clearly indicate the expected page load time. Evolution of splash pages As with most web design trends , splash pages have been considered both en vogue and passé . In web design’s evolution , flash technology was new in the late 90s as, “interactive menus, splash pages, decorative animations, and beautifully rendered bubble buttons dominated the web design trend to wow people.” But in the mid-to-late 2000s, splash pages already felt dated and drab. In 2014, Gene Crawford discussed with Creative Bloq why this “long-dead design pattern” was already making a comeback. According to Crawford: “I actually feel that [splash pages] may help draw the visitor in more, as the creators of the original splash pages intended, and it makes really neat visual interactions possible, like the main navigation bar scrolling into place and becoming 'locked' in the header area. This simple movement really helps to focus the visitor’s attention on the site's navigation.” Crawford’s key takeaway was that if a splash page created any friction to the user experience, it should not be used. Jenna Romano, web design blogger at Wix, shares that a splash page must align with a website’s cohesive visual identity. “A splash page is not a pop-up that is distinguished from the rest of your site, it’s almost a website in and of itself,” Romano shares. “It must uphold the functional and visual aspects of the overall web design” To put it simply, a splash page should draw visitors in—not push them away. View minimalist websites  to gain inspiration for your splash page. SEO and splash pages Splash pages can impact your SEO, for better or worse, depending on how they’re designed and implemented. A key challenge is making sure search engines can crawl and index your site effectively. If your splash page includes minimal text or lacks proper links, it might block search engines like Google from accessing deeper pages, which can hurt your visibility. Google’s mobile interstitial guidelines add another layer to consider, especially with mobile-first indexing. Splash pages that block key content or disrupt the mobile experience can negatively impact rankings. For example, large pop-ups that are hard to dismiss frustrate users and signal poor usability to Google. To avoid splash pages causing any SEO issues, follow Google’s popup guidelines . First, remember that Google uses mobile-first indexing, so pay attention to their guidelines on mobile interstitials . Keep splash pages simple, easy to close and optimized for mobile accessibility. When done right, a splash page can deliver a strong message, improve user interaction and maintain solid SEO performance. 5 splash page examples for inspiration Let’s look at some great splash page examples: Zara As a global retailer, Zara’s corporate website is available around the world. When you first enter the website, Zara’s splash page greets you and asks for language and location information. This simple step, using two drop down menus, optimizes and personalizes the browsing experience with the correct language and currency for pricing. In addition, Zara’s splash page has a minimal, almost quiet design. A striking image puts Zara’s clothing front and center, enticing visitors to click through to the good stuff. The overall aesthetic is consistent with the brand’s products and brand identity, and confirms that visitors have landed in the right place. Spritz Society Upon entry to Spritz Society’s bright and colorful website, an age verification splash page greets you. Think of it like a virtual bouncer, or getting ID’d to confirm that visitors are the legal drinking age to access the site. While there is no law or regulation that requires age verification, with DTC alcohol products on the rise , more attention is falling on alcohol brands to provide clear verification on their websites. There are more age verification steps such as state-approved online verification providers and carrier ID inspection (adult signature required upon delivery) to prevent underage sales of alcohol. Regardless, if your brand sells alcohol, cannabis or any other age-specific product, the first and most important step is a splash page to verify that all visitors are of legal age before accessing your content. H&M Here’s another fashionable splash page example for location and language selection. H&M’s splash page lists every possible location and language by continent. Unlike a drop-down menu, this method clearly and conveniently lays out all the relevant information. Furthermore, each language is localized and displayed in the correct dialect, which makes this more accessible for first-time visitors to navigate to their respective site. H&M’s splash page also showcases their brand identity, with bold on-brand imagery that highlights their products. The New York Times The New York Times not only asks users to log in, but also requires visitors to subscribe before reading their articles. This “paywall,” or a splash page that requires readers to subscribe or pay a fee before accessing content, is a common monetization strategy among digital publications. For first-time visitors, The New York Times offers three articles free of charge to sample content and entice them to subscribe. On the fourth article, the paywall pops up. When creating your splash page, keep in mind that, without proper implementation, paywalls can alienate audiences or negatively impact customer retention. Football.com Football.com’s splash page takes language and region into account, cleverly playing on the variation between American football and European football (known as soccer to most North Americans). With clear visual representation of each respective sport, users can select their desired region and game version. Once they’ve selected, they receive curated content based on their preferences. This splash page example also includes an option to opt out from seeing it in the future. By selecting “Don’t show me this again”, returning users can bypass the splash page on return visits. How to create a splash page If you’ve decided a website splash page is right for you, you have two methods to create your own: do it yourself or hire a designer. Do it yourself When you use a website builder like Wix, you can access a range of customizable templates to suit your website needs. Alternatively, you can use the templates as inspiration to create something unique from scratch. Check out these splash page templates and start creating your own. Keep the design simple and visually appealing to grab visitors' attention. Use high-quality images, concise text and a clear call-to-action (CTA) that encourages users to explore further into your website. Clearly communicate the purpose of your splash page, whether it's to announce an event, promote a product or collect visitor information. Review that the message aligns with your website's overall goals. Consider when the splash page should appear – upon arrival, after a few seconds, or when a specific action is taken. Add interactive elements like animations, videos or interactive forms for higher user engagement. Make sure your splash page is mobile-friendly to provide a seamless experience across devices. Provide a seamless transition from the splash page to your main website content. Include a visible option to enter the site or continue browsing for a user-friendly experience. Track analytics on your splash page to measure the splash its performance, including conversion rates and user behavior. Use this data to optimize design elements and messaging for better results. Hire a designer Alternatively, you can hire a freelance web designer to create your website’s splash page. What to include in your splash page and why Before you start building your splash page, define your goals. Are you looking to promote an upcoming event? Do you want to wow visitors with stunning visuals or grow your mailing list? What you include in your splash page will vary by industry, personal taste and business goals. Try including these effective elements in your splash page: Eye-catching visuals: A splash page can attract visitors with intriguing visual elements that represent yourself, your work or your brand. Since a splash page typically includes very few elements, upload a background image that will stand out. Speaking of visuals, be sure to create a logo and include it on your splash page—since this is the face of your brand, it will indicate to visitors that they’re in the right spot. Concise messaging: A splash page should include a succinct message that informs the viewer, describes your brand and conveys that there’s more to come. Apart from welcoming users to your page, you can include text that will inform your audience of relevant updates or provide them with instructions before entering your site. Or you could use it to even set the tone with an inspiring quote. Remember to use short, action-oriented text—visitors shouldn’t have to read a full page before reaching your site. Remember to also use language that’s consistent with your brand identity. A clear exit link: Your intro page must carry viewers to your homepage. Add a button with a clear call-to-action that reads “enter here” to ensure visitors reach their final destination. If the main purpose of your splash page is to give visitors language options or view a specific website version, this is the place to let them choose their preferences and direct them to the relevant homepage. Ideally, splash pages shouldn't ask visitors to take specific actions. However, if your splash page promotes an offer, advertises a specific product or directs traffic to a certain page—use a clear call-to-action. How to optimize a splash page While you can design a splash page however you please, consider these pro tips while you create your own: 01. Use visual hierarchy Keep visual hierarchy in mind when laying out your site’s splash page elements. Consider each component’s size and placement to ensure everything works in a fluid and effective manner. 02. Keep it consistent Since the splash page is a preface to your website, keep the style—including use of language, as well as your website’s color scheme and imagery—consistent with the rest of your website design. This will not only please visitors aesthetically, it will also strengthen your branding. Learn more: What is web design? 03. Ensure speedy loading time A slow loading website will cause even the most patient of people to leave a page. When creating your page and adding in elements, follow a flat architecture structure and keep in mind how each element may affect your page speed . 04. Add subscription forms and social media accounts A splash page lets you capture contact information and sign up both new and returning visitors for your newsletter mailing list. Additionally, add social media icons linked to your relevant accounts to help your audience to follow you and stay up-to-date with your latest ventures. Learn more about how to make a website with our extensive guide.

  • Why people hate comic sans (and shouldn’t)

    Up there with today's most controversial topics, from climate change to data privacy, is the grave issue of Comic Sans. Yes, my friends, I am indeed referring to that seemingly innocent typeface that has, for over twenty years, been at the core of much dispute, particularly among designers and typographers. Making an appearance in website design , birthday cards, warning signs, formal letters and more, Comic Sans has gone through quite a journey since its initial release in the mid ‘90s. But the question remains: why do people hate Comic Sans so very, very much? In this article, we’ll take a look at the origins of this notorious typeface, examining its history and the way people’s perceptions of it have changed over time - why it's not often chosen as a best font for websites or in website redesign , as well as the link between Comic Sans and dyslexia: The history of Comic Sans The story begins in Microsoft’s offices back in 1994. The company was about to release Microsoft Bob, a user-friendly interface for their operating systems in which a friendly yellow dog (a.k.a. Rover) guides the user with helpful tips that pop up in a speech bubble. When font designer Vinnie Connare saw they were using Times New Roman in the speech bubbles, he disapproved, famously saying “Dogs don’t talk like that.” He felt that the interface’s typography needed to better match the context. Vinnie wanted to create an inviting, unthreatening typeface that would evoke fun and play. Taking inspiration from comic books, he spent three days creating a draft of what would later become Comic Sans. Due to technical reasons, Comic Sans didn’t end up being used for Microsoft Bob. However, it was later made available in the Windows 95 operating system, enabling people worldwide to use Comic Sans to their hearts’ content. The typeface became increasingly popular in both general and web design, popping up everywhere from signs to emails and even business cards. What was initially designed as a playful, lighthearted font was being implemented in contexts that were far off from its original purpose. Its cheerful appearance made it a somewhat inappropriate choice in certain contexts, like the sides of ambulances or warning signs, especially when used in conjunction with excessive exclamation points and underlining. Learn more: What is web design? Why do people hate Comic Sans? Somewhere in between one too many wedding invitations printed in Comic Sans and its use on a defibrillator ( true story ), the extensive misuse of this typeface had taken its toll on designers worldwide. It seems that Vinnie Connare himself wouldn’t approve of these uses, mentioning in an interview for The Guardian that “type should do exactly what it’s intended to do.” Gradually, Comic Sans became the object of much ridicule. Another more recent event in the world of Comic Sans occurred when John Dowd, former Trump attorney, wrote a legal letter representing two of Rudy Giuliani’s associates in - you guessed it - Comic Sans. This scandalous act brought on outrage throughout the world, and not just amongst designers . The notorious typeface trended on Twitter, bringing it to the forefront of public attention once again. Whether John Dowd wanted to “subtly” mock the issue at hand by using a clearly inappropriate typeface, or he is simply a fan of Comic Sans, his motive remains unclear. What can be said, though, is that typography definitely holds a certain power over us, and is apparently not something to be taken lightly. Graphic designer couple David and Holly Combs know all about that. They fell in love over their shared hatred for the typeface. After being asked to create an entire gallery guide in Comic Sans, the duo decided it was time to ban the font altogether, claiming it was a “blight on the landscape of typography.” The ‘Ban Comic Sans’ movement certainly indicates the gravity with which typography is perceived. The couple are strong believers in the power of typography, striving to call out inappropriate uses of typefaces. And indeed, web-safe fonts are important and choosing the right font for your website , CV or email is critical. Typography plays a huge part in the sensations evoked in a certain design. Whereas the impact of color psychology in design is fairly well known, typography still has some catching up to do. Comic Sans strikes again Like many things that were a big hit 25+ years ago (bell-bottoms, platform shoes and tattoo choker necklaces, for example), Comic Sans could well be on the brink of revival. In fact, since the Combs first launched their wildly successful campaign, things have changed. So much so that in 2019, the couple re-named the movement ‘Use Comic Sans.’ What started out as an inside joke meant for designers had simply gone too far. In May 2019, the couple posted on the movement’s Facebook page , saying “We were wrong. Ban the Ban and Use Comic Sans!” Perhaps it really is time for Comic Sans to join our other much-loved items from the ‘90s and make a return. After all, it seems that the ‘90s have made a comeback in areas other than fashion. These kinds of retro aesthetics are cropping up in various design fields, from graphic design magazines to some of the best websites out there. Comic Sans and dyslexia While Comic Sans has been poked fun of from every possible angle, there’s one thing that cannot be denied. As opposed to many other fonts chosen to cover our newspapers, websites and various interfaces, Comic Sans is a recommended font for dyslexic readers, as listed in several dyslexia organizations. Comic Sans meets almost all the requirements of dyslexic readers, such as good letter spacing and differentiation between similar letters and numbers (for example capital I, lowercase l and the digit 1). In fact, disability advocate and design strategist Liz Jackson, speaks of Comic Sans in relation to inclusive design. In April 2019, she launched the ‘ Comic Sans Take Over ,’ urging brands that want to “engage in disability as a creative practice” to adapt their logo design by swapping their logo font to Comic Sans. Shifting public opinion on a font so loaded with history and ridicule is not an easy task, but when paired with such a strong backbone, Liz Jackson shows us it’s possible. What’s ironic in this whole Comic Sans story is that Vinnie Connare never really took it too seriously. While the world was at war, Connare says that it never bothered him, holding true to his belief that “People who don't like Comic Sans don't know anything about design. They don't understand that in design you have a brief.” And clearly, Comic Sans matched the brief. Learn more about how to make a website with our extensive guide.

