- Allison Ko
- 2 days ago
- 31 min read
Want to learn how to build a website from scratch? The fastest and most beginner-friendly way is to use a website builder, which gives you all the tools you need to design, customize and publish a site without coding.
We'll walk you through each step of the process, from planning your site to launching it live. You’ll also get a complete website launch checklist to make sure every detail is ready before you hit publish.
Learn more: What is a Wix website?
Looking to create a website fast?
If you're looking to create a stunning website fast, there are several ways you can go about it. A free website builder like Wix is a great place to start, as you can choose from over 2,000 pre-designed and highly customizable website templates to easily build a site. Choose your website template by website type, functionality or your business industry.
You can discover more in this piece: Should I use a template to make a website?
Or check out these templates to get building:
Need a website fast? Let AI do the heavy lifting. With Wix’s AI website builder, you can create and launch a complete website in just minutes.
Learn more: How to make a website fast
TL;DR: How to create a website
To create a website, start by defining your website’s purpose and choosing a platform. Next, register your domain, secure hosting and design your site using a template customized to your website type. Add content and functionality, test everything across devices and finally, launch your website, promote it to attract visitors and maintain it to keep it up to date.
How to make a website from scratch
01. Define your website's purpose
Every great site starts with a clear website goal and understanding your audience. Know what you're here to do, like sell products, share knowledge or build a community. A clear website purpose keeps you on track as you build.
Next, get to know your audience. Who are they and what do they need? Create personas based on their demographics, interests and challenges. Use surveys or chats to gather helpful insights. The better you understand them, the more your site will grab attention and keep visitors coming back.
Expert tip: Want your website to stand out? Focus on what makes you different. Start by exploring other sites in your market. How do they look? How do they work? Take notes on what they’re doing well and where they fall short. Spot trends, find gaps and think about how you can offer something better.
Expert tip from Ian Lawson, head of user experience at Slickplan:
“Before jumping into design, take the time to understand who your audience is and how they look for information. The most successful websites are built around clear user goals. They use that insight to guide everything from site structure to navigation to content hierarchy, ensuring that visitors find what they need in as few clicks as possible.”
Learn more about website mapping
Depending on your goals, there are different types of websites that you may want to consider creating:
Business and commerce websites: Built for action, whether selling products through an online store on an eCommerce platform, booking services or showcasing what a company offers. These sites focus on clarity and conversion, with pricing, testimonials, contact forms, a privacy policy and often a chat feature.
Creative and portfolio websites: Perfect for photographers, designers, writers and musicians. A photo gallery highlights your best work, a blog shares your process and social media links help grow your audience. Ideal for freelancers or agencies.
Content and media websites: From a niche blog to a video or podcast hub, these sites share stories and insights. Clean navigation, search tools and a members area help readers stay engaged.
Educational websites: : From school portals to online courses, these sites share lessons, PDFs, videos and certifications. Member log-ins track progress, while blogs and FAQs expand learning.
Personal and lifestyle websites: From fitness to travel, these sites tell personal stories. A couple might build an event website or a wedding website to share info and collect RSVPs. A one page website works well for a resume or bio—add a gallery, blog or social media links to make it yours. Learn more: How hard is it to make a website?
Institutional and public service websites: Trusted by schools, governments and charities. A nonprofit website may include donations and volunteer sign-ups, while a church website shares livestreams and upcoming events.
Utility and niche websites: Focused on function—whether comparing insurance, calculating mortgages or running SaaS tools and directories. With the right approach, you can monetize your website through premium features, ads or partnerships.
Some sites serve more than one purpose, so it’s important to focus on your main goal. For example, Cleverchefs uses its site to tell its brand story. While it attracts new bookings, the main focus is helping prospects understand what makes Cleverchefs unique. Their site reflects their company’s ethos, making it a powerful tool to connect with clients who share their values
Expert tip from business owner Nick Collins, founder of Cleverchefs:
"When I ask my clients why they chose us over our competitors, they usually say it's because of our website. I think they can really feel our passion through the way we connect with them and stand out as a creative catering company."
02. Choose your website builder
A website builder is a popular and affordable solution that enables you to set up, design, personalize, publish and manage a website without having to use code. The best platforms help you get a site set up and launched quicker and without fuss, while also offering 24/7 support and built-in features that make scaling easier.
