- Mar 30
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Build your website, your way with Wix Harmony →
Here’s something every first-time creator should know: the language of web design has changed. It’s no longer about code or complex grid systems. It’s about your own words, how you use them, and your personal taste.
Take Wix Harmony, for example, our new hybrid editor where creating a website is far from a technical chore. Instead, you simply chat with your personal AI agent, Aria, and use intuitive drag-and-drop tools whenever you want to go DIY.
You don’t need to be a prompt engineer or a design pro to succeed. You just need to know how to communicate your vision.
So, if you're wondering how to build a website from scratch using a mix of AI and manual design, let’s get down to it. Here’s my advice on creating strong prompts for Wix Harmony to help you design the powerful website you need.
5 prompting tips for anyone using AI to build a website
Prompting isn't about learning a new language; it’s about bridging the gap between the business in your head and the website on your screen. These five prompt tips for creating a new website will help you get there.
01. Share your secret sauce
A common mistake first-time creators make with AI web design is withholding the insider info only they know: the little details that set them apart, what’s unique about their offering, their specific services, their key benefits.
Aria is powered by Wix's deep design expertise built from over 300 million sites—but it still can't invent what makes your business special.
Here's an example of two AI prompts for website building. One is too vague to be useful, and the other is packed with the kind of secret sauce we just talked about.
Prompt 1: “Make me a website for my ballet studio.”
Prompt 2: "I run a ballet studio in Austin called Pointe & Grace. We offer classes for adults and kids ages 4+, from beginner to advanced. What makes us different is our small class sizes—max 10 students—and our focus on classical technique in a warm, non-intimidating environment. I need visitors to see our schedule, meet the instructors and sign up for a trial class. The business has an elegant but approachable feel.”
Some additional advice here: Your prompts don’t have to be sophisticated. Feel free to use bullet points, scratch notes or half-formed thoughts. Aria is built to understand you, so forget about perfect formatting and grammar. Just get your ideas out of your head and into your prompt.
02. Move beyond “pretty” and focus on purpose
A great website is about more than just its look and feel. When you prompt, give a general direction across all aspects of the site. Think about the structure you want, the layout and functionality.
Do you need a multi-page setup with a dedicated blog? Does your layout need to prioritize a large gallery of your portfolio? Should the main functionality revolve around a booking system or an eCommerce store?
You can get the result you want by saying something like “I want a simple one-page layout that focuses on my contact form” or “I need a complex structure that highlights my different service tiers.”
03. Iterate in conversation
Remember that when you’re working with an AI agent like Aria, you’re in a conversation. That means you don’t have to craft the perfect prompt in ChatGPT or any other LLM before coming to the editor. Nor do you need to stuff everything into your first prompt.
It’s just the starting point. And once you're inside the editor, it's really helpful to bounce ideas off Aria and make AI or manual adjustments as you go. You can even click on any element within the canvas, and then ask Aria to edit it, rather than having to describe where the element is.
The tools are built for iteration so get the conversation flowing.
04. Be specific when something’s wrong
Just like a human designer, AI performs best when the feedback is clear. If a conversation is going off track because the instructions were unclear or too broad, it’s best to rein things in.
My go-to “correction prompt” is simple: be specific about what’s wrong, not just that it’s wrong. Instead of “I don't like this,” try “The layout feels too cluttered. Simplify the homepage to focus on just the hero section and services. Keep the color palette but reduce the number of sections."
Point at the problem and suggest the direction to avoid any unnecessary back-and-forth.
05. Let AI surprise you
It can be tempting to try to dictate exact layouts and pixel-level details, and if that’s your thing, go for it. But the best results often come when you leave room for creative interpretation.
If you feel stuck or that your final design is missing a bit of flair, ask Aria to check for creative blind spots or add some unexpected visual elements that match your brand’s energy.
Think prompts like these:
“My portfolio page is missing a ‘wow’ factor. What elements or sections would you add to make this look more premium?”
“My homepage feels a bit flat. Surprise me with some unexpected visual elements that match my brand.”
“I've added all my content, but the site is missing something. What would you add to make it feel more engaging?"
Give it a go. You might be surprised at how a fresh perspective can take a site from good to unforgettable.
While you’re here: Preserving your creativity in the age of AI website building
Your taste still matters most
As AI in web creation continues to evolve, the gap between what you describe and what you get will keep shrinking, and the back-and-forth to get a polished result will take less time.
But the truth is, while AI can generate a solid website for you, knowing whether the result actually serves your business goals—that’s human.
If there’s only one takeaway from this blog article, it’s this: You don’t need to be a designer or a prompt engineer. You just need to be clear about what your business needs and willing to iterate.
So, jump in, tell Aria about your business and enjoy the collaboration.
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