  • When is it time to redesign your website? 8 signs to keep an eye on

    No website is ever fully complete because, when you first learn how to create a website , chances are you can’t predict how your brand will evolve or how your customers’ preferences may change over time. This begs the question, is your site due for a redesign? How often should you be redesigning it?  While some folks may recommend revisiting your website every year as part of regular website maintenance , the truth is, every site is different. You may find yourself revamping your website more often—or perhaps making smaller changes here and there, and reserving larger revamps for more specific occasions. Whichever camp you fall into, this blog will help you identify the factors signaling when it's time to redesign your website.  Need a little help with your site? Design a website  with Wix today.  But first, what is a website redesign?  A website redesign  usually refers to a major overhaul of your website structure, your   web design , the user experience or other core components (both to the code and aesthetics) of your site. It’s intended to help your site look and work better than before.  It is not to be confused with a website refresh, which involves more minor tweaks to the appearance of your site. A website refresh may happen in tandem with a redesign—however, a redesign involves updating the “engine” behind your site (think: switching your content management system or rearchitecting an online shopping experience to increase revenue). It takes more time and effort to roll out because of the intricacies involved.  We often notice that Wix’s enterprise-level users redesign their sites every two to three years for both brand and functionality purposes. But, as noted earlier, your timing may look different depending on the nature of your brand, your customers and your definition of a successful website.  Learn more: Website migration 8 signs that it’s time to redesign your website So, how can you tell if your site is due for a makeover? Keep an eye out for these essential signs.  You have a high bounce rate You’re not meeting your KPIs You’re scaling up your business Your site looks sloppy on mobile devices Your site loads at a snail’s pace Your customers are complaining You’re going through a rebrand Your site looks old and outdated 01. You have a high bounce rate One of the most telling statistics about a site is how many users stay on it. Your bounce rate can tell you the percentage of site visitors who land on your site but leave it without viewing any other page. Tools like Wix Analytics  can show you your bounce rate—and even tell you how it compares with other sites that are similar to yours.   There’s no magic number, but a bounce rate below 40% is generally considered solid, with the average bounce rate landing somewhere between 26% and 70%, according to HubSpot . There are a variety of reasons that contribute to a high bounce rate, like slow site speed, poor design, bad links or a lack of connection to your content. It may take some trial and error to find the exact causes, but if your users are bouncing, there is room for site improvement. Here are quick tips to reduce bounce rates: Review your site navigation and make sure it’s easy for visitors to find the pages they’re looking for   Incorporate strong calls-to-action on your site that encourage exploration  Add visuals and interactive assets—pictures, videos and testimonials—to your site to invite more engagement with your page  Craft content based on what your users are searching for  Identify the pages where your visitors are bouncing the most from and focus on improving those first  Get inspiration from the pages where your visitors hang out the longest or where they continue their search  Pro tip:  Use a  website heatmap  to understand how visitors interact with your site. This tool helps you identify key areas to optimize for better engagement, encouraging users to stay on your page longer. 02. You’re not meeting your KPIs Your site holds critical information about what’s working  and what’s not working for your brand, site and audience. Maybe your content isn’t performing up to expectations. Could that be attributed to a lack of visibility? Is your customer acquisition low?  Or, are your eCommerce sales low? If so, are customers dropping out on certain product pages or at certain points of the sales funnel? Are they even making it to your checkout page?  Consider different access points or product offerings that could help move the needle in the right direction. There are likely a multitude of things worth testing (be it a change to the information hierarchy of your site, your images or your overall branding) that can help you meet your business goals.  03. You’re scaling up your business Your site is an ideal place to show off case studies, services, product lines and other information about your growing brand. A redesign can help to ensure that your online presence keeps pace with your business, especially as it takes on new forms and functions. When you’re updating a website , it’s important to remember both the front end and back end. As part of your website redesign, you may choose to add new pages, new features or new integrations. Or, perhaps you’ve grown your business and added a new franchise or offering, and needed to rethink the customer flow. Any of these changes may  impact both the UX and backend performance of your site.  As you do so, you’ll want to keep things like site security, speed and reliability in mind as you anticipate larger spikes in web traffic. Similarly, you’ll want to bear in mind any new roles and permissions that you need to set up to help your team work more responsibly and efficiently.  Did you know: Wix Enterprise  offers solutions built for scale. You can rest assured knowing that no matter how quickly your business grows, your site is ready to handle any growth in traffic while keeping your visitors safe and happy.  04. Your site looks sloppy on mobile devices The ubiquity of smartphones demands that sites are built with mobile in mind. In fact, in the last quarter of 2023, mobile devices accounted for about 58.7% of all global web traffic . Not offering a pocket-sized version of your site would alienate a good chunk of your visitors. So, if your site doesn’t already have the best possible mobile experience, you may want to consider carving out time to work on your mobile site. Good mobile-first design allows your users to do what they want to do: browse your content, buy products and navigate to different pages without feeling overwhelmed.  Other best practices include: Make sure buttons are large enough to click with a thumb Use large, easy-to-read fonts  Declutter your page, i.e., simplify menus and space out content so that both are easier to navigate on a smaller screen Show the most important information first and be strategic about website hierarchy Tip:  Use Wix’s Mobile Editor  to optimize your page's layout and add mobile-only elements, such as a “Back to Top” button and a “Quick Action” bar. 05. Your site loads at a snail’s pace Site visitors want to see content, fast. According to a 2023 Statista survey , 54% of users won’t stick around if a site takes five seconds or longer to load. Beyond losing potential customers—a slow-loading site could hurt your search engine rankings.  That said, a slow site can be the symptom of various issues, including “Frankensteined” sites that have garbled code, large files or poorly maintained integrations. It could also be the result of cluttered content and overall poor infrastructure.  Tools like Wix’s Site Speed Dashboard  can help to diagnose the issue by showing which of your pages take the longest to load (alongside your Core Web Vitals), based on real visitor data.  As you seek to address problems, here are some website speed optimization strategies to keep in mind:  Compress large image files or use a system like Wix, which automatically crunches images down for you   Limit the use of big files like GIFs and unnecessary animations  Place larger or higher resolution elements lower down on your page  Remove any plugins or tracking codes that you’re no longer using Learn more about Wix site performance  and our commitment to making industry-leading performance a reality for every site.  06. Your customers are complaining Your main goal in running a site is to attract and maintain the attention of site visitors by serving their needs. If you’re receiving complaints from users about the functionality of your site, then you’ll want to pay attention.  Your customers can offer a perspective about your site that you may not otherwise have (or maybe one that you can’t  consider because you’re too “close” to your site or product). Common complaints—like the site speed, poor design and confusing navigation—can be addressed with a site redesign where you can give proper attention to these bottom-line issues. 07. You’re going through a rebrand There’s perhaps no better time for a redesign than a rebrand. The two pair perfectly together, and oftentimes, it’s easier to tackle both in one fell swoop.  Consider a redesign if your site does not match the caliber or standards of your brand. This will ensure your site is a true reflection of your brand; consistency is what separates good brands from great brands. Learn more: What is web design? 08. Your site looks old and outdated First impressions matter. Visitors may form an opinion about your site in a split second, so you’ll want to make sure that your site is instantly memorable. If your site appears outdated, you run the risk of customers immediately writing off your brand as stale.  To avoid this issue, use your redesign as an opportunity to weave in more contemporary, future-proof design. Study competitors’ sites for visual inspiration, research design trends and/or consult a professional. You can either redesign using drag and drop templates and designs that website builder incorporate in their editor or you could even use AI tools, like Wix’s AI image creator , for fresh ideas.    Keep in mind that your site doesn’t need to have everything all at once. As Wix user and founder of floral studio Moonwake Meadow , Nicole Oliveira, advises, you shouldn’t try to be everything for everyone. “I want people to come to me because they like my specific style, so I try to push that out into the world,” she says about her own website, which she redesigned after switching to Wix because her original site felt too cookie-cutter. “I decided to invest in something more in line with who I am as a person.”   “I loved Wix because it’s so much more customizable [than other website builders I’ve tried],” she adds.  Ready to take Wix for a spin? Create a free account  today.

  • 5 web design tips for an outstanding site

    When it comes to website design , there are so many different styles and directions in which your website can go: it can be anywhere from classy to minimalistic, from playful and vibrant to sleek and modern. While your final look-and-feel should exude your personal style, line of work, and brand identity, there are a few ground rules that are always applicable regardless of whether you're creating a new site or updating your website. Great web design feeds into your user experience and functionality, while being easy to understand at first glance. Below we’ve gathered five simple website design tips (for even more, check out website design best practices ) to help you learn how to make a website effective and compelling, whether it feels ready for a website redesign or not: Ready to put your website design skills to action? Start designing your site now . Web design tips for an outstanding website Keep your homepage minimalistic and free of clutter Design with visual hierarchy in mind Create easy to read website content Ensure your site is easy to navigate Stay mobile friendly 01. Keep your homepage minimalistic and free of clutter Your website’s homepage should communicate your core message instantaneously. After all, we rarely read every word on a website. Instead, we quickly scan the page, picking out keywords, sentences and images. With these known behaviors in mind, it’s better to appeal to emotions rather than word count. The less site visitors have to read, click on, or remember, the better they’ll be able to process and evaluate your content. By designing for decreasing attention spans (and according to web design statistics ) and going for a modern website design , it’s more likely that users will do what you intend them to do. When learning how to design a website , these simple website design tips will help you break up your content and make for a presentable and inviting homepage design : Keep important content above the fold: Visitors should understand what your website is all about as soon as possible, without having to scroll or click anywhere. Space out your content: Employ whitespace in between elements. By leaving some areas blank, you’ll give the design a much more spacious, well-balanced feel. As for your text, write in bite-sized, legible paragraphs. Add imagery: High-quality media features such as beautiful photographs, vector art or icons , will do wonders as alternative ways to communicate your point. Include a call-to-action: From making a purchase to signing up, encourage site visitors to perform the action you intended by placing a call-to-action (CTA) button on your site’s homepage. 02. Design with visual hierarchy in mind Hierarchy is an important principle of design that helps display your content in a clear and effective manner. Through the correct use of hierarchy, you’ll be able to lead site visitors’ attention to certain page elements in order of priority, starting with the most significant piece. The main components of visual hierarchy are: Size and weight: Highlight your top assets, such as your business name and logo, by making them larger and more visually prominent. Readers tend to naturally gravitate towards large and bold titles first, and only then move on to smaller paragraph text. modern Element placement: Use the right website layout to steer your visitors’ eyes in the right direction. For instance, you can place an important call-to-action button at the very center of the screen, or position your logo at the website header . Once you establish a clear hierarchy for your information, readers can’t help but unconsciously follow the breadcrumbs you have left for them. Then, apply color, contrast, and spacing for further accentuation (as well as things like symmetry vs asymmetry ), remaining mindful of what is drawing the most attention and making sure that it’s always intentional. Consider using slideshows for maximum impact. Some powerful web design elements to help you achieve a strong visual hierarchy are strips or grid layouts, such as that of the Wix Pro Gallery . For more ideas and inspiration, check out our designer-made website templates , or read about how to make a site irresistible . Learn more: Web design tips for a small business or 10 high-end website design tips  (feat. advice from an art director) 03. Create easy to read website content “Readability” measures how easy it is for people to recognize words, sentences, and phrases. When your site’s readability is high, users will be able to effortlessly scan, or skim-read, through it. This way, taking in the information becomes effortless. Achieving website readability is relatively easy; try these key rules: Contrast is key: Sufficient contrast between your text color and background color is important for readability, as well as for website accessibility . While your website color scheme is likely to be representative of your brand colors, make sure that there’s sufficient contrast between your elements. To do so, try using an online tool, such as Contrast Checker . Large letter size: Most people will struggle to see smaller fonts. A typical rule of thumb for web design is to keep your body text at least 16pt. That’s a good place to start, but keep in mind that this number completely depends on the fonts you choose for your website . Type of fonts: The world of typography offers many types of fonts at our disposal. You can choose between serif fonts (that have little projecting lines on the ends of letters, like Times New Roman) to sans serifs, which literally means “without serif.” Sans serif fonts are typically the best choice for lengthy online texts – like the one you’re currently reading. You can also create interesting font pairings by mixing these different types together. There are also many display fonts that are more on the decorative side, such as script fonts that look handwritten. If you’re going for one of those, make sure not to over use it, so as to avoid an overwhelming effect. Limit the number of fonts: Don’t use more than three different typefaces throughout a single website. Some projects may call for more elaborate font combinations, but too many varied typefaces usually appear cluttered, distracting from your brand identity . Utilize text themes: To establish a clear hierarchy, make sure that your written website content is varied in size and weight - from a large title, to smaller subheadings, to the even smaller paragraph or body text. This handy website design tip can ensure that there’s always something drawing readers’ attention. 04. Ensure your site is easy to navigate It may be in your nature to break the mold, but website navigation is not the place to be avant-garde. After all, you want your users to easily find what they’re looking for. In addition, a site with solid navigation is one way to integrate your website design with SEO —helping search engines index your content while greatly improving the user experience: Link your logo to the homepage: This website design tip is a common practice that your visitors will be expecting, saving them some precious clicks. If you don’t already have one, it’s highly recommended to create your own logo as part of your branding efforts. Mind your menu: Whether opting for a classical horizontal list, hamburger menu, or anything else, your website menu should be prominent and easy to find. In addition, be sure that it’s structured according to the importance of each section. Offer some vertical navigation: If your site is of the long-scrolling variety, such as a one-page website , use an anchor menu . With one click, viewers will be able to quickly jump to any section of the site. Another option to consider is the ‘Back to Top’ button , which leads visitors to the top of the page wherever they are on your site. Work on your footer: Your website footer is probably the last thing to be seen on your site, and it’s a good idea to place all of your important links there. This may include your contact information, social media icons and a shortened version of your menu, or any other relevant links that visitors may need. 05. Stay mobile friendly All of your site visitors should be able to enjoy your professional website at its very best, no matter the device they’re browsing. When designing a website, Wix automatically creates a mobile-friendly version of your site, so that you can keep pace with the increasingly mobile world. Go over your site’s mobile version while putting yourself in the position of the user, and test out every page, user action and button. Your mobile website should be cleaner and less cluttered than your desktop version, so consider minimizing page elements and scaling down some assets, like the menu. There are also unique mobile features that you can use to boost your mobile design. One last tip for the road: One of the most important website design tips is in fact the simplest - look around for website inspiration. Browse through some of the best website designs and read up on the latest web design trends . You can also explore some of these outstanding Wix websites to get your creativity going. Learn more: What is web design? Website design requirements Website design requirements encompass a comprehensive set of specifications and guidelines that define the desired appearance, functionality and user experience of a website. These requirements serve as a roadmap for web designers and developers, ensuring that the website aligns with the business goals, target audience and technical constraints. Essential elements of website design requirements: Objectives and goals:  Clearly define the website's purpose, target audience and desired outcomes. This sets the foundation for all subsequent design decisions. User personas:  Develop detailed user personas that represent the different types of users who will interact with the website. This helps designers understand user needs and preferences. Functional requirements:  Outline the specific functionalities the website must offer, such as user registration, eCommerce, content management or interactive elements. Non-functional requirements:  Specify the website's performance, usability, accessibility and security requirements. These factors ensure the website meets user expectations and technical standards. Content requirements:  Define the type, format and quantity of content the website will feature, including text, images, videos and interactive elements (such as website gamification or website animations ). Visual design requirements:  Establish the overall visual style, including color palette, typography, imagery and layout guidelines, to create a cohesive and appealing user experience. Technical requirements:  Specify the technical infrastructure, programming languages and compatibility considerations to ensure the website functions seamlessly across different devices and browsers. Testing and deployment plan:  Outline the testing procedures and deployment schedule to ensure the website meets all requirements and is launched smoothly. Maintenance and updates:  Define the ongoing maintenance plan for updates, bug fixes and security patches to keep the website up-to-date and secure. Performance metrics:  Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the website's effectiveness in achieving its objectives and goals. Common webpage design mistakes Common webpage design mistakes can hinder user experience, undermine brand image and ultimately prevent a website from achieving its goals. Avoiding these pitfalls is crucial for creating an effective and engaging online presence. Neglecting user experience (UX):  Prioritizing aesthetics over usability is a common mistake. Websites should be designed with the user in mind, ensuring easy navigation, intuitive interactions and a seamless experience across devices. Content overload:  Bombarding users with excessive text or overwhelming visuals can be overwhelming and off-putting. Concise, relevant and well-structured content is key to capturing attention and delivering value. Inconsistent design:  Inconsistency in color schemes, typography, and layout can create a disjointed and unprofessional user experience. Establish a cohesive visual identity and maintain consistency throughout the website. Poor mobile optimization:  With a significant portion of web traffic coming from mobile devices, neglecting mobile optimization is a major mistake. Adapt the website's layout, interactions and content to ensure a seamless mobile experience. Slow loading times:  Sluggish page loading times can frustrate users and lead to high bounce rates. Optimize images, minimize page size and utilize caching techniques to improve loading speed. Lack of clear calls to action (CTAs):  CTAs are essential for guiding users towards desired actions, such as signing up, purchasing or contacting. Make CTAs prominent, visually appealing and clear in their messaging. Inadequate error handling:  Unhandled errors or poorly designed error pages can leave users confused and frustrated. Implement clear error messages, provide helpful suggestions and facilitate easy recovery from errors. Overlooking accessibility:  Failing to consider accessibility can exclude users with disabilities. Ensure the website adheres to accessibility guidelines, including proper color contrast, alt text for images and keyboard navigation options. Disruptive advertising:  Excessive or intrusive advertising can detract from the user experience and damage brand perception. Use advertising strategically and prioritize user experience over ad revenue. Ignoring analytics:  Failing to analyze user behavior and gather feedback can prevent ongoing improvement. Use analytics tools, conduct user surveys and actively seek feedback to identify areas for refinement. Explore old-school website layouts in nostalgic web design  and Y2K website design for more inspiration.