Learn more about what a website builder is
Expert tip from Esin D. Habif, product marketing lead (outbound) at Wix.com:
"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."
When you choose the right website builder, you won’t have to deal with the mountains of minutia that other DIY site owners may face (e.g., installing security features by hand, fixing bugs on your own, etc.). Low-code-no-code software takes care of web development for you, so you don't need to know how to code to customize your site's design. Modern-day website builders will also include AI-powered capabilities, allowing you to work faster and smarter than ever.
Learn more:
That said, while there are several solid players in this website-building industry, you’ll want to make sure that you do your due diligence before investing in the right one.
Making the wrong choice could leave you with serious regrets down the road. Learn more about why you should use a website builder.
Sign up for Wix today
Here are some key factors to consider so that you end up with a website builder you love:
Customizability: Choose a website builder that lets you design your site to match your brand and vision. Look for flexible layouts, easy design tweaks and real-time previews. Wix offers thousands of templates and AI-powered site creation, for example.
Back-office tools/business capabilities: Beyond design, a builder should include tools like eCommerce functionality to create your own eCommerce website, manage inventory, schedule appointments and handle CRM. List your must-haves and automation needs as you compare options.
AI capabilities: AI can speed up site creation and management. An AI website builder can give you a fully functional website in minutes and offers AI features to support customer service, marketing and creative tasks.
Third-party integrations: Your website should connect with the tools and platforms you already use. Wix App Market and Wix Headless let you integrate apps, sales channels and other services seamlessly.
Security: Website security is the foundation of every website, protecting both your content and user data. A reliable website builder has this built in from day one, something you never even have to think about, with essentials like SSL certificates, regular backups and security monitoring to safeguard against cyber threats and data breaches.
Speed: Website loading speed plays a major role in both user experience and SEO. If a page takes gives seconds to load instead of one, the chance of someone leaving jumps by 90%. That's why it's worth choosing a website builder known for fast performance. Look for built-in capabilities like content delivery networks (CDNs), which speed up content delivery, streamlined code for smoother loading and image compressor tools to keep visuals sharp without slowing down your site.
Reliability: Check uptime stats and reviews to ensure your site stays accessible to visitors around the clock.
Support: Accessible, responsive support is essential. Wix offers 24/7 support, how-to articles, video tutorials and community resources to help whenever you need it.
Learn more about what is an SSL certificate
Expert tip from Esin D. Habif, product marketing lead (outbound) at Wix.com:
"As a creator or entrepreneur, you're often wearing multiple hats. You're designing the website, you're optimizing for SEO. This means you need a website builder that makes it easy and very learnable for you to do all of those things, on the same platform and still deliver as if working with experts in those fields."
Building a website for your business, passion project or side hustle should be easy and exciting. Wix lets you customize and launch a professional website in minutes. Wix simplifies the process so you can focus on what matters most, bringing your ideas to life. Start today and create the website you’ve always wanted.
03. Pick and register a domain name
Now comes one of the most exciting parts of making a website, picking a domain name.
How domain names work
Your website’s address (or website URL) is the path people use to find you on the web. When someone types it into their browser, a web server gets to work. It locates your site’s IP address, like finding coordinates on a map, and loads your site for the visitor. This all happens thanks to the Domain Name System, or DNS, a global network that turns easy-to-remember names into the numbers computers understand.
Why your domain name deserves extra thought
With over 368 million domain names already registered and more added every day, standing out takes some creativity. A great name tells your story, reflects your values and resonates with your audience. That’s why finding a unique, memorable name matters more than ever.
Choosing a domain name doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Pick something unique and easy to remember. Most top-level domains and subdomains combine your business or website name with an extension like .com or .org, making it easier for people to find you.
Need fresh ideas? Use a website name generator to get the creative juices flowing and discover names that are catchy, unique and available.
Claim your domain: here’s how it works
All domain names must be registered with a domain name registrar or registry, where the owners of any domain name can be searched and found. This process ensures your domain is unique and officially recognized online. By registering a domain, you’re essentially leasing it for a specific period (usually a year or more). That’s why you can’t just “create” a domain on your own, it needs to be registered to exist on the web.
You might wonder why domains come with a cost. This fee helps maintain the DNS infrastructure and covers the services provided by registrars.
