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- Best website builders for graphic designers: what pros are using in 2026
Design high-end sites with efficiency on Wix Studio. Start creating today → For graphic designers , a website builder isn't just about ease of use, it’s about creativity without restrictions. Finding the right platform can feel like a balancing act between speed, control and visual precision. You want full website design freedom without spending hours on manual tweaks or compromising your aesthetic. And let’s be real, first impressions matter. Forbes reports that half of internet users consider a website’s design. That means the sites you build don’t just showcase your work, they shape how potential clients perceive your brand. That’s exactly why choosing the best website builder for graphic designers is so important. You need a platform that goes beyond basic website templates , something that supports your process, keeps your visuals consistent and helps bring bold ideas to life. Here, we’ll break down the best website builders for graphic designers. Whether you’re a freelance graphic designer or work for an agency, one is built to help you publish work that feels distinctly you. So, whether you’re starting from scratch, comparing top platforms or testing out an AI website builder to speed things up with AI design , you’re in the right place. Ready to learn how to build a website that reflects your unique style? These top picks for graphic design websites will inspire you to do just t hat TL;DR: best website builders for graphic designers You wouldn’t start a project without sketching out the vision first—same goes for choosing a web site builder. Before we dive into the full list, here’s a high-level look at what separates the website design ideas from the rest when it comes to graphic design. The right platform gives you more than just a canvas, it gives you the tools to scale your creativity, refine your voice and even explore how to make money as a graphic designer . Whether you're: Showcasing a client-ready design portfolio Figuring out how to start a graphic design blog to grow your audience Building a freelance graphic design brand or launching a full creative business Testing out graphic design business names and services to see what resonates The best website builders support the full picture—from layout to launch. That’s why Wix Studio , with its powerful Wix Studio features , is included in this list as a top choice for designers who want total creative control combined with robust business and collaboration tools. How we chose the best website builders for graphic designers Criteria Why it’s important for graphic designers Design flexibility Full control over layout, typography and color to match your brand style or client projects. Templates for graphic design websites High-quality, niche-relevant templates that serve as strong starting points for freelance graphic design and studio sites. Customization without code Intuitive editors or AI website builders that allow detailed customization—no coding required. Portfolio & blog features Built-in tools to showcase work and start a graphic design blog that supports SEO and personal branding. Ecommerce & monetization Support for selling products, prints, or services—ideal for those exploring how to make money as a graphic designer. Speed & SEO tools Fast load times, mobile optimization and built-in SEO features to boost discoverability and professionalism. Scalability for business growth Tools and plans that support growth—from personal sites to full graphic design business operations. "As a designer, staying efficient and adaptable is a must. That’s why finding the best website builders for designers can be a total game-changer. Go for platforms that make collaboration easy, provide design tools that feel like an extension of your creativity and make client handoffs smooth and hassle-free." - Tal Ashtar, graphic designer at Wix Why graphic designers need website builders with specialized tools For graphic designers, building a website isn’t just about putting content online. It’s about shaping a cohesive, immersive experience that blends form and function. Every layout choice, typeface and interaction is intentional, especially for those working in brand design , exploring different graphic design styles or building a platform to share graphic design tips . That level of control and detail requires more than a one-size-fits-all approach to website development . To deliver standout designs at scale, the best website builders for designers need to offer tools that meet their standards and match the way they think. Different types of designers —from illustrators to branding specialists—bring a unique blend of creativity and design thinking to web creation. The best builders should keep up with that mindset, not hold it back. “Graphic designers don’t want to fight with their tools, they want tools that fight for their vision. The best website builders give you room to experiment, stay on-brand and actually enjoy the build process.” - Roy Wax, PMM at Wix Studio The creativity designers bring to web creation A web designer approaches a project with a visual mindset. Instead of relying on rigid templates, you think in grids, white space, typography and hierarchy. Whether you’re showcasing graphic design ideas, building a portfolio or even planning on starting a blog , your website isn’t just a container—it’s your canvas for storytelling. That’s why the best website builders for graphic design portfolios give you precise control over layout, color systems, responsive templates and micro‑interactions that bring your vision to life. Regardless if you’re focusing on building dynamic website designs, sharing a personal project or experimenting with how to make a storyboard , you need a platform that supports high-end visuals, custom interactions and refined responsiveness across breakpoints—without sacrificing website performance , accessibility or SEO features . Limitations of generic website builders Many of the best website builders promise simplicity, but when it comes to creative flexibility, they often fall short. Generic templates, inflexible layout tools and limited styling options can quickly box in your creativity, especially when working with evolving graphic design trends or trying to maintain a unique brand identity across projects. Without features like reusable components, responsive control or full design system support, even simple tasks can become time-consuming. And when a platform doesn’t support great design, it limits your ability to deliver your best work across projects and client types. Features that graphic designers want in a website builder A strong platform should help bring your ideas to life—not get in the way. Graphic designers typically look for: Feature Why it's important Grid & layout control Ensures alignment and balance throughout the site Advanced typography Lets you fine-tune type styles, line heights and responsive behavior Design system support Makes it easy to apply consistent styles and scale designs Color management Helps maintain accessible, brand-aligned palettes Custom breakpoints Offers full control over how designs adapt across devices Built-in animations & effects Adds polish and depth without custom code High performance output Ensures that beautiful designs also load fast and rank well With the right tools, designers can stop adapting to generic platforms—and start building websites that not only reflect their unique style, but also deliver high-impact website design for small business clients and serve as a source of website design inspiration for others in the creative space. 12 Best website builders for graphic designers Choosing the right website builder means finding a platform that aligns with how you work and what you want to create. Below, we’ve reviewed the top options for graphic designers in 2026. From flexible all-rounders to specialized platforms, find the website builder that suits your creative workflow. Wix Studio Wix GoDaddy Duda Webflow Framer Jimdo SITE123 Shopify Dorik Web.com WordPress 01. Wix Studio Wix Studio is a website building platform for professional designers, developers and marketers. With powerful Wix Studio design capabilities, an intuitive CMS for designers and robust business tools, it empowers freelancers, agencies and Wix Studio developers to build, manage and scale exceptional websites with maximum efficiency. At its core, Wix Studio is one of the best responsive website builders that combines a powerful editor with advanced layout tools, a collaborative workspace and scalable Wix Studio business solutions . You get complete control over grids, typography, animations and interactions, plus the ability to build reusable components and design systems that stay consistent across every project. Thanks to Wix headless architecture and support for custom Wix apps , developers have flexibility to extend functionality as needed. Best for: Professional designers, developers and marketers who want total design freedom—without the constraints of traditional platforms. Best features: A visual editor built for design logic: Wix Studio’s advanced editor was built specifically with graphic designers in mind. You can drag, drop, align and layer with full creative control or use an intuitive grid-based layout to keep your compositions structured and consistent across breakpoints. Layout tools like stack, dock and padding controls make it easy to finesse spacing and alignment without hacks. Responsive design: Set custom breakpoints, scale elements proportionally and tweak layouts across devices—all without touching a single line of code. The Studio Editor was built to handle design-first thinking, so your sites look polished at every screen size. The Studio Editor works with a cascade system, meaning changes you make on larger breakpoints trickle down to smaller breakpoints, but changes on smaller breakpoints don't affect larger breakpoints. Reusable templates & widgets: Save and reuse custom sections, website design templates and widgets across multiple sites. This is a great tool to speed up the design process as it lets you save color palettes, typography styles and designed sections and elements. The Site Styles panel is a one-stop shop to manage the site typography, colors, page transitions and max width. Creating a theme for your client's site is a great, holistic way to save time and ensure the design is consistent Figma-to-Studio: Wix Stu dio’s official Figma plugin makes it easy to turn your static designs into fully editable websites without redrawing or rebuilding. With just a few clicks, you can import entire layouts directly from Figma into Studio, where your sections, containers, stacks and grids are preserved as real web structures. Typography, colors and spacing styles come through intact, giving you a consistent design system from canvas to live site. Code-free animations & effects: Add movement, interactivity and flair with a wide range of built-in effects—from parallax to scroll-based animation. Studio also includes tools like WebGL and Text Marquee to help you bring brand stories to life without any use of code. Integrations with tools like Lottie and Rive make it easy to build motion-rich, standout experiences without leaving the platform or installing anything extra. Creative control with custom CSS: You can fine-tune elements with custom CSS directly in the editor. Designers who like to blur the line between visual and technical design can push layouts even further, while keeping everything inside one workflow. Native business solutions: Wix Studio eCommerce supports online store creation , service booking sites and digital sales. You can customize product galleries, checkout flows and customer emails visually, while still tapping into more advanced tools like automations and app integrations when needed. Wix Studio business solutions include bookings, events, memberships and selling subscriptions—all seamlessly integrated with the core eCommerce system and available through a single, unified backend, with no plug-ins and no need to add custom code. Pre-designed assets: Wix Studio comes with pre-built sections, a wireframe generator and components to help you move fast without starting from scratch. Build your own templates, reuse your own elements across pages and customize everything so it stays on brand. You can even turn any vector file into a custom cursor for added detail. AI tools that support (not replace) your creativity: Wix Studio AI features smart content suggestions, AI-generated sections and tools that act as a design assistant that helps you get started or fill in the blanks—without ever taking over your vision. Accessibility: Graphic designers must keep in mind accessibility when designing and building websites. That means font size, color contrast, content hierarchy and more. Wix Studio’s Accessibility Wizard scans your client’s site and detects and fixes issues. No-code CMS: Whether you're managing case studies, portfolios or blog content, the no-code CMS lets you design around structured data—keeping layouts dynamic, content-driven and easy to update for you or your client. Team collaboration suite: The Studio Editor is a collaborative real-time platform that lets teams work simultaneously on the same site. You can edit the layout, design and content of pages or elements without overriding people's actions. Changes made by other stakeholders appear in the Studio Editor within seconds. You can also see who's working on each element or page. This minimizes conflicts and allows you to collaborate efficiently with team members and site collaborators. Client collaboration & handover: Enable 'content mode' so clients can safely update content without breaking layouts. Leave live comments directly on the canvas for fast feedback. Generate automated performance reports. When it's time to hand off, use a personalized client kit to make the transition clear and smooth. Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $19/month (billed annually), with month-to-month billing also available. Free: without a custom domain or try any plan subject to a 14-day money-back guarantee. Basic ($19/month) : Build online brands. Standard ($27/month): Accept online payments. Plus ($34/month): Capture leads and boost sales. Elite ($159/month): Scale business growth. Enterprise (price available upon request): Custom pricing for large-scale businesses with advanced Wix Studio enterprise features. “Wix Studio was built for designers who think beyond templates. You’re not just dragging elements onto a page, you’re building real systems, applying brand consistency at scale and working the way creative professionals actually work. Whether you're managing client projects or scaling a creative business, Wix Studio gives you the freedom to design without limits and the infrastructure to back it up. It’s more than a builder, it’s a platform built around how designers think.” - Roy Wax, PMM at Wix Studio Curious how Wix Studio stacks up against other platforms? Explore these comparisons: Wix Studio vs. Wix | Wix Studio vs. Shopify | Wix Studio vs. Framer | Wix Studio vs. Elementor | Wix Studio vs. Webflow | Wix Studio vs. Duda | Wix Studio vs. WordPress 02. Wix Wix is a beginner-frie ndly, drag-and-drop website builder known for its ease of use, versatility and visual flexibility. With over 2,000 professionally designed templates spanning nearly every industry, there’s truly something for everyone. Whether you’re designing a personal brand or building sites for clients, Wix makes it easy to get started and look professional from day one. Often ranked among the best website builders for small businesses , Wix offers a fast, intuitive setup process that lets you launch with confidence, no coding or complicated onboarding required. It’s ideal for self-creators, freelancers and business owners who want to make a bold first impression and build a standout web presence without needing a background in design or development. Best for: Self-creators, freelancers and small businesses who want to launch fast, look professional and grow their brand with minimal setup or tech expertise. Best features: Visual editor: Wix’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor features rulers, layers, snap-to-objects and overlapping controls, allowing pixel-level placement. It offers precise manual layout control and robust element alignment. Optimized for mobile: Automatic mobile optimization and a separate mobile editor ensure good cross-device performance. With the mobile mode you can tweak layouts for small screens. Pre-designed assets & templates: With over 900 templates—including eCommerce website templates , portfolio website templates and business website templates —and extensive UI blocks, you can quickly assemble and customize sites. Animations & visual effects: Apply entrance website animations , hover interactions, Lightbox effects, video overlays and more, all without using code. AI tools: Wix AI includes a robust set of AI tools for business aimed at simplifying web design , content creation and SEO. The AI site builder can generate a full website layout based on a brief description, including suggested sections, copy and images. Designers can also use AI tools to create and edit written content, generate blog posts or product descriptions and get real-time suggestions for layouts and page structure. Built-in business & growth tools: From online scheduling and free eCommerce website to email marketing and CRM , Wix includes business support features natively. There’s also a vast app marketplace for added functionality. Accessibility features: Built-in website accessibility features like skip navigation, reduced-motion modes and the Accessibility Wizard make compliance easier. Client & team collaboration: Wix includes site roles, permissions, basic content editing and 24/7 support. Pricing: Free plan available. Wix Premium Plans start at $17/month (billed annually) with month-to-month billing also available. Free: Create and publish a website with Wix branding and a Wix subdomain. Light ($17/month): Connect to a custom domain, remove Wix ads and get 2 GB of storage, great for personal sites. Core ($29/month): Includes everything in Light plus increased storage (up to 50 GB), a free logo and basic analytics, ideal for small businesses. Business ($39/month): All Core features plus more storage (100 GB), advanced analytics and eCommerce tools , perfect for growing online stores. Business Elite ($159/month): Wix’s most powerful plan: includes priority support, maximum storage (up to 1 TB) and scalable performance for high-traffic sit es. 03. GoDaddy GoDaddy’s builder is fast, simple and designed for non-technical users. It suits designers working with small service-based businesses who prioritize speed over deep customization. Best for: Designers creating straightforward websites with built-in marketing tools and fast launch timelines. Best features: A visual editor designed for ease : GoDaddy’s editor is block-based and intuitive, with drag-and-drop modules that make it easy to build pages quickly. Responsive design : GoDaddy websites are mobile-friendly and layouts adjust automatically across devices. Business solutions : GoDaddy includes a suite of built-in business tools, from online appointments to eCommerce and email marketing. These features are integrated and easy to manage. AI tools : With GoDaddy you can generate full site layouts based on a few prompts. The platform's AI tools offer content suggestions for headlines, business descriptions and product listings. Pricing: Free trial available. Plans start from around $9.99/month (billed annually). Basic ($9.99/month): Get your business moving with a website, marketing and payments. Premium ($14.99): Take online appointments and boost your marketing strategies . Commerce ($20.99): Sell anywhere, your online store, popular marketplaces and in-store point of sale. 04. Duda Duda is designed for freelancers and agencies managing client sites at scale. It offers flexible layouts, responsive editing and strong collaboration features. Best for: Designers and agencies who want responsive control, efficient client collaboration and structured workflows. Best features: A visual editor : Duda’s editor is clean and easy to navigate, with support for Flex-based layouts that allow for more precise design control than many standard builders. Designers who are comfortable with Flexbox concepts will find it intuitive, even if not fully customizable down to the pixel. Responsive design : Duda supports responsive editing with device-specific views (desktop, tablet, mobile) and you can fine-tune each breakpoint manually. Reusable templates & widgets : You can save and reuse sections, widgets and entire site structures. Duda also offers shared libraries and team assets. Design systems can be created with the Site Theme panel, keeping your design consistent across the website. Creative control with custom CSS : Duda gives designers access to a Developer Mode, where custom CSS can be added at the element or global level. Client collaboration & handover : Duda’s team-focused tools include customizable user permissions, site comments for contextual feedback and asset sharing to save time and maintain brand consistency across projects. Clients can also be given controlled editing access to specific website sections through customizable permissions, as well as leave comments on the site for simplified communication. For client management, Duda provides white label solutions, automatic client reports and native client billing tools. Clients can also be given controlled editing access to specific website sections through customizable permissions, as well as leave comments on the site for simplified communication. Flex mode: Duda supports efficient team workflows with asset and template sharing, granular user permissions and contextual site comments for streamlined feedback. AI tools : Duda’s AI Assistant can generate a full multi-page site or individual pages and sections based on client details. You can also use it to generate SEO metadata, image alt text, titles, paragraphs and product descriptions. Pricing: Free trial available. Paid plans start at $19/year (billed annually), with month-to-month billing also available. Basic ($19/month): Offers one website with essential features like hosting, email support and SSL security. Team ($29/month): Collaboration tools for small teams, including client management and team permissions. Agency ($52/month): Designed for growing agencies and includes advanced client features. White label ($149/month): Full branding control, advanced automation and scalable tools. Custom (contact for pricing info): Automate and grow. 05. Webflow Webflow is a robust visual development platform that blends design control with production-grade code output. Designed for professionals, it offers a responsive visual canvas with a dynamic CMS, integrated eCommerce, real-time collaboration and extensive customization capabilities. Best for: Designers and developers who want advanced control through a visual interface, with the option to add code when needed. Best features: Responsive Designer: Webflow’s box-model visual editor gives you full control over layout, spacing and responsive behavior using CSS Grid and Flexbox. Dynamic CMS: Ideal for designers looking to start a blog , create an online portfolio and content-driven sites, Webflow’s CMS supports reference fields, dynamic pages and headless API access. Interactions & animations: Add sophisticated motion, scroll-triggered animations, hover states, parallax, 3D transforms and Lottie support. AI tools: Webflow’s AI-powered site builder generates layouts based on simple prompts. AI features like content rewriting, metadata generation and personalization are also expanding. Team collaboration: Webflow supports real-time content editing for teams, with commenting and design handoff tools. SEO & marketing: Webflow comes with solid website SEO tools like sitemap control, schema editing and alt-text customization. Additional marketing integrations are available via the Webflow Marketplace. Ecommerce: Webflow supports custom checkout flows, digital and physical products, POS system integration and limited native payment gateways. Accessibility: Webflow supports website accessibility best practices by giving creators the tools to build inclusive, WCAG-compliant websites. It offers an accessibility checklist that outlines steps for creating accessible experiences, covering everything from semantic HTML to ARIA roles, color contrast and keyboard navigation. Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $14.00/month (billed annually), with month-to-month billing also available. Starter (free): Suitable for those just getting started with Webflow. Basic ($14/month): Includes a custom domain and 10 GB bandwidth. CMS ($23/month): Ideal for blogs and content-driven sites. Business ($39/month): Designed for higher traffic websites and includes faster website performance . Enterprise (custom pricing): Tailored solutions for large-scale needs. 06. Framer Framer is a website builder that merges visual design and performance with an intuitive Figma-like editing environment. It’s built for designers who want to rapidly prototype, animate and publish polished websites, without relying on templates or dev handoff. Best for: Freelancers, creative teams and designers who prioritize high-fidelity visuals, interactive layouts and a smooth prototyping-to-launch workflow. Best features: Visual canvas: Framer offers a design-first experience with side-by-side breakpoint editing, grid-based layouts and an infinite canvas. Manual layout control mimics Figma’s UX, making it intuitive for graphic designers. Motion & interaction design: Add scroll animations, hover effects, Lottie files and creative transitions without code. Effects like press, loop and drag are built in. CMS & scalability: Framer’s built-in CMS supports dynamic pages, structured content and up to 100,000 CMS items. Real-time collaboration: Teams can co-edit designs live, leave comments and manage roles and permissions directly in the editor. SEO & optimization: Framer offers built-in SEO tools like automated meta tags, XML sitemaps, alt text and indexing control. Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $5/month (billed annually). Free: Start designing and publishing with Framer at no cost. Mini ($5/month): Design and publish simple landing pages. Basic ($15/month) : Build a basic, functional website. Pro ($30/month) : Access advanced features to grow your business. Launch ($75/month): Get tools tailored for launching your business. Scale ($200/month): Scale your site with powerful business tools. Enterprise (Custom pricing and billing terms): Custom solutions with flexible pricing and support. 07. Jimdo Jimdo is a beginner-friendly platform offering both a classic editor and an AI-powered site generator. It’s ideal for graphic designers who need to launch visually appealing sites quickly. Best for: Solo designers and creative freelancers who want a simple, visual workflow with quick AI assistance. Best features: A simple visual editor: Jimdo provides an intuitive interface with template-based layouts. You'll find basic element alignment tools and automatic color schemes , but no advanced grid logic or layout components like dock, stack or padding controls. Native business solutions: Jimdo includes an online store (up to 100 products), blog features, contact forms and automated SEO tools. Its eCommerce is designed for simplicity, no plugins needed, but more advanced commerce features aren’t available. Pre-designed assets: More than 100 responsive templates cover portfolios, shops and business sites. Templates adapt your logo’s color palette automatically, which is helpful for brand cohesion. AI tools: Jimdo’s AI builder (formerly Dolphin) guides you through a setup wizard: answer questions about your business, choose brand colors and get a draft site with pages, layout, images and copy tailored to your inputs Pricing: Free plan available. Premium plans start at $11/month (billed annually). Jimbo offers two paths: website builder and online store. Website Free: Includes basic features. Website Start ($11/month): For personal websites. Website Grow ($17/month): For business needs, inducing SEO and analytics. 08. SITE123 SITE123 offers a highly streamlined experience, ideal for graphic designers crafting basic websites like a landing page builder , portfolios or small business sites. It’s fast and beginner-friendly, but designers may miss the fine-tuning and responsive tools found in more advanced platforms. Best for: Designers who want a website builder for simple projects and quick launches. Best features: Form-driven editing approach: Choose a template and fill in content via guided steps. This structure ensures clean, consistent layouts—though it lacks grid logic, stack/dock tools or padding controls for detailed alignment. Native business solutions: SITE123 includes built-in eCommerce, blogs, contact form builder and booking systems. These integrated features cover basic business needs but don’t offer the visual customization flexibility of other platforms. AI tools that assist setup: SITE123 offers guided content recommendations and SEO prompts during setup. Pricing: Free plan available. Premium plan costs $12.80/month (billed annually) with four duration options: 3 months, 12 months, 24 months and 36 months. 09. Shopify Shopify is a robust eCommerce platform that has evolved its website builder to support visual design, responsive outputs and developer-level customization. It's a strong contender when your primary goal is building responsive, brand-driven online stores with the flexibility to fine-tune layouts and code when needed. Best for: Designers and agencies specializing in eCommerce who want visual control combined with store functionality. Best features: A visual editor: Shopify’s Online Store 2.0 uses a section-and-block editor within a theme structure. You can drag and rearrange sections like hero banners, product grids or testimonials , though free formula placement (like Studio’s grid/dock tools) isn't possible. This gives a clean, predictable layout for store pages. Responsive design: All Shopify themes are fully responsive. While global breakpoints can't be customized, you can preview and tweak content for mobile, tablet and desktop. Reusable templates & widgets: Shopify sections and blocks are reusable across pages and stored in the theme. Global settings allow branding consistency, but it doesn’t support cross-project design systems like Studio’s templating. Code-free animations & effects: Some themes include built-in slide shows and image zoom effects. Advanced effects like scroll-triggered animation or WebGL are available with custom code or plugins. Custom CSS: Shopify allows full theme editing via CSS/SCSS and liquid templates. Designers comfortable with code can customize under the hood for precise control. Native business solutions: Shopify is built around eCommerce. It supports product catalogs, inventory, variants, discounting, checkout flows, digital goods, subscription services and integrated marketing tools like email campaigns and abandoned-cart retargeting. Pre-designed assets: Shopify’s Theme Store offers ~200 themes (with around a dozen free, rest paid $100‑$500). They’re professionally crafted for ecommerce, covering various industries. AI tools: Shopify’s AI suite, Shopify Magic, generates product descriptions, marketing copy, SEO tags and image background removal. The Sidekick assistant helps with setup steps, content tips and strategy guidance. No-code CMS: Shopify’s core content support is for product pages, blog posts and custom pages. While good for structured eCommerce content, it lacks broader CMS features like nested collections or complex page builders for non-product pages. Client collaboration & handover: Shopify includes roles and permissions and supports staff accounts. Collaboration features rely on the store’s backend; there’s no live canvas commenting or client-edit mode. Creative feedback is generally managed separately. Pricing: Free trial available. Plans start at $29/month (billed annually), with month-to-month billing also available. Basic ($29/month) : Ideal for solo entrepreneurs starting out. Grow ($79/month) : Built for small teams looking to expand. Advanced ($299/month) : Designed for businesses ready to scale. Plus (starts at $2,300/month) : Advanced tools for complex business needs. Enterprise : Custom pricing for high-volume, enterprise-level solutions. 