  • 10 best website layout ideas to get you started

    Get started by: Creating a website →  | Getting a domain → Deciding on the right layout is one of the first steps in website design . Serving as the foundations of your site, a website layout can greatly impact how communicative and intuitive you are online. From asymmetrical designs to classic patterns and split screens, this article includes 10 website layout ideas that will help you get it right the first time when figuring out how to build your website . TL;DR: best website layout ideas We selected these website layout ideas for their clarity, balance and ability to guide visitors through a seamless browsing experience. Whether you're building a portfolio, online store or business site, these examples show how the right structure can elevate your content and drive engagement. Here’s what we looked for when choosing the examples: Visual hierarchy that makes content easy to follow Layouts that balance imagery, text and whitespace Navigation that feels intuitive and unobtrusive Clear page goals supported by smart design choices What makes a great website layout Feature Why it matters Clear visual hierarchy Guides the visitor’s eye to key content Balanced use of space Improves readability and makes content easier to digest Intuitive navigation Helps users find what they need quickly Mobile-friendly structure Ensures smooth experience across devices Purposeful CTA placement Encourages users to take action without distraction Consistent alignment Brings polish and professionalism to your design Adaptive layout styles Supports different content formats and site goals What each example brings to the table: Layout strategies tailored to different website types and audiences Use of grids, cards and split screens to organize information Strategic placement of calls-to-action and visual focal points Flexible designs that adapt well across desktop and mobile What is a website layout? A website layout is the arrangement of all visual elements on a webpage. Through the intentional positioning of page elements, we can control the relationship between them to better guide the user experience. Acting as a key component of web design, a layout determines the sequence in which page elements are registered among visitors, which elements draw the most attention, and the visual overall balance of the site. Because of its visual significance, a website layout can enhance a website’s message and usability. Did you know that nearly all first impressions— 94%, to be exact —are shaped by a website’s design? This just goes to show how much your layout influences how visitors perceive and interact with your site. Put plainly, a good website layout can lead visitors’ focus in the right direction—gravitating them toward what matters most first, and then continue to the following sections in order of significance. A layout can also be used to enhance your design, create interesting interactions and show that you’re up-to-date with web design trends . How to choose the right website layout When approaching the task of choosing a website layout , there are two main factors to take into account. Accommodate your content The layout you choose should be fitting for your type of content. Why? A website layout needs to help tell the story you wish to deliver to visitors. "[Observe] the balance of text versus images on any given page," writes Wix Template Designer Kobi Michaeli in his guide for selecting the right layout . "Some homepage designs are very design-heavy. They’re only meant to include a few lines of text next to a large, full-scale image. Forcing more text into these areas could throw off the balance of the whole page if you’re not careful. "As another example, let’s say you’re working with a template that has big text blocks and proportionately small images. If you end up writing minimal content or adding large images in spaces better suited for icons, then things can start looking awkward." Some types of website layouts are best used for showcasing products or works, making them more suitable for an eCommerce website or portfolio websites . Others convey factual information quickly and efficiently, and might work better for creating a blog or news platform. Use common layouts While there’s room for creativity, the most well-known, tried-and-tested website layouts are usually the best option. These classic layouts tend to feel familiar to users, as they build on existing expectations, past experiences and the principles of design . It's also worth considering some more general and commonly respected design principles. Gestalt psychology is often applied to website design and is especially relevant when it comes to the design of website layouts. This is because how elements are grouped, in order to create a positive user experience, lies at the heart of Gestalt theory. The main principles are: Proximity : Elements that belong together, such as menu and navigation bar, should be grouped together for usability. Similarity : Elements that look the same and behave the same should also be positioned together. Continuity : This focuses on providing an easy flow for users through a webpage through continuity between elements. One way to do this could by implementing pagination . Closure: This means users are not left with nowhere to go, or without another element to lead them through a page. Overlapping images are a good example of closure applied to a website layout. Figure-ground related : Making sure the main elements of the site layout stand out from the background. You might also want to consider applying the rule of thirds to your website layout. This a fundamental principle in photography and visual composition. It suggests dividing an image into a grid of nine equal parts by drawing two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, resulting in four intersecting points. It encourages designers to place key elements of interest along these lines or at the points of intersection. The idea is that by doing so, the composition becomes more visually appealing and balanced, as it avoids placing the subject or important elements directly in the center of the frame. Since a familiar layout will result in a more intuitive, easy-to-use interface, we’ve highlighted 10 of the most effective layouts below. We’ll explain what makes them work and which type of website is the best fit for each. The visual examples included are all Wix templates , which are fully customizable to match your style and needs. Read also: Our designers' favorite Wix templates—and their tips for making them your own 10 best website layout ideas Z-pattern layout F-pattern layout Fullscreen image layout Split screen layout Asymmetrical layout Single column layout Box-based layout Cards layout Magazine layout Horizontal strips layouts 01. Z-pattern layout When coming across a new webpage, we immediately glance over it to take in the gist of things. This speedy scan, called skim reading, is often done in the shape of the letter Z or in zig-zag form. Our eyes move from the top left corner to the top right corner, then down to the bottom left, and finally to the right again. The Z-pattern website layout utilizes this reading habit through asymmetry by spreading important information across a Z shape. Using this layout, a logo is usually placed in the upper left-hand corner of the homepage, so that it registers first. Across from it, in the rightmost corner, it’s common to place the navigation menu along with a prominent call-to-action. The diagonal part of the Z-pattern, spanning across the page from top to bottom, is where the most attention-grabbing information should go - and this is where you can really use typography and emphasis to your advantage to make this impact count. This can be achieved by use of captivating visuals and a concise line of text that represents what the website is all about above the fold . Toward the bottom of this Z-pattern, users should find your most important call-to-action (CTA). Whether you’ve been building up anticipation to purchase a product or book a service, now’s the time to get visitors on board and encourage them to take action. This website layout idea is great for pages that are highly visual, and landing pages that serve a specific conversion purpose are usually a perfect fit. 02. F-pattern layout Much like the Z-pattern layout, this design is also based on a common page scanning behavior. With webpages that are more text-heavy, we tend to skim or read the information in an F shape. This means that the top horizontal part of the page gets the bulk of our attention, and our eyes go vertically downwards from there, with the left-hand side tending to serve as our focal point. When using the F-pattern layout, make sure to invest resources on the top fold of your page, where visitors are likely to linger longer. This usually includes a headline, subtitle and featured image—content that can introduce the remainder of the site in a compelling manner. You can also include anchor texts to lead visitors towards information and a navigation menu to guide them to the parts of your website that are most relevant. The vertical line of the F-pattern on the left-hand side of the page can help make the text more appealing. This can be done using imagery, icons, your color palette or with formatting elements such as bullet points or numbering. An F-pattern layout is suitable for websites that mainly revolve around text. When creating a blog, for example, this website layout is applicable for both the homepage and the individual blog post pages. 03. Fullscreen image layout With an extra large visual placed front-and-center, a fullscreen image layout can result in an eye-catching and immersive homepage design. Large media features can convey a lot about who you are and what you do in as much as a glimpse. The great thing about this layout is that it looks great on mobile devices, too. The visual you use can be anything from a photograph to an illustration or video. Either way, it should be high quality and relevant to your service, product or overall feel in order to take full advantage of this layout. Your fullscreen image should also be accompanied by a short line of text to further explain what the site is all about. Craft a strong header or a catchy slogan to introduce what you offer as a business, exciting visitors to explore more. A fullscreen image layout is great for businesses that want to highlight a specific niche or product and who have great visuals in their arsenal of marketing assets. For example, photography websites will proudly reveal new series or styles of photographs for sale, while a wedding website can make a heartwarming impression with a photo of the happy couple. 04. Split screen layout By vertically splitting the screen down the middle, a split screen layout creates a perfectly symmetrical balance and avoids the presence of negative space. This neat division into two parts allows for each section to express an entirely different idea—or alternatively, to support one idea from two different angles. The website layout template shown here presents a dining experience with an eye-catching visual to the left, and text and matching vector art to the right. The layout enables both sides to fully complement each other, rather than compete for attention. This same design can also work well in cases where site visitors are asked to choose between two opposing options, such as ‘Men's’ and ‘Women’s’ categories in an eCommerce website. To make the most of the split screen layout, consider incorporating some motion by making each half of the screen behave slightly differently. For example, you could employ parallax scrolling effects on just one side of the screen. Another option is to extend this layout onto the second fold of your design too, but swap the content on the two sides of the screen for added visual interest. A split screen layout is ideal for websites that offer two significantly different types of content, or websites that want to evenly combine written copy and imagery. Online stores that segment users by age, gender or behavior are a good fit for this layout. 05. Asymmetrical layout Similar to the split screen, this stylish website layout also divides up the website composition—but this time, the two parts are not equal in size and weight. This asymmetrical shift of balance from one side to the other creates visual movement, making the entire design feel more dynamic. Through a non-uniform distribution of scale, color, space and width across the page, visitors’ focus can be drawn to specific elements over others. To achieve this in your own website layout, you’ll want to give certain elements more visual weight—making them bigger, bolder or brighter—so they act as focal points. Decide which part of your content you wish to highlight. This can be anything from a photo of a product to call-to-action encouraging people to sign up. Then, make it stand out using high color contrast, enlarged proportions, and other types of visual emphasis. An asymmetrical layout is ideal for websites that are going for the contemporary and innovative look, and are interested in driving user engagement. A business website or online portfolio of a design agency are good examples. Subscribe to the Wix blog  for a weekly dose of fresh web design tips and trends. 06. Single column layout This website layout includes all of its content in one vertical column. It’s a simple, straightforward design (and in fact, it’s the one used on this very page). Navigating a single column layout is easy —visitors immediately know to scroll down the page for more information. However, there’s one important website navigation tip to keep in mind using this layout:add a “Back to Top” button or a fixed menu to help users explore your site further. When using the single column layout for text-heavy sites, remember to break up the text every so often with imagery, line breaks, headers or sub-headers. This is a great layout idea for long-form content websites, or websites that display content in chronological order— anything from blogs to social media feeds. 07. Box-based layout The box-based, or grid-based website layout merges multiple pieces of content into one geometric design. With each bit of information neatly constrained into a box, the elements don’t overshadow one another—resulting in a unified look. Each box leads to a different webpage, where users can learn more about the topic they’re interested in most. A recommended practice is to add one large featured box to serve as your website’s header and tie different boxes together below. The featured box can include the page’s title and a brief explanation of its content, along with a menu for navigation. Another tip is to curate the visuals in each of the boxes so that they work together well, creating a cohesive brand identity. If you’re building a website on Wix, the Wix Pro Gallery is a great way to create this layout. With quality images displayed, you’ll enjoy full control over your box-based layout, starting with the number of columns and rows, down to their size and spacing. This is an ideal layout for a website that includes many important pages. For example, it’s a good solution for a graphic design portfolio, where you can conveniently link each box of the homepage design so that it leads to a different project page. 08. Cards layout Much like the box-based layout, a cards layout uses multiple boxes or other rectangular-esque containers to display diverse content. This website layout is for the most part non-hierarchical, meaning that no one item truly stands out over the others, and all of the information is treated equally. With all cards carrying identical features (in terms of size, font, etc.), it’s easy to import your content into each one. This results in a modular design that’s a good fit for all screen sizes, and allows for intuitive and approachable browsing despite the large amount of information, improving the user experience. A cards layout is a great idea for a content-rich website, especially perfect for a vlog or online store. 09. Magazine layout Deriving inspiration from printed newspapers, the magazine website layout is based on a multi-column grid to create a complex visual hierarchy. By implementing containers that can be modified individually, a magazine layout lets you prioritize major headlines over smaller articles. This can be done by playing with the size of your elements (larger images and headlines are the first to command our attention), placement (the article at the top of the page will usually be the first we read), or with the amount of design detail provided (an article with an added photo draws more focus than one with just plain text). Note that the magazine layout also utilizes the F shape skim reading pattern, as mentioned earlier, catering to readers’ decreasing attention spans. Combining the F-pattern with a more complex grid enables large quantities of information to be broken down into digestible reads, while retaining a sense of order and a clean, uncluttered design. The magazine layout is a fantastic choice for content-heavy websites such as news publications or blogs. 10. Horizontal strips layout This website layout breaks up the long scroll of the webpage into full-width strips. With each strip functioning as a fullscreen fold (or close to fullscreen), the diversified composition builds user anticipation with a different surprise each time they scroll. To make each strip different from the one before, try using a different shade from your website color scheme in each strip, or by including images on some strips and written copy on others. In addition, by incorporating effects like parallax scrolling on your strip, you’ll be able to infuse this layout with a sense of motion and depth in the website background . This layout is particularly beneficial when it comes to one page websites , especially with long scroll designs. Learn more: What is web design? What are the main elements of a website layout? A website layout typically comprises a header, containing the logo and navigation menu; a main content area, presenting the core information or services; sidebars for additional content or navigation; a footer with supplementary links and copyright information. When planning your website layout it's important to be with consistent with your use of color, typography and spacing for visual cohesion. These elements collectively create an intuitive and engaging user experience. Website layout ideas FAQ What is a good layout for a website? A good website layout is one that is easy to navigate and understand. It should be visually appealing and engaging while highlighting your most important content. Make sure to consider your target audience, the purpose of your website, the content, the navigation and the design when you are planning your website layout. What are some tips for designing a website layout? Keep it simple. Don't overload your website with too much information or too many features. Use white space. White space is important for creating an easy-to-read layout. Use a consistent design throughout your website. This will help create a sense of unity and make your website look better. Use high-quality images and videos. Images and videos can help break up your text and make your website more aesthetically pleasing. Make sure your website is responsive. This means that your website will look good on all devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. What are some examples of popular website layouts? Single-page scroll: Present all content on a single page, enhancing simplicity and flow. Grid layouts: Organize content in a grid for a clean and balanced look. Card design: Use card elements for modular content, facilitating easy navigation. Minimalist mesign: Embrace simplicity with ample white space, emphasizing key elements. Split screen: Divide the screen to showcase contrasting content or features side by side. Full-screen imagery: Capture attention with impactful, full-screen visuals as a background. What are the 4 main parts of a website layout? The four main parts of a website layout are the: Header: The top section, usually containing the website logo, navigation menu, and contact information. Content body: The main body of the website, where you display your most important content. Sidebar: A vertical or horizontal section on the side, often used for widgets, navigation or additional information. Footer: The bottom section, typically showcasing copyright information, links to other pages and social media icons. What are some of the most commonly used website layouts? Some of the most popular website layouts are: One-column: Simple and clean, ideal for minimalist designs and content-heavy websites. It works well on blogs, for example. Two-column: Provides a balanced layout for content and sidebars, offering flexibility with visual hierarchy. A two-column website layout is great for websites that need to balance content with additional information or features. This can include blogs, ecommerce sites and online news publications. Grid layout: Uses a grid system for organized and visually appealing content arrangement. A grid layout is a great choice for websites that need to present information in a structured, organized and visually appealing way. Portfolio sites often use it. Asymmetrical layout: Offers a dynamic and creative approach, breaking traditional grid structures. An asymmetrical layout is a good choice for websites that want to break away from traditional structures and create a sense of dynamic energy and visual interest. This makes it a good choice for art portfolios, fashion websites and websites for creative agencies. These layouts are popular due to their flexibility, ease of navigation, and visual appeal. How do I register a website domain name? To register a website domain name, start by choosing a domain name that reflects your brand or purpose and is easy to remember. Next, search for availability using a domain registrar like Wix. Once you find an available name, follow the registrar’s steps to complete the registration process, which involves providing your details and paying the required fees. You may also have the option to add privacy protection to keep your personal information private.

