Search results

Ready to let your work shine? Build your portfolio →  Learning how to write a cover letter for a portfolio is about connecting your skills directly to the proof of your work. It bridges the gap between your resume and your creative samples, giving hiring managers a clear roadmap of why you’re the right person for the job. This guide breaks down exactly how to structure your letter, what to include and how to seamlessly weave in your portfolio website  link. You'll learn how to frame your projects so they speak to the company's needs, turning a simple application into a compelling argument for hiring you. Learn more: How to make a portfolio 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. TL;DR: how to write a cover letter for a portfolio If you're racing against an application deadline, here is the quick version. A great portfolio cover letter needs to guide the recruiter to specific projects that prove you can do the job they are hiring for. You need to establish a professional website  for your work, address the right person and clearly link your experience to the role's requirements. Most importantly, you must direct them to your portfolio early and often. Features of a great cover letter for a portfolio Feature Why it matters Direct portfolio link Makes it easy for the hiring manager to view your work right away. Specific project mentions Shows relevant experience by pointing to concrete, real-world examples. Tailored introduction Demonstrates that you’ve researched the company and understand its goals. Result-oriented language Emphasizes the impact of your work rather than just the tasks you completed. Clear call to action Confidently invites the reader to explore your full portfolio or start a conversation. Learn more: How to create a marketing portfolio How to create a modeling portfolio How to create a photography portfolio How to make a business portfolio How to write a cover letter for a portfolio in 9 steps Creating a cover letter that works in harmony with your portfolio doesn't have to be complicated. By following a logical flow, you ensure that every part of your application supports the others. Here is the step-by-step process to get it right. Build your portfolio website Design your portfolio website Decide how you’ll deliver your cover letter Address the right person Write a strong opening Mention referrals when relevant Highlight your qualifications using your portfolio Show your interest and fit Close with confidence 01. Build your portfolio website Before you can write your cover letter, your work needs a place to live. While a PDF works in a pinch, a website looks much more professional and is way easier to share. Start by picking a custom domain name . Using your full name is usually the best way to look credible to recruiters. If your first choice is taken, try a  domain name generator   for some fresh ideas. Once you have your name, you’ll need a website builder to get it online. Wix gives you the tools to make a portfolio website, fast, from free website hosting  to customizable templates. You can choose from 2,000+   website design templates  designed specifically for portfolios, saving you hours of work. With simple drag-and-drop features, you can customize the look to match your personal brand and get your site ready in no time. Pick a clean, professional template that puts your work front and center, giving you a central place to link to in every application. Check out Wix's templates: Resume website templates Portfolio website templates Personal website templates Discover the  best portfolio website builders  to get started on your journey. 02. Design your portfolio website Once the structure is in place and you’ve learned how to start a website , organize your best work. Don't just dump every project you've ever done onto the page. Curate your selection to show the type of work you want to be hired for. Each project needs a clear description explaining the brief, your role and the outcome. Add an "About" page so people can get to know the human behind the work. Make sure your contact details are impossible to miss. If a hiring manager loves your portfolio but can't figure out how to email you, you've lost an opportunity. Include your   professional email address  and a link to your LinkedIn profile. Pro tip: Not sure where to begin? Check out the  best portfolio websites   for some inspiration. 03. Decide how you’ll deliver your cover letter Context changes everything. If you're emailing a cover letter as the body of an email, it should be punchy and direct with clickable links. If you're attaching it as a formal PDF to an application portal, you can afford a more traditional letter structure. Consider where the interview is happening. If you're bringing a physical copy to an in-person meeting, the design should match your resume and business cards. Consistency across all formats shows attention to detail and strong personal branding. Explore these   portfolio name ideas . 04. Address the right person "To Whom It May Concern" often signals that you didn't look very hard. Check the job listing, the company's LinkedIn page or their "About Us" section to find the hiring manager's name. It instantly builds a connection. If you absolutely can't find a name, use a specific title. "Dear [Department] Hiring Manager" or "Dear [Company Name] Team" is much better than a generic, robotic greeting. It shows you know who you're talking to even if you don't know their name yet. 05. Write a strong opening Grab their attention immediately. State clearly who you are and exactly which role you're applying for. Mention something specific about the company that excites you, perhaps a recent campaign they ran or a value they hold dear. Crucially, drop a link to your portfolio right here in the first paragraph. Don't make them hunt for it. Say something like, "You can see examples of my work at [YourPortfolioURL]." This invites them to look at your skills before they even finish reading the letter. 06. Mention referrals when relevant A shared connection is a powerful trust signal. If a current employee or a mutual professional contact suggested you apply, mention it early on. It adds a layer of credibility that a cold application just doesn't have. Be careful not to overplay it though. Ensure the person actually knows you're using their name. Avoid dropping names if it creates a conflict of interest or if your relationship with that person is vague. It should feel like a bridge, not a barrier. 07. Highlight your qualifications using your portfolio This is the core of your letter. Don't just list skills; prove them. Instead of saying "I am a great graphic designer," say "As you'll see in my portfolio, I led the redesign for Client X which resulted in a 20% increase in engagement." Connect the dots for the reader. Pick one or two projects that are most relevant to this specific job. Explain what those projects demonstrate about your problem-solving abilities or your creative process. Expert tip from Doreen Weissfelner, head of Wix analytics and home: “Your portfolio is your chance to direct the narrative. Decide what story you want to tell and build everything else around that.” 08. Show your interest and fit Skills get you the interview but culture fit gets you the job. Explain why you want to work there  specifically. Align your strengths with what the company is trying to achieve. If you have non-traditional experience, this is the place to frame it as an asset. Maybe your background in customer service makes you a more empathetic UX designer. Show them how your unique path brings value to their team. 09. Close with confidence Wrap it up with energy. Reiterate your enthusiasm for the position and the company. Remind them one last time to check out your portfolio website if they haven't already. End with a clear call to action, like "I'd love to discuss how my skills can help your team." Sign off with "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name. Keep it professional, clean and confident. Learn more: How much does a portfolio website cost? Key components of a cover letter for a portfolio A well-structured letter makes it easy for hiring managers to find the info they need. It shows you respect their time and know how to communicate effectively. Here are the essential building blocks you need to include. Header Always address the hiring manager or the relevant team by name whenever possible. A personalized greeting is much more effective than a generic opener. It sets a warm, professional tone right from the start. Introduction Clearly state the role you’re applying for and exactly why you’re interested in the company. Briefly connect your skills and your portfolio work to their goals, brand or aesthetic. This establishes relevance immediately. Body (2–3 paragraphs) Highlight relevant work by referencing one or two specific projects from your portfolio that best match the role. Don't just share a link without context; guide them to what matters. Explain the impact or process behind the work. Describe the outcome, the results or the research that informed your creative decisions. This shows how you think, not just what you create. Connect your abilities to the company’s needs. Show that you’ve done your research and explain how your specific skills can support the team or help the business grow. Portfolio link Include a clear, clickable link to your online portfolio. Mention that your full body of work is available for review there. Make it easy to access at a glance so there is no friction in seeing your talent. Closing Reaffirm your interest in the role. Suggest a natural next step, such as a conversation or an interview. Keep the tone confident, professional and forward-looking. Portfolio cover letter template If you're stuck on how to start, use this structure. Fill in the brackets with your specific details to get a draft ready quickly. Subject: Application for [Job Title] - [Your Name] Dear [Hiring Manager Name], I am writing to express my strong interest in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. I have long admired [Company Name]’s work in [Industry/Specific Project] and I believe my background in [Your Field] would be a great asset to your team. You can view my full portfolio and examples of my recent work here: [Link to Portfolio Website] In your job description, you mentioned looking for someone who can [Key Skill 1]. As you’ll see in my portfolio, I recently completed a project for [Client/Project Name] where I [explain what you did and the result]. This experience taught me how to [relevant lesson] effectively. Additionally, my work on [Project 2] allowed me to hone my skills in [Key Skill 2] which aligns with your team's current focus on [Company Goal]. I am passionate about creating work that drives results and fits the brand voice. I would love the opportunity to discuss how my experience and creativity can contribute to [Company Name]. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Phone Number] [Portfolio URL] Portfolio cover letter sample Sometimes it helps to see a finished example. Here is what the template looks like when it's filled out for a specific role. Subject: Application for Senior Graphic Designer - Alex Taylor Dear Sarah Jenkins, I am writing to express my strong interest in the Senior Graphic Designer position at BrightWave Marketing. I have long admired BrightWave’s work in the sustainable energy sector and I believe my background in branding and digital design would be a great asset to your team. You can view my full portfolio and examples of my recent work here: www.alextaylordesigns.com In your job description, you mentioned looking for someone who can manage complex rebranding projects. As you’ll see in my portfolio, I recently completed a total brand overhaul for GreenTech Solutions where I led a team of three to redesign their logo, website and marketing collateral. This project resulted in a 40% increase in brand recognition for the client. Additionally, my work on the CityRun Marathon campaign allowed me to hone my skills in large-format print design which aligns with your team's current focus on outdoor advertising. I am passionate about creating visual identities that tell a story. I would love the opportunity to discuss how my experience and creativity can contribute to BrightWave Marketing. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Alex Taylor 555-0199 www.alextaylordesigns.com Cover letter and portfolio examples built on Wix A strong cover letter complements your portfolio. These web design portfolio examples   demonstrate how professionals effectively connect their portfolio to a compelling narrative that catches the attention of potential employers or clients. 01.  Anissa Hexton Anissa Hexton 's portfolio shows the importance of a personable yet professional introduction. A cover letter can do the same—opening warmly, briefly summarizing your experience and guiding the reader to your portfolio. Clear calls to action, like links to projects or contact options, make it easy for the recipient to explore your work further. Like what you see? Build your own interview portfolio using this same template. Template name: Business CV website template 02. Lauryn Higgins Lauryn Higgins ' work shows how credibility and specificity strengthen a cover letter. She highlights her experience with major publications, pairing concise descriptions with concrete examples. Referencing projects or achievements directly from your portfolio can give the reader immediate proof of your impact and expertise. Like what you see? Build your own interview portfolio using this same template. Template name: Food photographer website template Editor’s note: Don’t worry about the template’s original niche. Wix templates are fully customizable, so choose a design that feels right and adapt it to your brand. 03. Toni Bonini Toni Bonini ’s portfolio highlights creativity and visual storytelling. When translating this into a cover letter, draw attention to standout projects or skills that reflect your personal style and approach. Using vivid examples from your portfolio helps the reader quickly grasp what makes your work unique. Like what you see? Build your own interview portfolio using this same template. Template name: Illustrator website template 04. Christina Sterbenz Christina Sterbenz ’ approach emphasizes clarity and focus. Her cover letter would mirror her portfolio’s clean minimal design, highlighting her experience and writing skills while reflecting her personality. Thoughtful structure guides the reader through her qualifications without distraction, making it easy to see her value at a glance. Like what you see? Build your own interview portfolio using this same template. Template name: Creative CV website template 05. Dylan Wirth Dylan Wirth’s  portfolio example demonstrates the power of organization. A cover letter that clearly presents your education, experience and skills in alignment with your portfolio makes it simple for a hiring manager to understand your strengths. Including subtle personal details can make your introduction memorable without overshadowing your professional qualifications. Like what you see? Build your own interview portfolio using this same template. Template name: Business CV website template Best practices for your portfolio cover letter Following a few best practices can help your portfolio cover letter stand out and clearly showcase your skills and experience. As Chava Katz, PMM @ Wix Pages at Wix says: “Your portfolio is your visual resume, it speaks before you do. It’s how clients, employers or collaborators understand what makes your work special. The stronger the story it tells, the more doors it opens.” How to write a cover letter for a portfolio FAQ How long should a cover letter be for a portfolio? It should be concise, ideally under one page. Aim for about 250 to 400 words. Recruiters are busy so get to the point, highlight your best work and direct them to your website. What makes a portfolio submission stand out to employers? It’s all about making a connection. Your application will shine if your cover letter points to specific projects that solve the employer's current problems. Plus, make sure your link is ready to go so they can dive right into your work. Should I mention my portfolio in my cover letter? Definitely. It’s your best asset for proving what you can do. Mention it right away in your intro and pop a link in your signature so it’s impossible to miss.

Get  free website hosting  from Wix today → Website performance is all about how fast and smoothly your site loads and responds to visitors. When you’re building a website , every second counts. Slow pages can frustrate users, make them leave and even cost you bookings or sales. Choosing reliable website hosting is key to keeping your site running quickly and efficiently so visitors have a seamless experience. Good website performance doesn’t just keep visitors happy. It also builds trust in your brand and helps your site stand out online. By focusing on speed and reliability from the start, you make sure your website delivers what people need without delays whether they’re browsing your portfolio, making a purchase or exploring your services. Learn more: How to develop a website Wix hosting keeps your website running smoothly and securely from day one. With reliable performance, strong security and built-in tools for SEO, analytics and marketing, your site is ready to grow without limits. Plus 24/7 support means help is always just a click away. What is website performance? Website performance measures how fast a website's pages load and display in a user's browser on any type of device, impacting overall interactivity and usability. Simply put: the faster a website loads and displays, the better it “performs.” Server and platform infrastructure play a key role in site performance, but other factors can affect performance, like unintentionally overloading a website with content and images. In this guide, we’ll cover all the basics of website performance, plus share what you can do to monitor, support, and improve your site. Tip: Learn more about Wix Performance and how Wix sites now perform better than ever. Constant infrastructure enhancements , like continuous code optimization and automatic image conversions to WebP format, help sites load more quickly, regardless of your device or location. Why website performance matters Regardless of your industry or niche, think of website performance as the scaffolding for your online success. Many times, a good initial performance is all a visitor needs to ensure that they’ll not only interact with your site again, but possibly also convert into a customer. For example, if a website visitor experiences site freezing or content that takes even a second too long to load—they likely will not return to your site. This can have a long-lasting impact on not only your website, but how the public perceives your brand, too. As Niya Noneva, Senior Solution Expert at Contentsquare put it in their 2022 Digital Benchmark Report : “With people all over the globe suffering from online conference call fatigue and seeking to reduce their time behind screens, every second of user attention and engagement counts. Slow loading times are outside of the tolerance threshold of today’s busy, attention-deficient user. Customers expect website experiences