10. Dorik Dorik is a simple yet powerful no-code website builder gaining traction among freelancers and agencies. It emphasizes fast site builds, component-driven design and white‑label capabilities, making it a solid pick for designers needing deliverable speed without sacrificing branding or client-centric workflows. Best for: Designers and small creative studios looking for a white‑label, lightweight builder that blends ease of use with agency-grade features. Best features: A visual editor built for rapid design: Dorik’s drag-and-drop interface lets you build structured layouts using pre-designed UI blocks and templates. It doesn’t offer the granular grid and layout logic of Studio’s advanced system, but provides clean, repeatable building blocks ideal for fast, consistent design. Responsive design: Mobile-friendly by default, Dorik auto-adjusts layouts based on device viewing. Almost every component is automatically responsive, yet you can adjust or change them according to your preference on different devices. ֿReusable templates & widgets: Dorik lets you save and reuse sections, blocks and even full-page layouts, making it easy to maintain consistency across multiple projects and speed up your design process. You can create your own custom design library to use again and again without starting from scratch. Custom CSS/Code export: Customers on paid plans can inject custom CSS or export static HTML/CSS/JS—a nice option for designers needing deeper control or alternate hosting. AI tools: Dorik’s AI Assistant can generate an entire site from a prompt, along with text and images. That’s useful for quick prototypes or initial layouts. White-label CMS: Dorik also offers a fully white-labeled CMS experience. You can deliver sites under your own brand, create custom client dashboards, provide branded documentation and even handle billing—all without relying on external tools or code. Pricing: 14 days free trial and 14 days money back guaranteed available. Plans start at $18/month (billed annually) with month-to-month billing also available. Personal ($18/month): Includes one domain and access to AI website builder. Business ($39/month): With 3-10 custom domains and up to 10 collaborators. Agency (custom pricing): For unlimited domains, pages and collaborators. 11. Web.com Web.com is built for simplicity and speed, ideal when you need to launch a clean, responsive website quickly. It offers a practical drag‑and‑drop interface and a large template library, making it suitable for small business owners or individuals seeking a professional look without the overhead of complex design tools. Best for: Solo entrepreneurs looking for a fast, affordable online presence with minimal fuss. Best features: A visual editor: The Web.com editor offers a straightforward drag‑and‑drop experience, with basic alignment tools and section layouts. It’s simple and accessible, though it lacks the granular grid control, reusable component libraries and design-system styling you'd find in more design-centric platforms. Responsive design: Every site on Web.com is mobile-responsive by default. Any changes made in the desktop editor auto-adjust for smaller screens, and there’s also a built-in mobile editing mode that allows quick tweaks to the mobile layout. Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $4.99/month (billed annually), with month-to-month billing also available. Website ($1.99/month): Includes access to the AI-powered website builder, free domain for one year, business email and SSL Certificate . Website + Marketing ($3.99/month): With additional social media and email marketing, Googly My Business listing and an appointment scheduler. Ecommerce ($9.99/month): Includes online store features and marketplace integrations. 12. WordPress WordPress is a flexible, customizable and completely open-source website builder. For graphic designers comfortable working with themes, page builders or a bit of code, it offers control over both content and presentation. Best for: Experienced designers who want creative control, plugin flexibility and full ownership over their sites. Best features: A visual editor, powered by themes & plugins: Out of the box, WordPress uses the Gutenberg block editor, which allows drag-and-drop layout building with responsive blocks. For more advanced design workflows, most professionals turn to page builders like Elementor, Bricks or Divi, each offering their own visual editing tools, grid controls, global styles and reusable components. Responsive design: Most modern WordPress themes are mobile-responsive by default. Page builders like Elementor and Bricks allow custom breakpoints and per-device editing. Reusable templates & widgets: With the right setup, designers can create reusable templates, global sections and design systems via their chosen builder. However, this is plugin-dependent and not standardized across the WordPress ecosystem. Creative control with custom CSS & code: Designers can inject CSS, HTML, JavaScript or PHP anywhere—either via theme files or safely within visual builder tools. Native business solutions: WordPress supports eCommerce, bookings, memberships, multilingual content, gated content and SEO tools, all through plugins. Pre-designed assets: Thousands of themes and template kits are available (free and premium). Many include global style settings and are compatible with visual builders. No-code CMS: WordPress’s content management system is robust. It supports dynamic content, custom post types, fields, taxonomies and content relationships. Client collaboration & handover: WordPress supports user roles and permissions and staging sites can be created with most managed hosts. Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $10/month (billed annually), with m onth-to-month billing also available. Free: Basic features with WordPress.com subdomain. Personal ($4/month): Includes free domain for one year, removes WordPress.com ads and offers email live chat support. Premium ($8/month): Adds monetization tools, premium themes and advanced customization. Business ($25/month): Offers plugin installation, advanced SEO features and the ability to install plugins. Commerce ($45/month): Provides features for online stores, including payment gateways and premium integrations. Enterprise (starts at $25,000/year): For businesses that require more scalability and data-driven capabilities. Editor’s note: all pricing and information are current as of 07/26/2025. How to evaluate a website builder for graphic design needs Choosing the right website builder isn’t just about what looks good on the surface, it’s about how well the platform supports your creative process, adapts to your workflow and fits your business model. For graphic designers, that means looking beyond templates and pricing and digging into how each tool handles design freedom, responsiveness, integrations and scalability. Use the comparison table below to evaluate the platforms featured in this guide, based on what matters most for creative professionals. Website builder Customization flexibility Design software integration Responsiveness Budget & licensing Wix Studio High Figma import Advanced (custom breakpoints, cascading) Free plan available; premium plans for pro use Wix Moderate None Basic (separate mobile editor) Free plan available; tiered pricing GoDaddy Low None Automatic only Affordable; business-focused Duda Moderate None Manual per device Agency pricing; white label available Webflow High Figma-to-Webflow plugin Advanced Free plan available; tiered pricing Framer High Figma-to-Framer plugin Advanced Free plan available; tiered pricing Jimdo Low None Automatic only Budget-friendly; limited features SITE123 Low None Automatic only Very low-cost; limited control Shopify Moderate None Theme-based High-tier eCommerce plans Dorik Moderate None Basic Low-cost for personal sites Web.com Low None Automatic only Entry-level pricing; upsells common WordPress High Third-party plugins Advanced (theme/plugin dependent) Open-source; hosting costs vary Customization flexibility At the heart of every designer’s process is control. Whether it’s adjusting grid spacing, refining typography or building reusable elements, your platform should give you the freedom to shape every detail. Look for tools that support custom CSS, grid-based layout systems, reusable components and full control over animations and interactivity. Integration with design software Designers don’t work in a vacuum. They have an entire suite of design tools, including Figma, Illustrator and other creative tools. A builder that integrates directly with your design software can save hours of rework and ensure visual consistency. Native Figma-to-web flows, in particular, can help maintain spacing, structure and styling from design mockups to live sites. If direct integration isn’t available, consider how easily your designs can be translated into the builder’s system manually. Mobile-responsive control The best responsive website builders offer great design adapts intentionally across devices. So having the ability to control layouts across breakpoints is essential. Platforms that offer custom breakpoints and cascading behavior let you design once, then refine per screen size. Builders that only offer automatic responsiveness may be faster for setup, but they often limit your ability to polish the experience on mobile or tablet. Budget and licensing options Whether you're freelancing or running a studio, budget matters, especially if you’re managing multiple projects or clients. Some builders offer generous free plans or pay-as-you-publish pricing. Others are better suited for agencies, with client billing options or white-label models. It’s also worth checking if premium features (like custom code or CMS access) are locked behind higher-tier plans. Choose a platform that aligns not just with your creative needs, but also your business model. Explore some of the best website builders: Best website builders for marketing agencies Best website builders for SEO Best website builders for freelancers Best one page website builders Best AI website builders Best resume website builders Best website builders for writers Best website builders for creatives Best website builders for consultants Best booking website builders Best website builders Canada Best mobile website builders Best website builders for coaches Choosing the best website builder for graphic designers At the end of the day, the best website builder is the one that fits your creative process, not the other way around. If you’re a designer who thinks in grids, layers and interactions, you’ll want a platform that gives you the freedom to design with intention, not just fill out a template. That means looking for tools that offer responsive control, reusable design systems and visual precision, so your work feels polished on every screen. That’s where Wix Studio stands out. Built specifically for professionals, it offers a design-first environment with advanced layout tools, responsive control, reusable components and seamless Figma integration. Of course, depending on your focus, other platforms may suit your workflow too. Shopify is a strong choice for eCommerce-focused designers, Duda is built for multi-client management and WordPress offers unmatched plugin flexibility. But if design precision, scalability and creative freedom are your top priorities, Wix Studio is a platform worth building on. Sign up for Wix Studio for free and start building fully responsive websites with powerful, professional-grade tools. Best website builders for graphic designers FAQ What is the best website builder for graphic designers? The best website builder depends on your workflow and creative needs. For professional designers who want full control over layout, responsiveness and scalability, Wix Studio stands out with its design-first editor, advanced layout tools and seamless Figma integration. What do graphic designers use to create websites? Many graphic designers use professional website builders like Wix Studio, Webflow, WordPress (with page builders) or Shopify for eCommerce. These platforms allow designers to implement their visual concepts without having to rely on developers for every change. Which platform is best for graphic designers? Platforms like Wix Studio are purpose-built for designers, offering high-end creative control without a steep learning curve. If you're looking for a balance of flexibility, speed and scalability—especially for client work—Studio is a top choice. Which website builders offer advanced design tools? Advanced design tools can include grid-based layout systems, custom breakpoints, CSS editing, design system support and Figma-to-web workflows. Wix Studio, WordPress (with visual builders like Elementor) and Duda are among the platforms offering these types of features to varying degrees. Can designers use website builders for client projects? Yes. Many designers and agencies rely on website builders to deliver client work more efficiently. Platforms like Wix Studio and Duda even offer white-label tools, client handoff kits and collaboration features to streamline the design-to-launch process and ensure your clients can manage their site confidently post-launch. What features should a graphic designer look for in a website builder? Look for layout flexibility, responsive control, reusable design components, custom CSS capabilities, a no-code CMS and native business tools. Seamless integration with your design software (like Figma) and features that support accessibility and scalability are also key—especially if you’re working on multiple client sites.
- Product photography 101: how to take product photos that sell
A picture is worth a thousand words—but a great product photo can be worth even more to your bottom line. In this article, we’ll cover essential tips for taking the best product photos. Discover how to start an online store that captures your brand in the best light. Get inspired by eCommerce website design ideas. Essential equipment for product photography A whopping 83% of surveyed consumers in the U.S. say that product images are very influential to their purchase decisions, ranking images even higher than product reviews (75%). First thing’s first. To produce quality images, you need to have the right equipment on hand (no matter your type of business ). You don’t necessarily need to whip out a pricey DSLR camera to get started. A few basic equipment will do: A smartphone: The most recent generations of smartphones have excellent photography capabilities. Not only are they equipped with hardware that’ll allow for high-quality, detailed photographs, but newer phones have tons of features to help optimize your images. In order to maximize quality, spend some time getting to know your phone’s features, including manual controls. Alternatively, you can invest in a budget-friendly camera and lenses that help to capture your items in their full glory. A tripod: A tripod ensures your camera is absolutely level, and it can be set up at a precise height and angle so that all of your images are consistent. If you’re buying a tripod for your smartphone, you can spend between $20 and $60 for a decent one . Once you have your camera set up on a tripod, you can use a countdown timer or a remote (if you have one) to snap pictures without accidentally jostling anything. A light source: Lighting is another key element for successful product photos. While natural light works in some circumstances, this type of lighting can change over the course of a session, so it’s not always optimal for capturing pure product photos that require consistency and detail. While you can invest in professional-grade lighting and flashes, to get started, regular lamps can work. If glare and shadows are too harsh, soften light with a diffuser like a white flat sheet, paper, or white garbage bags. Just be sure that any DIY light diffusers are fire-safe. Another great option to create soft lighting: buy or create your own reflector . A sweep: A sweep is a clean, solid backdrop that removes any visual distractions from the background. It eliminates the line between the table and wall and prevents you from accidentally capturing any blemishes in the background that you didn’t notice with your naked eye. A sweep can be made from a large roll of paper, a piece of posterboard, or a sheet of fabric. You can attach the top of your sweep to a purpose-built frame, the wall, the back of a chair, or the back of a lightbox. A light box (optional): Depending on the size of your products, you may want to place them in a light box (aka a light tent, macro photo studio, or light cube) to ensure they’re positioned optimally between light sources. Light boxes have built-in screens to diffuse light and reduce shadows. There are plenty of online tutorials about how to make low-cost tabletop light boxes, or you can buy one from a camera supply store. Mannequins, stands, or racks (optional): Each of these serve as still, standard props for helping you display items clearly. Use two-sided tape or dabs of glue to hold products in place as needed. Photo editing software: Software programs like Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop can help to sharpen your images even more. They give you access to a wide range of effects, filters, and graphics capabilities. That said, you may not need the full spread of editing features for your work. Take advantages of other options—such as Wixel's photo editor —before splurging. Read also: How to start a business , eCommerce website examples How to take high-quality product photos: 10 expert tips Understand the big picture Create a shot list Master your lighting Play with your angles Choose your background wisely Play with the composition Add accompanying text Be mindful of image file sizes Leverage user-generated content Tap into other visual tools 01. Understand the big picture Knowing how to shoot a good photo and arming yourself with the necessary tools are essential preliminaries—but there’s another crucial step to take prior to snapping pictures: develop an overarching product photo strategy. Setting standards will help ensure quality and consistency, while thinking through all the potential uses for imagery avoids the need to double back and re-shoot items due to lack of planning. Especially if you hire models or photo production help, an efficiently-mapped schedule for a shoot based on strategic needs is essential to keep costs in control. Questions to address include: How will images embody my brand? There are many ways product photos can communicate your brand’s identity. Consider the feeling you want to evoke with each photo, and which color schemes, backgrounds, or props can help you get there. What are the must-haves for every photo? Your product category and your audience may dictate which types of photos are most important. For example, if you sell athletic shoes to dedicated runners, then you’ll likely want to take closeups of the soles and any removable orthotic insoles (as examples) that runners care about. Developing a consistent shot list for every product builds trust: shoppers know they can count on you to communicate vital information in each photo set. What image standards do I need to pay attention to? While creative expression of brand identity is a top priority, you also want your photos to be versatile enough that you don’t need completely different image sets for every channel and marketing opportunity. Think through how your photos will work on mobile, third-party marketplaces (which each have their own image requirements), and various mediums (e.g., print versus digital). 02. Create a shot list With the above considerations in mind, create a shot list. As the name suggests, this is a checklist of all the individual photos you want to take—complete with details on the various angles, arrangement, and settings you want to shoot. Be specific about the intent behind each photo. For example, if you’re photographing handmade pottery, indicate that certain shots are meant to showcase the craftsmanship in the handle of your clay teapot. Consider also the various types of photos you can take: Studio shot: These are the shots that are most often used as the cover photo of an item. They keep the focus squarely on your product. As an example, Sticky Lemon clearly displays its products against a bare, solid colored background. Lifestyle shot : These show products in real-life settings. As opposed to focusing on product details, these images let customers imagine themselves enjoying the product. They can also help customers gauge the size, fit, and use of the product. This is how Sticky Lemon uses lifestyle shots to show the same product as above in use. Close-up shot: Macro photography is a technique that captures beautifully detailed close-ups of your product by allowing your lens to focus on objects that are very close to the lens. It’s great for highlighting intricate products. In the example below, Lionheart shows a crisp closeup of the diamonds on a ring. Group shot: Showcase multiple complementary items. Group photos can be used to show different size options for a single item, or the full assortment of items included in a product kit or collection. COTA Skin uses an attractive group shot to generate interest in its skincare bundle. Demonstrative shot: Similar to a lifestyle photo, demonstrative shots show your product in use. However, these are specifically meant to show how to properly use our item. For example, Ultasmile provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply their whitening strips, complete with photos. 03. Master your lighting No amount of fancy equipment can salvage your images if they’re shot in poor lighting. So, take the time to set up the right shooting area. This can either be a room that has lots of windows, or one spot of your workspace where you can control the lighting easily. Note that there are two main types of lighting that you can use: Soft lighting: Soft lighting creates a delicate, halo-like effect that illuminates the object from all angles. This method will shine light on all the details of the product and eliminate any harsh shadows that can obscure details and edges of the product. This is especially important when photographing three dimensional objects. Hard lighting: Hard lighting adds more contrast between the light and the shadows. In hard light, shadows have harder edges and greater definition. This method is great for adding drama to your photograph and in certain instances can be useful for taking active product photos. Soft lighting is the more commonly used type of product photography lighting. This, as mentioned earlier can be achieved through DIY diffusers, reflectors, or a light box. If you’re using natural lighting, place your product close to the window for softer lighting. Turn off all artificial lighting within your room to avoid competing shadows and coloring. 04. Play with your angles When it comes to photographing your products, getting just the right angle may have huge implications on how the item will be perceived by the shopper. You’ll additionally want to show your products at various angles to compensate for the fact that shoppers can’t observe your physical products themselves. Double Oak Tack , which sells high-end used saddles, takes care to show their saddles at every angle: front, side, back, birds-eye, wide, and close up. 05. Choose your background wisely It goes without saying that you want to pick a background that enhances—and doesn’t detract from—the product itself. A safe bet is to capture your photos against a clean, white background. But some products pop out more against a dark background or help to enhance your branding. If your brand is playful, you may opt to use plenty of bright colors. If you’re going for retro glamor, you may choose black and white or sepia tones instead. The color of your background can evoke various emotions, tying into the principles of color psychology , so try to think about your target audience too. The right background has the power to make your products look expensive—while the wrong one can make them look tacky. Alternatively, some photos will shine against a background that’s more dynamic. For example, Bimber Distillery showcases its whiskey in front of oak barrels. This warms up the overall photo—but since the background is blurred and darkened, the eye still gravitates towards the product first. 06. Play with the composition Composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements in such a way that they complement each other. If you are photographing multiple items together, rearrange them as many times as you can to find the best fit. Sometimes within this process, you might realize that it would be better to photograph your items separately, or vice versa. Consider using props or decorative materials to enhance product qualities or even brand values. Green plants can liven up your food product photo and make your item feel fresh. Or, if you sell sustainably-made soaps, displaying your products with plants in the background on a wood soap dish can show how your brand is aligned with the natural world. If you’re selling products that are small or won’t stand up, use your props to support the product. For example, place a pair of earrings on a jewelry hook, or place a box behind books to keep them standing up. While you can try to minimize the impact this has on your look, you can also lean into it and let the stand add an element of excitement to your product photos. 07. Add accompanying text Once you have your images, you can now safely upload them to your online store. Adding an interesting product description is just as important as the image itself. While it might seem obvious to you, describing your product down to the dimensions, material, and weight is crucial in the purchasing process of your shoppers. Adding text can also help reduce returns and complaints. Keep your text short and to the point. Don’t overcrowd your product pages with unnecessary information that will draw away from the product. If you need some inspiration, look to big companies with a similar look and feel to your store and see how they lay out their product page. Don’t forget to add alt text to all your images. Since Google can’t actually see what your image is all about, you need to explain what the image is by adding alt text. This should be a 2-3 word description of the product. It’s a good idea to use optimized SEO-focused keywords when writing your alt text so that your site will show up on search engines. 08. Be mindful of image file sizes The load speed of your product pages is crucial for both the user experience and eCommerce SEO . And one of the common culprits of slow load times are large file sizes. For this reason, you’ll want to resize your images prior to uploading them on your site. It’s possible that the max width of images on your site is 800 px, but all of your images are twice that size. Try reducing your image to fit the width of your screen (or in developer speak, your “image container” size). You can find what that width is by right clicking on any product image of your site, clicking “Inspect,” and viewing dimensions in the “Styles” panel. Use your editing software, an image resizer or tools like Wix’s built-in image editor. Compressing your images can further help to crunch the file size down. Use free tools like TinyJPG , which aims to reduce your file size without sacrificing quality. 09. Leverage user-generated content Customers want to see themselves represented by the brands they buy, and increasingly, that means selecting models that reflect diverse audiences. Better yet, consider how you can incorporate user-generated content (UGC) on your site, not just on social media. Not only will your products be showcased in a variety of real-life settings, but you’ll demonstrate your commitment to prioritizing customers’ happiness. If those reasons aren’t enough, 80% of surveyed consumers say that they use UGC to make purchase decisions—suggesting that UGC is 6.6x more impactful than branded content. In the example below, TripleRComposites draws attention to a customer’s Instagram handle, rewarding the customer with free promotion while showing their automotive styling parts in action. 10. Tap into other visual tools Still photos have their advantages: they’re easy for shoppers to use and don’t need a lot of internet bandwidth. But as new visual tools emerge, your photo strategy should adapt and complement new offerings. Videos, for one, allow you to incorporate sound and motion into the online shopping experience. From how-to demonstrations to livestream shopping events, videos can help to further convert more shoppers and appeal to buyers with various preferences. Capture both video and photos during catalog shoots, and grab visuals that can be repurposed for multiple channels. Consider also emerging tech like augmented reality. More than 100 million consumers are already shopping with AR, according to Snapchat , which reports 94% higher conversion rates from AR-driven shopping experiences. Platforms like Wix eCommerce support 360-degree photos, which can help you tap into this trend. Discover other eCommerce tech trends that are reshaping the industry. Craft a photo strategy that clicks Ecommerce (see our guide on what is eCommerce ) product photos have a significant impact on consumers’ purchase decisions, but they don’t need to put a significant dent in your budget. With a careful strategy and a few key equipment purchases, you can build a library of effective photos that convey key product information, build brand identity and earn sales.