  • What is a lightbox in web design and how to create one

    It’s a familiar scene: We’re calmly browsing the web, gliding from one page to another when we’re suddenly faced with a popup right across the center of our screen. Frustrating, right? But lightbox popups needn’t be frustrating at all. In fact, they can be highly beneficial in notifying users about promotions they may be interested in, or simply placing important content in the limelight. The key to creating successful lightbox popups on your website lies in mastering their timing, design and copy (more on that later). When you start your website design , take into account the advantages a lightbox can have on your business. Done right, a lightbox popup can skyrocket your company’s leads and subscription rates. This research by OptiMonk shows how BitNinja managed to increase their leads by 65%, thanks to adding a lightbox at a strategic point on their site. Imagine what that could mean in revenue. Here’s everything you need to know about lightboxes , from what they are, to inspirational examples, how to create one when learning how to make a website and more. What is a lightbox? In web design, a lightbox popup is a window overlay that appears on top of a webpage, blocking some of the content on the page. When a popup appears, the background is often dimmed and disabled, meaning that site visitors cannot interact with other content on the website. This draws attention to the lightbox itself. A lightbox can appear anywhere on the screen - in the center, or as a strip at the top, bottom or sides of the page. Lightboxes are often used to obtain potential customers’ email addresses - a great step in your email marketing efforts. This can be achieved in various ways, for example inviting visitors to subscribe to your blog , receive updates and newsletters, or get a discount on your products. Additionally, lightboxes can also be used to emphasize any important messages, such as deals, promotions or events you’re hosting. They can also be implemented to ensure site visitors don’t miss a certain image or video that you want to share with them. Learn more: What is web design? Lightbox website examples Lightboxes can come in an array of styles, from a combination of images with text, to text on a plain background, and more. To set you on the right path, here are a few spot-on lightbox examples from a selection of the best website designs : Promotion lightbox Consider treating your site visitors to a special discount when signing up, just like women’s fashion brand Triptyc London has done here. The design of their lightbox is clean, light and airy, making it extra inviting. They’ve also included an image to help grab attention and entice visitors. Mobile lightbox When designing with your mobile website in mind, you generally don’t want to bombard your site visitors with information that will distract them. In order to disrupt their browsing experience as little as possible, keep lightboxes to a minimum and go for an unobtrusive design. Slow movement brand Sunny has ensured the popup only takes up a portion of the screen and has used friendly, inviting text to complement it. Email lightbox A striking shade of yellow and a bold pattern greet you on Howl, New York ’s lightbox popup. The honest, tongue-in-cheek tone in the sentence at the bottom brings a smile to our faces, encouraging us to join their mailing list. Cookies lightbox It’s now commonplace to notify site visitors of your cookies policy. Food Algorithm have done the same on their website, utilizing a lightbox in the form of a thin strip at the top of the page. It’s unobtrusive and stylishly meshes with the rest of their design, both in terms of the website color scheme and the choice of font. Thanks to the dimming of the rest of the page, this subtle lightbox still manages to stand out. When and how to use a lightbox popup on your website Faced with notifications and popups on a regular basis, many of us seem to have developed an ability to automatically ignore them, or to simply close them straight away. To make the most out of your lightboxes, and to ensure you’re not disrupting site visitors with too much info, here are a few basic principles on how to use popups on your site: Don’t show a popup straight away. Think about it - why would visitors want to sign up to your mailing list if they don’t even know what it is that your brand does? Set the lightbox to appear once your users have spent some time browsing and are already engaged on some level. Trigger your lightbox to appear on a contextually relevant page. You can set a specific page for your lightbox to appear on. For example, if you want to invite visitors to subscribe to your blog, consider doing so when they’re on your blog page, as opposed to your homepage. If you want to offer them a discount, your lightbox could appear when they’re on your online store page. Consider adding an exit popup . These are overlays that appear just as a visitor is about to leave your site. They are seen as a powerful way of increasing conversion. They can help stop visitors from abandoning your website, by offering them a final piece of content and, hopefully, convincing them to subscribe to your mailing list. Refrain from popups when users are in the middle of a task. This will interrupt your visitors’ flow and your overall website navigation. For example, if users are in the process of scheduling an appointment on your online booking system , they don’t want to be interrupted with other information midway. Not all messages need to be in the form of a popup. While popups are great for grabbing attention, they can also be overwhelming. Minimize your use of popups by considering whether certain elements or messages can be displayed in an alternative format. For example, if you have a nonprofit website and want visitors to donate, it could be as equally effective to include a ‘Donate’ button in the menu that stays put while you scroll, like HERoines Inc. have done on their Wix site. The same goes for presenting error messages when incorrectly filling in an online form, like in the example below. In cases like these, popup warning signs are often used, but a simple message or red warning sign can also do the trick. Lightbox design and copywriting tips Keep it simple. This holds true for both the design and the wording of your popup. Your lightbox design is supposed to grab attention, so there’s no need for intricate details. Instead, opt for a clean, bold look. Ensure that the text is easily readable on the website background in terms of size and color contrast. Implement clear, to-the-point language. Make sure the message you want to put across is easily understood by going for simple words that don’t beat around the bush. Of course, you can always add a small personal nuance that reinforces your brand identity. Use visual hierarchy in your text. Pinpoint what the central message of your popup is, and then make sure it’s the most prominent item of text in your design. For example, if you want to offer your customers 10% off, this information should stand out by being larger in size and having some empty space around it. Keep aligned with the rest of your brand identity. You do want your lightbox to stand out, but not like a sore thumb. Ensure the visual language is cohesive with the rest of your website’s design, in terms of color palette, typography and general look. Make your CTA (call-to-action) button stand out. There should generally just be one button that users need to click on your popup - and that’s usually the ‘Sign Up’ button (or some other form of CTA). Make it pop out by using a dominant color that stands out against the background, or emphasize it with a border. Include clear text on your CTA. Users should instantly understand what it is they’re clicking. Depending on the context, commonly used phrases are ‘Sign Up’ or ‘Subscribe,’ but you can also add a touch of personality by going for something like ‘Keep me in the loop’ or ‘Join the fun.’ Consider adding an eye-catching image that fits your brand. Images are great for grabbing attention and enticing site visitors, as well as setting a certain tone. You can find icons that compliment the message you’re conveying, while making sure it doesn’t block or interfere with the text. How to create a lightbox There are a few simple steps involved in adding a popup on your Wix website: In the Editor , click ‘Add’ on the left-hand side. Click ‘Lightbox’. Select your favorite lightbox design out of the list of categories. Drag the lightbox element onto your page. Click ‘Set Triggers’ to start setting up your lightbox. Lastly, you can edit the text, adjust the placement of the lightbox on the screen (click the ‘Layout’ button) and customize the design (click the ‘Design’ button) to match your needs. Now you’re good to go!

  • What is a website? Definition + examples

    Get started by: Creating a website →  | Getting a domain → Before the internet age fundamentally changed global communication, businesses relied on things like newspaper ads, flyers and word-of-mouth to reach customers. But in today's digital world, an online presence is essential, including a website . With 73% of small businesses  owning websites, a strong online presence is a prerequisite for brand recognition, lead generation and operating a successful venture, both on and offline.  With drag and drop tools and AI website builders , website creation has evolved and changed the way in which people carve out their digital presence. Before diving into how to create a website , it’s necessary to understand the basics—like what is a website and why do you need one? This article will cover website definitions, the characteristics of the various types of sites and why it's important to build a website. What is a website? A website is a place on the internet where you can easily post information about yourself, your business or topics you're passionate about. It's like having your own corner of the web to showcase your ideas and connect with others. Whether you're looking to share knowledge, sell online, communicate with others, learn something new or simply have fun—websites serve a variety of purposes. To access a website, users simply need a device with a web browser—like laptops, smartphones or tablets—along with an Internet connection. Learn more: What is a Wix website? What are websites used for? From personal blogs to e-commerce stores, websites have become a crucial part of our routines, offering convenience and accessibility. Whether it's for entertainment, education, or business, websites are digital platforms that enable communication, information sharing, and online transactions.  Learn more: What is an ecommerce website? , Website vs online store Websites can be used for personal purposes, such as blogging or sharing information about hobbies and interests. For businesses, a website serves as an online storefront where customers can view products or services, make purchases and reach out for customer support. The purpose of a website can vary from type to type. They are also commonly used for education purposes, with many schools and universities having their own websites to share information and resources with students. Additionally, organizations and nonprofits use websites to raise awareness about their causes and connect with potential donors. Learn more: What is a wedding website? How does a website work? The first thing to understand is the internet and the web that provide a ground for websites. The internet is the technology or infrastructure connecting computers and facilitating information sharing. The web is the system that enables information sharing using the internet. It encompasses digital documents, websites, webpages, media and more. To view web content, we use web browsers like Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox or Safari. When you enter a web address or domain name into your browser, your computer sends a request to the hosting server. This request passes through the Domain Name System (DNS)  to look up the server's internet protocol (IP) address . The web service uses protocols like Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)  and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to transmit information and files over the web. Once the server receives the request, it sends back the requested webpage , along with images and other files, to your computer. The browser then displays the webpage using technologies like HyperText Markup Language (HTML)  and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) . These technologies structure and present the information on the screen. Website loading time depends on a range of factors like server speed, internet connection quality and website size and complexity. Difference between website, webpage and web server  Understanding the distinctions between a website, webpage and web server is key for effective navigation in the digital landscape. Let's use a simple analogy—imagine a bustling marketplace. The website is like the marketplace itself, and each webpage is a unique stall or shop within it. Similar to a marketplace, each webpage offers different products—information, images and services —just like the goods in a shop. Now, picture the internet as the city where the marketplace is located, a vast network connecting countless marketplaces (websites). It's like exploring a city full of interconnected markets, each with its own offerings. Webpage A webpage is a single document or page within a website. Websites can have multiple webpages, all linked together by hyperlinks, to display a cohesive website. The page you're currently on is a webpage. When you go to the home page, you're on a separate webpage, but still within the same website.  Web server  A web server  is a computer that stores and delivers webpages to users when they request them. It is the physical location where all the files and data for a website are stored. When someone types in your website's URL, the server gets the necessary files and displays them to create the webpage. Website A website is a collection of webpages that are accessed with a single domain name or URL. It includes all the individual pages, multimedia details and files stored on a web server. Websites are built using languages like HTML, CSS and JavaScript  to make visually appealing layouts and functionality.  Don't confuse websites and web servers. If someone says, "My website is not responding," it means the web server isn't responding, making the website unavailable. Remember, a web server can host multiple websites, but the term "web server" doesn’t refer to a specific website. In the previous example, if someone says, "My web server is not responding," it means multiple websites on that web server are unavailable. Learn more: Website vs blog vs forums Components of a website A website is a collection of webpages hosted on a web server. In order to create a website , you need several components. Here’s what you need to get started: Domain name To reach your site, individuals type in a unique web address that typically reflects your business or brand name and ends with a domain extension like .com, .org, or .net. Registering your website name with a domain registration company, also known as a domain registrar, is necessary to secure this distinctive internet address. Tip:   When you make a website with Wix, you can opt for  domain privacy  for no extra fee, when you register your domain.  Domain extension Also known as top-level domains (TLD), d omain extensions  can quickly identify specific elements of a website like its main purpose, owner or geographic location. You can check out  ICANN’s complete list of domain extensions here , or check out these guides: .co .biz .store .me . blog .digital .info .xyz .tv .tech .net .world . company wiki .tv, . directory . today . digital .blog . shop .email Webpages Webpages, also known as individual documents within a website, present information to users. Each webpage should serve a specific purpose and contribute to the overall user experience by providing valuable material, images and interactive elements. Some websites may be concise and focused, with only a few pages, while others offer an array of information and services to cater to diverse user needs. Web host This is the service that stores your website's files and makes them accessible to users on the internet. By choosing the appropriate plan for hosting a website , you can optimize performance, enhance security and provide an exceptional usability to your visitors.  URL address The address of a website is also known as the Universal Resource Locator (URL) . When a user wants to open a website then they need to put the URL of the website into a web browser and the requested website is delivered by the web server. The URL of the Wix Blog for example, https://www.wix.com/blog is composed of three parts:  Protocol identifier: Defines the protocol used to access the webpage (usually HTTP or HTTPS) Server name: Refers to the domain name and extension where the web server is located ( wix.com ) File name: Indicates the specific page or resource on that web server (blog) Homepage The homepage  is a very common and important part of the website. It serves as the initial point of contact for viewers, setting the tone and guiding them to explore the rest of the website. Thinking through and making a homepage  not only showcases the brand's identity but also directs users to other relevant pages. Navigation structure Website navigation  is the order of pages and the collection of links that connect them. When done correctly, it creates a smooth and intuitive browsing. Typically, this structure is supported by one or more menus, strategically placed to make it easy for users to find what they need and move around the sections of the website.  Templates A website template is a pre-made design that includes the layout, color scheme, font choice and all visual elements. It's like a ready-to-use blueprint for your brand's online presence. With Wix, you'll find a wide range of templates, from striking photography website  templates to stylish blog templates . These templates can be customized to fit your brand and content needs.  