that make it worth their while.” Let’s dig a little deeper into why website performance is so important. It impacts: User experience Bounce rate and visitor retention Conversion rates Brand perception Mobile-first culture SEO User experience As you create a website, it’s essential to consider how design affects performance. If you've got a slow-loading website , it won't matter how gorgeous it is because visitors will bounce before they even have a chance to see it. This is because those aesthetic elements come at the expense of your site’s user experience . “Web performance is user experience,” says Lara Hogan, author of Designing for Performance . “As you design and develop a new site, you’ll consider many components of its user experience: layout, hierarchy, intuitiveness, ease of use, and more.” By providing a user experience that factors in website performance, you give your website the best chance at ensuring business success. Bounce rate and visitor retention Website owners have an extremely short timeframe to make a good first impression on their site’s visitors—so it’s essential that their website performs well. Bounce rate measures the percentage of visitors who land on a website and leave after only visiting one page or without clicking any links. According to Google , if a page takes three seconds to load, as opposed to one, visitors are 32% more likely to bounce. Conversion rates If a user has a good experience with your smooth-and-speedy site, it’s likely they will stay on your site and click a few things. The experience may even prompt them to return to your site and buy something or request your services. According to Cloudflare , “The quicker a webpage loads, the more likely a user is to perform the targeted action on that webpage.” However, a 2019 Portent study found the first five seconds of page load time have the highest impact on conversion rates. Even just a one second delay will reduce conversions by 4.42% . Brand perception Keeping tabs on your website’s performance and overall appearance can signal to customers that you value their time and their spending. Just one bad experience with an underperforming website can influence brand trust and overall brand perception. Imagine this: A member of a certain famous family posts an Instagram Story wearing your company’s branded sweatshirt. Another micro influencer then posts the link to your merchandise page, giving a call-to-action to their predominantly Gen Z audience that not only is the branded sweatshirt available—it just so happens to be on sale. Thousands of high-intent visitors decide to click through to your site and spontaneously grab one for themselves but encounter a merchandise page that is slow to load. If these impulsive buyers are like 60% of their peers , it’s likely they’ll bounce if a website or app is too slow to load. And it’s likely that the damage won’t stop there. Their disappointment could linger and affect how they see your brand. The same IBM study states that, “Companies that can’t meet Gen Zers’ extremely high expectations risk rapidly falling out of favor—and leave the way open to competitors.” Mobile-first culture On average, Americans check their phones 344 times per day —that’s once every four minutes, so it’s no surprise that 57.84% of all web traffic comes through mobile phones. Creating a high-performing mobile-first design that loads quickly is an important part of user experience. Mobile users likely browse your website as they commute or wait for their coffee, meaning distractions are everywhere and speed is of the essence. Studies show that a 0.1 second improvement of mobile site speed increases conversion rates by 8.4% for retail sites. You can check out if your site is mobile friendly using this simple test. SEO Performance affects not only how your user experiences your website, but it can also impact how visitors find your website in the first place. Google’s Core Web Vitals (which we will get into below) are a part of the Google Page Experience (a set of signals to measure perceived user experience) and can impact how a website shows up on a search result page ( SERP ). It’s important to note, however, that Google doesn’t consider Core Web Vitals as a key ranking factor. Also, page experience itself is a ranking signal—not a ranking system , according to Google —and should not be something you hyper-focus on. John Mueller, Google's search advocate, said that, "relevance is still by far much more important." “Page experience is just one of many signals that are used to rank pages,” he further explains. “Keep in mind that the intent of the search query is still a very strong signal, so a page with a subpar page experience may still rank highly if it has great, relevant content.” For example, if your business ranks alongside a competitor for a query on a SERP, whichever site has a better performance may rank higher on the page. Performance metrics Site performance is measured by various speed and quality tests, including how quickly a website loads when a visitor arrives, how quickly it reacts to user interactions and how smoothly media like animations run. These tests are measured either in the lab, running controlled simulations or in the field, using real users’ experiences and real measurements. Since there are so many tools and metrics to keep up with, Google’s Core Web Vitals initiative creates a unified and aligned industry standard to help websites focus on the most important metrics. While they are key metrics for measuring website performance, it’s important to note that they are not the only metrics that factor into performance. Core Web Vitals Core Web Vitals measure speed, interactivity and visual stability using three signals: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) measures the time it takes to render the largest image or text block on the page. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) measures all layout shifts during the entire lifespan of a page. A layout shift occurs anytime a visible element changes its position while the page loads. First Input Delay (FID) measures the time from when a user first interacts with a page (e.g., by clicking on a link or button) until when the browser actually processes that interaction. Tip: You can learn more about Core Web Vitals and Wix site performance including the difference between mobile and desktop scores. Page load metrics At their 2018 developer conference, Web Performance Made Easy , Google placed great emphasis on speed, saying, “Most users [75%] rate speed as being at the very top of the UX hierarchy of their needs.” Page speed refers to how quickly content on your webpage takes to load. Page speed can be measured in several ways including: Speed Index (SI), representing how quickly content displays during page load. First Contentful Paint (FCP) , measuring the time from when the page starts loading to when any part of the page’s content (texts, images and other graphic elements) render on the screen. Time to Interactive (TTI) , measuring how many seconds it takes from when a user lands on a page to the moment it becomes fully interactive (when users can click on buttons and otherwise engage with your site).* Total Blocking Time (TBT) , simply put, measures the total amount of time your webpage was blocked, preventing the user from interacting with your page. Time to First Byte (TTFB), measuring the time between the browser requesting a page and when it receives the first byte of information from the server. *Since Lighthouse 10, the time to interactive metric has been removed as a page load metric. It was removed because LCP, Speed Index and Total Blocking Time are considered to be better indicators of the user experience. What affects website performance To optimize your site’s performance, let’s dive into the parameters below you should consider. HTTP requests HTTP , or hypertext transfer protocol, requests structure how web browsers and web servers communicate. When you type a URL into your browser, you’re essentially asking your browser to request each of those page's files from the webpage’s host server. In general, the more complex a web page is, the more HTTP requests it has to make to load the full site, the slower it loads. Generally, the fewer HTTP requests a site has, the better it performs. Things that can impact the number of HTTP requests include images, JavaScript, CSS files and third-party tools. Page weight While the number of requests affects performance, so does the content actually being requested. Page weight, also known as page size, refers to a web page’s file volume—the HTML, images or other media, JavaScript, CSS and third-party resources contained on the page. The heavier a website is, the more elements and assets that need to load on a page, the slower the page performs. Image size: Images play an essential role in your website design. They convey brand messaging, captivate visitors, support blog content and can even act as calls-to-action ( CTA s). However, images weigh more than plain text HTML files, take longer to load and therefore can significantly impact a website’s performance. To ensure the best performance, all images need to play a strategic role on your site and be optimized. Image optimization refers to the process of converting images into the smallest possible file size without compromising on the quality. You can then download them in either JPG, PNG or GIF file formats. It’s important to note that the best format in terms of performance is JPG , since JPG images can be up to 10x smaller than PNGs, and as a result, they can load much faster. It’s also the best practice to avoid GIFs, since these animated images tend to have large file sizes