You'll also need to consider what domain extension you want to use:
Website builders often throw in a free custom domain name when you sign up for a paid website building plan. Instead of a generic web address, you get your very own unique URL (like yourbusiness.com). It looks more polished, builds trust with visitors, and helps boost your site on search engines so more people can find you.
Learn more: Website name ideas
Ready to get a website domain name? Get started with Wix today.
04. Choose a web hosting plan
Web hosting stores your site's files and images on a server managed by the hosting provider. When a user enters your URL in a browser, a request is sent to the server and your site is then served.
Many hosting providers are out there, but the simplest, most secure option is choosing a website builder with built-in hosting. For example, Wix offers free web hosting with every site. This means no digging through hosting plans or making extra decisions—you can focus entirely on building your site.
From shared hosting to cloud hosting, there are several different hosted services to choose from. Wix sites all include reliable and secure hosting, meaning high uptime for all user sites. This is an important consideration when picking a hosting provider both as a small business owner or enterprise site.
Learn more: Web hosting for freelancers
05. Pick your template
The visual layout of your website is its most important element. In fact, half of consumers say that a business’s website design significantly influences how they perceive the company. You’ll want to take your time exploring your options before settling on the visual imagery and design. To get started, take a look at professional website templates to see which one fits your vision best.
Learn more: What is a template
Looking for portfolio templates, model portfolio examples or templates for an online store? Explore dozens of customizable options that fit your style. From simple website templates to more advanced designs, there's something for every idea and every vision.
Find design inspiration
As you plan out your site, note what your competitor sites look like and check out other visual platforms, like Pinterest and Instagram. All of these examples will provide insight into what fonts, colors and web design styles and trends your audience gravitates towards. However, avoid copying what’s already been done. Rather, gain an understanding of the visual language you want to pursue and check that it resonates with your intended audience.
Expert tip from Anna Suntsov, blog and social team lead at Wix.com:
"The most important thing before building a website is good research. Know what you want to do and collect strong inspirations that will contribute to your design."
Alternatively, build your website with AI
If the process of choosing and customizing a template feels daunting, or you simply don’t have the time, an AI website builder can simplify your work even further. When it comes to building a website with Wix, you can choose to answer a few simple questions about your goals, and Wix will create a custom-made, fully functional site for you in minutes.
You can fine-tune any details as you please, while Wix hooks up you up with all the content, pages and widgets you need to get started.
Try our AI website builder for free
06. Customize your template to your brand
Your website is often the first thing people notice about your brand, and 75% of users judge credibility based on design. From layout to load speed every detail matters. A generic site blends in but a branded design shows confidence, professionalism and value.
Your template is a flexible tool you can shape to fit your brand. Adjust it to create the tone that feels just right. When your design reflects your brand's personality visitors will instantly feel at home.
Build your site with meaning, not just style
Before choosing colors or fonts take a moment to focus on what your brand truly represents. What feelings or ideas do you want people to associate with it? Is it professionalism, joy, rebellion or fun? Write these down and start linking them to visual styles. For example, "calm" might mean soft muted colors and lots of white space. "Confident" could mean bold fonts and strong contrasts.
Create a quick visual map with your website type in the center. Surround it with moods, keywords and themes. This helps shape a design direction that feels purposeful and meaningful.
Once you have a solid foundation everything starts to click, your logo placement, photo style, copy tone and call-to-action buttons all work together seamlessly.
Craft a website color theme
The use of color is not only for making your site look nice. Your color palette should align with your brand identity. Color psychology is important to take into consideration, as colors have the power to affect and evoke specific emotions and behaviors.
For example, blue has become a common color used in branding corporations and businesses, particularly in the tech field, most likely because blue is associated with stability and reliability. However, blue can also reflect sadness, hence the term “feeling blue.” Orange, for example, is generally paired with feelings of freshness and vitality. Keep in mind that the feeling correlated with a color also depends on the shade and what other colors it’s paired with. These are both important points to consider when choosing your website color scheme.
To get started, consider your website goals. Think about the vibe you want to create and the emotions you want to convey, especially if you’re starting a business. The more aligned your web design is with your overall branding, the more people are going to connect with your company and your website. And the stronger the personal connection, the more time they’ll spend on your business website. This will have enormous effects on conversion rates and overall interest and engagement with your brand.
Keep in mind that choosing your color theme doesn’t mean you’re stuck with that palette forever, so try out different options and see what speaks to you. With Wix, for example, you can adjust your site’s colors at any point by clicking on the Site Design icon on the left side of your editing screen. From there, you can choose your base colors, accent colors, text colors and more.