- 24 best website designs for inspiration in 2026
Bring your inspiration to life with a Wix website → Website design has come a long way since the dawn of the internet. With the development of technology, the use of tools like a drag and drop website builder , AI and the online opportunities that follow, a wave of innovative websites set the new standard for what best web design means. To celebrate the spirit of this burgeoning creativity, we worked with Dafna Rabin, Wix's template design team lead, to compile a list of the best websites to inspire your next creative move. Need inspiration for your website? With Wix, building a standout site is easier than ever. Choose from hundreds of customizable templates and use Wix’s easy drag-and-drop website builder tools to make your vision come to life. Turn your ideas into reality and see just how simple it is to create a unique, professional website. TL;DR: best website designs Looking for fresh ideas to make your website stand out? This post rounds up the best Wix websites , featuring a mix of bold layouts, clean minimalism, standout portfolios and innovative eCommerce sites. Whether you’re building a personal project or launching a new brand, these examples offer plenty of creative direction to inspire your design. We break down what makes these designs work—from smooth navigation and fast load times to engaging visuals and mobile-friendly layouts—giving you practical tips to apply to your own website. Get inspired by eCommerce website design ideas. How we chose these website designs What we looked for Why it matters Visual appeal Strong visuals make a memorable first impression Easy, intuitive UX Visitors should know exactly where to go and what to do Originality Fresh layouts and ideas help websites stand out Brand personality The design reflects the voice and vibe of the brand 24 best website designs From business websites to personal blogs, these sites stand out for their creativity, masterful use of the best web design features and effective user experience. Going through our curated list of inspiration website design examples, we’ll point out one winning Wix feature for each of these amazing website designs—this way, you can accumulate web design inspiration and learn how to make a website of your own while designing with intentionality. Tip: Not sure where to start with your web inspiration? Check out this list of Wix's best website design templates . OK Drugs Sonja Van Duelman Yantra Noah Demeuldre HERoines Daniel Aristizabal Shinyoung Kim BlinkMyBrain Isshī Cami Ferreol Jennifer Xiao Ellen Von Wiegand Meppity Tach Clothing Wit180 Fei Luo Mariela Mezquita The Robin Collective Sharon Radisch CuppaPug Color Drunk Forge To Table Georgia Heins Lindsey Brooke Design 01. OK Drugs: best use of asymmetry Exciting visuals? Check. Edible typography? Check. Spunky color scheme? Check. Cute iconography? Check. Vibrant graphics? Check. There are so many reasons OK Drugs made the cut for best websites and web design inspiration, but its use of asymmetry really cinched the decision. One of the principles of design is to create balance within a composition. While many of the best website designs tend to achieve this using symmetrical layouts, OK Drugs approaches balance in an asymmetrical fashion. The collaged layout honors the brand's unconventionality and the bounty of white space prevents the site from overwhelming its chill-seeking guests. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Start from scratch website template Editor’s note: This site was built using a blank template, perfect for creators who want full design freedom and total control over every detail. Starting from scratch lets you craft a completely custom layout, choose every color and element and bring your unique vision to life without any preset constraints. 02. Sonja van Duelmen: best one-page website Incorporating animation, galleries, use of multimedia and a playful use of typography and fonts, Sonja van Duelmen 's one-page website is a delight to scroll through. She mixes layouts without disorienting the user, demonstrating her prowess as a designer and at designing with perspective in mind. Using one of her designs as a cover image, Sonja developed the website header to mimic a magazine cover. Her website title sits boldly in the center of the page and aligns with a curve in the cover image. On the right-hand side, anchor points function as a table of contents. Dafna appreciates the use of Wix's Strips and Columns , tools that enable users to create responsive, full-width elements. "It’s very interesting and dynamic and different and experimental," she says. "The creator explored different options, layouts, features and ways of using typography. It’s not repetitive." Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Artist website template Expert tip: Check out our one page website builder if you wish to create your own one page website. Learn more: About Us page About Us page tips 03. Yantra: best restaurant website Unlike many restaurant websites , Yantra 's focuses on the atmosphere and eliciting emotion instead of its food. The homepage features a full-bleed gallery of stunning images of the restaurant's interior, which promises a new feast for the eyes around every corner. We love that the online menu features a tab for each section of the menu (since scrolling through the extensive menu would've otherwise been quite overwhelming) and how human-centered design wins the day. Also, the site builder used the Wix Gift Card feature so that regulars can easily gift e-vouchers to their loved ones. Learn more: Why is web design important? Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Boutique hotel design studio website template 04. Noah Demeuldre: best use of video As an art director who has worked on commercials, film, music videos and TV, it's no surprise that Noah Demeuldre made the cut for best websites with his use of video. The one-page website is constantly in motion. Demeuldre's clips fill the screen, and the reveal scroll effect he applies to each one ensures that a visitor's experience moving through the video portfolio is as captivating as his work. Tip: If you're great at making videos but not so great at building websites, check out these video website templates that can be used with the Wix website builder. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: 3D designer website template 05. HERoines: best nonprofit website We chose HERoines as the best web design example in the nonprofit website category, because of its effectiveness as a branding asset. The feminine color scheme and empowering imagery creates a cohesive brand image for the organization. This good looking site uses testimonials, a strong message statement and clear CTAs to draw in new members and encourage donations. Being able to incorporate your design and your conversion rate optimization efforts makes for a healthy and successful website. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Brand book website template 06. Daniel Aristizabal: best graphic design website The second you arrive at Daniel Aristizabal 's graphic design website , you’ve got to admit: this guy’s got skill and he's got a good-looking website. We love that he utilized such a wide range of Wix tools—such as VideoBox, Hover Box and Wix website animations —to create a highly interactive experience for visitors. Most importantly, Aristizable decided to create a portfolio to showcase his latest projects, deploy storytelling and capture leads. An organized full-page layout gives us an overview of his work, and buttons placed at each of the four corners invite visitors to connect by providing a contact page and links to his Instagram and Behance profiles. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Gallery layout website template 07. Shinyoung Kim: best use of typography Shinyoung Kim ’s use of typography enhances what can already be considered an outstanding and good-looking site. She strategically uses several different fonts that complement one another: a loopy font for her signature, a rounded font for her subheading and a more classic serif font for menu text. Kim reserves a fourth clean and legible font for the site copy. This ensures a comfortable reading experience for everyone. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Illustrator website template 08. BlinkMyBrain: best favicon Charming visitors and sealing its brand identity, BlinkMyBrain 's favicon is a prominent detail that qualifies it for our best websites list. A favicon is a small image that appears in the website's tab next to its title so that a user can easily find it, even if they keep dozens open at all times. BlinkMyBrain's favicon is a cutout of a still from the animation director's clips: an elderly man flexing and wearing an astronaut helmet. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Filmmaker website template 09. Isshī: best parallax scrolling The three-dimensional qualities of parallax scrolling makes viewers feel as if they are discovering hidden content, providing an engaging experience from start to finish. Isshī 's unconventional use of the effect is particularly alluring. The site features floating graphics that serve as a backdrop to Isshī's logo, creating an "Alice in Wonderland" effect. “I want people to feel like they're being sucked in...I want it to feel like a video game,” said Isshī's founder, Rolly Robínson, in an interview with us . Rolly utilized Wix's out-of-the-box animations to further create an immersive, ethereal experience. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Jewlery store website template 10. Cami Ferreol: best website footer Don't overlook the footer just because it's the last thing people see on a website. Cami Ferreol proves just how strong an impression a great website footer design can make. Signing off with a postcard-like design, the creative strategist thanks website visitors, leaving her contact details and a recommended music playlist. Finally, Ferreol stamps the end of her site with a headshot and logo, earning her major points for personal branding. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Artist website template 11. Jennifer Xiao: best Gen Z design If we could only use one word to describe Jennifer Xiao 's site, it would be playful. And yet, the site's playfulness doesn't give you reason to take Jennifer less seriously. Rather, it demonstrates her capacity to connect with Gen Zers, who value authenticity. The illustrator's animated logo sits squarely in the middle of six icons that visitors can click through to explore. This illustrator website 's combination of rounded font and a clean white background creates an inviting atmosphere, while giving Jennifer's artwork the spotlight. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Illustrator website template 12. Ellen Von Wiegand: best lightbox Even the best websites need a well-designed lightbox, and Ellen Von Wiegand 's artist website provides a wonderful example of an amazing website design. Because the lightbox design is consistent with the rest of the website, it doesn't bother visitors when it pops on-screen. Featuring a discount and the promise of exclusive offers, the form incentivizes the reader to enter their email address before they hit the exit button. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Photographer website template "The most important thing before building a website is good research. Know what you want to do and collect good inspirations that will contribute to your design." - Anna Suntsov, blog and social design team lead at Wix 13. Meppity: best use of movement Using animation on a website can be tricky territory. As we can see from artist Anya Butler's website , implementing animation in small doses can create a visual flow for visitors that’s dynamic and engaging. From the jittery text to the hover animations, the moving elements aren't just fun to look at—they also guide a guest's interactions on the site. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Photographer portfolio website template 14. Tach Clothing: best online store We chose Tach Clothing for our best online store because they prove how a beautiful website design can facilitate an ideal shopping experience for users, while still be a perfect example of inspirational web design. The minimalist design allows the fantastic photography to shine and makes navigation simple. The fact that a second product photo shows when a user hovers over an item makes for a pleasant and convenient shopping experience. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Accessories store website template 15. Wit180: best website background The best website backgrounds set the perfect tone for the rest of the site’s design. In Wit180 ’s case, that tone is exciting, yet tasteful and out of the ordinary, providing an ideal setting for Graphic Designer Tim's online portfolio. The bright textured design complements the large, brown cardboard box that visitors see as soon as they land on the homepage. It brings excitement to an otherwise ordinary-looking object, which is there to emphasize Tim's passion in branding. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Design studio website template 16. Fei Luo: best photography website When your photographs are this good, there’s no better way to show them off than with a full screen slideshow. Shanghai-based photographer Fei Luo does just that, putting her best works front and center on the homepage of her photography website . This helps to draw attention and demonstrate her skills and style right off the bat. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Landscape photography website template 17. Mariela Mezquita: best contact page Mariela Mezquita 's contact us page is just as sweet as the rest of her website. The round corners on the input fields, playful typography and cheeky tone create an approachable vibe that welcomes in strangers. “I really love the use of movement with the GIF and the use of color in the fields," said Dafna. "It makes it look like a game.” Whereas experts would typically encourage you to limit web forms to only ask for the bare minimum, the fact that Mezquita has eight fields in her contact form shows her interest in getting to know all her potential customers. The non-mandatory pronoun field is especially thoughtful, as it shows she wants to make all her customers comfortable. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Graphic design website template 18. The Robin Collective: best website color scheme Web design trends come and go, and this year we’re seeing extremes in both minimalist and maximalist directions. The Robin Collective perfects the latter, earning its place among the best websites with this spunky color scheme . Capturing the attention of visitors with a sunshine-yellow background above the fold and bursts of pink and blue throughout, The Robin Collective demonstrates how an effective color scheme can draw people in and immediately set the tone. Not everyone can pull off such a daring design but The Robin Collective's use of color proves its status as an out-of-the-box agency. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Creative agency website template 19. Sharon Radisch: best homepage design Sharon Radisch 's chic homepage design shows how much of an impact a site designer can make with a simple layout. Colorful, abstract photos dominate the page in a grid-like pattern. At the bottom of the page, you'll find a bright yellow strip of text introducing the artist behind the site. When making a homepage , having a mix of dynamic, high-resolution photos is vital to telling a memorable story. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Fashion photographer website template 20. CuppaPug: best themed experience CuppaPug is a one-of-a-kind café in London that combines two of life’s greatest joys: coffee and pugs. The website is an extension of the café itself, creating an online experience that feels just as fun and welcoming as cuddling with the resident pugs. The design is playful and inviting, with pug-centric animations and a warm color palette. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Minimal layout website template 21. Color Drunk: best use of bold design Color Drunk’s website is a vibrant reflection of the brand’s fearless approach to interior design. The bold color palette, dynamic project galleries and playful animations create a visually striking experience that immediately grabs attention. The site’s intuitive navigation and thoughtful layout make it easy to explore the studio’s work, while the bold typography reinforces its creative identity. It’s a perfect example of how bold design can communicate personality and expertise. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: One page layout website template 22. Forge To Table: best craftsmanship showcase Forge to Table’s website is a sleek and modern showcase of its handcrafted knives. The minimalist design emphasizes high-resolution product images, allowing the craftsmanship to take center stage. Detailed storytelling about the knife-making process adds depth, while the intuitive shop layout ensures a seamless browsing and purchasing experience. The site’s clean aesthetic and focus on quality mirror the precision and artistry of the brand’s products. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Backpack store website template 23. Georgia Heins: best minimalist website design Georgia Heins’ website is a masterclass in minimalist design, proving that less can truly be more. The clean, spacious layout allows her creative work to take center stage, with high-resolution visuals and subtle animations adding a polished touch. The monochromatic color palette and simple typography create a calming, sophisticated atmosphere, while the intuitive navigation ensures a seamless browsing experience. This site is a perfect example of how minimalism can amplify creativity and leave a lasting impression. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Fitness trainer website template 24. Lindsey Brooke Design: best use of neutral tones Lindsey Brooke Design’s website is a study in understated elegance. The neutral color palette, paired with clean typography and spacious layouts, creates a calming and sophisticated atmosphere. Stunning project galleries showcase the brand’s timeless aesthetic, while the intuitive navigation ensures a seamless user experience. The site’s design perfectly reflects the studio’s focus on creating curated, livable spaces that exude warmth and style. Love this design? Build your own version using this Wix template: Template name: Interior design firm website template For more web design inspiration, check out these top actor websites . Subscribe to the Wix blog for a weekly dose of fresh web design content and updates. What defines a best website vs a bad one? Now that you’re inspired by the best web design out there, we've put together some of the factors that got them on our list, with the goal of helping you get started with your own good looking website. A strong brand identity Your website should reflect your brand's personality and values. This means using consistent colors, fonts and imagery throughout your site. This is true regardless of whether you build a personal or business website. Make sure your website is easy to use Visitors should be able to find what they're looking for quickly and easily. Use clear navigation and simple layouts and avoid long, rambling text blocks or unfocused navigation. Amazing website designs mean nothing if users can't navigate your site well. In fact, 60% of consumers abandon purchases due to poor user experience on websites , with poor navigation or layout being one of the top reasons. Use high-quality images and videos Visual content is a great way to capture attention and engage visitors. Make sure your images and videos are high-resolution and relevant to your content as this quality really defines our round up of good looking websites. Use whitespace effectively Whitespace can help to make your website look more organized and inviting. So don't be afraid to leave some space around your content. You can also use a dark mode option for visitors who prefer a more minimalist look. Use mobile-friendly design Your website should look good on all devices, from desktop computers to smartphones. Optimize for mobile or lead with responsive design so that your site will automatically adjust to the size of the screen it's being viewed on. Get creating your site via responsive AI with Wix Studio . Again no matter how amazing your website designs are, if your site is not mobile-friendly, users won't have a good experience. Keep your website up-to-date and create engaging content Make sure your website is always updated, content and design wise, to keep visitors coming back. Good web design examples do just this. Learn more: What is web design? Where to find web design inspiration for your site "The most important thing before building a website is good research. Know what you want to do and collect good inspirations that will contribute to your design."- Anna Suntsov, blog and social design team lead at Wix There are many places to find website design inspiration, both online and offline. Here are a few ideas. Online web design inspiration Website design galleries: There are many websites that showcase beautiful and inspiring website designs. You can also look for specific lists of websites in your chosen niche. For example, if you're opening a store online, you can explore these eCommerce website examples. Social media: Social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter are great for finding website design inspiration. You can search for specific keywords or follow designers and studios that you admire. Web design blogs: Many web design blogs regularly publish articles and tutorials with inspiring website designs. Offline web design inspiration Books and magazines: There are many books and magazines that focus on web design and inspiration. Museums and galleries: Museums and galleries can be a great source of inspiration for website design. Look for exhibits that feature typography, photography or other forms of visual art. Nature: Getting outdoors can actually help you design your website, too. Look for patterns, textures and colors in the natural world that you can incorporate into your designs. Wix website examples for the best web design inspiration Draw web design inspiration for your own site from these Wix website examples . Whether you create your site from templates, or scratch, there are Wix web design inspiration examples here for everyone. Wix Studio website examples for amazing website designs Turn your web design inspiration into fuel with these website examples from Wix Studio —the platform built for agencies and professionals. Wix templates for the best web design With over 800+ professionally designed website templates to choose from, the Wix template bank is a great place to draw web design inspiration from. Dribble As a platform where designers showcase their creative work, Dribble serves as a community for sharing and discovering design inspiration, showcasing portfolios and fostering collaboration within the design industry. Behance As an online platform for creative professionals to showcase and discover artistic work, Behance enables designers, artists and creators to present their portfolios, connect with peers, and find web design inspiration. Top tips for website design Creating an effective website starts with these tips: Keep it clean and organized : Use a simple layout with minimal distractions to help users find what they need quickly. A clear, clutter-free design makes navigation easier and improves the experience. Make it mobile-friendly : Ensure your site looks and works perfectly on any device, whether it’s a desktop or a smartphone. Create a seamless experience for every user. Ensure fast load times : Speed matters. Compress images, optimize your code and use caching to make sure your site loads in seconds and keeps visitors engaged. Use high-quality visuals : Professional images and graphics create a polished, trustworthy and visually appealing site that leaves a strong impression. Make it interactive : Add engaging features like slideshows or dynamic menus to captivate users and encourage them to explore. Focus on a few key elements to avoid overwhelming your audience and make their experience enjoyable. Add clear calls-to-action : Guide your users with standout buttons or links that show them what to do next—whether it’s making a purchase, booking a demo or filling out a form. Place CTAs strategically to create a natural, user-friendly flow. Maintain consistency. Your tone, style and user interface elements shouldn’t vary from page to page. A consistent design builds trust and professionalism, helping visitors feel confident about your business. Integrate with social media : Make it simple for visitors to follow your social channels by integrating them into your website. This strengthens your omnichannel marketing strategy and keeps users connected with your brand across multiple platforms. Best websites inspiration and design FAQ What are some tips for finding the best websites? When you are searching for the best websites, be specific in your search terms. The more specific you are, the more likely you are to find websites that are relevant to your interests. You can also use multiple search engines to help you find a wider variety of websites. Also, don't be afraid to try out different websites to see which ones you like the best. What are the criteria for a website to be considered the best? There are numerous factors that contribute to a website being considered the best, including: Popularity: The number of visitors a website receives is a good indication of its popularity. Reputation: The website's reputation is another important factor. A website with a good reputation is one that is trusted by its users. Content: The quality of the website's content is also important. A website with great content will be more likely to attract and retain users. Design: Your website's design should be visually appealing and easy to use. Functionality: The website should be functional and meet the needs of its users. What makes a beautiful or best website design? Beautiful website design is somewhat subjective, but there are some important components to keep in mind: Clear and concise design: The websites are easy to understand and navigate. High-quality images and videos: The websites use high-quality images and videos to engage visitors. Consistent design: The websites use a consistent design throughout, creating a sense of visual harmony. Responsive design: The websites look good and function properly on all devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones. How do I make my website look professional? There are many free and paid templates available that can help you create a professional-looking website. On top of that, content is crucial: make sure to proofread your content carefully and keep it up-to-date. Typos and grammatical errors don’t look good, and stale content can make your website look outdated. Which brands have the best websites? There are many brands with great websites and you don't necessarily have to be a huge brand to have a good website. Dopple Press , for example have an amazingly creative website for a smaller brand. At the same time, larger brands such as Patagonia, Apple and Sony all have websites that represent not only the best of website design but their own vision and products too. What do all good looking websites have in common? Generally, good-looking websites have a clean and intuitive design, high-quality visuals, consistent typography, easy navigation, fast loading speeds, well-organized content, cohesive color schemes, user-friendly interfaces and are optimized for mobile devices. They balance best web design principles and practices with great UX. What defines amazing website designs? Amazing website designs are defined by their aesthetic appeal, intuitive navigation and seamless user experience. They feature a clean, mobile-friendly layout, high-quality visuals and consistent branding. Effective use of color, typography and white space are a must.
- Ecommerce SEO guide for beginners (that won't cause your head to spin)
Turn your ideas into sales and start selling with Wix eCommerce → SEO is a crucial part of any eCommerce marketing strategy. It’s one of the most cost-effective ways to increase visibility around your brand. Crack open this guide for tips on how to master eCommerce SEO and drive traffic to your online store . It's hard to overstate the importance of search engine optimization (SEO). After all, you can't make sales if you don't get any traffic to your site. And, well, traffic doesn't exactly fall from the sky. Fun fact: all Wix sites are backed by a solid infrastructure that's built with SEO in mind. Get started with Wix eCommerce today. Ready to start your eCommerce journey? Now’s the perfect time to bring your vision to life. With Wix eCommerce, you have the tools to build a professional online store and create a website that captivates your audience, drives traffic and boosts sales. From endless customization options and built-in SEO to powerful marketing tools, everything you need to grow your brand and reach more customers is right at your fingertips. Take the first step and explore Wix eCommerce today. Make your mark online and turn your ideas into success. What is eCommerce SEO, exactly? Ecommerce SEO is the process of optimizing each page of your eCommerce website so that it gets discovered, indexed, and ranked by search engines like Google. Billions of new pages and sites are published every day, so it’s in your best interest to make your pages easier to find and rank by following SEO best practices when it comes to your e commerce efforts. Get inspired by eCommerce website design ideas. Why is eCommerce SEO important? More than three-quarters of consumers ( 78% ) say that they’ve spent more time researching products or brands online than in stores. Search engines are largely to thank for this, with more than 8.8 billion searches occurring in a given day, according to Internet Live Stats . This means that there’s a lot of potential money to be made. Your buyers could be googling anything from “how to treat damaged hair” to “car replacement parts.” By optimizing each page of your site—from your homepage to your product pages—for SEO, you give yourself a higher chance of ranking for these terms. Did you know: the first five organic results account for 67.6% of all clicks on the first page (source: Zero Limit Web ) If that’s not convincing enough, consider this: while SEO is a long-term play (read: you won’t see results overnight), it doesn’t require money to see ongoing results. Unlike ads, it’s free to start, and it’s essentially the gift that keeps on giving. Top benefits of eCommerce SEO Naturally attract buyers to your online store Receive ongoing traffic from a free, “always on” channel Reach people at various stages of the buyer journey Build your brand authority around key topics Educate and/or build trust with potential customers through content The 5 core ingredients of a strong eCommerce SEO strategy Perform eCommerce keyword research On-page SEO for eCommerce websites Off-page SEO for eCommerce websites Optimize eCommerce site architecture Fix technical issues on eCommerce websites 01. Perform eCommerce keyword research Keywords are the literal terms or phrases that people enter into a search bar to find the content that they’re looking for online. Practically speaking, they’re the words that you’ll want to weave into your content to help people and search bots understand what your page is about. The biggest mistake sellers make at this stage is neglecting to do proper, thorough keyword research or making assumptions about search intent. Let’s take the keyword “books” as an example. This is a rather broad term that could attract anyone from a person looking to buy a book, to someone looking to publish his or her own book. Keyword research also tells us that, though “books” gets over 300 thousand searches in a month, it's highly competitive and has 17.2 billion results. So, if you're a merchant who sells books, you’ll want to target a more specific keyword—one that attracts people with a clear intent to buy (aka commercial intent). Think: "cookbook for beginners" or "best vegan cookbooks.” The exact keywords you target will depend on the type of page that you're optimizing (e.g., are you optimizing a product page, category page, or blog?) and your target audience. As you perform keyword research, here are several things to keep in mind: Search volume : While broad keywords typically have higher search volumes (e.g., “shoes”), long-tail keywords (e.g., “blue suede shoes for women”) tend to signify higher commercial intent. Weigh the pros and cons of both when crafting your keyword list. Competition : Be mindful of keywords with high competition. A high-volume word like "cookbook" may be very difficult to rank for, especially if you're just getting started with SEO. It's usually not realistic to shoot for hyper-competitive keywords like these. Relevance : Check that the keywords you’re planning to target are terms that your buyers actually use. A good initial step to take is to scan the first page of results for your keyword and see how closely those results match your content. Do they touch on similar topics or products as your page? Do you see a lot of your competitors on the SERP? Or, are many results irrelevant to your business? Search intent : Think about the purpose of the page you’re trying to rank. Product pages should target keywords that appeal to users with a higher intent to purchase (e.g., "blue Nike sneakers"). Alternatively, if you're optimizing a blog, you'll probably want to target keywords with an informational intent (e.g., "best sneakers for running"). Unbranded vs. branded: While you'll want to rank for unbranded terms (search terms that don’t contain your brand name), it's important to track branded terms that you rank for as well, especially as your business grows. Some customers may be searching things like "[Your brand] support" or "[Your brand] vs. [your competitor]." When it comes to discovering new terms, here are some tools and strategies that can help: Amazon : Naturally, the best place to start is where many people actually search for products. Simply typing in a product category in Amazon’s search bar will immediately give you dozens of keyword ideas. For example, typing in “jean jacket” brings up keywords like “jean jacket with hoodie” or “jean jacket for women." Jot these terms down in a spreadsheet so you can do further research into them later. Google search : Google SERPs can expand far beyond eCommerce queries, but typing product terms like “denim jacket” produces some great suggestions (e.g., “denim jacket under $500"). Scanning the “People Also Ask” and “Popular Products” sections can inspire additional ideas. Google Trends : This free tool lets you compare keyword popularity over a specific time and geographic location. Easily see if a keyword is gaining or losing interest over time, and discover related queries. Google Keyword Planner : Another free tool by Google, Keyword Planner shows monthly search volume around key terms and phrases. Note: this tool is intended for folks looking to advertise on Google, so some metrics won’t be as relevant to your research. Still, Keyword Planner is good for getting the ideas flowing. Competitor sites: Your competitors may have already done the eCommerce SEO research you’re looking to do right now. Click on their product pages and see what words they consistently use throughout the title, URL, and description. Right-click on those pages and hit "View Page Source" (or use a browser extension like MozBar ) to view title tags and meta descriptions. SEO keyword research tools : Paid services like Semrush and Ahrefs can help you get even more granular in your research. Built specifically to help marketers improve their SEO, these platforms provide metrics like monthly volume, keyword difficulty, and more. You can additionally perform competitive research and track which keywords you already rank for, and how your rankings fluctuate over time. 02. On-page SEO for eCommerce websites As you publish or update pages according to your target keywords, you’ll want to be mindful of on-page SEO practices. On-page SEO involves optimizing elements of your eCommerce website to help it rank higher on search engines. Note that every page on your site needs to be individually optimized. While this may sound daunting, remember that SEO is an ongoing process that can (and should) be tackled over time, not just when building an eCommerce website . Start by optimizing your most important or highest-converting pages. As you do so, make sure to heed these tips: Create URLs with SEO in mind : Include your primary keyword in the URL itself. To get the most out of your URLs, you should keep them as clean and succinct as possible. Avoid unnecessary subpages and filler words like "and" or "of.” Don’t cram multiple keywords into your URL either. An example of a bad URL: www.amazingstore.com/categories/jackets/denim-jacket-cheap-hoodie-buy An example of a great URL: www.amazingstore.com/jackets/denim-jacket Optimize your page titles: Include your target keyword in your page’s main title (H1). Google sometimes displays your H1 content as the title of your search listing, so you’ll want to keep it compelling for human readers. For product and category pages, it’s generally helpful to follow a specific formula for your titles to ensure consistency. For example, you could use a formula like this: Brand + Model Name + Model Number + Top Differentiator + Product Type. An example of a strong H1 for a product page: Men’s Any-Weather Waterproof Denim Jacket Create rich, relevant product descriptions : High-quality product descriptions help to convert buyers, reduce returns, and—from an SEO perspective—give Google the information it needs to rank your pages. Avoid skimping out on your descriptions or copying-and-pasting ones from another page. Google also balks at duplicate or “thin” content. Optimize title tags and meta descriptions : The metadata of your page helps to inform what appears on SERPs. The title tag, for example, may appear as the blue heading that users see when they’re browsing a Google results page. The meta description, in turn, may inform the copy underneath the heading. Here’s an example of how the title tag and meta description appear on an organic listing for Wix eCommerce. Make sure to include your main keyword in the title tag, ideally near the front. Your title tag should be 50-65 characters long to avoid getting cropped, while meta descriptions should be 155 characters or less. Wix eCommerce users can take advantage of the SEO Patterns tool that simplifies the process of optimizing metadata for a large number of product pages. Instead of editing them one by one, use variables to automate the metadata and keep each page optimized. Use high-quality images : It goes without saying that beautiful, high-quality product photos can keep guests on your site longer and increase the chances of making a sale. Google also assesses your visitors’ time on page—the longer they stay, the higher your page will likely rank. Optimize alt text and image file names : Search engines rely on alt text and image file names to properly “read” your images. Towards that end, make sure that your file name describes your photos in a few words. Similarly, your alt text should provide more context around your images. Alt tags are an important accessibility tool for visually impaired users who rely on screen readers, so avoid needlessly stuffing your tags with keywords. Focus on providing clear descriptions of your images. Example of a bad image name: IMG12490137.jpg Example of a good image name: denim-jacket.jpg Example of bad alt text: men's jean denim jacket bomber blazer coat Example of good alt text: Male model wearing YourBrand's denim jacket Establish good internal links : Internal links are links that point from one page on your website to another page on your website. They help people and search engines easily find other content that’s related to the page that they’re on. Adding a “related products” section to your product pages is a good place to start. You'll also want to link to important product and category pages from your site menu. If you have a blog, link to your product pages from your articles (and vice versa). Be particularly selective of the anchor text that you use when linking (e.g., use the anchor text "denim jacket" instead of "shop now.") Add schema markup to your product pages - Schema markup refers to a piece of HTML code that you can add to a page to inform how Google displays certain information on its SERP. For instance, it can help you to display prices, product reviews and more directly from the SERP . If you created your site with Wix eCommerce, Wix simplifies this step by automatically adding schema markup to your store pages. If you aren’t using Wix, you can add schema markups with Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper . 03. Off-page SEO for eCommerce websites Off-page SEO includes steps you take outside of your website to improve your rankings. The most common off-page SEO tactic is link building, which is when you get other sites to link back to your site. Google sees backlinks as “votes” for your website, or evidence that other people find your content valuable. With that said, not all links are created equal. Search engines will give more weight to links from high-quality, authoritative sources. Meanwhile, “toxic” backlinks—those that come from low-quality sites or were acquired through black hat tactics—may harm your rankings. To earn links the proper way, focus on creating high-quality, shareable content. The best links are natural ones that are earned through honest work. To widen the reach of your content, focus on PR efforts, marketing collaborations, and influencer campaigns that naturally generate links to your site. Social media is another powerful channel for multiple reasons. Search engines include some social media posts within SERPs, and social media can help build attention around your store. Though social media does not have a direct impact on SEO, several studies show a correlation between social shares and ranking. On your website, make sure to add social media buttons on all of your product pages and encourage people to share your store, products, and/or blog posts. 04. Optimize eCommerce site architecture Having a clearly structured site isn’t just essential for a good shopping experience. It’s also essential for SEO. There are three important things to keep in mind when planning your eCommerce site architecture: No product page should be more than two to three clicks away from your homepage You should have a clear hierarchy between pages Keep your structure simple so that you can more easily add and organize pages in the future For eCommerce, in order to simplify your site, you should categorize pages as either products or product categories. If you have a large store with lots of products, consider adding one tier of subcategories as well. Create a clear site hierarchy and linking strategy so that Google knows which pages on your site are the most important. Pages higher up in the hierarchy (like your homepage) will usually hold more authority in Google, and things like URLs and breadcrumbs help to communicate the hierarchy of your pages. Example of a breadcrumb: Men's apparel > pants > joggers It’s worth noting that Google may even integrate your breadcrumbs into your listings on mobile search results, making it easier for shoppers to understand what your page offers. 05. Fix technical issues on eCommerce websites Google’s algorithm penalizes websites with a poor user experience. Think: pages with slow load times, broken links, and other technical issues that frustrate visitors. No matter how much effort you pour into on-page or off-page SEO, you won’t get satisfying results if your online store has technical problems. So, take the time to take these steps: Perform technical SEO audits : Evaluate your site’s performance using tools like Google Page Speed Insights . You can use tools like Screaming Frog and Deep Crawl to perform even deeper technical SEO audits, or the Wix Site Speed Dashboard to understand site performance based on real user data. Taking care of your online store’s technical performance needs to be done routinely, so you'll want to revisit this step time and time again. Fix broken links : Broken links are links that no longer lead to their intended destination. Search engines will lower a page’s rank if it contains broken links. Instead of removing dead pages, we recommend creating 301 redirect s. This lets Google know that people who land on an old URL should be sent to a different page. For example, in eCommerce, it’s common to retire product pages after items have run their course. In this case, you’ll want to redirect the defunct product page to a similar product or category page. Remove excess pages : Having lots of excess pages can slow a website down, which is a common problem among eCommerce sites. Make sure that you don’t have any duplicate pages, or pages that aren’t actually used or linked from anywhere. Another common issue is having multiple URLs for the same product, due to variations like size or color. This causes search engines to split traffic between multiple URLs for the same product, which, in turn, can reduce the ranking of each page. Instead of having multiple pages for the same product, including product options so that customers can choose color, size, material or other variants without leaving the page. Alternatively, you can use noindex HTML code to tell Google to ignore (i.e., not index) variation pages. Compress images : Large pictures can take an extremely long time to load, particularly on mobile devices. Ecommerce sites have hundreds, if not thousands, of images, so it’s important to compress images when possible. Some image-editing software provides a “save for web” option to optimize images. You can also reduce an image’s file size manually by shrinking the physical dimensions or decreasing the resolution. However, if you use Wix eCommerce, you can skip a lot of this work—Wix will automatically resize your media and convert it to modern image formats, like WebP. Change web host or upgrade bandwidth : One of the biggest factors affecting your store’s speed is the bandwidth that your web host provides. While every host is different, some offer bandwidth upgrades. If you feel like your site is too slow it might be time to invest in higher bandwidth. If you built your store with Wix, you won’t have to worry about this because Wix offers unlimited bandwidth with all our eCommerce packages. Learn more: eCommerce website examples SEO 101 glossary: key terms that you should know Before we jump in further, there are a few basic SEO terms that you’ll need to know. A crash course on how search engines work So, what counts as a search engine and how does it work? Google, Bing, and Yahoo! are some of the biggest search engines in the world. However, Google reigns supreme with just under 92% market share (as of June 2022). Bing, the next closest contender, isn’t even in the ballpark, with just around 3.2% of search market share. This is why when people mention SEO, they’re mostly referring to Google. Google—like all other search engines—has its own unique ranking algorithm. Today, it crunches hundreds of data points to decide when, where, and how to rank your web pages. Its ever-evolving algorithm is sophisticated enough to know that when a user searches for "men's jean jacket," he or she is probably looking to make a purchase. Whereas if the user searches for "wash jeans,” he or she is more likely looking for instructions on how to wash jeans properly. Note how in the example above, the first result is from Tide’s website (this organic placement is also technically called a featured snippet, which shows an excerpt of the page directly on Google). Upon clicking on the result, the user is sent to a page that gives step-by-step instructions on how to properly wash jeans—and from there, has the option to explore more tips or shop Tide’s products. Though the user may not have initially been seeking out Tide, he or she is now engaged with the brand and may be more likely to purchase from them now or in the future. Top ranking factors As mentioned earlier, search engines crawl hundreds of ranking factors, each with its own level of importance and purpose. Some factors are used to gauge relevance, while others are used to determine the trustworthiness of your content. Among the many factors that search engines may use, here are several worth noting: A user's browsing history A user’s Location Backlinks Domain age Content length Content freshness Content quality Content uniqueness Page load speed Mobile-friendliness Keyword usage Grammar and spelling While it’s impossible to control all of these factors, there are some within your reach. This is where your handiwork comes in. Between fine-tuning the technical components of your site to optimizing the elements of each page, below are steps you can take to increase your chances of ranking. Bonus: advanced eCommerce SEO tips and resources There’s a lot more you can do to improve your SEO rankings. Here are a few pro tips for supercharging your eCommerce SEO. Write a blog: From a pure SEO standpoint, creating a blog may be one of the best things you can do for your eCommerce site. Blogs are an effective way to add fresh, engaging content to your website. Blogs let you go above and beyond the limited content on your product pages, allowing you to explore and rank for topics that are important to your customers. Add product reviews : Aside from being a powerful tool for increasing conversions and trust, product reviews can help to beef up your product pages for SEO. By adding customer-written reviews to your pages, you can increase the amount of text on your page and potentially feature more LSI keywords. If you’d rather be in full control over the content on your product pages, you can always collect reviews privately through post-sale emails and hand-pick the ones you want to showcase. Use tools and guides to maximize your eCommerce SEO strategy : Building and maintaining a good eCommerce SEO strategy isn’t a simple task, especially as SEO continues to evolve. Consult the Wix SEO Learning Hub for the latest tips. Wix merchants can also take advantage of Wix SEO tools to implement on-page SEO, improve site performance, and more. Improve user engagement on your eCommerce site : Utilizing eCommerce merchandising and eCommerce UX best practices can help keep users on your site longer, which can improve your site's performance on search engines. Ready to start your eCommerce journey? Start an online store today. Ecommerce SEO FAQ What is eCommerce SEO? eCommerce SEO is the process of optimizing your online store for search engines. This means making sure that your website is easy to find and ranks high in search results for relevant keywords. Why is SEO important for eCommerce? SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of optimizing a website or web page so that it ranks higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). eCommerce SEO is important because it can help you to attract more visitors to your online store. When people search for products or services that you offer, your website will be more likely to appear in the search results. This means that you will have more opportunities to make sales. How do I improve my eCommerce SEO? There are a number of things that you can do to improve your eCommerce SEO. These include choosing the right keywords, creating high-quality content, building backlinks, and solving any technical issues that may arise. Which eCommerce platform is best for SEO? Wix offers a number of SEO tools that can help you improve your website's ranking in search engines. These tools include keyword research tools, title tag and meta description generators, and sitemap generators.