Multimedia elements These include a wide range of multimedia details such as images, videos, audio files and interactive website features  like animations and adaptive content. When used correctly, these elements can make a website engaging, informative and visually appealing. Content Content is the information you put on your website to inform, guide, or influence visitors. This information can be presented with text, images, videos or audio recordings. Similar to website design , the primary responsibility of content is to keep people engaged, resulting in longer stays and repeat visits to your site. Additionally, well-optimized articles can improve your position on search engine result pages (SERPs), playing a crucial role in on-page search engine optimization (SEO). “ There are over 2 billion websites out there and we all visit many of them daily. With visual and textual content you have the opportunity to make a statement and have your site stand out. This is the place to add your brand personality. If you are more traditional, no need to go wild. Often, unique copy or a cool visual is all you need for your site to be memorable. ” Adi Huri, Product Manager at Wow for   Wix Static vs dynamic websites When it comes to creating your website, you'll face an important decision: choosing between a static vs dynamic website . This choice will affect how your webpages are stored and delivered to users in their browsers. Let's take a closer look at these website structures. Static websites A static website is a collection of pre-written webpages that are displayed as published. These sites aren't interactive, meaning the material on each page remains the same until manually updated. The information and appearance of static websites remain consistent for all viewers, regardless of their browsers, locations or devices. Often, businesses opt for static websites to establish a simple online presence, as they are cost-effective without requiring server-side processing in multiple languages. While static webpages can't take input from users, they can still contain animations and clickable elements like hyperlinks or navigation buttons. This makes them a popular choice for portfolio and catalog sites. V-labs  is an example of a static website. It displays text, images and navigation links that direct visitors to other pages. Dynamic websites Dynamic websites are more flexible and user-friendly. They can change information and appearance based on several factors, including the time of the day, visitor’s location, language preferences, past interactions with the site or device type. With these sites, the web server processes data in real-time to generate customized pages for each visitor. Dynamic websites can interact with users through forms, surveys, quizzes and other interactive factors that require server-side processing. This makes dynamic websites most suited for eCommerce business, social media, ticket booking and forums. These sites also allow individuals to set up accounts, login and access personalized information or services. Amazon.com is a popular example of a dynamic site. Its front page shows product recommendations to visitors based on their locations, purchases and search history. Learn more: Website vs social media Types of websites Websites can also be broken down into categories based on their objectives, features or target audiences. Whether you’re starting a business  or simply want to learn how to make a blog , understanding the difference between these types of websites  will help you get started. Blogs These sites are used to publish articles or posts in a chronological order, covering a wide range of topics from personal stories to news, as well as thoughtful essays, tutorials or practical advice lists. Keeping blog content up to date—as well as the feedback from users—must be constant. Many businesses start a blog to share news and information with their customers, using it as an SEO tool, attracting more organic visitors. Nowadays, professional blogging has emerged as a popular way to earn money online. As an interior stylist and digital content creator, Brit Arnesen uses her blog, britdotdesign , as a platform to provide design inspiration and expertise to her readers. Learn more: Website vs Blog Ecommerce websites An eCommerce website  is an online store that helps you sell products, services and digital goods online by enabling you to accept payments , process orders, manage logistics and shipping and offer customer help. These websites are made up of several webpages where businesses show their products and users can place orders online, complete the transaction and apply various payment methods. Adama Studio  creates modern, practical ceramic items for everyday use. Their website has an online store where customers can easily purchase and have products shipped. Portfolio websites An online portfolio  showcases a person's or business' work, skills and experience. It's used to attract prospective clients, employers or partners by sharing your previous projects. A portfolio website  can house images, videos, descriptions of the services provided as well as client testimonials. Sharon Radisch  is a multi-talented creative who works as a photographer, art director and artist. Her online portfolio highlights the various projects she has undertaken in each of these roles. Websites for professional services Professional websites aim to encourage users to purchase products or services, but without strictly serving as an eCommerce site. The main individuals who create a professional website  are users from various fields, including suppliers and service companies. Their sales process works best through a quote or an in-person appointment. Mango Marketing ’s website outlines their studio service packages for businesses looking to expand their business and enhance their online visibility. Landing page or single page sites One-page websites' popularity has grown because they are simple and easy to navigate. These websites concentrate all information on a single landing page , making them effective and cost-efficient for launching special products or services. Typically used by small businesses, they act as a digital business card , displaying contact information and advertising services. Animal Music Studios  utilizes engaging videos and a navigation menu at the top to guide users to the different sections of the one-page site. News News websites present news articles, current events and other relevant information. They often include details like videos and images to support their stories. News sites update regularly and can be categorized into different sections such as world news, politics, sports or entertainment. As more individuals consume news online, newspapers have adapted by transitioning to digital. Many magazines and newspapers now offer subscription-based news sites as they no longer rely on print editions.  New Wave Magazine  is a digital publication that also offers print editions. Readers can access articles on their website and purchase print copies through their online store. Portal Portal websites are primarily used within educational institutions like schools and institutes, as well as businesses. They make things easier by providing various functions, including a secure login process for students to view their information like grades and schedules. Employees also benefit from these websites, as they offer a convenient way to access emails, alerts and other relevant information needed for day-to-day tasks and responsibilities. Jule Dancewear , is a small business that sells dance apparel. They have a website where customers can create an account to save their profile information, view order history, save blog posts they are interested in and create wish lists of products they may want to purchase in the future. Forums Forum websites bring people with similar interests together to connect and engage with each other. You can use timelines, chats or specialized forums to interact. Social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and Reddit are great examples of forums where you can connect with others who share your interests. Brown Skin Brunchin  is a community for professional minority women. The website features a forum where members can connect by posting introductions, having discussions and sharing stories, ideas and photos. Membership websites Membership websites are built to offer exclusive content or experiences for registered users, often through a paywall. These sites usually include user accounts, dashboards and gated content organized by tier or subscription level. Depending on their purpose, members might get access to video libraries, premium articles, community forums or downloadable resources. These sites are popular with creators, educators, niche groups or professionals looking to share specialized content with a specific audience. They’re designed around consistent content delivery and engagement, often including progress tracking, exclusive newsletters or discussion boards to keep members connected. Educational websites Educational websites are designed to provide learning experiences through formal courses, casual tutorials or structured training. They often include multimedia lessons, quizzes, certification options and progress tracking to help learners follow a clear curriculum. These sites are used by institutions, tutors or independent creators. They can range from academic platforms to niche sites focused on specific skills or hobbies. Educational websites usually feature user accounts, discussion forums and resource libraries, giving learners the flexibility to move at their own pace while engaging with course materials in one place. Level5 CAD Academy  provides practical dental courses online to help dental technicians and staff become pros in Dental CAD/CAM applications. With interactive quizzes, real-time feedback and certificates, the platform ensures users build confidence, skills and expertise in their field. Booking websites Booking websites let users book appointments, reserve spaces or schedule services with ease. These sites usually include interactive calendars, service descriptions, availability updates and confirmation systems. They’re perfect for businesses like salons, hotels, healthcare providers and consultants. Visitors can check available time slots, pick from different services or packages and book appointments directly on the site. The design focuses on being clear and simple, often with account systems so users can manage bookings or check their history. Event websites Event websites are designed to promote and manage physical, virtual or hybrid events. They’re built to share details like dates, times, locations, agendas, speaker lists and registration options. Many include countdowns, ticket purchase features and galleries from past events to spark interest. These sites might support recurring or one-time events and often use branding to match the event’s theme. Some even offer interactive features like live streams, maps or downloadable schedules, giving attendees everything they need in one place. The Global Ethnic Dance Festival  website celebrates cultural diversity, unity and global traditions. It shares details about the festival's mission, performances and events, inspired by Sree Narayan Guru's vision of harmony and mutual respect. Personal websites Personal websites are a great way to share your work, achievements or personality. They often have a short bio, resume, personal projects and contact info, sometimes paired with a blog or portfolio. The design and tone give a glimpse into who you are and your style. Freelancers, students, artists and job seekers often use personal websites as a way to introduce themselves. These sites might include sections like testimonials, photo galleries or links to social media profiles. They’re a mix of professional and personal, making them perfect for networking and self-expression. Why you need a website Whether you are a small start-up or an existing company, the benefits of a website can not be understated. Increase competitiveness A website can enhance your brand identity and make you stand out among competitors.  With many businesses relying on online sales, having an engaging and well planned website can give you a competitive advantage. A business website  allows you to showcase your products or services in an attractive and informative manner, encouraging potential customers to choose your business over others. Reach a wider audience Reaching a larger audience beyond your local community is made possible by creating a website. With the internet, your business can be accessible to anyone, anywhere, at any time. This increases your customer base and opens up opportunities for growth and expansion. Cost-effective marketing 79% of online buyers  shop at least once per month. If you want to attract more people, one of the best ways is by making yourself visible on Google. You can employ search engine optimization (SEO) methods to help your website rank organically. Sell products and services online With an eCommerce website, you can sell your products and services online, reaching a wider customer base. This allows for 24/7 sales potential and removes geographical limitations. Online shopping is also becoming increasingly popular, making it essential for businesses to build an eCommerce site . How to create a website Now that you've learned about how websites work and the different types of websites, you might be considering one for your business. Let's explore what you'll need to start your own website. With this knowledge, you'll be empowered to build a website that suits your business needs. Ready to set up your website? Watch the 10 most essential Wix tutorials  to get started. Outline your website idea The first step is to have a clear idea of what you want your website to achieve. This will help you determine the type of website that best suits your needs and goals. Consider what products or services you offer, who your target audience is and how you would like to present your brand online. Learn how to plan a website  to help you in the following steps. Choose a domain name and web hosting Your domain name acts as the digital address of your site so users can easily find you online. When selecting a domain name, it's important to pick one that reflects your brand and is memorable. Avoid using hyphens and numbers and aim for a short domain name. If you're struggling to come up with ideas, try using our domain name generator  to find a suitable name.  Tip:  Use Wix’s domain name search to check if your desired domain name is available. Pick a website building platform Fortunately, creating a website has become very accessible even for people without a technical background. In fact, you can turn your website idea into a fully functional site using a drag and drop website builder and all of the functionalities that come with it.  Select a web hosting provider Once you've chosen a platform to build your website, you'll need a web host. Web hosting is the service that stores your website files and makes them available to your customers when they visit your site. Your host handles all the HTTP requests and delivers the necessary files to fulfill those requests whenever someone accesses your website. Web hosts also support you with backups, uptime and security maintenance. When selecting a hosting website , consider cost, features, security and support. Wix's free web hosting  allows you to easily scale your hosting as your online business grows. Design your website Creating a successful website involves more than just visual appeal. It's about establishing a cohesive brand identity, ensuring a user-friendly experience and utilizing effective web design elements. Consider factors such as your logo, color schemes and typography to reflect your brand's personality. When designing a website of your own, you can use website templates  that aligns with your brand and guides and prioritizes user interface (UI)  to provide seamless browsing. Check out these examples of web design inspiration . Learn more: What is web design? Add page content and optimize for SEO Your content is the heart of your website. Use engaging and informative material to attract and retain visitors. Your website should be easy to navigate, with a clear call-to-action on each page to encourage users to take specific actions, such as completing a purchase or signing up for a newsletter. When creating your website, keep search engine optimization (SEO) in mind. This involves optimizing your website to improve its ranking on search engines like Google. This will help increase your visibility and drive more traffic to your site. Some tips for optimizing your website include using relevant keywords, creating high-quality information and ensuring fast page loading speeds. Learn more: What makes a good website Launch and maintain your website Once you've completed all the necessary steps, use a website checklist  when launching a new website . However, building a successful online presence does not end here. Regular maintenance is crucial for keeping your site up-to-date. This means updating pages, monitoring for any technical issues and keeping up with SEO techniques to maintain or improve your search engine ranking. Additionally, regularly checking in with your audience and collecting feedback can help you continually improve and enhance your website's performance. What is a website FAQ What is the most common website type? The most common website type is a business or eCommerce website, followed by personal websites  and blogs. However, this can vary depending on the purpose and industry of the website.  With so many website types available, there is certainly one that will suit your needs and goals. What is the role of the DNS in a website? Domain Name System , or DNS is responsible for translating domain names  into IP addresses. This allows users to easily find websites by typing in a web URL instead of having to remember the numerical IP address associated with it. DNS is crucial for the functionality and accessibility of websites.  What are website cookies? Website cookies are small text files that are placed on a user's device when they visit a website. They track and store information about a user's online activity, such as their preferences and browsing history. Cookies help websites remember users and provide more personalized contact with your website. However, websites must comply with privacy laws and inform users about the use of cookies on their site. Why do some websites look different on my phone? Websites can look different on mobile devices due to responsive design. This means that the website is able to adapt and adjust its layout based on the size of the screen it is being viewed on, providing a better user experience. Some websites also have a separate mobile version specifically designed for smaller screens. Businesses should have a responsive or mobile-friendly website to accommodate the growing number of users accessing websites on their phones. How much does it cost to build a website? The cost of building a website  can vary depending on various factors such as the platform, design considerations and hosting services. It can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars for more complex and customized websites. However, there are also options for free or low-cost website builders available. When deciding the best option for your website, you should take into account your budget and goals. What is a website title? A website title  is a concise and descriptive name given to a website. It serves as the main heading or name of the website and is typically displayed at the top of the browser window or in search engine results. The website title helps users understand the purpose or topic of the website and can also have an impact on search engine optimization (SEO) by including relevant keywords. How does a website CMS function? A content management system (CMS)  is a software platform that allows users to create, edit and publish digital content on their websites without needing advanced coding skills. It provides an intuitive interface for managing all website elements such as design, layout, text, images and more. A CMS also enables multiple users to collaborate and contribute to website content, making it a valuable tool for businesses and organizations. What's a static website? A static website is a site with fixed content, where each page is pre-built and displays the same information to every visitor. It doesn’t change unless manually updated. Static websites are fast, secure and ideal for portfolios, blogs or informational sites since they don’t rely on databases or dynamic content. What's the difference between a static and dynamic website? A static website has fixed content that doesn't change unless manually updated. A dynamic website generates content in real-time, often using databases and user interactions, allowing for personalized or frequently updated information, like social media sites or e-commerce platforms.