Pick the right web fonts
Just like colors, typography can also play a key role in evoking feelings. When choosing the best fonts for your website, there are a number of things to consider.
First, like all other elements on your site, your font choice should match your branding. Browse different typefaces to find one that reflects your unique personality, whether you’re youthful and contemporary or have a more traditional approach.
The three primary types of fonts include:
Serif: Fonts with a small line attached to the ends of each letter.
Sans serif: More standard, block-like typography without small lines at the ends of each character.
Script: Has a more elegant feel, with each letter connecting fluidly from one to the next.
You can also check out our article on the best fonts for websites for more details on how to choose the best one for your site.
Whatever you go for, make sure that your font is readable on both desktop and mobile devices. Remember to keep in mind Google safe fonts.
Pro tip: When it comes to fonts, remember to stay consistent throughout your website. On Wix, you can easily accomplish this by going to the Site Design icon on your side panel and managing text through the Text Theme tab. That way, your content will appear uniformly across the site.
Add other branding elements
When it comes to creating a professional site that wows, the magic is often in the details. As you look to strengthen the branding on your site, don’t overlook these elements:
Logo: Place your logo prominently in your header and as needed across your site. Wix's logo maker simplifies the logo design process, allowing you to create a logo that represents your brand and perfectly matches the aesthetic of your site.
Favicon: A favicon is a small icon that appears in the browser tab to the left of your URL when someone visits your site. Adding a favicon to your Wix website is a simple process that adds another layer of professionalism to your user experience. Just go to your site editor, click on “Settings” in the top left of your screen and scroll down to “Favicon.” Here, you can upload, adjust and save your favicon image. Then, just publish your site and behold—your brand new favicon.
More tips: Learn the ins and outs of building a website using the Wix Editor with this online course.
07. Build your site structure and architecture
A pretty site means nothing if it’s clunky and difficult to navigate. Before launch, make sure visitors can easily find the pages they need. Consider these key components for site architecture:
Create your sitemap
Your sitemap is the blueprint of your site, showing all pages and content for both visitors and search engines. Organize pages into logical sections that match your goals and audience, and update it whenever you add or move content—Wix does this automatically.
Optimize your navigation menu
Your menu guides visitors to the right pages and should let users reach any page in three clicks or less. Focus on linking your most important pages, use logical categories and subcategories and consider mega menus for larger sites or simple anchor menus for smaller ones. Make sure the menu works well on mobile and include a clickable logo to return visitors to the homepage.
To create an effective menu:
Prioritize key pages like your homepage, product or service pages, and contact information.
Stick to three clicks or less to reach any page. Users shouldn’t have to dig to find the content they want.
Use logical categories and subcategories to group pages together cohesively. For instance, a photographer might place wedding and portrait galleries within a larger “Portfolio” menu item.
To set up a menu in the Wix editor, just head to your side panel on the left side of the editor and click on “+” at the top of the panel to add an element. Then, select "Menu & Anchor" from the drop-down and choose your desired style.
Expert tip from Adi Huri, product manager at WOW for Wix.com:
"Keep in mind that the menu is the map of your website. By adding the right pages to your menu, in the right order, it can be the heart of your website’s success."
Prioritize key content
Show key information like your services, contact details or pricing, and use clear CTAs to guide visitors toward the actions you want. Keep an eye on analytics to understand user behavior and make updates that improve their experience.
Use your footer strategically
While your navigation menu guides most visitors, your footer is a great spot for extra links and information, like contact details or social media profiles. In the Wix editor, you can drag and drop elements into the footer and easily resize it to fit your needs.
Design with scalability in mind
As your business grows, your website should grow with it. Choose a flexible layout that makes adding new pages or features easy, and keep navigation organized as you expand. Check your site structure regularly and adjust as needed to support new content and business goals—this keeps your site scalable and user-friendly.
Why site structure matters:
Better user experience: Makes it easy for visitors to find what they need quickly, lowering bounce rates.
Stronger SEO: A clear hierarchy helps search engines crawl and index your pages, boosting visibility.
Higher engagement: Easy navigation encourages visitors to explore, interact and take key actions like purchases or sign-ups.