- How to grow your eCommerce business: 10 profitable ways
Start dropshipping now Over the past decade, eCommerce business owners and consumers alike have demonstrated a vast capacity for resilience and as the industry continues to grow, it’s important for store owners to consider the things they know about th e cu rrent eCommerce lan d scape, while also preparing for the unexpected. To this end, we’ve compiled a list of 10 strategies and tips to focus on to help your eCommerce business grow. Get inspired by eCommerce website design ideas. How to grow your eCommerce business: 10 ways 1. Build a community 2. Think like a brand marketer 3. Explore new sales channels 4. Offer eCommerce Gift cards 5. Live stream shoppable events 6. Nudge zero-party data collection 7. Construct a customer advisory program 8. Build out a story-driven product detail page model 9. Invest in content 10. Test new markets 01. Build a community around your business Several years ago, Lush UK announced they were leaving Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Their aim was to redirect their community of customers to their online store , speaking directly with their customers using live chat on their website or via email and phone. On Twitter, they wrote : “Over the next week, our customer care team will be actively responding to your messages and comments, after this point you can speak to us via live chat on the website, on email at wecare@lush.co.uk and by telephone: 01202 930051.” Building a brand community fosters customer loyalty and connection. This goes beyond brand awareness to fostering an actual relationship with your customers. It’s all about the interactions and conversations you have with your customers. Much of this occurs on social commerce platforms like Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. But, increasingly, brands like Lush UK are bringing their communities back to their own digital storefronts. Take personal care and beauty retailer Sephora which hosts a variety of community-oriented features including groups, conversations (Q&As with brands), a gallery of customer images and videos, and a hub for events. Sephora’s community hub is hosted on Sephora.com where customers can post and share content, but it also pulls from social platforms like Instagram to feature customer images and videos. When assessing the value of brand communities, Harvard Business Review notes that communities help in a variety of ways, for example, by resolving issues via the community and reducing the number of support requests. They can boost visibility in search results and create buzz around an event, product, or initiative. One underutilized method to create a community around your business is to add a forum to your site. Forums help you foster lively conversations, building customer advocacy in an inviting and active way. They’re also a great way to capture more detailed customer feedback as you’ll be able to see your most passionate customers talk about your products and services. Already a Wix use r? Wix Groups a llows you to add robust forum features to your existing store through a one-click process. Your forum will be fully customizable, allowing you to mirror your site’s brand aesthetic and comes mobile-friendly out of the box. 02. Think like a brand marketer The proliferation of eCommerce vendors including traditional retailers like Walmart, digital behemoths like Amazon and emerging direct-to-consumer brands like Warby Parker and Allbirds, make it difficult for small retailers to stand out. When you are learning how to start a business , you figure out that differentiating your brand in this crowded environment involves lots of work from a branding perspective. But building brand recognition—and loyalty—is particularly important for eCommerce businesses. Nearly 80 percent of consumers purchase items because of the brand name. Investors love a good brand too, with over 80 percent prioritizing brand recognition. This year, online store owners will need to think like brand marketers every step of the way. That means building a community (see above), embracing social media, focusing on creating and delivering high-quality content, and leveraging opportunities like options to sell subscriptions (as well as AI in eCommerce ) , using a service like the one offered by Wix, eCommerce gift cards and different fulfillment options to foster loyalty and improve customer experience. 3. Explore new sales channels Brands can no longer rely on paid Facebook or Google Ads to create demand. A diversified marketing approach is the only sustainable approach to building an eCommerce business, particularly when you consider how many channels consumers use across their entire buying journey. A great example of this is Amazon, with recent data demonstrating that over 70 percent of U.S. consumers begin their product searches on the retail giant’s website. Thus, your eCommerce strategy should include an understanding of how to sell on Amazon (and a plan to start selling on the platform). You should also explore/experiment with new channels beyond Amazon including: Ebay : There are 187 million global users on eBay and the site boasts 101,000 shopping hours a month. Google Shopping: Google offers several different ways for eCommerce businesses to showcase their products including search and Shopping ads. Bing Shopping: Yes, Bing is still an option, with 60 million U.S. users and a high-value audience (but less competition from other advertisers), this is another one to add to the mix. 04. Offer eCommerce gift cards Digital gift cards can help boost brand awareness, drive sales, and inspire customer loyalty. Use of digital cards has skyrocketed over the past year and a half as a result of several pandemic trends. These include the rise in demand for advanced payment solutions and the widespread use of mobile shopping (specifically, smartphone usage). Growth in this sector is staggering. The global digital gift cards industry generate d $258.34 billion in 2020. This is projected to increase to $1,101.03 billion by 2030. There are many ways eCommerce gift cards can benefit your online store. They can attract last-minute shoppers to your website during the holidays, improve your search engine rankings with dedicated “gift card” landing pages, and attract new customers. Gift cards also help boost revenue above and beyond the cost of the card, since research has shown that recipients tend to overspend the card amount by an average of about $60 . They’re also a great way to reward loyal customers for repeat business. Read more: Best eCommerce platforms Squarespace alternatives Wix vs Squarespace 05. Live stream shoppable events Live stream shopping is an emerging digital trend that both online store owners and customers are embracing. A live stream shopping event occurs when a person or business uses streaming video to sell products or services in real time to a live audience. The delivery method varies but can include social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, eCommerce website examples and dedicated video platforms like YouTube. Live stream shopping events can be one-to-many events where a host broadcasts to an audience (e.g., QVC style) or one-to-one clienteling events where a salesperson speaks directly to a customer while the customer shops. Live stream shopping is extremely popular among Gen Z and Millennial consumers, with roughly 60 percent of both groups saying they’re comfortable purchasing from a brand’s live stream event. As live stream shopping grows in popularity, the functionality offered by platforms and providers continues to improve. For example, TikTok recently rolled out a shoppable feature that enables users to add pop-ups to live shopping events. Viewers can tap on the product popup to add the item to their shopping cart with mobile checkout beginning within TikTok. This kind of functionality within live stream video is happening across the entire social media ecosystem and promises to be an exciting new tactic for eCommerce businesses in the new year. 06. Nudge zero-party data collection Zero-party data is the information that a customer shares directly with a business. It differs from first-party data in that it doesn’t include website analytics, CRM, social media profiles, and other customer data shared indirectly. Zero-party data is becoming increasingly important because privacy regulations like Europe’s GDPR and California’s CCPA limit the collection and sharing of consumer data by third parties without their consent. Zero-party data facilitates eCommerce personalization—enabling you to customize content like product recommendations, offers, and deals to your customers as they shop online. Focusing on this strategy is cost-effective since you likely already have a database of customer information, plus consumers are willing to provide their data to companies when there’s a clear benefit. The best way to collect zero-party data is by asking customers to register on your website or app. Think about how you can get more than just contact information during this process. For example, you can ask about sizing and color preferences or other details relevant to what you sell (e.g., preferred operating system, topics of interest, etc.) You can also get zero-party data by creating email campaigns, offered by services by Wix CRM , and adding surveys or polls to your website. Learn more: eCommerce KPIs you should be following 07. Construct a customer advisory program Most businesses want to know what drives, excites, and motivates their customers, but getting this information from simple polls or customer feedback forms can be challenging. Creating a customer advisory program can help you better understand your business. Advisory programs are great for building community and they don’t have to be a big expense. You can offer your customers gift cards or free merchandise as an incentive to participate. An effective customer advisory program uses different methods of outreach (e.g., focus groups, surveys, beta tests, etc.) to obtain high-value feedback from your customers about your business, products, and user experience. eCommerce merchants can test different messaging and gain a much better understanding about which products customers prefer. Advisory feedback can also help you create more intuitive and conversion-oriented user experiences, gain insight into preferred online payment solutions , and unearth nuances like whether customers want options to buy products internationally. 08. Build out a story-driven product detail page model Creating effective, conversion-oriented, and impactful product detail pages is a balancing act. It requires that multiple elements work together to inspire customers to make a purchase. Most customers abandon product pages due to lack of information, clear images, a poorly visualized call-to-action, and lack of trust elements (e.g., accreditation badges, return policy link, etc.). Merchants can optimize the buying experience by making every product page tell a story through the use of detailed product descriptions, great visuals (including video elements) and compelling social proof in the form of badges and customer reviews/ratings. You should also clearly indicate product availability and communicate urgency (e.g., low stock, shipping cutoffs around the holidays, etc.). A product page that tells a story contains crisp, informative product descriptions accompanied by important information (e.g., the model’s measurements and size they’re wearing). It should speak directly to your target audience, and clearly communicate the product’s features and benefits while communicating emotion (e.g., cozy, comfortable, festive, etc.). 09. Invest in content The right content can help eCommerce merchants educate, inform and engage with customers. The content on your product detail pages, category, and home pages is really the bare minimum of what you should have on your online store. To sell online, you need to connect your content strategy with your commerce strategy, aligning messaging across all customer touchpoints. When building an eCommerce marketing strategy , plan your content around the customer’s needs. Make sure people can find information about your products on social media and can access information via mobile devices. Your content strategy should consider every channel where your content will appear. Content should be accessible and documented so that it can be easily retrieved and repurposed. A great way to begin planning content for the coming year is to do an audit of your existing content including what’s outdated and what’s missing as well as a wish list (e.g., live stream video events, long-form blog posts, updated product images, etc.) This will help you understand the timing and resources needed to consistently create and deliver content throughout the year. Learn more: eCommerce business names 10. Test new online markets The internet is nothing if not a vast global marketplace, blurring the definition of what it means to buy and sell locally. Globally, buying power is growing. In 2020, 1.4 billion people were part of the global middle class, with 85 percent located in Asia Pacific countries . Suffice it to say, there’s never been a better time to test new eCommerce markets. International eCommerce presents a huge opportunity for digital store owners who want to expand to new markets. Our own data has found that Wix online store owners who sell across borders average nearly 700 percent more in sales than those who don’t. Learn more: International ecommerce When testing new markets, it’s important to thoroughly research the rules and regulations of each region, localize your store (e.g., by adding native languages , ensuring content is culturally sensitive, and hiring a native speaker to review all website elements). Selling to new markets can help differentiate you from your competitors. It’s a great way to grow your eCommerce business. Learn more: Shopify alternatives Wix vs Shopify WordPress alternatives Best business ideas to start with little money Every Wix online store is built to deliver industry-recognized speed, performance, and reliability.
- 10 web design tips for a small business
When you're learning how to build a website for your small business, it's crucial to grasp the core web design principles that make a site successful. Understanding these can help you understand how to design a website that truly reflects your business goals and branding. Your web design should be well-planned, prioritize function over form and encourage engagement and conversions. In order to help you achieve this we've put together some top web design tips for a small business website . Get inspired by eCommerce website design ideas. 10 web design tips for a small business Set clear website purpose and goals Prioritize simplicity via navigation and layout Use consistent branding and design elements Don't neglect the user experience Make sure of accessibility for all users Plan high-quality and relevant content Use professionally designed templates Hire a web designer, if necessary Optimize for search engines (SEO) Test, test and test your website 01. Set a clear website purpose and goals Before you start designing, know what you want your website to achieve. Are you looking to sell products, provide information or collect leads? Setting clear goals will guide your design choices Your website should communicate its purpose clearly from the moment a visitor lands on it. A clean design with a clear message helps users understand what you offer and what action they should take. For example, if you provide landscaping services , your landscaping website should highlight this with high-quality images of your work and clear calls to action that include "Request a Quote" or "View Our Services." Clearly state what sets your services apart, as Cross States Landscape does. Whether it's your experience, pricing, or customer service make sure it's front and center. Your website should facilitate easy communication between you and your customers. This could be through contact forms, live chat support or frequently updated FAQs. If you're selling products or services from your ecommerce website, the commerce aspect of your site must be secure, straightforward and user-friendly. Features like one-click purchasing and easy-to-find shopping carts contribute to a smooth shopping experience. Learn more: eCommerce website examples 02. Prioritize simplicity via navigation and layout A simple, intuitive website navigation is key to keeping visitors on your site. Users should be able to find what they're looking for without any confusion. This means having, amongst other design elements, a well-organized menu, a search bar for larger sites and a website layout that guides the user naturally through your content. Consider carefully your website architecture and hierarchy. This should be planned around how you expect users to move naturally around your site to find what they're searching for. This also means setting a hierarchy for your website pages too. "Clear website navigation makes it easier for visitors to explore without frustration," says Oren Inditzky, Wix's VP and GM of Online Stores, who examined the science of first impressions in web design . "Use familiar labels and organize content logically so that users can find what they need in just a few clicks." A sitemap can help visualize how different pages are connected and create a user-friendly experience. Avoid cluttering your pages with too much information or too many images—clean layout helps users focus on what's important. 03. Use consistent branding and design elements Consistent branding across all pages reinforces your business identity and builds trust with your site users. Your website's color scheme, typography and overall web design should reflect your brand's personality consistently. This includes using your logo effectively and ensuring that all design elements align with the image and message you want to project. Part of this might also include building a community around your brand can increase customer loyalty and engagement. Features like customer reviews, forums, or social media integration allow customers to interact with each other and with your business directly on the website. A well-designed website should always connect with other marketing efforts such as social media campaigns or email marketing. Integrating these platforms helps create a cohesive online presence for your brand. Some top tips for branding consistency in your web design include: Ensure your logo is prominently displayed, typically in the top left corner of every page, as this is where eyes tend to look first. Use colors that reflect your brand palette —consistent use of colors helps reinforce brand recognition. Choose fonts that align with your brand's character—whether it's professional, friendly or modern—and keep font choices consistent across the site. Use images that convey your brand's values and message. Whether it's product photos or lifestyle shots, they should be high quality and on-brand. The language and tone used in your content should reflect your brand personality, whether it's authoritative, conversational, or informative. 04. Don't neglect the user experience At the heart of user-centric web design is UX. Your site should be easy to use, navigate, and understand. Users should find value in what your website offers them, whether it's information, products or services. How to offer the best user experience on your site? Don't be afraid to listen to your users. You can collect feedback through surveys, user testing or analytics tools . Then, use this information to make informed design adjustments that enhance the usability and appeal of your site. This might include moving buttons, to make it easier for users to commit to an action on your site. Or it might mean changing the layout of a product page to make it clearer to see what you're selling and the price. Offering personalized experiences can also set your small business apart when it comes to your website UX. Customization could mean allowing users to set up their own profiles or providing tailored product recommendations based on browsing history. Tailoring the user experience to individual needs can significantly boost engagement. Personalization can range from customized product recommendations to remembering a returning visitor's name. A user-centric website is also a high-performing one. It loads quickly, functions properly on all devices and doesn't leave users waiting. 05. Make sure of accessibility for all users Your website should be accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. This means designing for various devices, potentially designing a responsive website or making your site more mobile friendly. It's important to consider things like color contrast for readability and alt text for images. Designing for accessibility not only widens your audience but also demonstrates social responsibility as as mall business owner and brand. It's the right thing to do. "As soon as the user makes their website accessible, the door to the population of people with disabilities, which includes about a billion people, opens. There is tremendous business potential here, alongside the creation of a space that everyone is welcome to take part in and enjoy." - Nir Horesh, head of accessibility at Wix.com 06. Plan high-quality and relevant content The content on your site must be relevant to your audience's interests and needs. It should provide value, whether that's through informative blog posts, product descriptions or helpful how-to guides related to your industry. Keeping content fresh and updated is also important for engaging visitors and improving your SEO. Focus on writing and including copy and visuals that engage your audience. Remember the importance of relevance and clarity in communicating with your visitors. Visuals can make or break your website's appeal so use high-resolution images that reflect your products or services in the best light. At the same time use your content to guide users towards taking action with clear CTAs like 'Buy Now,' 'Learn More' or 'Contact Us.' You might also want to consider starting a blog or checking out these 7 things you can do in 30 seconds using Wix’s AI image tools . 07. Use professionally designed website templates Using website templates to design and build your site can be a time efficient way to design website, especially if you're not a web design and have no web design experience. Use a website builder, like Wix and you can choose from hundreds of pre-designed templates for your site. Choose from: eCommerce website templates Service business templates Blog templates 08. Hire a web designer, if necessary Hiring a web designer might be an option to consider, depending on the complexity of your site and web design plans. A web designer can help with creating custom designs and optimizing for accessibility. They might also be necessary if you're hoping to combine custom web design with advanced site functionality. However hiring a web designer is not necessarily essential when it comes to making a website. Most website builders make it easy to create a stunning, functional website with little to no design knowledge. 09. Optimize for search engines (SEO) A well-designed website should always be optimized for search engines. Think clear structure, relevant content and fast loading times – these factors may influence SEO ranking. Great content is at the heart of SEO and a key element of your web design. SEO-optimized longer. Keep your content fresh and monitor your website's performance, including rankings and traffic sources, to stay ahead of the game. According to Mordy Oberstein, Head of SEO Branding at Wix.com 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. You don't have to be an SEO expert to make sure that your web design is SEO friendly. Plus the SEO assistants that come with some website builders, can help you make sure your site has its basic SEO optimizations in place. 10. Test, test and test your website Website testing, both of how it looks and works is something that should happen throughout every part of the web design process for your small business. You need to know how your target audience will react to your branding, the UX of your site and its functionality. You can do this through focus groups, using external auditing tools or by inviting groups of potential users to test for you either for a paid amount or in return for a product or service trial. Sometimes even the best planned websites, fail in testing or issues arise that can be caught once a site is fully up and running. Be inspired by our round-up of web design quotes . Web design tips for small businesses FAQ How often should I update my website? Regular updates keep your website fresh and can improve SEO. Aim for minor updates every few websites and a more significant review quarterly. Can I use free images on my website? Yes but make sure they're royalty-free or have a Creative Commons license. Images within the Wi editor are, for example. Should my small business website have a blog? A blog can boost SEO and establish your expertise. If you have the resources to maintain it with quality content, it's a valuable addition to your site. How can I make sure my site loads faster? Optimize image sizes (for example Wix compresses all user images to Webp for better performance), minimize code (also a given with Wix), use caching (Wix does automatically for all its user sites) and consider a content delivery network (Wix uses many globally located CDNs) to improve loading times.