  • 14 photography portfolio examples that really pop

    Want a portfolio that builds itself? Try Wix’s AI Website Builder → A photography portfolio website  is a critical junction where the two roles of artist and entrepreneur converge. It's a platform that allows you to showcase your artistry while also acting as a powerful marketing tool to attract and secure new clients. Just like how, as a photographer, you have to strike the right balance between aperture and shutter speed to let the perfect amount of light into a photo, you also have to balance being an artist and an entrepreneur to make a living from your passion.  Observing how other photographers have crafted their online presence can provide a wealth of inspiration and help you learn how to make a portfolio  of your own. Check out these impressive photography portfolio examples built with Wix that stand out for their ability to blend aesthetic appeal with business acumen, each offering unique ideas to fuel your web design  journey. Creating a portfolio has never been this easy. With Wix’s AI Website Builder, you can have a fully personalized website up and running in minutes. Just share a few details about your vision, and let Wix’s AI take care of the design, customization and launch. It’s quick, smart and tailored to showcase your work beautifully. Don’t wait–let AI do the heavy lifting while you focus on creating and sharing your best work. TL;DR: photography portfolio examples Your photography portfolio website is where creativity meets business—it’s both a gallery for your art and a tool to attract clients. In this guide, we spotlight standout photography portfolios that strike the perfect balance between eye-catching design and smart marketing. Each example offers fresh ideas to inspire your own site, whether you want to showcase versatility, highlight your unique style or boost your bookings. Along with these portfolios, you’ll find practical tips on what makes a portfolio truly effective—from curating your best shots and telling a story to keeping your site clean and easy to navigate. If you’re ready to build a portfolio that both impresses and performs, these examples will guide your next steps. What makes these photography portfolios really pop? Why it matters Why it matters Strong visual storytelling Creates an emotional connection and keeps visitors engaged Clear, focused curation Shows your best work without overwhelming visitors Easy navigation and clean layout Helps visitors find what they’re looking for quickly Personal touches like bios or artist statements Builds trust and reveals your creative personality Diverse styles or categories Demonstrates versatility and broadens your appeal Smart use of interactive elements (slideshows, animations) Makes the portfolio feel dynamic and memorable Business-friendly features (pricing, FAQs, contact info) Turns visitors into clients by setting clear expectations Regular updates and fresh content Keeps your portfolio relevant and favored by search engines 14 photography portfolio examples Vanessa Mckeown Lorenzo Fanfani Fei Luo Photography Calvin Pausania Skyler Knutzen Aling Wen Photography Hilary O’Leary Emily Gustafson Photography Jesaja Class Photography Max Montgomery Lisa Michele Burns Reiko Wakai WeShootFood Andrew Scrivani 01. Vanessa Mckeown Vanessa Mckeown uses her photography and art portfolio  to show off her colorful work—and to sell it. Her website is home to an eCommerce  shop that sells several iconic prints. If the vibrant color scheme doesn’t grab your attention, the hover-activated zoom animations that she applied to the photos will. Another eye-catching animation feature that strengthens Vanessa’s brand: the campy spinning star with moving dollar signs at the bottom of the shop’s page. Vanessa only displays a handful of prints on her shop’s homepage, helping customers avoid decision paralysis. Once customers click on a photograph, however, their options expand to include different sizes and image stylings. For example, the Furby print not only comes in two sizes but also seven different contexts, including Self-Care Furby, Smoking Furby and Zen Furby. Start selling your best shots as prints or on merch with Wix’s print-to-sell  feature today. 02. Lorenzo Fanfani Lorenzo Fanfani's photography portfolio is a prime example of how minimalism can effectively draw attention to an artist's work. The website features a straightforward layout, beginning with a simple header that only includes essential elements, ensuring the immediate focus is on Lorenzo’s photographs. The only other elements on the homepage are a pair of photos that fill up the screen and a “Load More” button beneath them. Clicking this button unfurls Lorenzo’s full portfolio. Each pair of photos fills up the screen with no spacing or margins in sight. This creates an immersive experience that forces you to give each photo its due.  An interactive feature enhances the viewing experience further. When you click on a photo, a fullscreen slideshow takes over the screen so that you can take a closer look. The slideshow is intuitively navigable, with simple controls for progressing through images or returning to the main portfolio. Make a snappy photography website  with Wix today. 03. Fei Luo Photography If you have a diverse portfolio, take inspiration from Fei Luo when organizing your site. Beneath the fullscreen carousel that appears above the fold, Fei splits her portfolio into four categories: landscape, fashion, dancers and shadow work.  But Fei’s talents extend past photography. When hovering over “Portfolio” in the top navigation, visitors can find pages showcasing Fei’s work in film, advertising and more. By organizing her portfolio by industry, she can show off both the breadth and depth of her expertise in different subject matters like fashion.   Learn more: How to make a fashion portfolio 04. Calvin Pausania Calvin Pausania skillfully uses a dark-mode theme (in which he pairs a dark background with contrasting fonts) to make his photography portfolio stand out. While dark mode typically refers to a UX technique for giving eyes a respite from bright screens, Calvin uses it to focus the viewer’s attention on the images in the foreground and emphasize his sharp, futuristic style.   Although the passing-clouds animation could be distracting in another context, the dark overlay makes it melt into the background, allowing Calvin’s captivating images to do all of the talking. 05. Skyler Knutzen Skyler Knutzen’s bright portfolio is the antithesis of Calvin’s dark mode display. Skyler keeps his website’s header simple, with just his name and three navigation options. Below that, he displays his photographs in a masonry grid with ample white space. This negative space serves as a frame for each photo, presenting each as a separate entity from the same maker. Minimalism is a smart approach to take as you learn how to make a website  for your photography work. 06. Aling Wen Photography Aling Wen is a talented family, maternity and baby photographer, but you don’t have to take our word for it. Her “Reviews” page displays testimonials from happy clients and pairs each review with a photo from the client’s shoot. The reviews speak volumes and are a clever marketing strategy , with clients highlighting Aling’s professional approach, excellent communication, ability to put kids at ease and other talents. Even if you were to just glaze over the words, the photos of the smiling clients would speak for themselves. 07. Hilary O’Leary A picture may be worth a thousand words, but Hilary O’Leary’s bio demonstrates that words have a place, even in photography portfolios. The “About me” section consists of a beautifully written biography that shows off the photographer’s voice. Not only do the words express Hilary’s feelings about photography, but her tone conveys the passion she has for her art and wildlife subjects. Learn more: Writing portfolio examples “When I hold my camera to my face and look through the glass to see my subject gazing back at me, the world around me goes silent,” she writes. “From the moment I start my set of images, to the moment I've finished editing them, I feel free.” This insight into Hilary’s psyche creates a greater sense of intimacy than you would get from just looking at her photos. 08. Emily Gustafson Photography Emily Gustafson understands that photography is a client-facing business. She uses her portfolio both as a place to show off what she can do and as a place to inform clients and prospects about what to expect from working with her. Emily’s portfolio is a masterclass in how to make a business website . Beyond displaying her work on her website, Emily describes what she photographs (portraits, couples, weddings and families), outlines her pricing and even includes an FAQ page. All of this information helps turn potential clients into paying customers and sets expectations to create a smoother photoshoot, which ultimately creates better results. Allow your clients to pay in installments  with Wix’s buy now, pay later feature. 09. Jesaja Class Photography Because its homepage is long and filled with incredible landscape images, Jesaja Class’ digital portfolio  feels like an Instagram feed you don’t want to stop scrolling through. He uses his dramatic vista photos as backgrounds for each section, using overlays for visibility when necessary.  Each fold is different from the last, making users feel as adventurous as Jesaja, trekking through with the knowledge that another wonder is just around the corner. For those too busy to explore, Jesaja uses a hamburger menu to offer a more straightforward navigation experience. Check out Wix’s photography website templates  to build a professional-grade portfolio today. 10. Max Montgomery While some photography portfolios immerse you so much in images that you forget whose work you’re looking at, Max Montgomery’s header makes his name unforgettable. The photographer stretches his name—in all caps nonetheless—across the top of his website. The modern, sans serif font is the perfect stand-in for a logo  and strengthens Max’s brand. On his homepage, Max features an array of work with celebrities, immediately capturing the visitor's attention with these high-profile collaborations and highlighting his expertise. In addition to his celebrity work, Max has dedicated a section of his website to "Photo Diaries." This area is a more intimate space where he shares his personal favorites. It's like a window into his creative mind, offering visitors a glimpse of the world through his lens beyond his professional assignments. This separation between his commissioned work and personal explorations allows visitors to appreciate the breadth and depth of his skills and interests. 11. Lisa Michele Burns An impressive roster of current and former clients is any photographer’s dream. As you work with your first several clients, you can easily fit their logos on your portfolio. But as you accumulate years of experience in the industry, the client list may become too extensive to display all their logos, yet you still want to showcase your achievements. Lisa Michele Burns demonstrates a simple solution to this dilemma. After a nearly 20-year-long career as a travel photographer, she’s worked with a number of impressive clients, including Lonely Planet, W Hotels, Nikon and 23 others. Rather than displaying their logos, Lisa simply lists their names on her “Clients” page. 12. Reiko Wakai Reiko Wakai uses Wix's VideoBoxes  tool to add an extra dimension to her photography, effectively transforming static images into dynamic cinemagraphs. By skillfully stitching together a series of photos from the same shoot, he creates these cinemagraphs where certain elements in the photographs exhibit subtle, repeated motion, playing continuously in a loop. This technique enhances the visual storytelling of his work. As you view these cinemagraphs, your experience transcends the traditional perception of a still photograph. Instead of a single, frozen moment, you encounter a living scene where lights flicker, water splashes and subjects peek out from behind curtains, adding a sense of realism. 13. WeShootFood Although WeShootFood’s photography portfolio contains multiple pages, you can find most of what you need without leaving the homepage. The homepage is both informative and illustrative of the agency’s capabilities.  The first few sections describe the agency’s expertise in food photography and show it off with work samples. Further down the page, a carousel of household-name clients circulates across the page. The animation absorbs you and makes you want to keep watching. Once you’re captivated by WeShootFood’s impressive portfolio, their glowing testimonials seal the deal, nudging you to reach out via the embedded contact form at the bottom of the page. WeShootFood’s portfolio contains everything this type of website  needs to have. 14. Andrew Scrivani Social media channels and YouTube are great places to share your work, but they’re filled with content from other creators who compete for your audience’s attention. By embedding his Instagram feed and YouTube videos on his website, Andrew Scrivani keeps his audience right where he wants them.  Andrew’s Instagram feed fills up his portfolio homepage. Since he already spends time and effort curating images for his social media accounts, it’s smart to repurpose them on his professional portfolio . Sign up for Wix  today. The do's and don'ts of creating a photography portfolio Creating a photography portfolio requires a focus on visual impact and storytelling. Here are some do's and don'ts to guide you: Do's of creating a photography portfolio: According to Hani Safe, product lead (Showcase) at Wix: "An outstanding portfolio is all about storytelling. It’s not just a showcase of work but a narrative that weaves together a professional’s skills, creativity, and personality." Curate your best work : Select only your strongest and most representative photos. Quality over quantity is key. Showcase a range of skills : Include a variety of styles and subjects to demonstrate your versatility. Tell a story : Arrange your photos in a way that tells a cohesive story or highlights a particular theme. Use high-resolution images : Ensure all images are high quality to showcase your work at its best. Include a personal statement : Add a brief introduction or artist statement to provide context about your work and vision. Organize by category : If you have diverse work, consider organizing your portfolio into categories like portraits, landscapes or events. Learn more: What is web design? Don'ts of creating a photography portfolio: Overload with images : Avoid including too many photos. Aim for a concise selection that highlights your best work. Neglect consistency : Ensure a consistent editing style and presentation to maintain a professional look. Ignore feedback : Seek feedback from peers or mentors to refine your selection and presentation. Forget to update : Regularly update your portfolio with new work to keep it fresh and relevant. Use distracting layouts : Avoid overly complex or flashy designs that detract from the photos themselves. Include irrelevant photos : Avoid adding photos that don't align with the theme or purpose of your portfolio, as they can dilute the impact of your work. Learn more: Why do I need a portfolio? Photography portfolio examples FAQ How many photos do I need for a photography portfolio? There is no strict rule but a good range is typically between 15 to 30 images. Focus on quality over quantity. Ensure each photograph adds value to your portfolio and collectively showcases your range and skills. What should be included in a photography portfolio? There are seven crucial elements of a photography portfolio: Diverse range of work: Include a variety of your best work to showcase your skills and versatility. This can include portraits, landscapes, macro shots and any other genres you specialize in. Consistency in style: While diversity is essential, there should also be a cohesive theme or style that ties your portfolio together. This helps define your unique photographic identity. High-quality images: Only include high-resolution, well-edited photographs. Image quality is crucial, as it reflects your attention to detail and technical skills. Captions and descriptions: Provide context for your photos. Brief captions or descriptions can enhance the viewer's understanding and appreciation of your work. Contact information: Include your contact details or a link to your professional website. Make it easy for potential clients or employers to reach out to you. Personal statement/introduction: Consider adding a brief introduction or artist statement. This can provide insight into your passion, approach to photography and the story behind your work. Online presence: If applicable, include links to your website, social media profiles or any relevant online platforms where your work is featured. What should not be included in a photography portfolio? Redundant shots: Avoid including multiple images that are very similar. Choose the strongest one to represent a particular style or subject. Low-quality images: Any photo that doesn’t meet your highest standards should be excluded. Blurry, poorly lit or badly composed images can detract from your overall presentation. Unfinished work: Only showcase completed projects or fully edited photographs. Unfinished or unpolished work can give the impression of inattention to detail. Overly personal photos: While a personal touch can be beneficial, avoid overly intimate or private images unless they directly contribute to your professional narrative. Unrelated content: Stick to a cohesive theme or style. Including images that don't align with your overall message can be confusing for viewers. Outdated work: Keep your portfolio current. Remove older images that no longer represent your current skill level or style. How do I make a photography portfolio? Select your best work: Choose images that represent your skills and style effectively. Quality is more important than quantity. Organize by theme or project: Arrange your portfolio in a way that tells a story or showcases specific projects. This helps create a narrative and keeps the viewer engaged. Consider the flow: Pay attention to the order of your photos. A well-thought-out sequence can enhance the overall viewing experience. Choose the right platform: Decide whether you want a physical portfolio, a website or both. Online platforms are crucial for reaching a broader audience. Review portfolio website builders and website builders for photographers. Update regularly: Keep your portfolio current with your latest and best work. Regular updates demonstrate growth and consistency. Seek feedback: Before finalizing your portfolio, ask for feedback from peers, mentors or other photographers. Constructive criticism can help you refine your presentation. How do I go about writing the best about me for my photography portfolio? Your "About Me" should be brief, engaging and reflect your photography style. Start with your name and a short description of your photography style. Mention your expertise, experience and any awards or recognitions you may have earned. Highlight what you offer clients and what makes you stand out from other photographers. What does a photo portfolio look like? A photography portfolio is a carefully curated collection of your best work, designed to showcase your skills, style and versatility as a photographer. It typically features high-quality images presented in a clean and well-organized layout, ensuring that the photos remain the primary focus. A portfolio often includes a personal statement or introduction to provide insight into your vision and creative approach. Depending on your niche (e.g., portraits, landscapes, weddings), the portfolio can reflect either a broad range or a specific specialization of your photography.