which lead to longer load times. Instead, try a video since it uses a smaller file size and can be viewed by a user before the file is fully downloaded. Tip: Every image added to a Wix site is automatically optimized and converted to modern image formats (like WebP) to ensure fast downloads and high quality. Wix sites also use “ lazy loading ” to optimize performance, so browsers delay loading content or media outside of a user’s initial view. You can also use an image resizer tool to scale your images to the exact dimensions you want. File size: The smaller the file, the faster to send and download. To improve performance, files can be “compressed” by a web server, or shrunk down as much as possible without losing information, then sent to a browser to receive and render them as normal. Tip: Wix automatically compresses all files using Brotli or gzip for faster, more efficient downloads. Web hosting Web hosting refers to the serving of a website’s files to a user browser. Different hosting options can affect your site's performance based on website size, traffic numbers and scalability (check out web hosting costs to compare options). Tip: Wix handles hosting for you, by serving all websites on servers in multiple locations around the world, automatically served and cached by CDNs, which ensures fast server response times, specifically Time To First Byte (TTFB). Read more about it in our guide on how to host a website . Caching Caching is the process of storing data (either on the server or via a browser) where it can be more easily fetched in the future to avoid an HTTP request and response cycle. For example, if you have an eCommerce website selling thrift store finds, you’ll have certain assets like your logo that appear in the same place on every page. Without caching, the page would have to download the logo every time a user clicked on a new product page. All Wix sites deploy automatic caching to all pages. Geographic location Even though it may feel like the omnipresent Internet exists nowhere and everywhere, the web infrastructure that causes websites to work is not only tangible, but located all around the world. Each HTTP request has to travel from the browser to the server, and then the information has to travel back from the server and be delivered to the browser. The longer the physical distance data has to travel between servers and browsers, the longer the time it takes for a request and response cycle to complete. For example, a website hosted on a Seattle, Washington-based server would perform better for a browser request in Seattle than it would a request in Madagascar, because the data has fewer physical miles to travel. To cut down the distance data needs to travel for requests, hosting providers also strategically-place servers (called proxy servers) around the globe as part of Content Delivery Networks. These servers host cached copies of web pages, images and videos and quickly respond to requests from browsers closest to them. Tip: Wix hosts all sites on globally distributed CDNs and data centers, plus automatically enables server-side caching, seamlessly saving it on our CDNs to ensure quick and efficient content delivery—regardless of location. Browser plugins, extensions and third-party applications Third-party add-ons give your website additional functionality by accessing data stored on another server. Since they require additional HTTP requests to these servers, they often are slow-to-load. To optimize performance, keep add-ons limited to only those that greatly contribute to the user experience. URL redirects Redirects forward website visitors and search engines to different URLS from the page they originally requested. They’re triggered when a browser sends an HTTP request to a server for a certain page URL that has been redirected to another page. The server responds to the browser’s request with the new page URL, and then the browser responds with a new request for that URL. Since it requires completing an additional HTTP request, it can negatively impact a page’s performance. Multiple redirect requests can be quite taxing on the browser resources and ultimately slow down page load time. As your business grows and your online content changes, you may need to update the flow of your website using redirects. For example, let’s say you’ve created several blog posts covering the same topic and you want to consolidate them into one strategic post based on a topic cluster model . While redirects are often unavoidable and necessary for SEO, keep them as straightforward as possible to guarantee good performance. Tip: Use the bot log reports to define issues/error codes, or Deepcrawl's app (costs money), to set redirects using Wix's redirect manager . (Go to your dashboard and click SEO Tools and click the URL Redirect Manager). Best practices for checking website performance The first step in checking your website performance is testing it. Tip: Using the Wix Site Speed Dashboard you can view your site’s TTI (time to interactive), plus test, analyze and optimize your site’s performance for desktop and mobile. You can also monitor your loading speed per page, compare it to other competitor businesses in your industry, plus learn actionable tips to improve your overall user experience. Wix's Site Speed Tool showing Google Page Speed Insights Before you start testing, consider the following: Pay attention to your data source. Field data, or Real User Monitoring (RUM) data, is the most accurate measurement since it comprises data from your real users from real visits and reflects the actual conditions of your users’ devices, networks and locations. However, not all sites have sufficient traffic to get this field data, so they can use lab data instead. Unlike field data, lab data comes from a simulated environment. On mobile, specifically, the simulated conditions test on a low-end device with non-ideal network conditions, therefore they aren’t 100% accurate since it doesn’t necessarily equate to the real world user experience. While it’s less accurate, lab data comes in handy when you’re trying to see how a design change could affect your website performance. Let’s say you’re considering embedding a new gallery to your site and want to see if it has any noticeable effect on your website performance before you publish it. Since you can’t get field (RUM) results because the design is not live, use lab data to get immediate results to detect theoretical performance degradation for the typical user experience on desktop and mobile. Pay attention to cache. For lab tests, results will change whenever you refresh. For each test, it’s recommended to refresh between three and five times and run an average to get the most accurate and trustworthy results. Different tests give different results . Each test works differently and calibrates its own measurement and unique performance score. Also, when analyzing a URL, you’ll receive two separate reports—one for desktop and one for mobile. They will likely have different performance results due to processing capabilities, network conditions, website content that sometimes is different between desktop and mobile. To get an accurate result, try anywhere from one to three tests—just pay attention to the specifics of each test and where the data comes from to best understand why they may differ. Wix's Site Speed Tool showing Google Page Speed Insights Google has several free tools that track site performance, including Google PageSpeed Insights and Google Lighthouse. Some other tools worth checking out include GTmetrix , Treo and Calibre . Website performance checklist Are your images optimized? Review the media you're using, and consider replacing heavy loading GIFs with images that can be compressed. Have you chosen a CMS that deploys lazy loading, cache and minimizes HTTP requests? If you're working with a web developer on your site, make sure they also have these in mind. Have you checked that your website builder uses CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) to deliver content faster? Are you regularly testing your website performance, both on mobile and desktop, and both with field and lab data, to ensure when you add new pages or content you're not slowing your site down? Expert tip from Chava Katz, PMM @ Wix Pages at Wix: “Not all website builders are created equal. The best ones combine creative flexibility with powerful performance tools, so you don’t have to compromise. When your builder works with you, everything feels easier.” What is website performance FAQ What is good website performance? There are many ways to evaluate the performance of a website, from its speed to its bounce rate and user experience. Generally a good website performance is one which loads fasts, within three seconds ideally. What are the main types of website performance data? When measuring website performance there are two main types of data. Lab data is collected under controlled conditions in a simulated environment. It's usually collected using tools like Lighthouse, WebPageTest, or Google PageSpeed Insights. These tools then provide detailed website performance metrics such as load time and page size. Field data is collected from the real-world, real-time usage of a website. Tools such as Google Analytics can show how users behave on a site, and each page of that site. This includes metrics such as bounce rate and time on page. What are the main website performance metrics? Common website performance metrics include page load time, time to interactive, time to first byte, and first contentful byte. Essentially all of these metrics measure how long the different layers and levels of content on a website page takes to load.