- How to start an LLC in Washington State in 7 steps
The perfect domain is just a click away: claim your domain→ Starting a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in the state of Washington can be a daunting but rewarding experience for any small business owner. With this in mind our article will guide you through the process of forming an LLC, from choosing a business name to understanding the costs involved. Whether you're a seasoned business owner or new to this world, understanding how to navigate the formation of an LLC is a good place to start a business . Secure your perfect domain in just a few clicks with Wix. Get everything you need in one place: business email, reliable hosting, SSL protection and full privacy. With 24/7 support and no hidden fees, getting your site live is simple and worry-free. How to start an LLC in Washington in 7 steps Pick your business name Choose your registered agent Obtain relevant state business permits File a Certificate of Formation Draft your LLC operating agreement Apply for an EIN and pay relevant taxes Organize your annual reports 01. Pick your business name When starting a business in Washington , the first step is to choose a name for your LLC. This is both a creative and legal step. Your business name should be unique and should not be the same as or too similar to other names on record with the Washington Secretary of State . Ending your chosen name with "LLC," "L.L.C.," or "Limited Liability Company" is necessary to fulfill state requirements. Follow these steps to make sure your business name is distinctive and complies with all necessary regulations: Check for availability : Use the Washington State Secretary of State's online database to search for business names already in use. Follow naming guidelines: Avoid restricted words that could confuse your LLC with a government agency (e.g., FBI, Treasury). Build a website and choose a domain name : Look up domain availability if you plan to also focus on understanding how to create a website , which can be easily done through platforms like Wix. Tip: If you're having trouble coming up with a unique name for your business, consider using a business name generator for more inspiration. 02. Choose your registered agent Every LLC in Washington State must have a registered agent. This is an individual or company that agrees to accept legal papers on behalf of your LLC. Your registered agent must be available during regular business hours and have a physical address in Washington State. To choose the right registered agent, consider the following factors: Reliability: They must be trustworthy and able to handle confidential information related. to your business. Availability: They should be consistently available at the listed address during business hours. Compliance : They should meet all legal requirements set by the state of Washington State. Need help setting up your LLC? Wix has partnered with LegalZoom , the No. 1 choice for online business formation to help you start, run and grow your business. 03. Obtain state business permits Depending on the nature of your business, you may need specific permits or licenses to operate legally in Washington State. These could range from general business licenses to industry-specific permits. Starting an LLC in Washington State, unlike in most other states, is a two-agency process. Washington requires you to register your LLC with both the Secretary of State (to exist) and then the Department of Revenue For example, if you plan to start a plumbing business in the state you need to be a Licensed Plumbing contractor under the relevant law, SB 6170. Changes made in 2021 meant that. a general contractor license is not enough to work as a plumber in the state. Here's what you must do to register: Make sure that your business is first registered with the Department of Revenue . Get a Continuous Plumbing Contractor Surety Bond or an Assignment of Savings . Purchase a general liability insurance policy to protect yourself Fill in the Application for Plumbing Contractor application. Pay the required application fee of $139.10 . Complete the Designated Plumber Assignment . Finally pay the required application fee of $50. To obtain the necessary permits in order to register your business , follow these steps: Identify specific requirements: Check with local and state agencies to determine what permits you need. Complete all applications: Fill out all required paperwork accurately and submit it to the appropriate authorities. Pay any fees : Be prepared to pay any associated fees for obtaining your permits. Learn more: How to get a business license 04. File a Certificate of Formation The Certificate of Formation is a critical document that officially creates your LLC in Washington State. You'll file this with the Washington State Secretary of State , either online or by mail, along with the required filing fee. Filing requires the following key actions: Gather your business information : You'll need your LLC's name, registered agent information and details about the structure of your business and its management. Fill out the form : This is the specific form used for filing an LLC's Certificate of Formation in Washington State. Submit your application and pay relevant fees : Complete the process by paying the necessary fee. This is $200 to file an LLC online or $180 by mail. Once your LLC registration is approved : You'll get a Unified Business Identifier (UBI). This 9-digit number is your permanent ID across all Washington agencies Washington state requires an Initial Report (listing your members and address): This is due within 120 days of formation. If you file this at the exact same moment you file your Certificate of Formation (the system will ask you), it's free. If you skip it and file it later, it costs $10. 05. Draft your LLC operating agreement Although not legally required in Washington State, creating an operating agreement is highly recommended for any LLC. This internal document outlines ownership structures, member roles and operational procedures for this type of business . Here’s why an operating agreement is important: It clarifies business rules and guidelines : It sets clear expectations for members regarding operations and conflict resolution. This is necessary for the long term success of your business. Protects LLC status : Helps maintain limited liability status by proving that your LLC is a separate business entity . Prevents misunderstandings : Reduces potential disputes among members by detailing policies and procedures for how the business should be run. 06. Apply for an EIN and pay relevant taxes An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is like a social security number for your LLC. It’s necessary for hiring employees, opening bank accounts and filing taxes. Securing an EIN involves: Applying online or via mail: The IRS provides free EIN registration through their website or via mail submission. Understanding your business tax obligations : Research state-specific taxes that apply to your LLC, such as franchise tax or sales tax. In Washington State for an LLC owner this means a 15.3% self-employed tax (12.4% social security, 2.9% Medicare). For more information, visit the Washington State Department of Revenue website . 07. Organize your annual reports If you start and run an LLC in Texas you'll need to submit annual reports to the Washington Secretary of State. These reports keep your business information up-to-date and are required even if there are no changes from the previous year. Failure to file can result in penalties or even dissolution of your LLC. To ensure you’re compliant with this make sure to: Know due dates : Mark your calendar for when the annual report is due, this is always the last day of the month in which the business was first formed. Fill out the online form : This is the specific form used for filing an LLC's Annual Report in Washington State. Submit and pay fees : Complete the submission process by paying the $70 filing fee. How much does it cost to start an LLC in Washington State When you're planning to start an LLC in Washington State, it's important to budget for the various costs involved. These expenses can vary depending on the complexity of your business and any additional services you may need. The main costs for starting an LLC in Washington State Filing Fee for Certificate of Formation : The state of Washington requires a fee when you file your Certificate of Formation. This is one of the primary costs you'll incur. For an LLC it costs $180 . Registered agent fee : If you choose to use a professional registered agent service, they will charge an annual fee for their services. Business license application fee : To operate your LLC, you'll need to apply for a Washington State business license, which comes with its own fee. Specialized permits and licenses : Depending on your industry, additional permits may be necessary, each with varying costs and application processes. Annual report filing fee : Each year, your LLC will need to file an annual report with the state, which includes a filing fee. Employer Identification Number (EIN) : While obtaining an EIN from the IRS is free, if you require assistance or choose to use a third-party service, there may be additional costs. Additional costs may include: Legal or financial consulting fees : If you seek professional advice during the formation process, these services will add to your startup costs. Domain registration and website creatio n: Establishing an online presence via a website is crucial in today's market. Costs here include domain registration and potentially hiring a web designer or using a website builder like Wix. Business insurance : Depending on your industry, you might need various types of insurance to protect your LLC. Learn more: Cost to start an LLC Who can start an LLC in Washington State In Washington State, starting an LLC is open to various individuals and groups, but there are specific eligibility criteria that need to be met. It's important to understand who can form an LLC in the state before you begin the process. Residency You don't have to be a Washington State resident or a U.S. citizen to form an LLC in the state. However, your LLC must have a registered agent with a physical address within Washington State. Legal status Both individuals and entities can form an LLC. This includes sole proprietors or business owners looking to change their business structure and existing businesses by creating a new LLC. Industry restrictions Most types of businesses can form an LLC in Washington State but certain professions with specific regulatory requirements might need to form professional limited liability companies (PLLCs). Examples include dentists, chiropractors, osteopaths and architects. Benefits of starting an LLC in Washington State Forming an LLC in Washington State offers a range of appealing advantages for business owners including legal and tax advantages. Limited liability protection As the name suggests, an LLC provides its owners with limited liability. This means your personal assets are typically protected if your business faces lawsuits or debts. This allows you to take the risk of becoming a business owner without worrying about sacrificing your own home, for example. In short, LLCs have flexible tax options and protect owners from personal liability. Shylene D’Addario, VP and associate general counsel at LegalZoom Pass-through taxation LLCs often benefit from pass-through taxation where the business income passes through to the owners' personal tax returns, avoiding the double taxation that corporations can face. Flexibility in management Unlike corporations, LLCs have a flexible management structure. You're not required to have a board of directors or hold annual meetings. Ease of formation and maintenance Compared to other business entities, forming and maintaining an LLC is relatively straightforward with fewer formalities and paperwork. Credibility with customers and partners Having 'LLC' after your business name can add professional credibility, which may help when dealing with customers and partners and with building a trusted brand, Potential disadvantages of starting an LLC in Washington State While there are many benefits to forming an LLC in Washington State, it's important to consider the potential disadvantages as well. By being aware of these, you can make a well-informed decision about whether an LLC is the right structure for your business. Limited growth potential An LLC may not be suitable for businesses that plan to go public or seek investments from venture capitalists as it doesn't allow for the issuance of shares. Self-employment taxes Members of an LLC may be subject to self-employment taxes on their share of the profits since they're considered self-employed. Annual fees and reports Washington State requires LLCs to file annual reports and pay a fee, which is an ongoing commitment that sole proprietorships do not have. Transferability of ownership Transferring ownership interests to an LLC can be more complex than with a corporation. It often requires approval from other members. Why start an LLC over another business entity in Washington State? Choosing the right business structure is a critical decision when it comes to starting a business. In Washington State, forming an LLC is often chosen because of its unique advantages. Let's compare it with other business structures to understand why an LLC might be the best choice for your situation. Here's how an LLC compares to other business structures: Sole proprietorship : Unlike a sole proprietorship, an LLC provides personal asset protection, separating your personal liabilities from those of your business. Partnership : An LLC offers more protection for each member compared to a partnership, where each partner can be personally liable for the debts of the business. Corporation : While corporations also provide limited liability protection, they’re also subject to double taxation (taxes on both corporate profits and shareholder dividends). An LLC avoids this with pass-through taxation. LLCs also offer these unique advantages: Operational flexibility: Corporations are required to have a formal structure with directors and officers, while an LLC can be managed by its members or managers. Fewer record-keeping requirements : An LLC has less stringent requirements for record-keeping and reporting compared to a corporation. Profit distribution flexibility : Profits in an LLC can be distributed in any manner agreed upon by the members, unlike corporations that distribute profits according to the number and type of shares held. You've formed your LLC in Washington State, now what? After successfully forming your LLC in Washington State, the journey to building and growing your business is just beginning. There are several important steps you should take to ensure that your LLC operates smoothly and is compliant with state laws. Open a business bank account Keep your personal and business finances separate by opening a bank account specifically for your LLC. This will simplify accounting and tax filing. Obtain business insurance Protect your LLC with the appropriate insurance policies. Consider general liability insurance, professional liability insurance or product liability insurance depending on your business needs. For example, if you’re looking to start a contractor business in the state you’ll need to consider general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, tools and equipment insurance and potentially commercial property insurance too. Comply with employment laws If you plan to hire employees, ensure you comply with all employment laws including wage requirements, labor standards, and workplace safety regulations. Additionally, focus on these areas to manage and grow your LLC: Understand ongoing compliance requirements: Familiarize yourself with any annual filings or fees required by the state of Texas to keep your LLC in good standing. Develop a strong brand identity : Create a logo with a logo maker , establish a brand voice and build a professional website to present a cohesive image to customers. we Implement a good accounting system: Good financial management is essential for any business. Set up an accounting system that allows you to track expenses, profits, and financial growth accurately. Looking to start an LLC in another state? How to start an LLC in Texas How to start an LLC in California How to start an LLC in Maryland How to start an LLC in Florida How to start an LLC in South Carolina How to start an LLC in North Carolina How to start an LLC in Michigan How to start an LLC in Massachusetts How to start an LLC in Virginia How to start an LLC in Pennsylvania How to start an LLC in Indiana How to start an LLC in Tennessee How to start an LLC in Colorado How to start an LLC in Arizona How to start an LLC in Louisiana How to start an LLC in Mississippi How to start an LLC in Wisconsin How to start an LLC in Ohio How to start an LLC in Georgia How to start an LLC in Illinois How to start an LLC in New York How to start an LLC in New Jersey How to start an LLC in Missouri How to start an LLC in Alabama How to start an LLC in Washington State FAQ What's the processing time for forming an LLC in Washington State? The processing time can vary depending on the filing method. Online filings are typically processed within two to three business days, while mailed applications may take several weeks. Do I need to publish a notice of my LLC formation in Washington State? No, Washington State does not require you to publish a notice of your LLC formation in a newspaper, unlike some other states. Is it mandatory to have an Operating Agreement for an LLC in the state? While it's not legally required, having an Operating Agreement is highly recommended as it outlines the ownership and operating procedures of your LLC. Can I form an LLC in Washington as a single member? While it's not legally required, having an Operating Agreement is highly recommended as it outlines the ownership and operating procedures of your LLC.
- Wix vs. Squarespace: a side-by-side comparison of key features
Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix → Wix vs Squarespace is one of the most common comparisons for anyone researching a website builder and learning how to make a website . What once required technical skills can now be done with a website builder, giving creators, entrepreneurs and small businesses the tools to design, customize and publish a professional site in hours, not weeks. Both Wix and Squarespace are leading platforms for building websites, whether you’re launching an online store , promoting a service or showcasing creative work. But while they may seem similar at first glance, they take very different approaches to design, flexibility and ease of use. In this guide, we break down Wix vs Squarespace across key features to help you choose the right website builder for your goals. Building a website for your business, passion project or side hustle should be easy and exciting. With Wix, you can design, customize and launch a professional website in minutes. Everything about Wix is built to simplify the process so you can focus on what really matters: bringing your ideas to life. Ready to make it happen? Start creating the website you’ve always envisioned today. Intro to Wix and Squarespace Both Wix and Squarespace emerged onto the scene in the 2000s, establishing themselves as pioneering website builders distinguished by their unique brand identities and offerings. Wix Now trusted by over 6.3 million subscribers (or a total of 263 million registered users when you include free users on Wix) across 190 countries, Wix is primarily known for its user-friendly platform and versatile business solutions. “We’re constantly developing and releasing new features to simplify the website building process so our users can focus on running their businesses,” writes Wix’s Co-founder and CEO Avishai Abrahami about Wix’s culture of innovation. You can also read Wix reviews direct from users who've built a website or started a business. Create a website with Wix today. Squarespace Squarespace, on the other hand, is often praised for its elegant design templates and features that are tailored to creative professionals and artists. True to its mission (“We believe design is the ultimate competitive advantage. We build products that help entrepreneurs stand out and succeed.”), the company puts design front and center. By the end of Q1 2024, Squarespace had surpassed 4.9 million unique subscribers . Wix vs. Squarespace: key features Drag-and-drop capabilities Web design (and AI) Templates Security and reliability Blog Ecommerce Marketing SEO Customer support Pricing Drag-and-drop capabilities When it comes to drag-and-drop, Wix arguably sets the gold standard. It has been prioritizing its DIY web builder from the get-go, launching with an intuitive drag-and-drop site solution back in 2006, when code-only platforms were the norm. Today, Wix offers two website editors: the original editor, built for SMBs and independent creators looking for a unified business solution—and Wix Studio, designed specifically for agencies and enterprises looking to create exceptional design experiences for their clients. Wix Studio represents the height of Wix's offerings. With intricate design features and detailed CSS control, Wix Studio gives you the freedom to create captivating and highly distinctive websites. Squarespace, on the other hand, broke into the market in 2004 with a block-editing engine catered towards individuals with little-to-no design experience. The Classic Editor, (which is still accessible today) allowed users to drag elements across a gridded canvas; upon Squarespace’s Fluid Engine release in 2022, more flexible drag-and-drop capabilities were added to the platform. Fluid Engine still allows you to move elements on the page within a controlled grid area, but lets you work within a bigger canvas and has fewer constraints than the Classic Editor. Bottom line: While Wix and Squarespace both excel with their intuitive website builders, Wix offers more customization by putting fewer limitations on how page elements can be placed or structured. For those seeking more design flexibility and responsiveness, Wix Studio emerges as the ideal solution. Explore Wix Studio to elevate your web design, or read more about Wix vs. Studio . Web design (and AI) Wix has been a trailblazer in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) for website building since 2016 when it introduced its artificial design intelligence (ADI)—a powerful tool that could suggest a website layout based on a few simple questions. Today, the influence of AI runs deep within Wix; from site creation to business management, AI features are seamlessly integrated throughout the platform. With its newly minted AI website builder , you can quite literally chat back and forth with AI to design an entire website from scratch. Once your site has been created, you can continue chatting with AI to tweak the theme, layout and other design elements. Further tweaks can then be made in the Editor itself, where you can use built-in AI tools to generate images, content and video trailers (among other things). Squarespace has its own AI website design system dubbed Blueprint AI, which helps you decide on the proper website structure, colors and other elements of your site. The elements are then pieced together—a bit like a puzzle—to form your website. Instead of the conversational approach that Wix takes, Squarespace’s Blueprint AI tool walks you through a series of pre-set questions and steps. When it comes to AI features, Squarespace's products revolve around text generation (think: video descriptions, product descriptions and website copy). Bottom line: Wix has built-in AI tools for text and image generation, marketing, analytics and much more, enabling you to create a functional website in minutes and run your businesses more efficiently. Squarespace's AI website generator is more like putting a puzzle together as opposed to top-to-bottom website creation, and its AI tools are primarily focused on text generation. Templates Both Wix and Squarespace offer impressive template libraries to kickstart your website design journey. Wix has website templates that cover a wide range of industries and styles. Once you’ve chosen a template, you can customize it however you see fit in the Editor. Squarespace offers fewer templates with 180+ in their bank compared to Wix’s 2,000+, but curates its templates to ensure a high level of quality. Bottom line: While Wix offers far more templates than Squarespace, the ones that Squarespace offers are carefully curated. Security and reliability Security and site reliability are paramount when it comes to web hosting. Hackers and error messages should be the least of your concerns when you’re managing a business online. Wix prioritizes these aspects, offering advanced protection measures and boasting an impressive uptime rate of 99.99%. Squarespace also places a strong emphasis on security, with a 99.9% uptime rate, built-in SSL encryption and reliable website infrastructure . Learn more about website security on Wix. Bottom line: Both Wix and Squarespace ensure a high degree of security, so you can put your focus where it’s needed—your business. Blog Both Wix and Squarespace have sound blogging capabilities, so you can create and manage engaging content in the same place as your website. Wix includes blog templates to help you design a stylish blog. Beyond this, enjoy various tools to manage and drive traffic to your blog, including AI-powered tools for SEO, email marketing, analytics and more. These AI tools can even help you brainstorm topic ideas, outline pieces and write blogs from top to bottom, which you can then supplement with images designed by AI. The community and monetization capabilities in Wix give it another edge. Readers can sign up as members, create profiles, like and comment on posts and follow each other's activity. You can also play with the contributor permissions, so multiple authors can manage your articles without compromising security. Regarding monetization, you can manage content subscriptions, members area, online courses and/or eCommerce offerings within Wix. Squarespace provides flexible layout options and design customization tools for building a blog. Its monetization capabilities include content subscriptions, membership areas and online courses. Like Wix, Squarespace offers essential features like AI writing assistance, content scheduling, contributor permissions, SEO optimization, social integrations, email marketing and analytics. The main limitation with Squarespace’s blogging capabilities is that it doesn’t have an autosave or revision history feature, so if your computer crashes mid-sentence, the rest is history. Bottom line: If you’re a blogger, both Wix and Squarespace offer fantastic blogging capabilities, but Wix’s added features ( like its autosave function and advanced AI blogging features ) mean it comes out a smidge on top. Learn how to make a blog with Wix. Ecommerce Wix offers a robust backend system for managing your online store. It connects your eCommerce website design to any in-person sales through Wix's POS solutions, creating a cohesive experience for your business. Wix further allows you to sell a whopping 50,000 physical and digital products, with advanced features like abandoned cart recovery, free shipping configuration, local delivery options and inventory management. Wix also supports a number of multichannel selling options, so you can easily list your products across major sales channels like Amazon, eBay and Facebook. You can even take advantage of built-in dropshipping features to expand your product catalog without holding any physical inventory. While Squarespace is no slouch for eCommerce , providing unlimited storage and product uploads across most plans, it has fewer sales features and multichannel integrations than Wix. For instance, tools like appointment scheduling require paid add-ons, and Wix lets its users take orders and accept offline payments upon delivery, a feature not yet offered by Squarespace. When it comes to making online payments, Wix supports more payment processors and methods. Wix Payments lets you accept payments from major credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, BNPL, iDeal and Pay Now by Klarna. Alternatively, you can choose from 100+ other third-party payment processors worldwide. By contrast, Squarespace Payments supports major credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Afterpay/Clearpay and Klarna. Or, you can connect your account to several third-party processors: Stripe, PayPal or Square. Explore these eCommerce website examples for inspiration. Bottom line: Both platforms allow you to create a professional online storefront. However, if scalability and omnichannel selling are top priorities, Wix provides a more expansive eCommerce solution . Its built-in features, third-party integrations and payment options make it better equipped to support ambitious eCommerce businesses. Create an online store with Wix today. Marketing Wix and Squarespace both offer a suite of marketing and SEO tools to optimize your website for search engines and attract more visitors. However, their strengths in these areas differ. When it comes to email marketing tools , both platforms offer built-in features and third-party integrations like Mailchimp. Easily grow subscriber lists, send newsletters and set up automated emails. Wix offers an additional advantage with its AI email generator. While Squarespace offers an AI tool to help craft email content, it doesn't match the full capabilities of Wix's email generator. Wix takes it a step further crafting full-fledged emails based on your business type and campaign objectives. Its email generator not only creates the written copy, but also produces a complete email layout specifically designed for your campaign objectives. The tool incorporates relevant images to complement the email content, allowing you to quickly produce polished and engaging campaigns. For social media marketing, Squarespace allows you to connect your social accounts to your site and publish posts directly from your site, plus offers social selling for Facebook and Instagram. However, Wix takes it one step further by offering unified publishing and scheduling across Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and more. It also offers native integrations to embed feeds, run ads from your dashboard, create campaigns with AI and sell on more channels like YouTube Shopping. Bottom line: Wix’s marketing tools outnumber that of Squarespace’s, but both have helpful integrations and self-service features. The “best” solution will depend on the types of channels you plan to engage on, and the types of automation you desire. SEO When it comes to SEO, Wix takes the crown. While both website builders include standard free SEO features like mobile optimization, 301 redirects and an SEO checklist, Wix takes it a step further. It directly integrates with Semrush so you can research and analyze keywords for optimized content within your Wix dashboard. Its new AI meta tag creator leverages AI to automatically generate optimized title tags and meta descriptions. Meanwhile, its AI Visibility Overview tool lets you see how your site is performing across major AI platforms, so you can account for all modern traffic sources. Diving deeper into some of the SEO-specific features: Meta titles and descriptions: With both Wix and Squarespace you can customize the meta to specific pages, while Wix also allows you to use AI to create optimized content for you. URL structures: Both let you get creative with custom URLs for pages. Heading tags : With Wix, you can utilize heading tags from H1 to H6 on standard pages, and H1 and H2 on blog posts. Squarespace, on the other hand, limits heading tag usage to H1 through H4 across all pages. Image alt text: Both Wix and Squarespace let you set alternative text for images, a crucial accessibility and SEO feature. AI visibility: Wix offers AI Visibility Overview, a tool that tracks how your website is mentioned across AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Claude. Squarespace doesn't currently have this capability. SSL encryption: Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption, which is essential for protecting user data and improving SEO rankings, is available on all plans for both platforms. Sitemaps: Both website builders automatically update your sitemap whenever you make changes to your site and allow you to download it if you want. Google Search Console integration: Both Wix and Squarespace enable you to connect your website to Google Search Console for monitoring and managing search performance. Bottom line: When it comes to having native SEO functionality, Wix provides a more advanced toolset compared to Squarespace's solid but slightly more basic capabilities. Customer support Responsive customer support is crucial when building and maintaining a website and while both Wix and Squarespace offer great support options there are a few key differences. Here’s how they stack up against each other. Wix customer support offers: Callback support (24/7 for English speakers) Live chat (EN live chat available Monday through Friday, 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET; also available in other languages) Ticket submission Help center (FAQ and forum) Knowledge base articles with video tutorials Squarespace customer support offers: Email (24/7) Live chat (available Monday through Friday, 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET; other languages available, and hours may differ for Australia and New Zealand) X (24/7) Help center (FAQ, knowledge base articles, videos, webinars, forum) Bottom line: Both platforms have thorough support systems in place, but Wix's 24/7 callback phone line and support for additional languages give it an edge. Pricing In terms of pricing, Wix and Squarespace offer tiered plans to cater to a range of budgets and needs. Wix's pricing plans are structured to provide flexibility and scalability. It has options for individuals, businesses, eCommerce and agencies. Squarespace offers a similar range of plans with additional features tailored to creative professionals and online merchants. Wix’s annual pricing plans: Free plan ($0): Limited features and ads. (Learn more: Is Wix truly free ? ) Light ($17/month): Basic plan for simple sites. Core ($29/month): Basic eCommerce features and marketing suite. Business ($39/month): Geared towards growing your brand. Business Elite ($159/month): Unlocks unlimited storage and scaling capabilities. Enterprise: Custom plan for large corporations. With each plan, you’ll get a free domain for one year. The amount of storage space increases with each plan along with how advanced the eCommerce and marketing features are. When it comes to payments, you’ll be able to take online payments with the Core plan and above. You can use Wix’s free plan for as long as you like. This is a great way to get familiar with it without spending a dime, but we do recommend upgrading your plan to remove the Wix ad banner. An upgraded plan will also allow you to use your domain and unlock more marketing, eCommerce and analytics features with larger storage space. Learn more about how to build a free website with Wix, or you can try any of Wix’s paid plans for 14 days, and if you’re not 100% satisfied, you can get your money back. Wix pricing plans Plan Price (monthly) Best for Free $0 Trying Wix Light $17 Simple websites Core $29 Small online stores Business $39 Growing brands Business Elite $159 Scaling businesses Enterprise Custom Large organizations Squarespace’s annual pricing plans: Basic ($16/month): Basic website and selling features. Core ($23/month): Full access to business features. Plus ($39/month): Lower payment processing fees for growing businesses. Advanced ($99/month): Low payment processing fees and our most advanced commerce tools. Enterprise: Custom plans for larger teams. With each Squarespace plan, you’ll get free domain registration, a mobile-optimized site and the ability to send invoices for free. Regarding eCommerce, you can sell products and services starting with the Basic plan, though you’ll have to pay a transaction fee unless you upgrade to a Core plan. Core plans and above come with more merchandising features, shipping labels, eCommerce analytics and more. Squarespace plans include a 14-day free trial and essential features like support and mobile optimization. Squarespace pricing plans Plan Price (monthly) Best for Basic $16 Simple websites Core $23 Small businesses Plus $39 Growing businesses Advanced $99 High-volume sellers Enterprise Custom Large teams Bottom line: Wix and Squarespace both offer cost-effective plans, though Wix offers a free forever plan. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for and in both cases, the better the plan, the more you get. Related reading: Wix vs. GoDaddy or Wix vs. Shopify So who will it be—Wix or Squarespace? Deciding between Wix and Squarespace ultimately depends on your specific business and preferences. Overall, Wix emerges as a top contender, with a long list of integrated tools for sales, marketing and customer management that guarantee that your site is ‘business-ready’ from the get-go. Squarespace emerges as a good option for someone looking to design a straightforward and attractive website but isn’t seeking the level of advanced business tools that Wix has to offer. Start a free account with Wix . Editor's note: The information presented in this article is true as of December 22nd, 2025, unless mentioned otherwise.