08. Add useful pages
Once you’ve mapped out what pages you want on your site, it’s time to create them. Here’s a quick step-by-step of how to build useful and engaging pages and how to do it in the Wix editor.
Open the Page Manager: Click the "Pages & Menu" icon in the left side panel to access the Page Manager.
Add page: Click the blue "+ Add Page" button to create a new page and click on whatever template suits your needs.
Name your page: Once the page is added to your site, the page name will be highlighted in the left side panel for you to edit.
Customize: Customize and build the newly created page by adding your content, adjusting the layout and refining the design.
Manage pages: Drag and drop pages in the side panel to rearrange them or click on the ellipsis icon to the right of each page title to duplicate, delete, rename, hide and more.
Subpages: Create dropdown menus by adding subpages to your main pages, enhancing site navigation.
Save and publish: Save your work regularly and, when ready, hit the "Publish" button to make your changes live on your website.
When designing web pages for your professional website, consider adding these pages:
An inviting homepage. This is the face of your website, which means that you have to make it beautiful, yet informational. You should strive to present all the crucial elements right from the get-go. This way, clients will instantly understand who you are and what you do.
A shop or gallery. This is the center of your site where visitors can browse through your products or services. Create product listings, manage inventory and process transactions all from one centralized dashboard. Dedicate time to write product descriptions that will grab potential customers’ attention. The same goes for your product photography to ensure that your items are displayed in their very best light.
A personable About page. Use this page as your online business card. It’s the spot where you can present who you are, what you stand for, your strengths, values and any other crucial information you think your visitors should know about your team and your business.
An easy-to-find contact section. Don’t leave your site visitors astray by making them search for your contact information. Dedicate a page to list contact numbers, email, social links and any other way users can get in touch with you. In addition, it’s a good practice to add your essential contact details on your website footer.
An engaging blog. By starting a blog, you’ll be able to continuously add regular and fresh content to your website. You’ll have the chance to establish yourself as an expert in your field while giving your SEO efforts a well-deserved boost. Give our blog maker a go, when you're ready to start.
Expert tip from Allison Lee, editor-in-chief at Wix.com:
"Blogs don’t get enough credit for their long-term advantages. In the long run, a blog can serve as a huge traffic driver and a way to connect with future customers (case in point: our Wix Blog is the first touchpoint for millions of people who may have never stumbled onto our site otherwise). That said, a blog is a long-term commitment—it requires a well thought-out strategy and consistent maintenance."
An interactive membership area. Creating a membership area on your website serves the dual purpose of monetization and user engagement. Various membership models, like drip-feed, all-in and fixed-term, can be employed to monetize your content. You can also offer premium content, online services or downloadable materials as incentives for users to subscribe.
Easy-to-access online courses. The growing popularity of virtual classes presents an opportunity to generate income by launching a paid online course. This approach allows you to monetize your existing website traffic. Design courses that align with your expertise and cater to your audience's needs. Ensure the content is relevant and unique.
An informative FAQ page. Save yourself and your clients some time (and frustration) by including an FAQ page to provide answers to questions that may naturally come up as visitors browse your site.
An online booking system. Allow customers to schedule and pay for appointments or classes directly from your site. This way, you can spend less time playing phone tag and more time growing your empire.
A testimonials page. This provides you with the perfect place in which previous, satisfied customers can sing your praises. Nothing is more impressive to a potential client or buyer than positive, unbiased reviews.
A custom 404 page. When visitors land on a broken or unavailable link, a well-designed 404 page can make all the difference. Add a friendly message, clear navigation options or a search bar to guide users back to valuable content.
Stay in the know, subscribe to the Wix blog for a weekly dose of web design tips, trends and updates
09. Create engaging website content
As people interact with your website, you'll want to make sure you're grabbing their attention and keeping it. The best way to do this is by optimizing and diversifying how you relay information.
And it matters, websites with video content can increase user dwell time by up to 88%. That’s why using more than just text is key to keeping visitors hooked.
Start by thinking about all the types of content your site can feature: text, photos, videos and animations. Once you know your options, plan how to organize them so visitors can easily find and interact with what matters most. While you might be tempted to stuff your site with as many cool effects as possible, don't fall into the trap of overdesigning.
Structure your pages
Keep your site organized so visitors can navigate comfortably, placing your most important content above the fold. Make headers and key information stand out, and use visuals like images, videos or infographics to make content easy to scan.