Your business ideas deserve a website, secure your domain to begin →   Check out this list of 38 freelance ideas that you can start right now. Discover the unique skills needed for each one, plus the average hourly rate so you can make an informed decision about the best ways to make money as a freelancer . Freelancing is no longer a niche form of self-employment. An estimated 36% of the U.S. workforce —the highest percentage ever—now participates in the freelance market. Experts say that number could reach as high as 50% or more by 2027 . By finding the right freelance gig, you can effectively open the door to additional income. Do it well, and you could even transform your side hustle into a profitable full-time venture, complete with its own professional business website made . With so many interesting freelance ideas out there, how do you decide which one’s best for you? Our guide is here to help. Got a business idea? Lock down your brand’s domain before someone else does. Wix makes it easy to get your domain, email, hosting and SSL all in one place. Plus you'll get 24/7 support every step of the way. 38 freelance ideas you can start today Data entry Transcriptionist Virtual assistant Pet sitter or dog walker House sitter Graphic designer Web designer Image editor Interior designer Illustrator Photographer Content writer Copy editor Resume writer Blogger Online dating profile writer Digital marketing manager Email marketer Social media manager Affiliate marketer Pay-per-click (PPC) specialist SEO consultant Specialized teacher Tutor Online course creator Translator Content creator Video editor Podcast producer or editor Voiceover artist Arts and crafts seller Ecommerce specialist Data analyst Event planner Web or app developer Accountant or financial consultant Bookkeeper Software developer 01. Data entry Nearly every business today runs on data. And when companies need to take information from paper forms or other software programs and import it into their systems, they hire data entry specialists to do the work. Freelance job sites list hundreds of open data entry positions for all types of businesses , from hospitals and schools to large enterprises. If you have a strong familiarity with word processors and database software (like Microsoft Word and Excel)—plus excellent typing skills and a detail-oriented mindset—data entry could be right for you. Average rate: $28 per hour 02. Transcriptionist The growing popularity of webinars and other online events has led to a renaissance in transcription services. As such, companies hire transcribers to type up accurate notes from interviews, videos and calls. In this role, you’ll need a high level of focus, sharp attention to detail and the ability to type quickly and accurately. If you have a background in medical terminology, you could find freelance work transcribing notes for a busy doctor’s office. Or, if you have legal knowledge, you could land a gig transcribing legal documents for a well-respected firm. If you speak several languages, you could even offer translation services in addition to your transcription services. Average rate: $21 per hour 03. Virtual assistant As companies of all sizes get busier, many are looking to hire virtual assistants in record numbers. Management consulting firm Gartner estimates that 50% of knowledge workers will use virtual assistants on a daily basis by 2025. You can perform these jobs 100% remotely, and can work multiple virtual assistant jobs at once. An entry-level virtual assistant may schedule appointments, answer emails and handle other administrative tasks. Meanwhile, you can grow your virtual assistant business—and your income potential—if you bring other skills to the table, such as bookkeeping, website maintenance or marketing. Average rate: $34 per hour 04. Pet sitter or dog walker If you’re a pet lover with some extra time on your hands, then you can earn extra money as a pet sitter or dog walker. You’ll be responsible for making sure pets are fed, walked and bathed while their owners are away. You can start by offering your services on an app like Rover that matches pet owners with pet sitters. Or, you can brush up on how to create a freelance website with a website builder and advertise your services on a site of your own. Before you start this freelance business idea, check the laws in your state; some may require you to have a business license, it's best to always start with a dog walking business plan , for example. Average rate: $17 per hour 05. House sitter Travelers don’t just need plane tickets and a destination; they also need someone to watch their house so they can enjoy their vacation worry-free. That’s where house sitters come in handy. You can set up a freelance house sitting business and take care of everything from bringing in the mail to cleaning the floors. Some clients will offer you both an hourly rate plus free accommodations so you can travel and work at the same time. Average rate: $17 per hour 06. Graphic designer Every business needs to set itself apart from the competition, and graphic designers play a vital role in helping them do just that. As a graphic designer, you can create everything from stunning trade show displays to eye-catching corporate logos and beautiful magazines. You can also use your skills to create attractive product packaging, brochures, captivating outdoor signage—almost anything that needs a specific look and feel. Some of the best freelance graphic designers even help companies create and maintain a style guide that defines their brand aesthetic. To take advantage of this freelance business idea, it helps to have a background in graphic design and experience with popular graphic design programs such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop. Average rate: $32 per hour 07. Web designer A web designer handles many of the same tasks as graphic designers, with one big difference: they use their talent specifically to create vibrant websites. This unique creative niche requires a combination of both graphic design and technological skills, such as programming and coding capabilities. In addition, you should have a thorough understanding of the user experience (UX) so you can design a website that’s both beautiful and functional for your clients and their customers. Average rate: $31 per hour 08. Image editor Instagram influencers aren’t the only ones obsessed with creating the perfect image every time. So are companies, and they hire image editors to make it happen. Freelance image editors enhance the quality of photographs by color correcting, adjusting exposure and using other post-production tools. You’ll need expert proficiency with photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom to work in this field. Like with many freelance business ideas, the average hourly rate to be an image editor is just the starting point. The more skilled you are, the higher a rate you can demand. Average rate: $27 per hour 09. Interior designer If you just finished devouring home improvement shows on HGTV, then you might be ready to step into the world of interior design . You don’t need a degree, but you do need to know how to take an empty room and turn it into a beautiful and functional living space. Interior designers select colors, tiles and furnishings that create warm and inviting environments. As a freelancer, you can work for homeowners, home builders or businesses. Make sure to take photos of the spaces you redesign so you can build an online portfolio that will win over new clients. Average rate: $64 per hour 10. Illustrator When businesses and ad agencies want to create memorable experiences for their customers, many look for illustrators who can turn their vision into reality. As a freelance illustrator, you can turn your talent and artistic flair into a budding business. You can create hand-drawn animations for a corporate video, bring a video game scenario to life with digital art or illustrate children’s books for a publishing house. To succeed here, you should be skilled at drawing, able to translate concepts into creative works and familiar with popular design software. Average rate: $64 per hour 11. Photographer Photography offers a multitude of incredible freelancing opportunities and is one of the most popular service business ventures. You could, for example, partner with companies who’re looking for a talented photographer for a major advertising campaign. Or, you could work as an event, wedding or portrait photographer to make extra income on the weekends. Another option is to shoot nature photos and sell them on stock photo sites like Shutterstock or Getty Images, though earning potential can vary significantly from a few hundred dollars a month to a few hundred dollars per year. Either way, all you need to start a photography business to get started is a high-quality digital camera, the knowledge of how to use it and an eye for good angles and lighting. Experience with photo editing is a plus. Average rate: $33 per hour 12. Content writer You don’t have to be a famous author to make money as a writer. Companies hire talented writers to develop all sorts of content assets, from ebooks and white papers to press releases, blog posts and website copy. The most successful freelance content writers often begin by choosing a niche, such as eCommerce, technology or finance. Having a niche can be especially valuable in a time when companies can use AI to create basic content at the click of a button. Once you have your niche, apply for gigs or pitch your services to outlets that specialize in that vertical. Sound intriguing? Take the plunge and learn how to become a freelance writer . Average rate: $29 per hour 13. Copy editor Do you notice every typo or error you see? Then you may have what it takes to be a successful copy editor. Copy editors typically perform several services in the news, publishing and marketing spaces. Their work begins once a writer submits a draft. They then review it, make changes to ensure proper flow and grammar, and may perform fact-checking to verify resources quoted within the article. You’ll need excellent writing skills, a keen eye for detail and a solid understanding of grammar to succeed as a copy editor. Average rate: $29 per hour 14. Resume writer When a job