  • How to make a sports website for your team and fans

    Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →   Social media helps sports teams reach more fans, but your team still needs a central spot online where everyone can rally. Exploring how to create a website  for your sports team gives you a hub to share updates, showcase players, and even sell tickets for upcoming games. Of course, planning a website  from scratch comes with a ton of choices—from picking the right platform to adding the tools that make it run smoothly. In this guide, we’ll break it all down step by step so you can build a sports website that scores with your fans and your team. TL;DR: How to create a sports website A sports team website can bring everything your team and fans need together in one place. Include your brand identity with team colors, logo and mission, plus player profiles, coach info and tryout details. Add match schedules, live scores and game highlights along with blog posts, newsletters and social links to engage fans. Ticket sales, merchandise and event pages create revenue opportunities while sponsor and partnership sections highlight collaborations. To build it, buy a domain, pick a mobile-friendly template, customize the design and add tailored content for each sport or team level. Optimize your site for search engines, use calls to action and promote it through social media, email and other channels. Examples from pro and youth teams show how a well-organized website can boost fan engagement, grow your brand and support team development. Building a website for your business, passion project or side hustle should be easy and exciting. With Wix, you can customize and launch a professional website in minutes, no coding needed. We’re all about simplifying the process so you can focus on what matters most–bringing your ideas to life. So why wait? Let’s get started on creating the website you’ve always wanted. Sports website templates What should be included in a sports website? While you can customize your team’s website as you like, here are some essential website elements  to consider: Brand identity Your website should immediately feel like your team. Use your colors, logo and mascot across headers, buttons and backgrounds to create a cohesive look. Highlight your story on the “About us” page—share your team’s mission, history, and a memorable motto. For example, if your team is all about resilience, include a brief timeline of key wins and milestones that show that spirit. Team information Profiles aren’t just names on a roster—they’re stories fans can relate to. Include stats, player achievements and short personal bios. Spotlight coaches and support staff with photos and quick interviews to show the people behind the team. Add a “Join the team” section with tryout info, training expectations, and registration forms so aspiring players know exactly how to get involved. Activity updates Keep fans in the loop with a real-time match schedule and create pages for each game with live scores, highlights or recap videos. Use interactive elements like countdown timers for big games or sliders to showcase past match photos. A blog or news feed can share weekly recaps, behind-the-scenes stories and announcements to keep fans coming back. Communication and engagement opportunities Fans love to interact. Include contact forms, chat widgets or email newsletters for updates. Link to your social media profiles and encourage sharing. If you need volunteers or event helpers, add a sign-up form with clear roles and expectations. Even small touches like a fan-submitted photo gallery or player Q&A section can make visitors feel part of the community. Additionally, you can have a blog section  where players can share insights, anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories to build a community.  Ticketing and events Selling tickets directly from your site makes it easy for fans to attend games. Include a calendar with game times, tournaments and special events. Consider integrating a “buy now” button on each event page and send reminders via newsletter or SMS for upcoming matches. Merchandise and gear Turn your fans into supporters with team-branded gear. Offer apparel, accessories and equipment through an online store. You can also feature partner merchandise to diversify offerings. Highlight popular items or limited-edition products on the homepage to increase visibility and sales. Support and partnerships Show your sponsors the love they deserve. Include a dedicated section highlighting sponsor logos, success stories and contributions to the team. Provide contact info or a form for potential partners to reach out. For example, share a short case study of a sponsor collaboration that helped fund new uniforms or facilities. Sports website type Content to include Pro tips Team website Team logo, colors, mission, player and staff profiles, match schedules, live scores Keep branding consistent, highlight player achievements, update schedules frequently League or club website Standings, fixtures, team rosters, rules, event calendars Organize info by divisions or age groups, add news updates regularly Fan community site Forums, blogs, newsletters, fan-submitted content, social media links Feature fan stories, encourage interaction, moderate comments for a safe environment Ecommerce sports site Merchandise, apparel, gear, partner products Use high-quality images, promote limited editions, simplify checkout for better sales Event or tournament site Registration, schedules, results, ticket sales Highlight events prominently, provide live updates, include maps or directions Sponsorship hub Sponsor logos, partnership info, contact details Showcase engagement metrics, keep sponsor content fresh to attract new partners Sports news site Articles, videos, interviews, opinion pieces, trending stories Focus on timely content, mix short updates and in-depth analysis for different readers Training and coaching site Tutorials, training programs, coaching tips, video demonstrations Structure content by skill level, use visuals and step-by-step guides for clarity Fantasy sports or stats site League tracking, player stats, predictions, interactive leaderboards Keep stats updated, provide clear rules, make navigation simple for users Youth programs and camps Program info, schedules, registration, success stories Highlight progression and milestones, make sign-ups easy and mobile-friendly Athlete or personal blog Player stories, behind-the-scenes insights, tips Be authentic, use photos and videos, engage readers with relatable content Streaming and podcasts Live streams, podcast episodes, interviews Offer clear schedules, optimize audio and video quality, link to social platforms Fitness and wellness for athletes Nutrition guides, conditioning programs, injury prevention tips Provide actionable advice, use clear visuals, organize content by sport or age group Want to learn more about building websites before taking the plunge? Explore these website fundamentals  to get a head start.  How to create a sports website in 6 steps Buy a domain Pick a website template Customize your website Add sports content Optimize for search engines Distribute your sports website 01. Buy a domain Before you create a sports website, you need a unique place for it on the internet—i.e., a domain address, such as “example.com.” You can pick a domain name by heading to the domain registrar .  Learn more, what is a .com domain . That said, you may have to play around with your address a little if your ideal domain name is unavailable. Typically, you can do so by incorporating a short form of the name, adding “team” before it or using a team abbreviation.  If that doesn’t work, try the Wix business name generator  to brainstorm custom domain names for your sports team website.  Once you have a domain name , you’ll need to select a web hosting partner and connect to its name servers to start your website setup.  While that’s a lot of moving parts, you can get all of that done in one go by opting for a Wix Premium hosting plan , which comes with a free domain name  and a powerful sports website builder .  Learn more about some of the best AI website builders . Learn more:   How to start a business Is Wix really free? How much does a website cost? 02. Pick a website template While you can start from scratch using a drag-and-drop website builder , a template provides a head start with a well-designed layout  from a professional designer.  Here’s what you should look for in a template for a sports club website: Mobile friendly:  According to DataReportal, mobile phones account for 60% of the world’s website traffic . So, ensure your website template is user-friendly for mobile visitors. Customization options:  While premade web pages  look great, the template should offer easy customization to change the colors, font styles and layout.  Multimedia support:  Consider how multimedia brings life to an otherwise boring youth sports website.  With Wix, you have plenty of stylish website templates  at your disposal to start building your sports website. You can even view and edit different parts of a website  on various templates to experiment before making a decision.  Learn more: How to create a website fast Get started with these sports team website templates . If you don’t want to search for the perfect template, you can also create a great website for your sports organization using Wix’s AI website maker .  03. Customize your website design Like your sports team, your website is unique—so it should reflect that uniqueness. You can customize the selected template by adding your team logo, brand colors and preferred font styles.  If you already have a logo, you can use that. Otherwise, you can use Wix’s logo maker  to design one. Similarly, you can experiment with the colors and font styles to get a website design  you like.  Explore these fonts for more design inspiration: Calligraphy fonts  for elegant and artistic designs Cool fonts  to add personality to your creations Cursive fonts  for timeless designs Cute fonts  to bring charm to your designs Free fonts : a curated selection Fun fonts  for playful and lively projects Futuristic fonts  for cutting-edge and modern designs Graffiti fonts  to infuse urban energy into your designs Handwriting fonts  to add a personal, authentic touch Number fonts  for creative numerical typography Poster fonts  to make your designs bold and eye-catching Pretty fonts  to enhance delicate designs Professional fonts  for polished and formal designs Psychedelic fonts  to inspire striking and retro visuals Resume fonts  to help your skills stand out with style Retro fonts  for a nostalgic twist in your visuals Scary fonts  to give your designs a chilling edge Script fonts  for a touch of sophistication Tattoo fonts  to inspire edgy and unique designs Beyond that, adjust each page as needed to develop a website user interface  that works for your visitors.  Finally, add calls to action (CTAs) with buttons throughout your website to encourage fans to perform a preferred action. For instance, you can ask them to join the team club, get tickets, follow you on social media or become a subscriber. Learn more:  How long does it take to build a website? What is a web browser? What is website backup? 04. Add content for your sports website Sports websites can take many shapes, from league or tournament hubs where schedules, standings and registrations bring multiple teams together, to fan communities buzzing with discussion forums, social features and multimedia galleries that keep everyone connected. Some sites turn into marketplaces, offering merchandise, tickets or training gear alongside stories and content that deepen fan loyalty. Others focus on training and coaching, sharing instructional videos, programs and tips that help athletes of all levels sharpen their skills and track their progress. Team websites – highlights for your players and fans When building a team website, focus on sections that showcase your players, matches and stories. From basketball teams and football clubs to hockey squads, soccer programs and youth sports organizations, each team benefits from dedicated areas that highlight their unique strengths. Basketball team highlights:  Feature player stats, game results and tournament news. Include video clips and photo galleries to engage fans. Football club corner:  Share training routines, player interviews and match previews. Make it a hub for fans seeking detailed coverage. Hockey team updates:  Keep schedules, live scores and player spotlight stories fresh. Use visuals and infographics to enhance fan experience. Soccer club insights:  Offer behind-the-scenes content from practice sessions to team travels. Highlight teamwork and determination to connect with fans. Youth sports team growth:  Highlight development milestones, training programs, mentorship opportunities and success stories of young athletes progressing through the ranks. 05. Optimize for search engines Besides helping with branding, a website offers a lot of visibility via search engines, letting you connect with individuals, teams and organizations in your area and around the world.  In fact, Semrush shares that almost 30% of website visitors  find a website using search results. That said, to attract these visitors, you need to optimize your website for search engines.  While that used to mean stuffing in keywords to appear higher up in the website index  of relevant searches, a lot has changed in the last decade.  Now, you can instead optimize your website by providing search crawlers with relevant information (via meta titles and meta descriptions) and streamlining the user experience.  Try SEO tools from Wix  to improve your technical website structure, meet the needs of search crawlers and enable rich results.  06. Distribute your sports website Search engines offer a great way to get the word out to interested individuals on the internet. That said, in the best circumstances, search engine optimization (SEO) can take many months to show results , so you’ll need to use other marketing strategies  to share your sports team website directly with fans.  You can spread the word through your social media accounts. If you have an existing email list of fans, you can reach out to them with email marketing tools . Beyond that, you can add your website to your Google Business Profile (if you have one) to let searchers know about it.  Additionally, if you regularly get featured on a sports blog, you can ask the publisher to mention your new website. And if you’re selling team merchandise, you can promote both your merchandise and website by running social media ad campaigns . Use this website launch checklist to kick off your sports site with confidence, engage your fans, and ensure every feature is game-ready. Why do you need a website for your sports team? Besides boosting your online presence, here are the reasons why you must make a sports website your priority:  Brand building :  A website helps your sports team establish a brand identity. By using consistent branding elements—logos, colors and brand voice—you create a distinct identity that fans can relate to. Fan engagement:  With a website, you can engage with loyal fans via blog posts about the team, player interviews and funny behind-the-scenes moments.  Recruitment:  With a website, you offer interested candidates a path to join you as players, coaches or volunteers. They can look up information on future tryouts, job vacancies and opportunities to contribute to your team. Revenue generation:  You can use your website to sell merchandise, tickets to upcoming events or premium membership subscriptions. It might even boost your merchandise sales, as it's direct from the source instead of a third-party vendor— 25% of customers  don’t finish an online purchase because they don’t trust a website.  Sponsorship: With a website, you build another asset for the negotiation table when trying to get sponsors for your team. The more website traffic  you get, the more people get to know about your sponsors.   Sport team website examples Manchester City Football Club The Manchester City Football Club website stands out for its in-depth coverage of all things related to this popular club. From the latest news, videos, fixtures and latest game results to player interviews, team reflections and goal highlights, this sports team's website offers a rich multimedia experience for its large fanbase. With dedicated sections for the Men's Team, Women's Team, EDS & Academy and Club News, MC fans can stay updated on all aspects of the club's activities. The site also includes sections highlighting community initiatives, club history and football learning opportunities, showcasing the club's commitment to engaging with fans beyond the field. Stafford Hitmen As a highly successful travel baseball program in New Jersey since 2019, the Stafford Hitmen sports team website showcases the program's nine-time championship status and dedication to fostering player growth. Through a focus on player development and accountability, the Stafford Hitmen prioritize maximizing every player's potential by offering valuable resources on their website such as tryouts, private lessons and access to coaches all geared towards enhancing players' skills and performance. National Cathedral St. Albans Crew Rowing Club This rowing sports team website in Washington DC. has created a hub of information for athletes, parents, alumni and supporters. Their site features sections covering various aspects of the rowing program, including athlete resources, safety guidelines, season schedules, regatta information and registration details. The site also includes dedicated "about us" pages for coaches, FAQs, spirit wear, team merchandise, a calendar of events, a donation section and volunteer opportunities offering engagement with the local community. Additionally, the team's website has an alumni support section, highlighting the club's active communication and commitment the city's rowing community. Utah Scorpions The Utah Scorpions baseball team website offers a platform for young baseball players looking to develop their skills by emphasizing injury management and long-term player wellness, ensuring a focus beyond just on-field performance. The website highlights personalized coaching sessions aimed at enhancing individual skills and overall game etiquette. Additionally, their website's emphasis on physical fitness training, mental toughness development and partnerships for additional support sets the team apart in their commitment to holistic player development. Slice Girls Tennis Club The Slice Girls Tennis Club fosters a strong community of female tennis enthusiasts. It's a supportive environment where women can stay fit and build lasting connections through the power of movement. Established in 2022, the club's founders envisioned more than just a tennis group, they aimed to create a multicultural collective that values unity and shared experiences on and off the court. By offering weekly sessions tailored to different skill levels, private coaching opportunities, loyalty programs, memberships and engaging events like the Wyn Beauty Official Launch and AFRIQUE Day Party, the club's website actively encourages women to join forces and celebrate achievements together. Through their commitment to community-building and empowerment, the club stands out as a welcoming space for female players. How to make a sports team website FAQ Can you use a sports website to make money? You can, by selling tickets to matches and your team's merchandise via your website. Or you can monetize your site content, through affiliate marketing or by running display ads. Just make sure that these website monetization methods don't impact the user experience on your site, as this might hamper your efforts to build a community and attract more fans. Should I start a sports blog? A sports blog can be a valuable addition to your team's website if done well. You'll want to focus on writing and publishing long form content that appeals to your target fan base or current fans. You might also encourage fans to write content for you based on their experiences with your team. Blogs can be a great way to generate traffic to your site via search engines and they can also be monetized through affiliate marketing and display ads. What is a good website for sports? A good sports website provides real-time updates and interactive features. Examples include ESPN for comprehensive sports news and live scores, or Bleacher Report for opinion pieces and trending topics. Websites like FanSided foster community discussions, while platforms like FIFA offer in-depth coverage tailored to specific sports. A well-rounded sports site combines news, updates and community engagement. Which social media is best for sports? Instagram and TikTok are great for sharing short highlights, player moments and behind-the-scenes content, appealing to younger audiences. Twitter works well for real-time updates on matches, breaking news and fan interactions. Facebook offers a mix of event promotion, group discussions and updates for a broad audience. The best platform depends on your target audience and the type of content you want to share. How do I create a football club website? To create a football club website, start by choosing a platform that suits your needs, such as Wix. Design a layout that showcases your club's branding, ensuring it's user-friendly and mobile-friendly. Add key features like team rosters, match schedules, player stats and a gallery of highlights. Including elements like ticket sales, a contact page and club news can further improve the site's value to fans and members. How much does it cost to create a sports website? The cost depends on how you build your site. If you use a website builder like Wix, you can create a website for free or choose from a paid plan. From $17 a month you can build a sports website that includes a customized domain name and free hosting. If you choose to work with a web developer and/or designer, a website can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars for the development alone. You'll also then need to pay for hosting, a domain name and other features. Other types of websites to create How to make an art portfolio How to make an auto repair website How to make a bakery website How to make a booking website How to make a car dealership website How to make a car rental website How to make a car wash website How to make a carpenter website How to make a church website How to make a coaching website How to make a construction website How to make a consulting website How to make a dog breeder website How to make a donation website How to make an electrician website How to make a fashion website How to make a finance website How to make a florist website How to make a furniture website How to make a gaming website How to make a handyman website How to make an interior design website How to make a landscaping website How to make a laundromat website How to make a locksmith website How to make a medical website How to make a pet business website How to make a plumbing website How to make a real estate website How to make a subscription website How to make a taxi service website How to make a toy website How to make a trucking website How to make a vacation rental website How to make a veterinary website How to make a website for bookkeeping