- What is web design? A comprehensive guide
Web design has come a long way since the first site was published in 1991. With over one billion live websites on the internet today, it’s no surprise that this industry is here to stay. Wix is home to thousands of website design professionals, enthusiasts, and designers who are empowering the industry to reach new heights. So, if you’re here to learn more about the world of web design, you’ve come to the right place. As a preliminary to learning how to design a website , this article will hone in on the role of web design and go over helpful tips by defining critical terms and ideas, and looking at examples that will give you further insight. Ready to put your website design skills to action? Start designing your site now. Here’s what we’ll cover: What is web design Web design vs. website development Web design tools Principles of design applied to websites Website layouts Functional components of web design Visual elements of web design Website maintenance Web design inspiration Accessibility in web design 01. What is web design? Web design is the art of planning and arranging content on a website so that it can be shared and accessed online with the world. A combination of aesthetic and functional elements, web design is a type of digital design that determines the look of a website—such as its colors, fonts, graphics and user interface (see our guide on website design best practices ). Today, creating a website is one of the pillars of having an online presence. Because of this, the world of web design is as dynamic as ever. It is constantly evolving, including mobile apps and user interface design, to meet the growing needs of website owners and visitors alike. Web design is often a collaborative process that combines knowledge and tools from related industries, ranging from web design statistics to SEO optimization and UX. Web designers will often bring together professionals from these areas who can optimize performance and focus on the larger process and outcome. Learn more: The science of first impressions in web design Why is web design important? Web design quotes 02. Web design vs. website development The first step in our web design journey is to clarify the difference between web design and website development, since the two are closely related and often (mistakenly) used interchangeably: Web design refers to the visual design and experiential aspects of a particular website. We’re going to dive into more detail about web design throughout the rest of this article. Website development refers to the building and maintenance of a website’s structure, and involves intricate coding systems that ensure the website functions properly. The following are some basic markup languages most commonly used by web developers to build a website: HTML or HyperText Markup Language, is a coding language used to create the front end of websites. It is written to include the structure of a web page and carried out by web browsers into the websites that we see online. CSS or Cascading Style Sheets is a programming design language that includes all relevant information relating to a webpage’s display. CSS works with HTML to design the style and formatting of a website or page, including the layout, fonts, padding, and more. However, if you use a CMS (a computer software application that manages the digital content of a website) you can learn how to make a website and make updates without the knowledge of using code. Wix is an example of a CMS, which functions as a user-friendly system for website content development. Wix even offers you a way to design a website with AI , as well as an advanced solution for web designers called Wix Studio. Continue reading: Wix vs. Wix Studio 03. Web design tools Web designers require their own unique set of tools to create and design. There are a few key elements that will determine which types you’ll use, and at which stage you’ll need them. Here are a few questions to consider: How big is your team? What kind of budget do you have? What kind of technical requirements will your site need? What is the overall aesthetic you wish to achieve? Will you create an adaptive or responsive design? What is the purpose of your website? The answers to these questions will also help you understand which kind of website builder you want to work with, or other design software tools. Website builders like Wix are great since they don’t require code, and come equipped with a range of ready-made templates suitable to every industry. For novice web designers, website builders are a great foundational tool that can easily be customized both in terms of visual elements and functionality. For more experienced web designers, Wix Studio is the ideal platform with more advanced features for layouts, interactions, effects and designed assets. Design software tools such as Figma , Photoshop and Sketch can be used to create wireframes, custom features and design elements. However, the major difference with these tools is that all elements must be converted to code. While these tools offer creative flexibility and collaborative integrations like hand-off features to web developers, they can require more time, knowledge and resources. As you gain more experience with a range of web design tools, you’ll know which are best suited to you and your business needs. 04. Principles of design applied to websites One of the first parts of understanding what web design is knowing what good web design is—and how to achieve it. We can have a look at the principles of design for reference, a theory practiced by artists and designers which outline the visual qualities any composition should aim for. Applying these principles to web design can help beginner and advanced web designers alike achieve a site with a harmonious look and feel. Of course, these are not strict rules to follow, but rather guidelines to learn how we can apply the various elements of a website’s design. Take it from Picasso, “learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” Once you understand the goals of web design and become more comfortable with each website element, you can tweak the approach with a more creative touch. Let’s explore the following principles: Balance Contrast Emphasis Movement Rhythm Hierarchy White Space Unity Read also: 10 high-end website design tips (feat. advice from an art director) Balance Visual balance means ensuring that none of the elements in a single composition are too overpowering. This can be applied to web design by drawing an imaginary line down the center of a webpage and arranging elements so that the visual weight is equal on both sides. There are two main ways to achieve balance on a website: Symmetrical balance is when the visual weight on both sides of that line are equal and arranged like a mirror image. When applied to your web design, this can evoke feelings of balance, beauty and consistency. Asymmetrical balance is when the visual weight is equal on both sides, but the composition and order of elements will vary (i.e., not a mirror image). A balanced asymmetrical design is considered a modern website design approach and will create a more dynamic experience for the viewer, while maintaining a harmonious composition. Contrast Contrast refers to arranging juxtaposing elements in a way that highlights their differences: dark and light, smooth and rough, large and small. When contrast is in the picture, it’s dramatic and exciting qualities can captivate visitors as they scroll through your site. Emphasis The principle of emphasis reminds us that not all website elements are equal. Whether it’s your logo , a CTA, or an image; if there’s something on your webpage that visitors should notice first, applying the principle of emphasis with the use of bright color, animation or size will ensure it's the dominant aspect of your composition. Movement When applied to web design, movement is what guides visitors from one element to the next. By controlling the size, direction and order of elements on an individual web page’s composition, you can direct the movement of the viewer's eye throughout your site. This is especially noticeable with techniques like website gamification . Rhythm Rhythm refers to the repetition of elements in order to create consistency, cohesiveness, or to amplify a certain message. Repeating characteristics such as your logo, brand colors, including complementary colors , and using the same typeface, will also strengthen your brand identity and presence on the web. Hierarchy Placing your business name at the bottom of your homepage is simply poor web design practice. Can you guess why? First-time visitors would have to scroll all the way down your site to know who you are. This is something we understand from the principle of hierarchy, which teaches us that the most important content should be placed in a prominent spot where visitors immediately see and interact with it. White space In art and design, any area of a composition that’s void of visual elements is referred to as white space (psst: even when it’s not actually white). This might not seem like a critical thing to pay attention to, but the conscious arrangement of white space in web design will give the visual elements of a webpage room to breathe. It can also help achieve other goals in your composition, such as hierarchy, balance, emphasis, and more. Unity Unity is the culminating effect of all the individual elements you’ve added to your site, ideally resulting in one harmonious composition. The goal of unity in web design is to ensure that visitors will not get overwhelmed, confused, or turn away from your site. It might take a few tries to get it right, but once you achieve a unified web design, you can ensure that each aspect of your site plays a valuable role in its function and performance. This also means paying attention to what elements you include, where and how you position them, and if they are truly serving a purpose. 05. Website layouts Planning your website layout is like setting its foundation, since it will determine the arrangement and sequence of visual elements on each page of your website. This critical step in web design plays a role in a site’s visual appearance, level of usability, and amplifying its message. The best layout for your website can be determined by a variety of factors: the goals of your website, the message you want to convey to viewers, and what kind of content you’ll include. While there’s no “one-size-fits-all” solution, there are two major directions you can take: Layouts to accommodate your content: The layout you choose should be fitting for the type of content. For example, if you want a layout that will showcase products you might go for one that leaves ample space for highlighting images. A blog layout, on the other hand, will need to convey new information in an organized way. Common layouts: There are plenty of tried-and-tested website layouts out there. These tend to feel familiar to users, as they build on their existing expectations or past experiences of other websites. Since they may result in a more intuitive, easy-to-use interface, they can be great for beginners. When designing a website of your own, you can use website templates in a wide range of categories to provide a solid infrastructure for your site’s layout. If you want to design a layout from scratch, we recommend using wireframes to start. This process will allow you to draft out the layout of your website before the implementation process. Pro tip: Explore old-school types of layouts in nostalgic web design and Y2K website design . 06. Functional components of web design Website functionality essentially refers to how your website works; everything from its speed and ease of use, to what specific actions can be performed on it. At the risk of dating myself, when I think about how speedy and efficient websites function today—compared to the ‘90s (I can hear AOL’s dial up signal in the background), I’m reminded that we’ve come a long way. Given the advancements across the industry of web design, it’s in our best interest to utilize the modern tools available to guarantee our websites perform well, and are easy to use. Let’s go over the components of web design that will affect how your site functions: Navigation Speed SEO UX Adaptive design vs. responsive design Navigation A single web design can consist of multiple pages and items to be viewed or used by the visitor. Website navigation is what lets visitors find the webpages they need after they arrive at your site. Adding a navigation menu to your design is the best way to provide smooth navigation for visitors. A website’s menu links to multiple items on your site and serves the user by helping them navigate between different pages and sections. Depending on your site’s design, you might choose between the following types of menus: Classic navigation menu: This popular menu type is placed in the website’s header, presented as a horizontal list. Sticky menu: Also known as a fixed or floating menu, this menu stays put as visitors scroll down the site. Hamburger menu: A hamburger menu is an icon made up of three horizontal stripes that opens to a full menu once it’s clicked. Dropdown menu: A menu in which a list of additional items opens up once visitors click on—or hover over—one of its items. Sidebar menu: A list of menu items located on the left or right side of a webpage. Speed Speed measures how quickly your site fully loads after a visitor enters it. No one, especially in our fast-paced generation, likes a slow website. It’s got to be performing at high speed. In fact, studies show a 38% rise in bounce rates when a webpage’s loading time surpasses 3 seconds . No matter how pretty the web design is, you can’t compete unless you’re providing visitors with the smoothest browsing experience. Many factors can affect the loading time of a page; some are related to a visitor’s own device or internet connection, while others might be specific to the website they’re attempting to browse. Today, there are proven practices and tools checking for auditing your site’s performance and improving the loading speed of its pages . You can also learn more about Wix Performance here . SEO SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of optimizing a website so that it ranks well on search engines. Since it plays a big part of your website’s success, we think it deserves to be included here with the functional elements. The more people who are able to find you on Google means the more visitors you’ll have using your website. Although SEO is an ongoing task, there are steps you can take to integrate website design with SEO from the get-go. For example with Wix’s SEO solutions, your site’s built-in infrastructure will already support positive performance. There are a number of common SEO practices you can take before hitting publish, too: include headings in your content, add alt text to images, use meta descriptions on relevant pages, and choose a domain name that represents your brand or business. UX Since the explosion of computer usage in the 1980s, the tech industry has constantly been exploring how human beings can better interact with technology. This is the practice of UX design —or user experience—and when applied properly to web design, it can have a great impact on the user’s journey. The term UX is often used interchangeably with “user interface” design or “usability,”, which are really , in reality, a part of the larger UX vision. While UX designers are concerned with these aspects of a product, they are also involved in looking at the big picture, finding ways to perfect and develop the products, branding, design, usability, and function. The process of is meant to ensure that a website encompasses high-quality interactions, content, products and services, by improving these seven factors: Useful Usable Findable Credible Desirable Accessible Valuable Adaptive design vs. responsive design Today, mobile devices account for over half of online traffic , making it critical to adapt our websites to the small screen. There are two types of styles that make it possible to shift a web design from its desktop version to mobile: adaptive design and responsive design. Knowing the difference between the two will come in handy, especially when choosing the website builder that’s best for you as most platforms will support one of the two: Adaptive design involves creating different versions of the same website, where each can adapt to a different size screen, or browser width. For example, with Wix, our users can arrange the layout for their site’s desktop version, and will be provided with a mobile website adaptation that is customizable. Responsive design i nvolves creating websites with a flexible grid. This creates a dynamic appearance, depending on the screen size and orientation of the device used to view it. 07. Visual elements of web design A website’s visual elements are just as important as the functional qualities, and work together to shape its overall look and feel. From color schemes to fonts and video, these details play a role in user experience and the shaping of your brand. In the age of skim reading, it is especially important to make sure every element pops. In this section we’ll go over the visual elements of web design, along with some tips for making aesthetic decisions of your own: Website header Website footer Color scheme Typography Website background Imagery Animation Website header A website header refers to the very top section of a website page, and is the first thing visitors see when they arrive at a site. In such a strategic location, a header is generally used to display a navigation menu, business name, a logo or contact information. Website footer A website footer is located on the bottom of the page and is fixated every page of your site. Since it’s the last thing visitors will see, it’s a good place to add and repeat important information they may have missed, without taking up too much visual real estate. A footer is also a common place to include contact details, a map, an email sign up bar, or social media buttons. Color scheme When it comes to web design, your website color scheme will set the tone for your site. Not only that, but splashing a branded color scheme strategically throughout can play a key role in strengthening your online branding. When determining a site’s color scheme, decide which hues will represent your primary color (the one that’s most dominant on your site), secondary color (used consistently, albeit more sparingly than your primary color), and the accent colors (used in clever ways to highlight certain details of your site). Typography Typography refers to the visual aspects of type, such as the choice of font and arrangement of text. A crucial part of web design, typography can be used to complement a website’s aesthetic style, or to strengthen the written messaging throughout a site. When choosing the best fonts for your website, consider the fact that typography can be as important as the words themselves. You’ll want to choose fonts that are readable, suit the stylistic theme of your site, and above all—on brand. Similar to a color scheme, you can pick primary, secondary and accent fonts to direct the way a visitor experiences your written content. Website background Setting the tone for your page, the website background plays an important role in web design. Whether it’s static or animated, solid or textured—the background is what follows visitors consistently as they scroll. You can upload any image or video to become your website background, use a brand color, go for a trendy gradient background or opt for a minimalist theme and leave it white. Whichever you decide, make sure it fits into the overall visual theme of your site and grabs visitors attention without being too distracting. One way to add more excitement to a background is by implementing scrolling effects, such as parallax scrolling —a trendy favorite of both professional web designers and beginners. Imagery In just a few seconds, your website imagery can strengthen the message you send to visitors. This might mean displaying your business’s products or location, uploading photos from an event, including a branded favicon , or using an icon maker to add a bit of flair to your site’s design. Wix provides a rich library of free visual content—from AI image tools to collections of innovative designs, like the transparent videos we purchase from some of our talented users. When working on a web design, our users also have the ability to upload their own images, stock photos from sources like Unsplash , custom website animations or vector art. Read also: 7 things you can do in 30 seconds using Wix’s AI image tools Animation One of the goals of web design is to set your site apart from others. Adding animation to a website is a great way to do that, and can help direct your users’ experience and action. You can include animation throughout your site to create a more dynamic experience for viewers, or to trigger certain reactions. For example, try adding a touch of animation to: A CTA button to encourage visitors to click Elements like arrows to provide direction for users Loading bars to make their (hopefully short) waiting time more exciting Things that you want users to pay attention to, such as a lightbox for email signups 08. Website maintenance The web design industry is one that’s constantly introducing new features, tools and solutions. The down side of this quickly evolving world is that it requires you - and your website - to stay constantly up-to-date and implement a website maintenance plan. After you’ve completed your first design, you'll eventually have to update your website to ensure the content is relevant, and the design is not obsolete. While seemingly futile, any outdated elements on your website can negatively impact your visitors’ interactions, resulting in decreasing overall performance and sales. Check in on your website at least once a month to make sure there are no bugs, everything works properly and that your information is current. When considering a redesign , think about the changes you can make to keep your web design relevant, improve it’s ease of use, or amplify its performance. This might mean adding fresh visual content, an extra page, working on SEO or performing an accessibility audit . 09. Web design inspiration Now that we’ve covered the basics of web design, it’s time to seek creative examples. Web design inspiration is everywhere, and we recommend you regularly browse through sites like Behance , Awwwards , and Pinterest to find new ideas. Here at Wix, we’ve got our finger on the pulse of web design trends , and are constantly on the lookout for the best websites made by users. We love seeing what these proud website owners do with our product - from artists to small business owners, and everyone in between. Check out the following “best of” websites for inspiration of your own: Website ideas Outstanding Wix Websites 21 Best About Us Pages Homepage Design Examples Effective FAQ page examples Beautiful Contact Pages Best Graphic Design Websites Beautiful One Page Websites Is your site irresistible? Looking to start a web design business? Read our guide. 10. Accessibility in web design Accessibility in web design ensures that your website can be used by everyone, including individuals with disabilities. It’s not just a moral or legal obligation—it's an essential part of creating a user-friendly, inclusive digital space that benefits all visitors. By implementing accessible practices, you open up your website to a wider audience while enhancing the experience for every user. Here are the key practices in accessible web design: Ensure sufficient color contrast: Use contrasting colors to make text readable for users with visual impairments. Provide descriptive alt text: Add meaningful alt text to images so screen reader users can understand visual content. Ensure keyboard navigability: Make all website functions accessible via keyboard for users who cannot use a mouse. Use clear and consistent navigation: Design intuitive navigation to enhance usability and minimize confusion. Provide text alternatives for multimedia: Include transcripts for audio and captions for video to make multimedia accessible. Avoid reliance on color alone: Use labels or symbols in addition to color to convey information clearly. Enable scalable text: Allow users to adjust font sizes to improve readability based on their preferences. Use semantic HTML: Structure content using proper HTML tags to enhance compatibility with assistive technologies. Design accessible interactive elements: Make buttons and clickable areas large and easy to identify, especially on mobile. Conduct regular accessibility testing: Use tools and user feedback to identify and resolve any barriers to accessibility. Beyond improving usability, accessibility can also boost your website’s performance. Search engines often favor accessible websites, resulting in better SEO rankings. Additionally, compliance with standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) helps you avoid legal risks while showcasing your brand’s commitment to inclusivity. Web design FAQ What does a web designer do? A web designer is responsible for the visual appearance and layout of a website. They work closely with clients to understand their needs and goals, and then they create a design that is both aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly. Web designers use a variety of software tools to create their designs. What are the 3 types of web design? There are three main types of web design: User interface (UI) design: UI design focuses on the visual elements of a website, such as the layout, typography and color scheme. UI designers strive to create websites that are easy to use and navigate. User experience (UX) design: UX design focuses on the overall experience of using a website. UX designers consider factors such as user behavior, usability and accessibility. Visual design: Visual design focuses on the overall look and feel of a website. Visual designers use their creativity to create websites that are both visually appealing and memorable. Can you teach yourself web design? Yes, it's possible to teach yourself web design. There are many resources available online, such as tutorials, articles and courses, that can teach you the basics of web design. You can also practice your skills by designing your own websites or by volunteering to design websites for local businesses or nonprofits. What qualifications do you need to be a web designer? There is no formal education requirement to become a web designer. However, most employers prefer to hire web designers who have a portfolio of their work and who are proficient in a variety of software tools. A degree in graphic design, web design or a related field can also be helpful. Is web design hard? It depends. If you're looking to become a professional web designer, so there can be a lot to learn. These include technical skills, like HMTL and CSS to being able to code responsive designs. You'll need some degree of software proficiency in tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Sketch and Figma. Web design as a career means understanding fundamental design principles, such as color theory and typography. You also can't master web design without understanding user experience, the importance of site navigation for example. However if you're interested in web design simply to make your own website, it isn't hard. When you use a website builder, for example, you can choose from hundreds of customizable templates that make web design a lot simpler. Do I need coding skills for web design? If you plan to get into web design professionally, yes. You'll need to understand, HTML/CSS and Javascript as a basic. However if you're just looking to understand web design better in order to create a website, no. Using a website builder means needing zero coding experience or knowledge.