seeker finds the perfect opportunity, they need their resume to stand out from the crowd. As a freelance resume writer, you can help make that happen. In this role, you’ll work with job seekers one on one. You’ll get to know their strengths and accomplishments, then help them build a resume that will attract a hiring manager’s attention. Apart from excellent writing skills, some industry knowledge and analytical know-how will help you succeed here. As you develop your skills further, you can promote your success stories on your freelance website to show other potential clients that you deliver results. Average rate: $29 per hour 15. Blogger Blogging is a great way to make money sharing your personal passions. If you want to start your own blog , choose an area of expertise to write about, learn how to build a website and start creating content. Some of the most profitable niches include health and fitness, how to make money online and food. You can also create a freelance business by ghostwriting blog posts that companies can use on their own websites. To succeed, you’ll need high-level writing skills, expertise in a given subject and familiarity with search engine optimization (SEO). Average rate: $29 per hour 16. Online dating profile writer Describe yourself in 250 words or less. Not so easy, is it? It’s even more intimidating when you’re looking for that special someone to spend the rest of your life with. That’s why some singles turn to online dating profile writers for help. This role requires a good deal of empathy. You’ll need to understand your client, know what they’re seeking in a perfect match and then help them craft the words (and select the right images) that will help them find love. If you’re up to the task, this can be a rewarding freelance idea. Average rate: $25 per hour 17. Digital marketing manager Digital marketing is a science. A freelance digital marketing manager serves as a trusted consultant to business owners, helping them create, execute and supervise extensive digital marketing campaigns over an extended period of time with a marketing business . Finding success in the field means being an expert in all things digital—social media management, SEO, email marketing and online advertising. You’ll have to first define what success looks like within these channels, and then put that knowledge to good use so your clients can get maximum results from their marketing campaigns. Average rate: $42 per hour 18. Email marketer Email remains one of the most successful marketing channels for companies. This creates a great opportunity for freelancers who know how to write compelling copy, send emails and newsletters, and measure the results. As a freelance email marketer, you’ll use online tools to help businesses segment their audiences and write compelling subject lines that encourage readers to open their emails. The highest-paying email marketing jobs go to professionals who know how to use modern marketing automation systems like HubSpot, Adobe Marketo Engage or Wix’s integrated email marketing tool . Average rate: $40 per hour 19. Social media manager Are you ready to turn your love of social media into a bustling side hustle? As a social media manager, you can advise companies on how to build a Facebook audience, grow their Instagram following or explore whether they’re TikTok-ready. You’ll construct posts, videos, images and reels that are social-media worthy. You’ll also measure key metrics and develop strategies to expand a company’s audience and encourage more engagement on each of its social media channels. Bonus points (and possibly a higher hourly rate) if you have specialty interests in social media, such as proven success running eCommerce promotions on Twitter or Pinterest. Average rate: $34 per hour 20. Affiliate marketer As an affiliate marketer, you promote other people’s products, services or technologies on your website. Each time someone clicks on a link from your website and completes a purchase, you earn a commission. This is one freelance business where the hourly rate can be misleading. Because affiliate marketing is commission-based, the amount of revenue you generate will be determined solely by the number of referrals you make. While it sounds simple, becoming an affiliate marketer takes discipline. You’ll need to sign up for a company’s affiliate program (such as the Wix Affiliate Program ) or join an affiliate network like Share a Sale or CJ Affiliate. You’ll also need strong SEO capabilities to drive traffic to your website. Average rate: $28 per hour 21. Pay-per-click (PPC) specialist The cost of online advertising keeps rising. As a result, companies need help to reach their intended audience without breaking the bank. PPC specialists partner with businesses and teach them how to use their ad budgets wisely. You’ll create ad campaigns for search engines and social media channels, launch them and then make enhancements to ensure the right people get the right message at the right time. As a Wix user, you can streamline your workflow, save time and access all campaigns from one convenient place with Wix’s integrated Facebook and Instagram Ads and Google Ads . From your website dashboard, you can conduct A/B testing, set budgets, track campaign performance and more. Average rate: $36 per hour 22. SEO consultant Search engines like Google and Bing change their algorithms constantly, and with the rise of AI-generated content, these changes are happening with increased frequency. In other words, the page that ranks first on the search engine results page (SERP) today might be different tomorrow. As a freelance SEO consultant, you’ll partner with companies and develop plans that will enhance their search rankings and keep traffic flowing to their websites. You’ll need to keep up with algorithm changes, know how to find high-quality keywords and understand the nuances of on-page, off-page and technical SEO. Average rate: $64 per hour 23. Specialized teacher You don’t have to be in a classroom to make money as a teacher. Today, teachers are generating extra income in a variety of ways by branching out from the norm. Your education degree can open the door to teaching in-demand niches, such as English as a second language (ESL). You can alternatively partner with an educational services company as it develops new textbooks and curricula for its students. There are even freelance teaching opportunities for people without an education degree. You could, for example, teach guitar, drums or piano lessons to children and adolescents - consider these business ideas for teachers. Average rate: $64 per hour 24. Tutor Tutors are different from teachers in that they focus on helping students improve their knowledge in one particular subject. You don’t need an education degree to be a freelance tutor, but you will need a high school diploma or GED. As a tutor, you’ll offer one-on-one guidance, coaching and mentoring. You can tutor in math, science or literature, for example, or you can help students improve their study habits and prep for their exams with a tutoring business . Average rate: $20 per hour 25. Online course creator As online learning platforms like Udemy, Teachable and Thinkific grow in popularity, they’re in constant need of new and innovative online courses. So, if you have a deep subject matter knowledge and some digital savvy, you can monetize your own online course. If you’d rather retain total control, you can learn how to create an online course hosted on your own website. In this role, you’ll combine multimedia presentations, videos, quizzes and other interactive elements into a cohesive educational experience. You’ll also use your knowledge of instructional design to keep students engaged. Rate, of course, can vary based on your custom pricing. Average rate: $24 per hour 26. Translator When it comes to growing your business as a freelancer , being a language translator creates a host of opportunities. For example, you can help a business translate documents into other languages as it expands internationally. If you’re comfortable in the hospital setting, you can translate medical information to patients in their language of choice. You could even offer your services as a courtroom translator and provide accurate information to plaintiffs and defendants. All you need is fluency in several languages, and you’re ready to begin. Average rate: $29 per hour 27. Content creator It’s time to channel your inner MrBeast. As a freelance content creator, you can start your own YouTube channel and begin building a strong personal brand. To succeed, you’ll need to feel comfortable in front of a camera, know a few things about video editing and have an engaging personality. You’ll also want to zero in on an interesting niche or specialty for your content, such as game reviews, how-to guides or cooking. Once you build up a following, you can partner with companies as an influencer and help promote their products through platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Or, you can ask businesses to hire you to produce exclusive company-sponsored content. Average rate: $56 per hour 28. Video editor If you don’t feel at ease when the camera is rolling, that’s okay. You can stay out of the spotlight and still make money as a freelance video or film editor. You’ll be responsible for taking raw video footage and turning it into engaging content that captures a viewer’s interest. Experience with professional editing software, like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro, is a must-have. You’ll additionally need to understand the basics of pacing, sound design and color grading. Average rate: $29 per hour 29. Podcast producer or editor Forty-three percent of decision-makers rely on podcasts to get business-related content. This creates a huge opportunity for people who know how to edit and package a podcast. As a freelance producer or editor, you can offer your services to companies that are launching a new podcast to attract a unique audience. Podcast producers record interviews, edit soundbites and choose background music that sets the right tone. You can add value to your services by also suggesting podcast topics and brainstorming potential guests. Average rate: $59 per hour 30. Voiceover artist When companies