Expert tip from Amanda Weiner, CRO expert at Wix.com:
"Site hierarchy and the information you provide your visitors with is more than just how your site looks. This will also directly impact how many visitors ultimately buy your products. You’ll want to be clear about your offerings through your content, your visuals and your buttons right from the get go to ensure visitors recognize your value right away."
Some visitors skim content, so make your site easy to scan. Use media features like videos, images, animations or infographics to make information more digestible, and highlight key headers with larger fonts or contrasting colors.
Want to create content faster? Get started by understanding more about how to build a website with AI.
Consider SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) helps your site rank higher on search engines so prospective clients can find your pages, book services, buy products or read your blog. When launching a new website, every Wix site starts with a strong SEO foundation, and Wix SEO tools make it easy to optimize your reach even further. Capabilities include:
SEO Assistant: Every Wix site comes with an SEO Assistant that gives suggestions to optimize pages for focus keywords.
Keyword research: Wix provides keyword research tools to help you discover relevant keywords for your content.
AI Visibility Overview: See how your website shows up on AI-powered search platforms, like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Claude.
On-page SEO: Easily optimize your meta titles, descriptions and headers.
Image SEO: Add alt tags and compress images for faster loading.
AI meta tag creation: Use AI to automatically generate optimized title tags and meta descriptions.
Sitemap generation: Wix generates XML sitemaps to help search engines crawl and index your site effectively.
Mobile optimization: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly for better search rankings. You might also want to consider creating a responsive website.
Local SEO: If you have a local business, use Wix's local SEO tools to improve your visibility in local searches.
SEO analytics: Monitor your website's SEO performance with built-in analytics and reports.
Rich results: Implement rich snippets and schema markup to make your search results stand out.
Backlink tracking: Keep an eye on your backlink profile to improve your site's authority.
Make it mobile-friendly
By 2025, nearly 70% of internet traffic is expected to come from phones and tablets. Make sure your site is optimized for mobile-first indexing with smooth design, intuitive mobile features and fast performance. Wix lets you adjust elements for mobile without affecting desktop and uses features like cache and lazy loading to keep sites quick. You can even turn your site into an app for extra convenience.
Learn more: How to make a website mobile-friendly
What makes a great website
10. Test and launch your website
Building a website from scratch can be an exciting journey, but rushing through the process is a common pitfall. In an eagerness to go live, many often overlook critical elements, potentially harming their website's performance and user experience. To avoid this situation, make sure to dot your Is and cross your Ts before publishing. Here are some key tips to help you out:
Preview your site
Take advantage of features like Wix’s “Site Preview” mode, which allows you to view and navigate your site as a user. This enables you to experience the user journey of navigating your site and flag issues a user might x`encounter. Also, you can proofread your site's content and check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Clear, flawless text boosts professionalism and credibility, leaving a great impression.
Test functionality
Ensure functionality across your site by testing all pages, links and embedded media on both desktop and mobile views to ensure your site is mobile-friendly. Also, check all internal and external links to ensure they lead to the correct pages. Avoid broken links to provide a positive user experience.
Cross-browser check
Test your site across multiple browsers. This means making sure you test your website on various browsers like Chrome, Firefox and Safari. This guarantees your site looks right and works perfectly for everyone, no matter their browser choice.
Get feedback
Ask a friend or colleague to take a look at your website and give you notes on their initial impressions, the user experience, clarity of content and effectiveness of your design. This step is imperative as someone less familiar with your content will be a much better barometer for how a new visitor wouldwh navigate your website than you can be. Allow one to two weeks for final tweaks to make sure everything works as it should.
11. Maintain and promote your website
Much like a work of art, a website is never truly "finished." It’s an evolving tool that needs regular attention to stay effective. One of the advantages of using a website builder is that you can make changes in real time. Update your website regularly by adding new content and keeping existing pages current to improve navigation, SEO and overall performance.
Track performance
Use Wix Analytics to see which content performs best and understand visitor behavior, then use those insights to guide your website promotion.
Listen to your audience
Collect feedback through surveys, forms or conversations to learn what users value most. Combine this with analytics to improve navigation, create relevant content and stay ahead of trends.
Protect your site
Keep your website secure with updated software and security features. Wix provides real-time threat detection and Site History, which automatically saves revisions so you can restore previous versions if needed.