- 600 + Online store names to start selling with
Your name idea deserves a home. Secure your domain now → As a new business owner, choosing your online store name is a huge first step toward building a brand and starting to make money online . Finding the perfect one can be tricky since there’s a lot to consider, including who else might be using the name you like and if a related domain is available. With a little creativity—and some helpful tools—it’s worth taking some extra time weighing your options when you're starting an online store . Pairing the right name with the best free website builder for small business can give you a strong foundation to grow your brand online. Keep reading for tips on how to make the right choice and browse a list of store name ideas to get the creative juices flowing. Naming your online store just got a whole lot easier . The Wix Business Name Generator gives you custom, on-brand ideas fast—along with the tools to bring your idea to life. 600+ online store name ideas Now, to really get your creativity flowing, here are some online store name ideas across popular retail categories: Soap business Online seed store Phone accessories store Candle shop Dog bakery treats Makeup and skincare T-shirt store Candy and sweets Cards and stationery Fashion Home and living Accessories Technology Gifts and toys Pet supplies Sports and outdoors Food and drink Consumer electronics Book store Movie store Music store Game store Personal care and beauty Handmade soap 01. Soap business name ideas CraftedLather Co. CustomScent Soaps BespokeBubble Boutique PerfumeCraft Soaps ArtisanAvenue Soaps PurityPetal Soaps HandmadeHeirloom Soaps SignatureSoap Studio LuxeLather Creations VelvetVista Soaps OrganicOasis Soaps Enchantique Suds SilkenSuds Studio Aromatica Atelier CustomCraze Soaps HarmonyHues Soaps NobleNectar Soaps EmbellishEssence Soaps PureArtisan Soaps VelvetVista Soaps ScentedSculpture Soaps BespokeBath Elegance TimelessTinge Soaps NatureNurtured Soaps OpulentOasis Soaps EtherealEssence Soaps BespokeBlend Soaps RadiantRoots Soaps HarmonyHeritage Soaps VelvetValley Soaps Found the perfect name for your business? Lock in your domain before someone else does. Naming an online bookstore is about giving your shop a vibe that sticks. Try playful or story-inspired names like “Plot Twist” “Shelfie” or “Chapter & Verse.” Highlight your niche with names like “Mystery Lane” for thrillers or “Little Pages” for kids’ books. 02. Online seed store Trendy Seeds Seed Spot Sunset Seeds Seed Story The Seed Nook SeedSafari GreenThumb Express EcoSprout Marketplace SeedSync BloomBasket GrowWonders SeedSphere NatureNest Seeds SmartSeed Select SeedSculpt EcoHarvest Hub Grower'sGallery SeedVista TerraBloom Seeds SowSerene SeedSense BloomBounty FreshHarvest Seeds SeedlingStreet GreenGrove Seeds PurePlant Picks SeedCraftsmen EvergreenEmporium UrbanHarbor Seeds SeedHaven OrganicOrigins Seeds EcoEden Seeds SeedSense Market PurePlantings BloomBase Seeds 03. Phone accessories store names Action Cases The Case Spot Infinite Cases Hyperaccessories Cases Zone GadgetGrove TechTrove Hub SleekShield Store MobileMingle PhoneChic Boutique CaseCraze Outlet AccessoryAvenue TrendyTech Trims CellularCharm Haven GuardGlamour iStyle Sanctuary MobileMarvel Emporium UrbanGadget Gear CaseCraft Creations TechTreasure Trove PocketPizzazz PhoneFiesta Accessorize Alive ModishMobile Mall EliteEdge Emporium TrendTech Trinkets MobileMosaic GadgetGlam Gallery StellarShield Shop PhoneFinesse Finds ChicCircuit Corner AccessorEase Emporium StylishShield Showcase MobileMarvel Marketplace TechTrend Trims PhoneFiesta Finds AccessoryAlchemy UrbanGadget Galleria ChicCircuit Collection TechTrove Trends GuardGlamour Gallery CaseCraft Corner MobileMingle Market TrendyTech Trims SleekShield Showcase PhoneChic Collection ModishMobile Mall AccessoryAvenue CaseCraze Outlet GadgetGrove Gallery Your online clothing store's name is like the first outfit your brand wears. It should hint at your style audience and vibe—edgy chic or cozy. Names like "Thread Theory" for modern pieces "Velvet & Vine" for luxury or "Street Loom" for streetwear instantly give shoppers a feel for what to expect. 04. Candle shop names Candela Always Candles Evergreen Candles Top Candles The Candle Dude LuminaLuxe WickWonders EnchantCandle PureGlow Haven CandleCrafters Hub RadianceRealm VelvetVista Candles EtherealEssence MysticMelt Candles GlowGrace Studio SereneScent Candles FlameFantasia TranquilTincture VelvetVerve Lights CandleCanvas Co. ArtisanAroma Candles DivineDrip Studio AetherWick Designs ScentedSculpture CelestialCraze EmberEnchant BespokeGlow MoonlitMingle Candles LuminiqueLights LuxeFlame Crafts VelvetVista Lights IlluminateInStyle ScentedSymphony EtherealElegance RadiantRoots Candles SerenitySculpt ArtistryAblaze VelvetVerve Illuminations FlameFables TranquilTide Candles PureCrafted Lights CelestialCraft Candles MystiqueMelt LuxeLumina DivineDrip Lights ScentedSculpture Co. Aromatica Atelier BespokeBreeze VelvetVista Illuminations MoonlitMingle Lights LuminiqueLuxe IlluminateInnovations CelestialCraft Studio FlameFantasy RadiantRoots Illuminations 05. Dog bakery treats Mystical Dog Treats Treat Corner Treatsy Awesome Dog Treat Zone Barkery Delights Pawsitively Delicious Woof n' Whisk Bakery Canine Confections Tail Waggin' Treats Doggy Delish Bites Puppy Pastries Paradise Biscuit Bliss Bakery Snoutful Sweets Chew-Chew Treats K9 Cookie Co. Bark Bites Bakery Wagging Tails Treats Pawfection Bakery Fetch & Feast Bakery Sniff & Savor Sweets Four-Legged Flavors Furry Friends Fancies The Barkery Boutique BowWow Baked Goods Pupcake Palace Snack Shack for Dogs Canine Cookie Cottage Biscuit Buffet Tail-ored Treats Ruff Rolls Bakery Pooch's Patisserie Snackin' Snouts Bakery Happy Howl Bakery Doggone Goodies Wholesome Woof Bakery Chewy Chewbacca Treats The Doggy Doughnut Den Treats 'n Tails Bakery Barking Bagels Bakeshop Snoutful Surprises Bakery Paws and Pastries Cookie Crunch Canine Tasty Tail Twists Droolworthy Delights The Snout Snackery BowWow Biscuit Bar Bites and Barks Bakery Chewy Charm Confections Barkside Bites Tail-End Tidbits SnickerPaws Bakery Yummy Woof Wafers The Canine Crumb Co. Tails & Treats Emporium Your pet store’s name should make tails wag and hearts melt. Aim for something playful, memorable or heartwarming that connects with pet owners. Names like “Pawfect Picks” hint at curated products, “Furry Friends Co.” feels friendly and approachable or “Whisker & Wag” adds a fun whimsical touch. 06. Makeup and skincare New Age Makeup Happily Madeup Fresh Makeup Neobeauty Mosaic Face Glam Glow Haven Velvet Vanity Radiance Realm Flawless Faces Boutique Luminous Luxe Lounge Silk & Satin Skincare Purity Posh Emporium Enchanté Beauty Bazaar Opulent Origins Velvet Veil Vanity Opal Oasis Cosmetics Crystal Clear Complexions Silk Spectrum Beauty Lumière Loft Radiant Revival Boutique Gilded Glamour Gallery Ethereal Elegance Emporium Celestial Skin Sanctuary Infinite Glow Boutique Rose Petal Radiance Harmony Haven Skincare Blissful Beauty Bar Diva Dazzle Cosmetics Moonlit Mystique Makeup Blossom Bliss Boutique Glamour Garden The Pearl Palette Stellar Skin Studio Velvet Vignettes Vanity Chic Cheek Charm Crystal Clear Canvas Opulence Oasis Radiant Roses Skincare Ivory Isle Impressions Luxe Layers Beauty Starry Glow Gallery Ethereal Essence Emporium Blush Bouquet Boutique Velvety Vision Vanity Pure Radiance Revue Satin Serenity Skincare Mystique Makeup Manor Golden Gleam Gallery Celestial Complexions Velvet Veil Vanity Radiant Reflections Lush Luster Lounge Silk Sensations Skincare Glamour Grove Gallery Posh Prism Boutique 07. T-shirt store Snappy Ts Tee Party Shirt Shack Shirtee HyperT TeeTime Treasures ThreadCraft Emporium Cotton Canvas Co. Graphic Grove Stitched Style Studio Tee Trend Junction Thread Symphony Print Parade Cotton Couture Corner T-Shirt Terrace FreshFabric Finds Stitches & Statements Cotton Chronicles Urban Threads Collective Casual Canvas Closet ThreadTrove TeeVogue Vault Stitched Streetwear Hub Cotton Culture Cove BoldBlend Boutique ThreadCrafted Treasures T-Shirt Tapestry Print Perfection Palace TeeTexture Trunk CottonCanvas Curios Wearable Wonders Workshop Threaded Trends Tryst T-Shirt Tapestry Fabric Fusion Finds Stitch & Style Studio Print Palette Pavilion CottonCraft Cartel BoldBlend Bazaar Stitched Statements Studio ThreadTalk Togs TeeTwist Trends CottonCanvas Collective UrbanWeave Wardrobe ThreadTreasure Trove T-Shirt Trends Terrace CottonCanvas Corner Stitch & Snag Shop Print Paradise Pavilion ThreadedTradition Trunk TeeTexture Trendhouse FreshFabric Fables BoldBlend Boutique ThreadTrove Traditions CottonCraft Cove Wearable Wonders Warehouse Naming an electronic store should reflect energy, innovation and trust. Consider what you sell and your target audience—sleek names like “Axis Supply” or “Quantum Nest” offer a modern edge, while playful options like “Zapster” or “Plugjoy” feel more approachable. Incorporate power words like volt or spark, design cues like lab or hub, or futuristic tones like ion or pixel to create a standout name. 08. Candy and sweets Sweeten The Candy Dish Real Candy The Truffle Canyon Candies Sugar Bliss Emporium Candy Cloud Haven Sweet Symphony Shop Lollipop Lane Sugar Rush Retreat Confectionery Cove Heavenly Treats Boutique Divine Delights Depot Caramel Kingdom Jellybean Junction Gummy Gala Fudge Fantasy Factory Taffy Trails Emporium Candy Carousel Corner Sweet Serenity Sweets Marshmallow Meadows Sugary Spells Store Honeyed Haven BonBon Boulevard Candy Castle Corner Sweet Whimsy Wonderland Delightful Drops Depot Cupcake Corner Toffee Temptations Peppermint Palace Chocolate Charm Chateau Sprinkle Spectacle Store Gumdrop Grove Sugarplum Paradise Frosted Fantasia Fare Nougat Nook Sweet Swirls Sanctuary Candyland Confections Tasty Truffle Treasury Rainbow Ribbon Sweets Luscious Licorice Lane Zestful Zephyr Zweets Sugarcube Symphony Frosty Fancies Fountain Fruity Fusion Fables Caramel Cozy Cabin Popcorn Palace Mocha Morsels Manor Sweets 'n Swirls Shack Candy Carnival Cove Marshmallow Mirage Market Glistening Glaze Grove Tantalizing Toffee Trail Sweetheart Snacks Studio Blissful Bites Boutique 09. Cards and stationery Imprinted Card Hub Supersationery Kara’s Kards Insightful Cards CardCraft Creations Stationary Serenity Elegant Expressions Emporium The Paper Posh Parlor Greetings Gallery Whimsical Writeaways Dapper Designs Depot Stationary Sanctuary Thoughtful Tokens Creative Card Co. Quill Quest Papyrus Palace Signature Station Pen and Paper Pavilion Crafty Correspondence Greeting Grove Elegant Envelopes Emporium The Write Touch Classic Card Corner Paper Passion Pit Stationary Symphony The Artful Note Card Captivation Quirk & Quill Quarters Enchanting Edges Emporium Sentimental Station The Gilded Greeting Scribble & Scribe Studio Stationary Stitches Whimsy Words Workshop The Inkwell Card Couture Corner Elegant Edges Emporium Thoughtful Treasures The Papyrus Place Letter Lagoon Creative Canvas Cards Quill & Quirk Quarters The Card Canvas Inked Impressions Emporium Serene Scrolls Studio The Elegant Epistle Paper Palette Pavilion Timeless Tokens Greeting Gems Gallery Stationary Stitchery Posh Paper Pavilion Signature Scrolls Studio The Crafty Card Cartel The Penning Palace Charming Correspondence Gilded Greetings Gallery Crafty Canvas Cards The Thoughtful Token Letter Luxe Lounge Creative Cardistry Quill & Quirk Quotient The Greeting Grove Elegant Edges Emporium 10. Fashion Fashion Addict Style Maven Chic Boutique Trendy Threads Fashionista Styled By Me The Closet Haute Couture Clothes To Go Wardrobe Essentials Dressed To Impress The Style Lab The Wardrobe Whisperer The Closet Curator The Fashionista's Haven The Dress Doctor The Shoe Salon The Hat Box The Jewelry Boutique The Sunglasses Shop The Watch Gallery The Beauty Bar Chic Charm Boutique Vogue Haven Trendy Threads Trunk Urban Elegance Emporium Style Spectrum Studio Couture Corner Glamour Grotto Modish Manifest Runway Reverie Dapper Diva Depot Sartorial Splendor Fashion Forward Finds Haute Heritage House Style Savvy Showcase Trend Trailblazers Couturier's Closet Urban Vogue Vault Thread Trends Tryst Chic Couture Collection Fashion Fiesta Luxe Legacy Lounge Runway Radiance Style Symphony Studio Glam Gala Garb Posh Panache Pavilion Mod Mirage Mall Chic Cynosure Collection Vogue Vista The Trend Trove Svelte Style Studio Found your perfect business name? Claim your domain with Wix in minutes, set up a custom website and business email and enjoy secure hosting, full privacy and 24/7 support—all in one place. 11. Home and living Home Sweet Home The Home Decor Shop Furniture Finds Home Goods Galore Kitchen Essentials Bath & Body Boutique Linen Lovers Home Decor Haven Living Room Bliss Bedroom Paradise Nursery Nook The Home Decorista The Furniture Finder The Kitchen Connoisseur The Living Room Bliss The Bedroom Paradise Outdoor Oasis The Patio Party 12. Accessories The Jewelry Box The Watch Shop The Sunglasses Spot The Hat Bar The Bag Boutique Shoe Heaven Jewelry For All Belts & Buckles Emporium The Jewelry Maven The Sunglasses Queen The Hat Aficionado 13. Technology Gadget Guru Tech Toys Tablets & More Headphone Heaven Speakers Galore The Tech Store The Computer Nerd 14. Gifts and toys The Gift Shop Toys For All Birthday Wishes Holiday Gifts Baby Shower Essentials Wedding Favors Boutique Gift Baskets Galore 15. Pet supplies The Pet Shop The Dog Supplies Store The Cat Supplies Shop The Bird Supplies Emporium The Fish Supplies Shop Small Animal Supplies Store Reptile & Amphibian Supplies The Horse Supplies Store The Farm Animal Supplies The Wildlife Supplies Store The Pet Food Store 16. Sports and outdoors The Sports Shop Camping Gear Hiking Supplies Golf Equipment Tennis Gear Yoga Accessories Running Shoes Swimsuits & Gear Bikes & Accessories Camping Stoves & Grills The Fishing Tackle Store Learn more: What's the best way to start an online store? 17. Food and drinks The Coffee Shop The Tea Shop The Candy Store The Ice Cream Parlor The Wine Shop The Beer Store The Liquor Store The Deli The Grocery Store The Farmers Market The Food Delivery Service 18. Consumer electronics Gadgets Galore Tech Finds Electronic Essentials Digital Delights Audiophile Heaven Home Theater Nirvana Camera Crazy Gadget Guru Phone Cases Galore Laptop Chargers Computer Accessories 19. Bookstore names The Book Nook The Reading Room Bookworm Paradise Literary Haven Page Turners First Edition Finds Rare Books Textbooks Galore Graphic Novels Children's Books Young Adult Fiction 20. Movie store names The Movie Store The Video Shop Streaming Essentials Cult Classics 21. Music store names The Record Store The Music Shop Vinyl Heaven Digital Downloads Live Music Tickets Musical Instruments DJ Gear Headphones Galore Speakers Galore 22. Game store names The Game Store Board Games Galore Video Games Trading Cards Collectibles Puzzles Outdoor Games Party Games Toys & Games Sports Games Casino Games 23. Personal care and beauty store The Beauty Shop Skincare Essentials Hair Care Heaven Makeup Maven Nail Polish Galore Perfume Paradise 24. Handmade soap shop Cheekily Handmade Soap Nook Soap Connection Silkroad Handmade Soap Handmade Soapful ArtisanAlchemy Soaps PureCrafted Suds VelvetVista Soaps HandmadeHaven NatureNurture Soaps CraftersCove Soaps ScentedSculpture OrganicOasis Soaps HeavenlyHandmade Soaps ArtistryAblaze SilkenSuds Sanctuary HarmonyHeritage Soaps RusticRoots Soaps TranquilTincture Soaps MoonlitMingle Soaps VintageVerve Soaps EssenceElegance LavishLather Co. SerenitySculpt Soaps VelvetVerve Creations HandcraftedHarbor AromaticArtisan Soaps Nature'sNectar Soaps Bloom&Bubble RadiantRoots Soaps CraftedEssence ScentedSymphony GentleGlow Soaps WholesomeHarbor Soaps LavenderLoom Soaps VelvetVista Artisan Soaps PurityPetal TranquilTide Soaps EnchantedEmbrace Soaps HeritageHues Soaps EtherealEssence HandmadeHarbor PureCraftsmanship Soaps VintageVista Soaps Nature'sNook Soaps Real-life store name ideas and examples For more inspiration, check out these eCommerce website examples —all built with Wix —that features some wicked store names. Nurturing Nature Cards Nurture Nature Cards takes a literal, yet endearing approach to its store name. Its name reflects the nature of its signature products: 100% plantable gift cards that bloom into Swan River Daisies. Cordina Hair A popular, yet timeless formula for naming a business: using your own name to reflect that your business is an extension of yourself. Cordina Hair is aptly named after its founder, Yanika Cordina, who invented a new, heatless way to curl hair while on a personal mission to keep her own hair healthy. Altered States Altered States's name reflects the mission of its brand: to encapsulate the essence of urban culture and blend sophistication with high-end fashion. Altered States aims to alter the face of fashion with high-quality hoodies featuring one-of-a-kind designs. Get inspired by eCommerce website design ideas. Tips for creating a store name There’s a lot to consider when building an eCommerce website , choosing eCommerce templates and figuring out what exactly is an online store . Selecting the right name for your business is paramount. It's the first impression you make on your audience. A well-chosen name communicates your brand identity, values, and purpose. It's the pillar of your brand's foundation, influencing customer perception, market positioning, and ultimately, your success in the competitive landscape Daniele Pitkowski, Product Marketing Manager - Alternative Flows at Wix.com Learning how to name a business is one of the first things you’ll need to tackle when starting your business . Here are some things to keep in mind when brainstorming names. 01. Reflect your brand and keep it personal Your business name may reflect what you're selling, or it may not. Either way, it should clearly communicate your brand identity . The name you pick can describe the types of products you intend to sell or be connected to something meaningful to your brand. Ideally, it will do both. A great example of this is Wix merchant Izzy Wheels . The store, founded by sisters and artists Ailbhe and Izzy Keane, offers stylish and colorful wheel covers for wheelchairs. The brand is named after Izzy, who initially sought a creative solution for personalizing her own wheelchair. To create a personal online store name, start by considering words that reflect your brand's essence and values. Consider using a nickname, pet name or your own name. Combine elements like your product type or a unique feature. Incorporating personal touches or storytelling elements can make the name more engaging and relatable to customers. 02. Be creative Choosing a creative name for your online store can set you apart from competitors and attract more customers. Think outside the box for product offerings, marketing strategies and customer engagement. Consider running interactive social media campaigns or introducing customizable products. Implement creative storytelling techniques in your brand communication to build a deeper connection with your customer base, making your business memorable and unique. Creativity in naming is a skill that can be cultivated with practice and experimentation. 03. Make it memorable Some of the best (and most memorable) online store names are short: Amazon, WayFair, Zappos, and Chewy, to name a few. Long names can be hard to remember and may get cut off in some online spaces like social media and search result headlines. The above business names share another common trait: they don't list a specific product or product type. Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder, specifically chose the name Amazon—paying homage to the large river in South America—because he wanted his product line to be just as limitless and expansive as the river. Similarly, you should consider names that are broad enough to grow with your business, particularly if you plan to expand beyond your initial product offering. 04. Keep your online store name simple Don't forget to say the name you’re considering out loud. Is it easy to pronounce? Does it sound professional and pleasant? Fun fact: Bezos originally wanted to call his company Cadabara, a play on the word “abracadabra.” But not long after, he changed it to Amazon after hearing someone accidentally call it "Cadaver." Simplicity is key. Choosing a name with an easy spelling and pronunciation, secures quick recognition and recall. A great business name captures attention, evokes emotion, and sticks in the mind. It should be unique yet memorable, reflecting your brand's essence and values. Daniele Pitkowski, Product Marketing Manager - Alternative Flows at Wix.com 05. Make sure your domain name is available You should always check to see if your business name is available as a domain name when you're learning how to make a website from scratch . You can use Wix’s free Domain Name Search to check availability and see if there are any potential conflicts with other businesses. Searching for domain names can additionally reveal alternatives and name variations. For example, let's say you sell video games and want the name gamestore.com. That domain isn't currently available but "gamesuperstore.net" and "gamestores.biz" are both free (as of the date of this post). Also, worth nothing: Wix users get a free domain name for a year with select Wix Premium plans . 06. Check legal restrictions In the U.S., each state has its own set of rules and regulations for business names, so it pays to do your research before landing on a name you love. For example, most states have rules around using business entity identifiers like Inc. and LLC. In other cases, your name can't be misleading or too similar to another existing business; you need to acknowledge the significance of intellectual property. It can't imply that your company is part of the federal government. Certain words, like FBI or CIA, are off-limits (for obvious reasons). The US Patent and Trademark Office database can further help you determine if your name has been trademarked. Top online store name generators We've touched on a few different ways to start researching online store names above, but here are a few helpful tools worth using. It can be helpful (and fun) to mix and match the results from multiple tools. Wix Store Name Generator - Wix’s free tool lets you search by keyword and industry type, then produces dozens of creative suggestions in seconds. You can get suggestions specifically tailored to your main business, as well as any podcasts, apps, or other properties that you manage. Namelix - Namelix creates business names based on name style (e.g., names involving real words or alternate spelling), the level of randomness you’re seeking, and brand info. Looka - Looka accepts keywords or abstract ideas (like “premium” and “ambitious”) to generate store names. It additionally lets you specify the desired length of your name. NameSnack - NameSnack generates more than 100 short, brandable business names and immediately tells you whether the name is also available as a domain. Behind the Name – This one’s not specifically a business name generator, but it’s a great brainstorming tool. It’s a searchable database of over 25,000 names from different cultures, periods, and mythologies. Search by first name, surname, or find names by searching for criteria like usage, meaning, or origin. Online store names FAQ How can I create a catchy business name? To create a catchy business name, consider using wordplay and alliteration to make it memorable. Incorporate creative techniques like puns or rhymes, and keep the name short and snappy. Ensure it resonates with your target audience and reflects the personality of your brand. What are the legal considerations when selecting a store name? Before finalizing your store name, conduct a trademark search to ensure it’s not already in use. Register your business name with the appropriate governmental authority and secure domain names to protect your brand online. How do I choose a business name for Google Merchant Center? When selecting a business name for Google Merchant Center, make sure it accurately represents your brand and aligns with your website and promotional materials. Keep it short and avoid suffixes like "Inc.," "Co.," or "GmbH." Refrain from using promotional text such as phone numbers or sale announcements, and don't include offensive or inappropriate language to comply with Google's guidelines. What are some branding tips for creating shop names? Your shop name should reflect your brand’s identity and values. Use descriptive words that convey the essence of your business, and consider how the name will appear on marketing materials and digital platforms. Looking for a business name for another business idea? Trucking business names Consulting business names Real estate business names Food truck business names Marketing business names Construction business name ideas Photography business names Craft business name ideas
- How to make an art portfolio (+ tips and examples)
Ready to let your work shine? Build your portfolio → Feel like your art deserves more than a cluttered Instagram grid or a forgotten folder on your laptop? A strong portfolio turns your work into a story people can see, feel and remember. It’s how the right audience discovers your talent and how you show them you’re serious about your craft. Here’s how to build an art portfolio that highlights your best pieces, reflects your unique style and gets your creativity noticed. TL;DR: how to make an art portfolio This guide shows you how to create a website for your art portfolio that attracts clients, galleries or schools. It covers every step: defining your purpose, selecting your best pieces, choosing a website builder like Wix, customizing a template, designing your homepage and organizing your artwork. You’ll also learn how to add contact info, start an online shop, get feedback and keep your portfolio updated. Plus, we'll feature inspiring artist portfolios to spark your ideas and help you shape your creative vision. Showcasing your talent should be easy. With Wix’s portfolio builder, you can create a professional, eye-catching portfolio that shows your best work in just a few clicks. Wix’s customizable templates and easy-to-use tools let you present your skills with confidence–leaving a lasting impression on anyone who visits your site. The basic setup is free and lets you put your art online easily. Paid options give you extra tools to make your work stand out, sell more and get noticed. Wix's portfolio features How artists can use Wix portfolios Gallery showcase • Display high-res paintings, drawings or photos with zoom & hover effects • Organize by series, theme or medium • Add sketches, process shots or behind-the-scenes videos Art sales & merch • Sell originals, prints or art merchandise • Run limited editions or print-on-demand • Manage secure payments and shipping details Marketing for artists • Collect fan and collector emails • Send updates about new artworks, exhibitions or sales • Chat live with visitors to take commissions Interactive art media • Embed timelapse videos, studio tours or 360° views • Add interactive galleries or hover animations • Image optimization for faster loading and enhanced visuals Insights & analytics • See which artworks or galleries get the most attention • Understand who’s visiting your site • Track clicks on shop items to optimize sales Social integration • Display your Instagram or other social feeds • Show testimonials from galleries, clients or students • Share new work directly to social media Search & discoverability • Optimize artwork pages for Google and image search • Use AI-assisted SEO suggestions to improve visibility • Use structured data to help your art get found online Exclusive access & memberships • Offer members-only galleries or content for collectors and fans • Share exclusive prints, tutorials or behind-the-scenes material Events & art commissions • Promote exhibitions, workshops or pop-up shows • Accept bookings for commissions or art classes Professional art branding • Use custom fonts, color palettes and layouts to match your artistic style • Ensure mobile-friendly fast-loading galleries What is an art portfolio? An art portfolio is a collection of your best and most representative artwork, curated and presented in a cohesive and professional manner. It serves as a visual representation of your skills, style and creative voice. Traditionally, an art portfolio would consist of physical copies of your work, such as paintings, drawings or photographs, carefully arranged in a folder or binder. With the rise of technology and digital media, many artists are now choosing to showcase their portfolios online. Online platforms have become increasingly popular, with 31% of young buyers and 37% of new art buyers purchasing their first-ever artwork online. This indicates a growing trend of art enthusiasts embracing the digital realm to discover and purchase artwork that resonates with them. Ready to build an online portfolio ? Start designing yours today. How to make an art portfolio online Define your purpose Select your best pieces Choose an online platform Customize a template Design a compelling homepage Showcase your artwork Add a contact page Start an online shop (optional) Get feedback from others Edit over time 01. Define your purpose The first step to creating a captivating art portfolio is to define your purpose and audience. Ask yourself why are you making a portfolio and who is it for? Your portfolio should have a clear goal, whether it's selling your work, applying for a grant, or showcasing your talent. Consider what they're looking for, what they value and what they expect from an art portfolio. Your portfolio should speak directly to them and highlight the unique aspects of your art. Identify your audience Your audience can vary depending on your goals. Knowing your target audience will help you customize your portfolio so that it resonates with the intended crowd. For example, if you primarily illustrate for children's books, you may want to showcase these pieces prominently in your portfolio. You can focus your portfolio towards: Gallery curators : If you are looking to exhibit in galleries or museums, highlight pieces that display a sense of your overall aesthetic. Potential buyers : Present high-quality images of your pieces and include details on pricing and availability. You may also want to think about including an online store directly on your portfolio site for easy transactions. Art schools : For students looking to apply to art schools, focus on highlighting your artistic range, techniques and development over time. 02. Select your best art pieces When choosing the specific pieces to incorporate in your art portfolio, think about quality over quantity. Pick a range of work that highlights the scope of your distinct approach and abilities. This will give your viewers an idea of what you are capable of as an artist. Keep these concepts in mind when curating your collection: Create a cohesive portfolio Your art portfolio should have a sense of unity and flow. Select pieces with a similar style, color palette or subject matter to make a cohesive collection. Also consider the specific materials and medium of your work and think about the entire story the pieces tell collectively. Learn more: What to include in a portfolio Common portfolio mistakes Highlight your artistic strengths Use your art portfolio to display what sets you apart from other artists. Be sure to include pieces that demonstrate your technical skills, creativity and notable perspective. This will help others see what makes you stand out in the art world. Look at other portfolios for inspiration Exploring different portfolio website ideas and art blogs can help you gain insights into what works and what doesn't when it comes to showcasing your own pieces. Seeing other artists' portfolios can help spark new ideas and concepts to incorporate into your own site. Websites like Behance, Dribble, Carbonmade and Coroflot are full of excellent examples of how to present your work in the best possible light and provide another platform to showcase your work. Get started with an AI generated website today. How to layout an art portfolio : Organize your work by medium, theme or series to take viewers on a visual journey through your creativity. Use clean grids and thoughtful spacing so each piece has room to shine and the eye moves effortlessly across your portfolio. Include sketches, studies or behind-the-scenes shots to reveal your creative process and spotlight 3–5 standout pieces with quick notes on concept, inspiration or approach to give your work personality and make it unforgettable. Learn more about how to build a portfolio for college. 03. Choose a website builder for artists Now that you have curated your artwork, it’s time to pick a website builder that best suits your goal of displaying your pieces. When it comes to showcasing your art portfolio, drag and drop website building platforms like Wix offer portfolio templates and tools that cater to the needs of an artist's portfolio. Take a look at some of the best website builders for artists , some of the best portfolio builders and consider the following factors when creating an online art portfolio of your own: User-friendly interface Since you’ve likely spent hours refining your artistic practice and honing in on your overall aesthetic, you want a platform that is easy to use and regularly update content. A user-friendly interface will streamline the process of creating your art portfolio and updating it as needed. Customization options Having a variety of customization options, like different templates, color schemes and font choices, offers plenty of creative freedom as you carve out your online presence. This allows you to build a distinct portfolio that reflects your personal approach. 04. Customize a template Find a website template that best suits your style and purpose. When determining your options, go for best portfolio layouts over a personal web page , that will provide you with the website layout you need to share your collection. Your art portfolio should be easy to navigate and engaging. Avoid cluttered layouts or too many distractions that may take away from the main focus–your artwork. 05. Design a compelling homepage Your homepage is often the first impression viewers will receive of your portfolio. It's frequently the most visited by new and returning users, playing a major role in your website experience. The objectives for your homepage should be to engage new visitors quickly and channel them to the right content. To achieve these objectives, include the following elements: An eye-catching banner or slideshow Craft a striking banner or slideshow that will immediately draw visitors in. Slideshows provide a way to add motion to your website, displaying rich content. Introduction and artist statement Include a brief introduction, offering readers a sense of who you are as an artist. You can also write an artist statement to add more context and meaning to your portfolio. Navigation menu Make it easy for viewers to navigate through your portfolio by including a clear and organized navigation menu. This will help them find specific pieces or sections easily. 