produce training videos, product demos, commercials and sizzle reels, they hire narrators who can deliver the right message in the right tone. So, if you have a memorable speaking voice, you can create your own freelance business as a voiceover artist. You don’t have to have a deep baritone like James Earl Jones. Companies today seek a variety of voices to reflect the diversity of modern society. You will need a high-quality microphone and computer, an account on a talent platform like Voices.com and a passion for storytelling. Average rate: $33 per hour 31. Arts and crafts seller Do you love making handmade jewelry? Are you a budding artist looking to make a few extra dollars with your printmaking? Do you enjoy crocheting handmade purses? Then you can create a new income stream by selling arts and crafts online . Websites like Etsy and eBay have made it easy for you to connect with your potential audience and drive new sales. While the amount you make is based on how much product you sell, the average Etsy seller makes an estimated $43,000 to $46,000 a year , according to Sale Samurai. Average rate: $21 per hour 32. Ecommerce specialist There are somewhere between 12 million and 24 million online stores worldwide, and most of those eCommerce business owners are looking for a strategic edge. If you have a background in retail, you can turn it into a freelance idea as an eCommerce specialist. In this role, you’ll assist online store owners with everything from marketing and customer service to selling niche products based on client demand, website design, multichannel strategies and data analysis. Your success will be based on how well your strategies increase your clients’ website traffic and boost sales. Average rate: $26 per hour 33. Data analyst Today, we generate nearly three times the amount of data that we did just five years ago. Somebody needs to analyze all that data and help business leaders find the information that will create the biggest impact. That’s the role of a freelance data analyst. You’ll use a variety of tools, including business intelligence and data visualization systems, to identify business trends and spot hidden opportunities. There’s an emerging area of opportunity in an era of rising salaries and cost pressures: business analytics that show companies how to become more efficient. Average rate: $28 per hour 34. Event planner If you’re a people person, you’ll absolutely love starting a business in this space. Being an event planner offers lots of independence and flexibility. You can help couples create their dream wedding, or you can plan a must-see corporate conference that generates tons of buzz. You can even work with parents to plan amazing birthday parties that make other kids jealous. You must be excellent with organization, communication and problem solving to be an event planner. And, when it comes to starting a party planning business , you need connections to vendors like caterers, florists, photographers and venues to round out all details of the event. Average rate: $30 per hour 35. Web or app developer You can earn $1,000 or more a month freelancing as long as you have specialized expertise to do the job. One of the most lucrative specialized freelance ideas is being a website or app developer. Developers have intimate knowledge of operating systems (Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS, etc.) and the coding languages required to develop products within them. As a web or app developer, you’ll handle all of a digital property’s technical needs, including speed and performance. While both types of developer jobs bring above-average pay, freelance app developers tend to command a higher rate than website developers. Average rate: $59 per hour (Android app developer); $42 per hour (web developer) 36. Accountant or financial consultant If you have a finance degree, you can generate plenty of high-revenue freelance income by marketing your abilities. Freelance accountants, for example, can balance a business’ books and monitor its cash flow. Freelance financial consultants take this a step further, offering their expertise and analysis to help companies chart a profitable future. Some of the highest freelance rates go to certified public accountants (CPAs) who guide companies’ tax strategies. Of course, to become a CPA, you’ll need the proper education and licensing from the Association of International Certified Public Accountants . Average rate: $46 per hour (financial consultant); $64 per hour (CPA) 37. Bookkeeper Do numbers make sense to you when nothing else does? If so, bookkeeping could be your next side gig or career move. Bookkeepers help businesses organize and maintain their financial records. From managing invoices and tracking expenses to reconciling bank statements and preparing financial reports, you play a key role in helping companies stay on top of their finances. You need a sharp eye for detail, good organizational skills and familiarity with accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero. If you’re comfortable working with spreadsheets and have experience managing budgets, that’s a plus. It's also great if you have experience working with small businesses or specific industries like retail or consulting. Average rate: $24 per hour 38. Software developer Do you love solving puzzles and creating things from scratch? If so, a career as a software developer might be right up your alley. Software developers design and build the applications, programs and systems that we use every day. From creating mobile apps and websites to developing complex backend systems, you turn ideas into functional, user-friendly tech solutions. To shine in this role, you need a solid understanding of programming languages like Python, Java or JavaScript, along with good problem-solving skills. Experience with debugging, testing and collaborating on teams will also take you far. Bonus points if you have a portfolio of projects or expertise in areas like AI, app development or game design. Average rate: $54 per hour Freelance ideas FAQ What are some easy freelance ideas? The easiest freelance ideas to start are those with low barriers to entry. They don't require any upfront investment, in terms of money and they don't necessarily require specific qualifications or experience. Ideas such as data entry or user testing. What are the most flexible freelance ideas? If you're looking for ideas with flexibility its best to look for those that can be done from anywhere, at anytime. Ideas without a geographical or time constraint. Freelance writing is one and other project freelance work where you might have a deadline or time to get the work done but as long as you meet that deadline, you can do the work from anywhere at anytime.

Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →  A website builder is a platform that helps you create a website without coding. It provides drag-and-drop editing, ready-made templates and hosting so you can design, update and launch your site in one place. This makes it ideal for small businesses, creators and anyone who wants a professional site without the technical hassle. To choose one, focus on your goals, budget and how much flexibility you’ll need as you grow. Pay attention to things like ease of use, hidden fees and update tools. AI builders can save time on setup but they still rely on your input to make smart choices. These days every business needs a website, and free website builders  make it easy to create one fast. They’re designed to be simple so anyone can make a website from scratch  without needing tech skills or outside help. In 2025 it was estimated that upwards of 18 million live websites were built with website builders. Wix websites accounted for 45% of those sites . What you need in a website builder Who you are Website builder features to focus on Service provider (coach, freelancer, consultant) Booking tools, client forms, mobile design, fast load speed Online store owner Inventory tracking, payment options, low fees, product layout options Blogger or content creator SEO tools, blog layout flexibility, category tags, easy updates Beginner with limited time Simple templates, AI design help, strong support, no-code editing Designer or creative professional Full design control, custom fonts, animation, video support Local business owner Location maps, business hours, call buttons, local SEO settings Growing team or business Page scaling, app integrations, team roles, user permissions Building fast for testing Quick setup, ready-made templates, free trial, drag-and-drop editor What is a website builder, exactly? A website builder is a tool that allows you to create a website without needing to write code. These platforms provide all the necessary components to design, build and launch a website , making them an ideal solution for businesses looking to establish an online presence quickly and efficiently. Well-known examples include Wix .  