You can also duplicate your site at any time to create a manual backup in your Wix account. Be aware that the duplicated site is not automatically updated when you update your original site.
Drive traffic to your website
Promote your website via social media, email marketing, guest blogging or outreach to reach the right audience and boost engagement, traffic and sales.
Expert tip from Lilach Goldis, social media marketing manager at Wix.com:
"Identify the social media platforms your audience is active on the most and get an in-depth understanding of what it takes to rank in them. For example, converting your Instagram carousel posts into a Reel can capture attention more effectively and boost your content's impact, ultimately leading people to visit your site."
Here are some ways Wix can help you get your site out there:
SEO: Optimize your site to rank higher on search engines and attract more traffic. Wix provides a strong SEO foundation, a personalized SEO Assistant and advanced tools like robots.txt editing, XML sitemaps and canonical tags. Results take time and regular investment.
Email marketing: Build relationships and drive traffic with newsletters, product promotions and automated emails to your subscribers with email marketing tools.
Blogs: Create engaging SEO-friendly blog posts that captivate readers and improve search visibility.
Advertising: Use ads for immediate results. Experiment with Google, Facebook or Instagram ads to reach new visitors and retarget previous ones.
How to make a website with AI
If you're looking to get online ASAP, you can learn how to design a website with AI. Choose a platform that aligns with your goals and offers flexibility beyond cookie-cutter templates.
On Wix, here’s how it works:
Create a new site: Sign up and select the AI option by clicking "Start Chat."
Answer business questions: The AI builds a site profile to understand your goals and desired style.
Design your site: Explore your Wix Dashboard, then click "Design Site" and "Generate a Design with AI."
Pick your favorite option: The AI builder will whip up a design (complete with custom images and text) for you to review. Regenerate or tweak the design as you wish. Once you land on a design that's close to what you're looking for, click "Continue with this design."
Finalize in the Editor: You can connect your domain now or continue in the Wix Editor to tweak layout, content, colors, fonts and add effects. Check the mobile view and make adjustments as needed—AI tools are built in to help along the way.
Publish your site: When all looks good, go ahead and connect your domain, then make your site live for the world to see.
Learn more about Wix's ever-evolving AI capabilities in this letter from our CEO, Avishai Abrahami
How much does it cost to build a website from scratch?
Website costs depend on design, functionality, content, hosting and marketing. Knowing what affects these costs helps you set a realistic budget:
Design: Custom designs take more time and skill, while pre-made templates are cheaper. Hiring a designer or agency gives a unique layout, professional graphics and a polished style that fits your brand.
Functionality: Features like eCommerce, booking systems, interactive forms or databases can increase costs. Focus on what your visitors need and prioritize functionality that boosts user experience and conversions.
Website builder: Your platform affects your budget. DIY builders like Wix are affordable and easy to edit, while custom sites or platforms like Wix Studio offer full control and scalability at a higher cost.
Content creation: Copy, images and video can add costs, especially if hiring professionals. High-quality content engages visitors and builds credibility, but DIY content can save money.
Hosting and domain: Hosting depends on speed, uptime and security. Domain costs vary by extension and popularity. With Wix, hosting is included and domains come with paid plans.
Marketing: SEO, paid ads, email campaigns or social media drive traffic. Marketing often costs more than the website itself, so budget for ongoing promotion.
Extra tips
Start small and scale by adding features later.
Compare platforms and check for hidden costs.
DIY where possible to save money without sacrificing quality.
Plan for updates to keep content, design and functionality fresh.
How much does it cost to create a website with Wix?
With Wix, you can create a website for free (learn more about, is Wix free?) or opt for a paid plan that can cost from $17 a month, depending on the type and exact features. This plan will include a custom domain, 24/7 customer support and hosting services.
Learn more: What is a custom domain?
Editor's note: All pricing in the table is based on annual billing. Pricing information as updated as of November 2nd, 2025.
View a detailed breakdown of each plan on our pricing page.
Firsthand insights from a successful travel entrepreneur
Erica, founder of Paper, Planes and Passports, chose Wix to build a website for promoting trips, taking payments and connecting with clients. “Having a website has been non-negotiable for us,” she says. "I've seen the progression of what you can do with Wix over the years—and it's crazy."
She built a site with an About section, social media integration, client testimonials, a FAQ page and an image gallery. Erica also uses Wix tools like emails, automations, analytics and subscriptions to manage bookings, open new revenue streams and share insider tips. Her story shows how a website can drive growth, engage your audience and support long-term success.