  • 5 best print on demand products to sell on your Wix site in 2025

    Turn your ideas into sales and start selling with Wix eCommerce→ Ever had a design idea you wish you could turn into a product, without worrying about buying in bulk or managing shipping? That’s exactly what print on demand (POD) makes possible. In 2025, i t’s become more than just a trend, it’s a billion-dollar opportunity for anyone exploring  how to start a print on demand business  or sell  custom merch online. Print on demand (POD) has moved from a niche side hustle to a booming business model. According to Precedence Research , global revenue is on track to leap from USD 10 billion in 2024 to USD 103 billion by 2034, an impressive 26% CAGR. Shoppers crave personalization, sustainability and faster delivery, and POD checks all three boxes. Pair that with Wix’s powerful website builder  and Printful’s automated fulfillment, and you’ve got a streamlined setup for success. Whether you’re launching your first online store or expanding your brand, Wix’s native Printful integration  lets you go from idea to first sale in record time. In this guide, you’ll learn: Which products top the sales charts—and which emerging niches to try. Current market and margin benchmarks. How real Wix merchants use POD to grow. A step‑by‑step launch checklist, including how to make a website  that’s optimized for selling online. Did you know?  Wix now offers a direct Printful integration so you can add products, automate fulfillment and track orders without ever leaving your Wix dashboard. “Wix and Printful take the heavy lifting out of launching a print on demand business. You can go from idea to online in a matter of hours using built-in tools for design, fulfillment, marketing and growth. It’s a full solution for anyone serious about turning their creativity into a real business.” - Chava Katz, PMM @ Wix pages at Wix Ready to launch your brand? Use Wix’s free eCommerce website  tools and powerful  online store creator to start selling your custom merch today. Ready to launch your print on demand business? With Wix eCommerce, you can seamlessly integrate Printful directly from your Wix dashboard, making it easier than ever to turn your designs into products and sell them online. Build a professional online store, customize it to match your brand and let Printful handle fulfillment, all from one place. From endless customization options and built-in SEO to powerful AI tools and integrated marketing features , everything you need to grow your print on demand store and reach more customers is at your fingertips. Start your print on demand journey with Wix + Printful today. TL;DR: best print on demand products Search trends,  profit margins  and consumer demand all point to these as the best print on demand products to watch—perfect whether you're exploring how to start a business , launching your first store or scaling an existing one. We’ve broken down the top options by why they sell, typical profit margins and what’s trending. They’re ideal for creators, side hustlers and small businesses looking for products with high demand, solid margins and strong niche potential. Product category Why it sells Typical margin Trend watch Eco‑friendly apparel (tees & hoodies) Evergreen demand plus sustainable fabrics 20–40% Natural dyes, recycled blends Personalized drinkware (tumblers, mugs) Viral on TikTok & workplace return 25–50% Stanley‑style stainless steel, color‑changing prints Engraved jewelry High perceived value, low shipping cost 30–60% Minimalist bar necklaces, birth‑flower motifs Tech accessories (phone/AirPods cases) Quick design turnover, impulse price 20–35% MagSafe compatibility, holographic finishes Pet accessories (bowls, beds, bandanas) Pet‑parent spending keeps rising 25–45% Breed‑specific art, matching human‑pet sets Fast facts: If you're exp loring how to make money with print on demand , knowing what sells can give you a major head start. Here are some of the most promising  print on demand products  to consider: Most profitable picks:  Jewelry and mugs offer the best return due to low production costs and strong gifting value. Most versatile:  T-shirts and hoodies remain the top sellers, and appeal to nearly any audience and are a staple in most print on demand business ideas . Trend-aware favorites: Tumblers and tech cases adapt well to fast-moving design trends on TikTok and Instagram. Best for niche targeting:  Pet gear and personalized products let you cater to highly engaged micro-communities. Pro tip: Wondering  how to start a print on demand store ? Using a website builder like Wix makes launching easier. With Wix’s native Printful integration , you can sync products, automate fulfillment and sell globally, without juggling apps or spreadsheets. "The native Wix + Printful integration makes it incredibly easy for any Wix user to create and launch their own custom product line—no tech headaches, just instant access to Printful’s catalog, instant mockups and seamless store setup, all within the Wix dashboard.” - Chris Victory, head of partnerships at Printful Want full breakdowns, stats and tips? Keep reading. What are print on demand products? Print on demand products are manufactured only after customers place an order. Instead of pre-stocking inventory, creators upload their designs to items like apparel or mugs, which are then printed and shipped by a third-party partner like Printful. Print on demand vs. traditional eCommerce Factor Print on demand Traditional eCommerce Inventory needed No Yes (bulk) Upfront inventory cost $0 High (bulk orders) Storage/warehousing None Required Fulfillment Automated by a partner Manual or 3PL Risk of unsold stock Minimal High Testing speed Hours Weeks–months Order production Made-to-order Pre-produced Startup costs Low High Logistics Simplified (no shipping/packaging) Complex (warehouse/shipping needed) Flexibility to test ideas High (launch instantly, no financial risk) Low (requires inventory and risk) Traditional online stores often come with a steep learning curve. Between purchasing inventory upfront, storing stock and managing packaging and shipping, creators can quickly get overwhelmed and budgets can stretch thin. Print on demand changes the game. Products are only made when someone places an order, meaning no bulk orders, no wasted inventory and virtually no startup costs. By producing items only after they’re ordered, POD models eliminate inventory risk and greatly reduce unsold stock, unlike traditional approaches where, according to Printful research, up to 30% of apparel never sells and may go to waste. That flexibility makes POD one of the most profitable business  models for beginners and creators alike. It's ideal for anyone exploring how to start an online business , testing side hustle ideas  or launching low-risk business ideas around trending designs, niche audiences or seasonal products. It’s also one of the more accessible passive income ideas , especially if you’re building a store that runs in the background while you grow your brand. How fulfillment and shipping work A customer orders from your Wix store. Wix auto-routes the order to Printful. Printful prints, packages, and ships the item to your customer. You earn the margin between retail and base cost. Why POD is great for creators and small businesses No upfront investment. Unlimited creative flexibility. Easy to scale and iterate. Automated logistics with global reach. 5 best print on demand products to sell in 2025 Eco-friendly t-shirts and hoodies Personalized drinkware Engraved Jewelry Tech accessories Pet accessories 01. Eco-friendly t-shirts and hoodies With sustainability becoming a consumer priority, organic cotton and recycled blends are now in demand. Apparel accou nts for 39% of POD revenue and remains the top category, especially for those exploring how to start a t-shirt business or experiment with  t-shirt dropshipping . Why it sells:  Everyday utility, high personalization value. Product Tip:  Offer earthy tones, minimalist designs, or AI-generated pattern repeats. Cost & Margin:  Organic tee base: ~$9 | Retail: $25+ | Margin: 28–40%. How to source: Use Printful’s Eco line—look for organic cotton, recycled polyester or Bella+Canvas options in the catalog. Saturation : ~1,000+ listings on Etsy for “organic cotton graphic t-shirts” and 5,000+ for “organic hoodie” POD products. Pro tip : “Organic” is an overused keyword—pair it with hyper-niche art angles (e.g., “organic mushroom forager shirt”) to find less crowded keywords and beat the eco-fatigue. Explore top marketing strategies  to promote your t-shirt collection. 02. Personalized drinkware From mugs to tumblers, drinkware has become a fast-growth POD category, buoyed by TikTok trends and the return to office life. Why it sells:  Perfect for gifts, reusable and visually shareable. Trend Idea:  Stanley-style insulated tumblers, color-changing designs. Cost & Margin:  Stainless steel tumbler: ~$13 | Retail: $32 | Margin: 35–45%. How to market:  Use TikTok marketing  strategies or Instagram Reels showing the mug/tumbler changing colors with heat or light, perfect for going viral. Saturation : 5,000+ Etsy listings each for “custom tumblers” and “personalized mugs”. Pro tip : Saturation is high across the board—lean into visual differentiation (e.g., glitter tumblers or wraparound prints) and use personalization to escape price-based competition. 03. Engraved jewelry Jewelry offers unmatched emotional and gifting value. Laser engraving enables customization with initials, coordinates, or inspirational quotes. Why it sells:  Lightweight, high-perceived value, emotional connection. Top Pick:  Minimalist bar necklaces or birth-flower pendant charms. Cost & Margin:  Necklace: ~$12 | Retail: $35–50 | Margin: 40–60% How to position: Highlight gifting occasions like anniversaries or birthdays; offer personalization like initials or coordinates. Saturation : Over 5,000 Etsy listings for “engraved bar necklace”. Pro tip : Demand is strong but so is saturation; explore low-competition angles like birth flower charms, pet silhouette jewelry engravings or location coordinates to differentiate. Discover more: How to start a jewelry business Jewelry business name ideas Jewelry dropshipping Jewelry marketing 04. Tech accessories With over 90% of adults using smartphones, custom phone and AirPods cases are always relevant. Why it sells:  Stylish, low-cost entry points, recurring upgrades. Hot Trends:  MagSafe-compatible designs, holographic or biodegradable cases. Cost & Margin:  Phone case: ~$8 | Retail: $22 | Margin: 25–35%. How to sell:  Use impulse-buy strategies. Run limited drops tied to pop culture events or meme trends for fast turnarounds. Saturation : Over 5,000 listings on Etsy for “MagSafe phone case” with print on demand features. Pro tip : Styles get stale fast—trend-reactive designs (e.g., seasonal motifs, memes) and updating listings frequently can boost visibility in crowded results. Discover more: How to start a tech business Tech business ideas Tech business name ideas How to make a tech logo 05. Pet accessories The pet economy has proven recession-resistant. From dog bandanas to custom bowls, owners love pampering their pets. Why it sells:  Deep emotional tie, high repeat purchase rate. Trend Ideas:  Breed-specific art, matching human-pet apparel sets. Cost & Margin:  Pet bowl: ~$14 | Retail: $35 | Margin: 30–45%. How to scale:  Niche down by breed (e.g., French bulldog lovers) and launch matching sets for owners and pets. Saturation : ~5,000+ listings for “dog bandanas” and “custom pet bowls” on Etsy. Pro tip : While many are sewing patterns, breed-specific art and owner-pet matching sets using long-tail terms (e.g., “Golden Retriever hiking bandana”) can help carve out <500-listing niches. Discover more:  Pet business name ideas Pet dropshipping Emerging POD niches to watch in 2025 Beyond the bestsellers, several fast-rising niches are gaining traction thanks to cultural shifts, viral content and lifestyle trends: Pet lifestyle gear for humans: Think matching pet-owner apparel, pet-themed planners or accessories like tote bags with breed-specific illustrations. TikTok-fueled trends around “pet parents” are driving demand here. The pet apparel market is projected to grow from $2.09B in 2023 to $2.75B by 2030, driven by personalization and consumer sentiment toward pets as family. Try designing for specific breeds or pet-lover hobbies to stand out in this emotionally driven market. Spiritual and wellness wearables:  Astrology signs, crystal energy themes, affirmations and aura colors are showing up in everything from tees to mugs. With self-care on the rise, this niche blends personalization and purpose. Spiritual and “esoteric” designs are listed among Printful’s top t-shirt trends for 2025, reflecting surging demand in wellness-related customization. Lean into themes like intention-setting and astrology to connect with mindful shoppers. Nostalgia-core products: Y2K, 90s cartoons and vintage fonts are back. Consumers love retro designs on everyday goods like tumblers, hoodies and phone cases, especially when bundled as “limited drop” collections. Y2K fashion and media are seeing a strong comeback, with brands reviving early-2000s design tropes to meet consumer demand. Test retro drops tied to pop culture anniversaries or niche fandoms for viral traction. Eco-conscious lifestyle bundles: Recycled-fiber totes paired with reusable drinkware, personalized lunch bags and matching apparel are gaining popularity. These sets perform well for giftable occasions and sustainable brands. According to Average Order Value’s Sustainable Fashion Statistics, 47% of global shoppers are willing to pay extra for sustainable goods; the eco-friendly fashion market is expected to reach $9.81B by 2025. Bundle functional and feel-good items to tap into both utility and ethical values. Micro-career merch: A surge in creators and freelancers means niche job-themed designs (for teachers, coders, stylists, etc.) are gaining popularity on drinkware, laptop sleeves and t-shirts. People want to rep what they do. Printify and other platforms highlight career-specific merch  (e.g., teacher mugs, coder tees) as high-converting POD niches in 2025. ​​Focus on pride-based messaging, these customers want to celebrate their hustle. Pro tip:  Tools like Etsy’s search bar and Google Trends can help validate demand before committing. Look for fast-moving micro-trends that pair well with your brand identity or audience niche. Print on demand stats and trends: what’s fueling POD growth right now? You already know the print on demand market is projected to reach over $100 billion by 2034. But what’s truly exciting is how  people are using it. POD isn’t just about launching a product, it’s about launching it smarter, faster and more sustainably. Thanks to growing consumer demand, new tools and cross-platform flexibility, POD is transforming how creators and small businesses bring ideas to market. Print on demand market size and forecast Specialized fulfillment methods are on the rise. Direct to garment (DTG) printing is growing at approximately 4.4% CAGR, as sellers seek high-resolution, full-color designs on cotton tees and hoodies. Embroidery is carving out premium niches. The global embroidery-decorated apparel market is projected to grow from $1.6 billion in 2018 to $2.2 billion by 2028 (around 3.3% CAGR). Its tactile, high-end feel is perfect for hats, caps and corporate merch. Decoration diversity fuels cross-sell potential. Alongside DTG and embroidery, sellers are exploring DTF, sublimation and cut-and-sew, enabling everything from full-coverage apparel to custom packaging, a signal that POD is no longer one-size-fits-all. North America currently dominates the space, with around 75% of top-performing POD stores headquartered there. Print on demand is especially attractive for creators due to strong business margins. While the average POD profit margin hovers around 20%, some designers reach up to 60%, particularly in high-value categories like jewelry, home decor and accessories. Pro tip: Check out the latest  small business website statistics and eCommerce statistics  to see what drives traffic, sales and customer trust in today’s online market. Growth trends Global interest in print on demand continues to surge, with monthly searches for the term averaging over 130,000 according to tools like Semrush and Ahrefs. Google Trends data also shows strong year-over-year growth in search volume since 2020. Creators are leveraging POD to react fast: viral trends, seasonal moments and cultural events can be turned into sellable products in under 24 hours. Tools like Wix’s Printful integration  simplify fulfillment, enabling creators to manage products, pricing and logistics from a single dashboard. “Together, we’re providing our users a unique and seamless solution that embraces creativity and brand identity while eliminating fulfillment hassles and overhead costs. This empowers users to focus on the growth of their business and maximize their brand footprint all from the Wix platform." - Jill Sherman, head of suppliers hub at Wix Consumer demand Sustainability continues to influence buying behavior, with 80% of consumers saying they’re willing to pay more for eco-friendly products. Printful reports that shoppers are typically comfortable paying a 10% premium for sustainable options. Personalization remains a powerful driver of sales, as 81% of consumers prefer to buy from brands that offer tailored experiences, whether it’s a name, date or even a zodiac sign printed on the product. Unlike traditional eCommerce, print on demand gives sellers the flexibility to offer just one item at a time, making it ideal for personalized gifts, small-batch product drops or testing new ideas before scaling. Shoppers increasingly expect both fast production and customization. According to the Hollywood Gazette, 36% want personalized products, while 48% say they’re okay with slower delivery if it means getting something custom. Automation is another key benefit driving demand. Thanks to native integrations like Wix + Printful, creators can seamlessly sync products, manage orders and automate fulfillment workflows without writing a single line of code. In short, POD is now less about printing t-shirts and more about giving anyone the tools to launch timely, relevant and personalized products into the world, fast. How to choose the right POD products for your business? Match products to your niche Understanding your niche is the foundation of a successful POD store. Start by imagining your ideal customer, what are their interests, values and buying habits? If you’re just starting out, look at your own passions and experiences or explore  dropshipping niches to gather ideas. For example, if you're into hiking and nature, products like eco-friendly apparel or outdoor accessories could be a natural fit.  Pro tip:  Niche = identity + product context. "Skater dog lovers" is more powerful than just "dog lovers." Printful recommends exploring gaps in the market and finding  niche products , for instance, underrepresented subcultures or hyper-specific hobbies. Use data to identify winning products Back up your ideas with data. Use Go ogle Trends and small business trends  to validate long-term interest and Printful’s product catalog or bestseller section to identify rising stars. Track competitors on platforms like Etsy or Redbubble to see which designs and products resonate most. If a certain product shows lots of positive reviews or repeat sales, there’s demand. Pro tip:  Look for products that combine a core function with a trending aesthetic—e.g. tie-dye loungewear or retro typography mugs. Learn more: How to sell on Etsy Cost to sell on Etsy Consider profit margins and shipping costs Don’t just chase aesthetics, calculate profitability. Printful emphasizes that your pricing should reflect both product cost and your brand’s value. Aim for a minimum 20% profit margin after base cost, shipping and platform fees. Heavier items like mugs and blankets can rack up shipping costs quickly, while smaller products (e.g., stickers, jewelry) tend to offer better margins at scale. Watch for:  Size, fragility and destination, all affect final shipping rates and may eat into your margin. Strategy How it helps Free shipping threshold Offer free shipping above a certain cart value to increase average spend Flat-rate shipping Keeps costs predictable and transparent for shoppers Product bundling Combine multiple items in one shipment to lower fulfillment costs Clear delivery expectations Reduces cart abandonment and builds trust—Wix allows you to display estimated delivery windows during checkout Test before scaling According to Printful, beginners often feel pressure to launch with too many products, which can overwhelm both you and your customers. Instead, choose three to five hero products in complementary categories and gather feedback. Monitor analytics like conversion rates and cart abandonment to understand what’s working. Bonus:  Testing also includes fulfillment methods. Try DTG for bold apparel prints, embroidery for premium accessories or sublimation for all-over-print pieces to see which process fits your brand best. Launching your first print on demand product checklist with Wix and Printful Wix users are in a great position to get their first product online quickly, thanks to a seamless native integration with Printful . You don’t need to code or juggle third-party platforms—everything from design and fulfillment to product syncing and real-time shipping updates happens inside your Wix dashboard. Here’s how to go from idea to store launch without inventory, logistics headaches or delay: Define your niche and hero product: Focus your brand on a specific audience, whether it’s dog lovers, plant parents or retro gamers. Choose a core product—like a t-shirt or mug—that resonates strongly with that niche. Before you start building your store, run a domain name search  to find a memorable brand name that fits your niche. Create your designs using tools like Printful’s Design Maker or Canva: You don’t have to be a designer. Use drag-and-drop website builder to create artwork that’s simple, bold and speaks to your target buyer. Consider designing in collections to strengthen your brand identity. If you’re stuck on branding ideas, try a domain name generator  to spark creative store name options. Browse and add Printful products directly from Wix: In the Wix dashboard, go to “Catalog”>“Dropshipping products” to access Printful’s entire catalog. No need to upload products manually—mockups, descriptions, and variants sync automatically. Customize pricing, details and variants: Adjust product names, descriptions, colors, sizes and pricing. Aim for a 30–50% margin after accounting for base costs, taxes, and platform fees. Order samples to check quality and create marketing assets: Before launching, order samples to test quality and take your own lifestyle photos. Use these for social posts, email teasers and to build trus t with buyers. Design your storefront using Wix templates: Choose a mobile-optimized website template , specifically eCommerce website templates , then upload brand visuals, write compelling copy and add a clear FAQ page . Wix’s drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to craft a professional-looking site. Set up payments, tax and shipping options: Enable global payments, configure shipping rules (e.g., free shipping thresholds), and set tax collection per your region. Wix handles checkout flows smoothly. Launch and promote your store using built-in marketing tools: Use Wix’s automated email campaigns , run Google and social ads, and offer launch promos like early bird discounts. Start driving traffic from day one. “Samples aren’t just for quality control—they’re your first marketing asset.  Use them to build trust, create excitement around your brand and show customers exactly what they’re getting.” - Chava Katz, PMM @ Wix pages at Wix Pro tip:  Secure your domain name  early to ensure it’s consistent across your store, marketing channels and packaging. With Wix and Printful, you only need to set up your store once—after that, every new product can be launched in minutes. If you’re just starting out, you can take advantage of  free website hosting  on Wix to launch your store with minimal upfront cost. Examples of print on demand websites selling on Wix Looking for proof that POD works? These real businesses built on Wix show how diverse creators—from graphic designers to fashion founders to fine artists—are using print on demand to turn their ideas into income. Each one has leveraged Wix to build a stunning storefront and Printful to handle everything from production to fulfillment. Whether or not they started with Wix’s native Printful integration, many of today’s Wix sellers are now streamlining their operations thanks to this built-in connection. It’s easier than ever to design, launch and manage a POD store from a single dashboard.  Try it now  and see how easy it is to launch your store with Wix and Printful. 01. Gifted Images LLC New Orleans-based graphic designer Gregory DeCuir Jr. launched Gifted Images  to sell fashion, Greek and athletic apparel. He began using Printful with Wix in 2019 and has since processed over 3,000 orders and earned $240,000 in revenue. By tapping into niche audiences—from Greek organizations to local alumni groups—Gregory grew his business without needing to hold inventory. Gregory advises, "Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, because you will make mistakes. Take some chances. The tools from Printful make it easy to design, so push your creativity. Don’t be afraid to offer discounts—that’s how you build a customer base. The email and social media marketing tools will become your best friends. Wix has everything you need to reach your milestones. Use all of it.” 02. Lion & Lamb Store This Christian streetwear brand fuses faith with fashion through bold hoodies, tees and jackets. Built with Wix and powered by print on demand, Lion & Lamb embraces a strong niche and a cohesive design aesthetic that resonates with young, faith-driven shoppers. High-quality visuals and a focused product line make their store feel like a premium boutique. 03. Slater Vintage Formerly branded as Salt & Stone Goods, Slater Vintage  sells graphic apparel and accessories with a retro, bold vibe. They frequently launch seasonal drops—like their “American Spirit” collection—and organize products by lifestyle themes such as motherhood and country music. Print on demand allows them to experiment with trends and offer frequent limited-edition designs without the overhead. 04. Kyle Sorensen Fine Art A Canadian artist known for his original paintings, Kyle  uses POD to sell giclée prints and wearable art. Wix powers his portfolio-style site, while POD enables him to offer high-quality prints and apparel on demand. His story shows how creators can expand their art business without sacrificing quality or brand integrity. Final thoughts POD continues to thrive thanks to shifting consumer habits, creator empowerment and platforms like Wix and Printful making setup nearly effortless. Whether you're a graphic designer, artist, influencer or just getting started, 2025 is the ideal year to launch your print on demand store. Pick your product, design your first item and start your entrepreneurial journey today. Best print on demand products FAQ Is a print on demand business profitable? Yes—print on demand can absolutely be profitable when done strategically. Most sellers aim for profit margins between 20–50%, depending on the product and pricing strategy. Accessories like jewelry, home decor and personalized items often allow for higher markups. Your profitability will also depend on smart product selection, branding and marketing. What is trending in POD? In 2025, some of the hottest print on demand products are eco-friendly apparel, engraved jewelry, personalized tumblers, tech accessories (like custom phone cases or laptop sleeves) and pet products. These categories are growing quickly because they combine personalization with practicality—two things buyers love. What are good products to sell via dropshipping? Outside of POD, dropshipping categories that continue to perform well include beauty tools, home gadgets, fitness gear and phone accessories. However, POD has a big advantage: every item can be uniquely branded, making your products harder to copy and giving your store a stronger identity. Where to sell POD products? The best place to start is with your own branded Wix store, where you have complete control over your design, pricing and customer experience. From there, you can expand your reach by also selling on Etsy, Amazon or TikTok Shop, which helps you tap into larger audiences while still building your brand presence. What is the highest quality print on demand platform? Printful  is consistently ranked among the top POD companies for its wide product variety, fast and reliable fulfillment, white-label branding and global shipping network. For Wix users, Printful’s direct integration makes it especially seamless to manage products, orders and branding all from the Wix dashboard. What is the category for print on demand? Apparel is still the leading category in terms of sales volume—it’s versatile, easy to design for and always in demand. Drinkware (like mugs and tumblers) and accessories (such as bags and hats) are also strong performers. That said, the “best” category really depends on your niche and target audience. What is the most printed product? No surprise here: T-shirts  remain the single most popular POD product. They’re affordable to produce, appeal to nearly every demographic and provide a perfect canvas for creative designs. Many sellers start with T-shirts before expanding into other categories.

Never miss another article

Thanks for submitting!

For any queries to privacy concerns, please contact us at blogs@wix.com

This blog was created with Wix Blog

bottom of page