06. Showcase your artwork The main purpose of an art portfolio is to exhibit your collection, so be sure to display it in the best possible way. Keep the following tips in mind when determining your website design : Organize effectively Create distinct categories highlighting different art techniques, such as abstract, landscapes, portraits, comics, etc. This enables visitors to filter through your art pieces and narrow in on their preferences. Use high quality images Make sure to use high-resolution images that accurately represent the colors and details of your pieces. To photograph your art, use natural lighting and avoid shadows or reflections. You can use this image resizer tool to make sure each photo is sized for optimal viewing. Include relevant details Along with each image, display the title, medium, size and other background information about the piece. Tell engaging visual stories as it helps convey the essence and narrative behind the artwork. You may want to share details about your artistic process and any backstory to the specific piece. This will give viewers a better understanding of your artistic identity and workflow. Consider additional features Depending on your chosen platform, you may have the option to integrate elements such as videos, 360-degree views or zoom capabilities. These can add an extra layer of interactivity and engagement for visitors. 07. Add a contact page Don't forget to build a contact page in your portfolio. This simple addition will make it easier for individuals to get in touch with you. Investing in a business email and business phone number is an easy way to elevate your professional presence. Be sure to have the following: Contact form Email address Phone number Links to your social media accounts Art business name ideas 08. Start an online shop (optional) If you are interested in selling art online , consider adding an online store to your portfolio. Having an online store provides the convenience and accessibility that modern buyers seek, allowing them to browse and purchase your artwork from the comfort of their own homes. When creating your shop, make sure to: Write product descriptions For each piece, include a thorough description with the title, medium, size and any other relevant details. You can also write background knowledge or stories behind the creation of each piece. Set up secure payment options Select a platform that offers secure ways to accept payments online . This will ensure the safety of both you and your customers' data. Offer shipping and handling information Be transparent about your shipping and handling process, including estimated delivery times and any additional fees or policies. This will help manage customer expectations and avoid any misunderstandings. Tip : You can also start a print-on-demand business to help you make money as an artist . If you’re new to eCommerce websites , check our guide on what is eCommerce to get started. 09. Get feedback from others Ask someone with experience in creating or evaluating art portfolios, such as an art teacher or a professional artist, to review your work. Outside advice and objective feedback can provide fresh perspectives and help you identify areas for improvement that you may have overlooked. Constructive criticism from knowledgeable sources can be invaluable for refining and enhancing your portfolio. Additionally, they might offer tips on how to present your work in a more compelling way or suggest pieces to include that better highlight your skills. Don’t hesitate to ask questions during the review process to fully understand their feedback and make the most out of the experience. Remember, every critique is an opportunity to learn and grow as an artist. 10. Edit your art portfolio over time Your portfolio should adapt as your artistic style evolves and grows. Regularly updating your portfolio with new pieces can keep your website fresh and engaging for both regular visitors and potential clients. It's important to have external eyes review your site and be open to feedback, as it can provide valuable insights for improvement. Utilize analytics tools like Google Analytics to track popular pages and user engagement, allowing you to focus on the most impactful content. Don't be afraid to experiment and make changes over time. Learn more: How to create a marketing portfolio How to create a modeling portfolio How to make an engineering portfolio How to make a tattoo portfolio To make an art portfolio , curate your work like a story that draws viewers in from the first glance. Arrange pieces by medium, theme or series so each section flows naturally into the next and use clean layouts with enough space for every piece to breathe. Sprinkle in sketches, studies or behind-the-scenes shots to reveal how your ideas take shape and add short notes on concept, inspiration or approach to give personality to your work. Learn more: How to make a portfolio Why is it important to have an art portfolio An online art portfolio is a digital collection of your art, typically built on a website hosting platform. It serves as a central hub for your oeuvre, making it easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Here are some key reasons why you need an online portfolio: Gives you artistic freedom An online art portfolio grants you control over how your work is presented. You can curate and organize your web content in a way that best represents your style. This allows you to feature the diversity of your talent, making it easier for visitors to see the full range of your abilities. Maintains an up-to-date presence Your portfolio can be accessed anytime, anywhere—meaning anyone who wants to see your talent can view it at their own convenience. Be sure to regularly update your site with new and improved content, keeping it fresh and relevant. Attracts potential buyers An online art portfolio is an effective way to persuade potential buyers to invest in your art. By showcasing high-quality images of your artwork and including information about pricing and availability, you can entice clients to purchase, or even hire you for a commissioned piece. It facilitates easier communication and transactions between you and potential buyers. Demonstrates your identity as an artist Your online portfolio is a representation of you as an artist. It not only showcases your work but also provides insight into your creative process, inspirations and overall artistic identity. By displaying your art and accompanying it with meaningful descriptions or stories, you can connect with viewers on a deeper level. This helps build your personal brand and establishes yourself as a professional in the art world. Art school admission requirement If you're an aspiring artist looking to apply to art schools, having a well-designed online portfolio is a prerequisite of the admission process. Art schools want to see not only your technical skills, but also your creativity and ability to effectively present your work. An online portfolio is an excellent way to showcase all these elements in one place, making it easier for admissions officers to evaluate your potential as an artist. Online art portfolio examples Looking for guidance on creating an art portfolio that will make waves in the art community? Check out these Wix-made portfolio websites . They're chosen to inspire and empower you to showcase your talent. LIŔONA Liron Eldar-Ashkenazi has simplified the menu options to make it easier for website users to navigate the entire site. Each gallery image contains titles that, when clicked, open to a unique page with a detailed project description. Zaria Forman Zaria Forman’s homepage opens with a captivating fullscreen photo of her engrossed in her painting. The image serves to highlight the immense size of Zaria's canvas and offers a glimpse into her inspiring vision. Jessie Maxwell Bearden With an Instagram feed on her site, Jessica Maxwell Bearden can showcase more images of her work, grow her followers and ensure that her site is always up-to-date. Timothy Goodman The combination of a cheerful yellow background with black and white text creates a lively contrast, making important aspects of Timothy Goodman's site stand out. Timothy takes the color scheme a step further on his About page, using color blocks to highlight distinct sections that showcase his bio, press images, client list and press. The sample portfolio website result is a visually appealing design that captures attention and guides visitors through the site. What common mistakes do people often make when creating a portfolio, that I should avoid? Creating a portfolio for the first time can be a little daunting and it’s easy to make mistakes that might prevent your portfolio from accurately reflecting your skills, talents and expertise. One of the most common mistakes is including everything you’ve ever worked on, rather than choosing your best pieces. A cluttered portfolio makes it hard for people to see your strengths. This also means carefully choosing work that reflects the range of skills or experience that you have. Focus on quality over quantity—choose pieces that showcase your skills and align with the type of opportunities you want. Another mistake is not tailoring your portfolio to your audience. If you’re applying for different roles or projects, tweak your portfolio to highlight relevant skills and projects. Very general portfolios can feel impersonal and fail to make an impact. Avoid neglecting the narrative. Your portfolio isn’t just a collection of work; it’s your story. Explain the context behind each piece—what problem you solved, your thought process and the outcome. This makes your work and you much more relatable. Lastly, don’t forget to focus on building a professional presentation — both in terms of how it looks and works. Broken links, typos or clunky navigation can ruin a great portfolio. Test it thoroughly and seek feedback from others. Remember, your portfolio represents you—make it authentic. Let your personality shine through. Other types of websites to create 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 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 sports 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 How to make an art portfolio FAQ What should I include in my art portfolio? Your art portfolio should have a variety of your best work, along with relevant facts such as titles, mediums and sizes. You can also write an artist statement and any other additional features that highlight your artistic strengths. How many pieces should I include in my art portfolio? The number of pieces you decide to incorporate will vary depending on your chosen platform and the length of your body of work. Generally, it is recommended to have at least 10-15 pieces to give viewers a well-rounded sense of your style and abilities. Can I use my social media as an art portfolio? While some artists may decide to display their work solely on social media platforms, having a dedicated art portfolio website allows for more customization and a more professional presentation of your art. Additionally, having an online portfolio can make it easier to reach potential clients or employers who may not be active on social media. How do I create an online art portfolio for free? You'll want to choose a user-friendly portfolio website builder, like Wix, which can help you take your portfolio from start to finish with templates and customization options to best display your work. What should I avoid adding to my art portfolio? Avoid adding art to your portfolio that doesn't represent your best work or is unfinished. Also, steer clear of including art that's too similar to other pieces you have in your portfolio. Remember, quality over quantity is key. What should I focus on when creating an art portfolio for College? For a college art portfolio, focus on showcasing your best and most recent work, demonstrating your artistic growth and skills. Include pieces that display your understanding of different mediums, techniques and concepts. Highlight your unique style and potential for growth in a way that aligns with what you've learn from your program. How do I keep improving my art portfolio while making sure it's updated? Keep your portfolio fresh by regularly adding new pieces that showcase your latest skills and growth. Create a schedule for updates, such as adding three new art pieces every month. Continuously experiment with new mediums, techniques and styles to showcase your versatility. It's worth also keeping up with new styles and trends.
- How to make a professional portfolio in 9 steps
Ready to showcase your best work? Start building your portfolio → A professional portfolio is a collection of work samples and other documents that provide an overview of your abilities and qualifications. By putting your portfolio online, you can proudly display your work to the world and establish yourself as an expert. “Professional is not a label you give yourself, it’s a description you hope others will apply to you,” says Harvard business professor, David Maister. But what actually makes someone a professional? For starters, it involves a certain level of knowledge in your field. You also need authority, experience and credibility in order for others to see you in this light. And what better way to achieve this than to create a portfolio website that highlights your expertise? But what goes into building a professional portfolio and what other advantages does it provide? Here’s everything you need to know to learn how to build your website. With Wix’s portfolio builder, you can create a professional, eye-catching portfolio in just a few clicks. Customizable templates and intuitive tools make it easy to showcase your work with confidence, leaving a lasting impression on every visitor. What is a professional portfolio? A professional portfolio is your personal highlight reel. It showcases your projects, achievements and skills in a clear and engaging way. Unlike a resume, which provides a quick snapshot of your career, a portfolio goes deeper. It visually demonstrates your expertise and the impact you've made, helping potential employers or clients see your talents in action. An effective portfolio is adaptable. It should reflect your industry and the roles you’re aiming for. For example, if you’re a graphic designer, focus on creative concepts and completed designs. If you’re a writer, include your strongest pieces. Tailoring your portfolio ensures it’s relevant and resonates with your audience. More than anything, a portfolio gives you an edge. It proves your value through thoughtfully curated work and leaves a lasting impression that words alone can’t achieve. How to make a professional portfolio in 9 steps At this point, you may be wondering how to make a portfolio that looks professional. Now that you understand the importance of having one, let’s jump in and discuss the process for creating one online. Choose a domain Pick a template—or use AI Feature work that tells your story Organize your portfolio Build your portfolio structure Design your professional portfolio Write effective content Review your site Maintain your portfolio 01. Choose a domain Your domain name is how people are going to find your portfolio, so you’ll want it to be memorable and professional. Having a dedicated domain name also gives you credibility and authority. Ideally, it should reflect who you are and what you do by including the title of your website, your name or your professional field. If you’re feeling stuck and want some assistance, try this domain name generator to get the ideas rolling. 02. Pick a template—or use AI If you compare creating a portfolio to building a house, your template is like the foundation for the rest of the structure. Your professional portfolio is not only a way to consolidate your best work, but it also helps to establish the identity of your personal brand. When choosing your portfolio template , consider how you envision the visitor experience and the look and feel you want to convey. This includes all aspects of your site such as colors, fonts and the overall layout and design. Alternatively, if you're using a platform like Wix, you can use AI to your advantage. Wix's AI website builder creates a bespoke website for you in minutes—with a simple chat. The builder will construct a website based on your goals and even bring your portfolio to life with images and text. Using Wix's AI tools for portfolios, you can also skip the next several steps. Simply upload the images you want to include in your portfolio. The AI will then organize your images by project, plus suggest appealing titles and descriptions. 03. Feature work that tells your story Every piece you include in your professional portfolio should have a purpose. Instead of piling on everything you’ve done, think about what story your selection tells. Start by asking yourself: What kind of opportunities do I want to attract? Which projects best represent my current direction? What skills or qualities do I want people to remember after they visit my site? Choose pieces that speak to those answers. A strong portfolio isn’t just impressive—it’s intentional. For example, if you’re a designer hoping to work in branding, emphasize identity systems and visual storytelling. If you’re a writer aiming for tech clients, show case studies or blog content that demonstrate clarity and expertise in that space. Balance range and focus. Show enough variety to highlight your adaptability, but maintain a clear through-line in tone, style or problem-solving approach. You’re not just displaying work—you’re shaping how others understand your capabilities. How many projects to include Finding the right number of projects for your portfolio is key. Too few might make it look like you lack experience, but too many can just overwhelm people and bury your best stuff. Generally, 10 to 20 carefully selected projects is a good target, though the perfect number depends on your industry and where you are in your career. Think about why each project is there. Does it highlight a specific skill, solve a problem or show off your unique creative approach? Every piece should tell a clear part of your story. For instance, a UX designer could feature 12 projects showing wireframes user research and final designs to highlight both their process and the outcome. Meanwhile, a writer might include 15 polished works, from articles to blog posts and copywriting campaigns. Prioritize relevant and recent work Relevance and recency are key. Highlight projects that demonstrate the skills, tools and expertise most valuable to your target audience. This helps viewers immediately see why you’re a strong candidate for their needs. Older work can sometimes show growth or evolution, but only include it if it adds a unique insight or illustrates a skill you still use. Think strategically: if you’re moving into a new specialization, selectively include older projects that clearly support your transition. Always ask yourself whether each piece strengthens your story and aligns with the professional opportunities you’re pursuing. Learn more about how to create a copywriting portfolio , for example. 04. Organize your portfolio How you organize your portfolio can make it easier for visitors to understand your expertise and find what interests them. Start by creating categories based on the type of work you do. For example: By project type: Web design, branding, illustration, copywriting or photography. This helps viewers quickly identify the work you specialize in. By industry or client: Organize projects by sector, such as healthcare, tech or education. This is useful if you want to show experience in specific markets. By skill or technique: Showcase expertise in areas like UX research, motion graphics or product photography. This highlights your versatility while keeping each section focused. By process stage: Consider grouping projects by concept, draft or final output, particularly if your process is a selling point (common in design, architecture or writing). Inside each category, think about the story you want to tell. Start with projects that are visually striking or show your strongest achievements. Then, add complementary pieces that demonstrate your depth or problem-solving skills. Your categories should tell a story about your expertise, growth and adaptability without overwhelming visitors. Learn how to make a florist portfolio. Guide visitors through your work Good navigation is crucial. Use menus, tabs or filters so viewers can move between categories easily. Clear labels, short introductions and consistent formatting within each category make it simple to scan and understand. Finally, think about how categories connect. For example a UX project could appear under both “Web Design” and “User Research” if it shows multiple skills. Cross-linking relevant projects reinforces your range without cluttering individual sections. 05. Build your portfolio structure Once you’ve built the framework of your professional portfolio, you’ll need to decide what to include. While this is certainly not an exhaustive list, here are the sections you should be sure to have: Homepage: Your homepage is like the front door to your site - it leads you to anywhere else you might want to go. Because it’s the first impression visitors will have of you and your work, make sure it’s a powerful representation of your knowledge and experience. Include an introduction as well as high quality imagery that grabs visitors’ attention and conveys your expertise. Work samples: This is the heart of your portfolio. It’s the section that’s going to get the most attention, so be selective with which pieces you include. Make sure to only choose your best projects that show off your talent and skills. And don’t forget to add new ones as you go so that your portfolio is always up-to-date. About section: Whether you include this directly on your homepage or on a separate page, your About section should include a brief bio and a description of who you are. Describe your background, education and how you got to where you are today. Resume: Keep an updated version of your resume somewhere in your online portfolio, whether as a downloadable PDF file or on its own page. That way, if a potential employer or client comes across your site, they’ll be able to see your education and work experience right away. Contact information: Include all professional contact details so people can get in touch with you easily. This may include your email address, phone number and social media handles. 06. Design your professional portfolio Now comes the fun part. Using your creativity, as well as these web design tips and free tools , you can make your portfolio as unique as you. Consider if you want to keep your portfolio on the simple side or incorporate trendy design features, such as parallax scrolling and animation (especially if you are making an animation portfolio ). Will you create a one-page website or will you include a menu bar that leads to multiple pages? Whatever website type you choose, opt for high-quality images throughout that are in keeping with the tone of your brand. If you don’t have your own, you can use free Wix images or download photos for free from stock photo sites, such as Unsplash and Pexels . The possibilities are truly endless. Another good practice is to do some keyword research and incorporate written content into your professional portfolio to increase your SEO . For example, you may want to add a blog to your site in which you delve deeper into certain topics and highlight your knowledge in the field. This will help your Google ranking and increase traffic to your site, enhancing your visibility and online presence. Using your professional portfolio as a personal marketing portfolio is never a bad idea. Ready to create an online portfolio? Start designing yours today . 07. Write effective content The text in your portfolio is just as important as the visuals. Great content gives context, highlights your expertise and guides viewers through your story. Every project should include clear descriptions that explain the project, your role and the outcome—but don’t stop there. Use content to show strategic thinking, problem-solving and results so visitors understand not just what you did but why it mattered. Make your portfolio readable and engaging Pay attention to tone and voice. Keep your language professional yet approachable to reflect your personal brand. Avoid jargon unless it’s expected in your industry and write with active, confident language that shows ownership of your work. Think about adding category introductions or short summaries to frame each section of your portfolio. They act as a roadmap for viewers, highlight your strengths and weave your projects into a compelling story. For longer content, like blog posts or case studies, really focus on impact and storytelling. Always include challenges, your approach, what you learned and any measurable results whenever possible. Make sure it's easy to read. Use headings, bullet points and short paragraphs to make your content super scannable. Pair high-quality visuals with clear, concise text. 08. Review your site Before your professional portfolio goes live, have a friend, coworker or colleague review your site before you start sharing it with others. Having a second (or third) pair of eyes check your work before you share it with the rest of the world is always a good idea. Ask for honest feedback about the style, design and content and make any necessary changes. Once you’ve completed this step, the only thing left to do is hit Publish. After you've published and shared your portfolio, it's important to keep it updated. It should always represent your most recent work samples and achievements. It should grow with your career. 09. Maintain your portfolio Regular updates show professionalism, dedication and growth—qualities that stick with people long after they visit your site. Keep your portfolio relevant, highlight your latest work and accurately represent your capabilities. Schedule periodic reviews every 3–6 months to remove outdated projects and add new highlights that show your evolving expertise. Stay on top of industry trends. If new tools, techniques or styles become standard, update your portfolio with projects that show you’re adaptable. Refresh your design, layout and content to keep a modern, professional look that meets current expectations. Make sure your text, bios and contact info are always accurate. Outdated details or broken links can hurt your credibility, no matter how great your work is. What should I include in my professional portfolio? The components of your portfolio will vary depending on your field, but they should provide a complete picture of your work history and skillset. The primary element is going to be your work samples. But you’ll also want to include your resume, as well as any other documents that display your credibility and performance. These may include project plans, recommendations, awards or reports. You should also consider adding the following elements to make your portfolio even more compelling: Skills and abilities : Showcase your technical expertise, soft skills and any certifications or licenses. This helps potential employers or clients understand your strengths at a glance. Personal statement or bio : Share a brief overview of your career journey, goals and what makes you unique. This adds personality and sets the tone for your portfolio. References and testimonials : Include positive feedback from past employers, clients or colleagues. It builds credibility and highlights your professional relationships. Contact information : Help potential employers or clients connect with you easily. Add your email, phone number and links to your LinkedIn or professional social media profiles. Visual appeal : Keep your portfolio clean, organized and easy to navigate. A visually polished design creates a strong first impression. If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out these portfolio examples to get started. These include social media portfolios , industrial design portfolios , model portfolio examples , architecture portfolio examples and more to help get your creative juices flowing and spark ideas for your own professional portfolio. It's also a good idea to edit your portfolio depending on the job you're applying for. Customizing a portfolio for different career opportunities is a part of the process. Learn more: What to include in a portfolio , Sample portfolio websites What are some common mistakes to avoid? Overloading with content, both text and images: Only include relevant, high-quality work. Exclude anything from years ago, unless it really highlights a special skill or level of expertise. Lack of focus: Ensure it aligns with your career goals — including a specific role or project you're submitting the portfolio for. The beauty of an online portfolio is that it can be easily edited to suit the specific role you need it for Typos or errors: Proofread thoroughly and ask someone else to check it too. Unclear navigation: Make it easy for viewers to browse via your site hierarchy, website header and internal linking between pages. Missing updates: Keep it current and relevant. Learn more: What is web design? Who needs a professional portfolio and why? A portfolio can be particularly beneficial for those working in creative fields, such as writing, photography, design and architecture. But anyone in a professional role can benefit from having one. And in today’s digital world (see digital portfolio examples ), the most efficient way to do this is to create one online. Building a portfolio is more than just showcasing your work—it’s your chance to highlight your strengths and stand out. For publicists, for example, knowing how to make a PR portfolio can help highlight client wins and media achievements in the same way. Tailor your portfolio to match specific job opportunities and show employers why you’re the right fit. Think of it as telling your story, aligning your skills and experience with what they need. These types of websites are easily accessible and make it simple for others to see your work, including potential employers. They also provide flexibility when it comes to updating your content. With the click of a button, you can switch out one piece of work for another or easily add to your growing repertoire of expertise. You won’t have to carry around a physical copy with a stack of documents, but instead, can send people directly to your website. We all know how competitive job hunting can be, so it’s important that you stand out as a prime candidate. Employers are used to hearing why people are the best fit, but what if you actually showed them? Providing visual proof of your work with an online portfolio can make a much stronger impression and show that you’re as talented as you say. A portfolio also opens doors to opportunities you might not have considered. Potential clients or employers can come across your work and reach out to you, even when you’re not actively looking for a role. This kind of visibility can spark connections that lead to exciting projects or career growth. Additionally, an online presence is crucial for building your credibility and reputation. Imagine this: someone Googles you, and the first search result is your professional portfolio. How’s that for impressive? So whether it's a professional model portfolio , a photography portfolio , an illustration portfolio , UX portfolio example , fashion portfolio or something else, here's how to learn more about getting started with your own. How and when to submit your professional portfolio This depends on who you’re presenting it to and why. When applying for a job, submitting your portfolio early on with your resume and cover letter is a great way to highlight your achievements. You can include the link directly on your resume so potential employers have the opportunity to view your work even before your interview. In addition to sharing your work with them online, be sure to bring a few physical copies of your best pieces to the interview itself so you can reference them in real time. This is also good practice if you’re headed into a meeting with your current employer to discuss your work performance. Arming yourself with your best work instills confidence in your abilities and can help you feel prepared. It makes it easier to vouch for yourself when you can point directly to your achievements that reiterate why you deserve a raise or that promotion you applied for. To understand the value and impact a great professional portfolio can have, read about digital artist Nedavius and his journey to success. Looking to make another type of portfolio? How to make a nursing portfolio Professional portfolio FAQ How long should a professional portfolio be? A professional portfolio should include enough work to showcase your skills effectively, but it’s better to focus on quality over quantity. Aim for 10-20 carefully selected pieces that are relevant to your industry and the roles you’re pursuing. This ensures the portfolio remains impactful and easy to review without overwhelming your audience. Is a CV a professional portfolio? No, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a professional portfolio serve distinct purposes. A CV is a formal document listing education, work experience and skills. A professional portfolio, on the other hand, is a comprehensive collection of work samples, projects and achievements, offering a more dynamic and visual representation of an individual's capabilities. Is a professional portfolio a career portfolio? Yes, a professional portfolio and a career portfolio are often used interchangeably. Both refer to a collection of work samples, achievements, and credentials, showcasing an individual's skills and experience. This dynamic compilation serves as a tangible representation of one's professional journey and is commonly used for job applications and career development. Can I make a professional portfolio as a student? As a student you can create a professional portfolio showcasing coursework, projects and any relevant experiences. Include examples of your skills, such as writing, research or creative projects. A student portfolio demonstrates your capabilities and can be a valuable tool for internships, job applications or further education pursuits. How can I work my personal branding into my professional portfolio? To incorporate personal branding into your portfolio, consistently use a unique color scheme, logo and typography that reflect your style. Also include a personal statement or design philosophy to highlight your values as a designer. Check that your portfolio layout and tone align with the image you want to project as a designer. How do I balance showcasing past projects with presenting my future design aspirations? You can do this by presenting a mix of completed work and conceptual designs. Include a few standout projects to demonstrate your skills, then showcase future aspirations through mood boards, sketches or speculative designs. This approach highlights both your experience and vision for growth within the industry.
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