How to create a website from scratch FAQ
Can anyone create a website from scratch?
If you choose a website builder that essentially provides the infrastructure of your site, yes. You don't have to know coding to make a website, you just have to use the right website platform. With Wix, your entire site infrastructure is taken care of, including advanced levels of security, including public key certification via TLS, so you can focus on what matters: your design and content.
Why is it important for my business to have a website?
A website is an essential part of any business's marketing strategy. It provides a way for potential customers to learn more about your business, your products or services, and how to contact you. You can also use a website to manage and run your business, from attracting clients to using your site to manage bookings or to sell products and services and accept payments.
How can I keep my website up to date?
There are a few things you can do to keep your website up to date:
Update your content regularly. This includes adding new blog posts, articles and other content to your website.
Fix any errors or bugs. If you find any errors or bugs on your website, fix them as soon as possible.
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly. More and more people are using their mobile devices to access the internet, so it is important to make sure your website is mobile-friendly.
Promote your website. Let people know about your website by promoting it on social media, in your email newsletter and in other ways.
How can I create a website for free?
With a website builder, such as Wix, you can choose to create a website for free. This will include access to templates, hosting and advanced security features. You can also upgrade to a premium plan to register a domain name and benefit from 24/7 customer support.
How long does it take to make a website?
In general, anywhere from one to six months depending on the type of website you make and how you choose to create it. If you do it yourself, with a website builder you can set your own time frame and work reasonably fast. If you choose to work with a web designer and/or developer, it often takes longer. Learn more about how long it takes to build a website and how long does it take to make a Wix website.
Do I need technical or coding knowledge to build a website?
If you use a website builder, like Wix, so no. You can choose from several customizable templates for every type of website, and use its intuitive drag-and-drop features and editor to make a website from scratch.
What are the most effective ways to monetize a website?
Popular ways to monetize a website include affiliate marketing, display ads with Google Adsense, sponsored content or subscription content. The strategy you choose to make money from your website will depend very much on your target audience. It's also best practice to test different strategies and diversify how you monetize your site.
How to make a website for your business?
When it comes to making a business website, choosing the right website builder is crucial. Whether you want to make your own website with a drag-and-drop builder from templates, or have your site built by a web developer and designer, choose a website builder, like Wix. Enterprise-grade hosting and security make it a good choice for any type or size of business website.
How to start a website?
Starting a website begins with choosing what type of website you want to setup and why. Then you'll need to decide on the best website builder for your needs. Choose the right one and setting up a website, including its hosting, domain name and security, is taken care of for you.
What are some top tips for building a website?
Start with a clear purpose for your website
Choose a customizable template
Opt for a clean website design with clear navigation
Use good images and optimized content in general
Make sure your site is mobile friendly
Include essential pages, such as a homepage, Contact Us
Optimize for SEO and test it before publishing
What are some good website builders for beginners?
Wix is a popular choice for beginners due to their user-friendly drag-and-drop interfaces, extensive templates and built-in features like e-commerce and SEO tools
How to make sure that my website is secure from the start?
Choose a reputable hosting provider, or website builder with robust security measures. Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication. Check your site comes with an SSL certificate to encrypt data. Regularly update software and plugins to patch vulnerabilities.
How do I get people to visit my website?
Here are some popular ways drive traffic to your website:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO: Optimize your website content with relevant keywords to rank higher in search results. With Wix yiu can use the in-built SEO assistant to help you do this.
Social media marketing: Share your website's content on social media platforms to reach a wider audience. You might need to repurpose it in order to fit out social media users consumer content.
Create a blog: Create valuable and engaging content that people will want to share and link to.
Paid advertising: Invest in targeted ads on platforms like Google or social media.
What is DIY website design?
DIY website design lets you create a professional website without hiring developers. Using easy to use drag-and-drop builders like Wix, you can select website templates, customize layouts add content, and launch a site from scratch. It's affordable and requires no coding knowledge, perfect for beginners with limited budgets.
What are common mistakes to avoid when building a website from scratch?
When creating your website, focus on both form and function. Avoid neglecting user experience (UX), prioritizing looks over usability, overlooking accessibility, skipping SEO setup or failing to test your site before launch. Paying attention to these areas helps you build a website that works for your visitors and your goals.