What you get with a website builder A website builder comes with everything you need to get your site online without using separate tools or services. Most combine design, hosting and management in one place so you don’t have to piece things together yourself. Most website builders include: Ready-made templates you can customize Drag-and-drop editing for pages and layouts Built-in hosting so your site is live without extra setup Domain connection or registration options Mobile-friendly design tools Ecommerce features for selling products or services SEO tools to help your site show up on Google Integrations with apps for email, payments or bookings Who website builders are best for Website builders work well for anyone who needs a professional website quickly without dealing with coding or complex setup. They’re especially useful if you want to manage your own updates and keep costs low. They’re a great fit for: Small businesses that need an affordable, all-in-one solution Freelancers who want a portfolio or service-based site Creators or bloggers who need a simple way to share content Local businesses that want to be found online Online sellers starting with a small eCommerce store Nonprofits or community groups that need an easy-to-maintain site Not sure why you need a website ? Our guide can help. What's the difference between an online and an offline website builder? Generally when we refer to a website builder, we mean an online one. ​It's web-based and can be used from your browser with an internet connection. This is the most commonly recognized definition of a website builder, an online one. You can make a website from any connected device with it. On the other hand, offline website builders are software programs that need to be downloaded and installed on a local computer. You can create a site without being connected to the internet but then will need to manually upload your site to a web host once it's done. This is a process that requires technical knowledge and isn't accessible to everyone. How does a website builder work? Website builders typically offer a drag-and-drop editor and interface, allowing you to select elements like text boxes, images and buttons and place them on your webpage . This makes it easy to customize the layout and design of your website  according to your preferences. Being easy to use doesn’t mean website builders hold you back. They offer plenty of design options and powerful features, letting you create blogs , eCommerce websites , online stores , service business websites and much more. Learn more: Best real estate website builders Best website builders for freelancers Best website builders for small business Best website builders for service businesses Best website builders for trucking companies Why use a website builder? Building a website used to mean hiring experts or learning to code. Today, website builders make it simple for anyone to create a professional website quickly and affordably. They handle the tricky parts so you can focus on growing your business or sharing your passion. Here are some of the main reasons why using a website builder makes sense for most people, offering a straightforward way to get started if you’ve been wondering how to create a professional website . Cost-effectiveness Website builders are a budget-friendly option for small to medium businesses. They eliminate the need for hiring professional web developers (learn more: website builder vs web developer ), which can significantly reduce costs. Most platforms offer affordable subscription plans that include hosting, domain registration and design tools. Many also have free plans with basic features, perfect for testing or personal sites. Wix offers a free plan, while paid plans start at $19 per month and include a customizable domain name plus more features. Learn more: Cheapest website builders Free website builders How much does it cost to make a website Why use a website builder Website building lessons How my 14-year-old son built a website that 6x'd his sales Drag-and-drop functionality One of the standout features of website builders is their drag-and-drop functionality. This allows you to easily arrange elements on your site without any coding knowledge. Additionally, customizable options enable you to tailor your website's appearance and functionality to match your brand identity. Expert tip from Esin D. Habif, product marketing lead (outbound) at Wix: "As a creator or entrepreneur, you’re often wearing multiple hats. You’re designing the website and optimizing for SEO. This means you need a website builder that makes it easy and intuitive for you to do all those things on the same platform while still delivering results as if you were working with experts in those fields." Quick setup and launch With a website builder, the timeframe from concept to launch is significantly shortened. You can have your website up and running in just a few hours or days, depending on the complexity of your design — shortening the time it takes to build a website . This rapid deployment is ideal for businesses eager to establish an online presence swiftly.  What are some key features to look for in a website builder? Not all website builders are created equal. Knowing which features matter can help you pick one that fits your needs and saves you time and frustration. Here’s a look at the key features to keep an eye on when choosing a website builder. Customizable design Having access to a wide range of website templates  is crucial. These templates serve as the foundation of your website, allowing you to choose a web design  that aligns with your brand. The ability to customize these templates ensures that your website stands out and reflects your unique business identity. Wix, for example, has over 2000 customizable templates that can be used for a wide range of uses and businesses. Learn more: Should I use a template to make my website? eCommerce website templates Portfolio templates Design flexibility Look for website builders that offer flexibility in design elements. This includes options to adjust colors, fonts and layouts, enabling you to create a visually appealing site that captures the attention of your audience. Mobile-friendly Today, having a mobile-friendly website  is essential. A responsive design  is what determines if your site looks great on all devices, from desktops to smartphones. This capability improves the overall user experience on your site.  eCommerce functionality If you're planning to sell products or services online, e-commerce functionality is vital. Website builders should offer tools for setting up an online store , including product listings, shopping carts and secure payment gateways . Effective e-commerce platforms provide inventory management and order tracking features. These tools help streamline operations and ensure smooth transactions for both you and your customers. Learn more: Try Wix's landing page builder Blogging capabilities If part of your plan is to share updates, publish articles or grow your site through content marketing, look for a website builder with strong blogging features. Some platforms offer only a basic text editor, while others include tools for adding categories, tags, featured images, scheduled posts and SEO settings for each blog entry. These features make it easier to organize your content and improve how it appears in search results. A good blogging setup also helps keep visitors engaged. Check if you can enable comments, add social sharing buttons or include things like related posts and email signup forms. If your blog is a big part of your marketing or brand strategy, make sure the builder you choose supports regular publishing without extra effort. Tools and apps integrations The ability to integrate with other tools can enhance your website's functionality. These integrations allow you to add features such as analytics, marketing automation and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Some website builders include some of these tools within their editors, examples include Wix Analytics .  " Choose a website builder that allows you to make fast pivots based on your business needs. If, from one day to the next, you need to add events or an online store, make sure your website builder makes that possible for you." Esin D. Habif, product marketing lead (outbound) at Wix Explore the Wix app market  for more options.  Site infrastructure The website infrastructure  of the builder you use is essential when it comes to the security and performance of your site. You should prioritize a website builder that includes enterprise grade website security  for all sites, including SSL certification, 24/7 monitoring and automatic updates. You also need to know that your builder includes secure web hosting , domain name registration and guarantees such as high uptime . Wix delivers 99.99%  for example.  "What often gets forgotten when talking about choosing a website builder is the capabilities of the infrastructure that’s promised to you—the reliability of the hosting, the level of security in place to protect your visitors’ data and, of course, your site's speed. Even if infrastructure is not the first thought that comes to mind when creating a website, if it’s not robust enough, it can cause major headaches for website owners when trying to scale a website later on." Esin D. Habif, product marketing lead (outbound) at Wix Multi-language or international websites If your business serves customers who speak different languages or live in different countries, a website builder with multi-language support can save you a lot of time. Some platforms offer built-in tools to create language versions of your site, while others require third-party apps. These features help you show the right language to the right visitor automatically, making your site feel more local and personal. Not all website builders offer this, so it’s worth checking how the platform handles translation. Can you customize text on each version? Does it support right-to-left languages like Arabic or Hebrew? If you plan to grow internationally or already have a global audience, this can make a big difference in how professional and trustworthy your website feels. User roles and permissions If you're the only person managing your website, this might not matter much at first. But as your business grows, you may want others to help—like a writer, designer or marketing person. Some website builders let you create different user roles so you can control what each person can do. For example, you might let someone edit blog posts but not change the design. Without user roles, you may have to share your login with everyone, which isn’t secure. Having the option to give limited access helps protect your site and makes collaboration easier. Check if the builder offers role settings like admin, editor or viewer, and if it’s included in your plan or costs extra. Accessibility compliance Accessibility means making sure your website works well for people with disabilities—like those using screen readers or needing high-contrast text. Some website builders include tools that help you meet accessibility standards (like WCAG), such as reminders to add image alt text, choose readable fonts or check your site’s contrast levels. Even if you don’t know much about accessibility, a builder with built-in checks can help you create a more inclusive site. This not only improves the experience for more people but can also protect your business from legal issues in some countries. Look for builders that highlight accessibility as part of their features or templates. Backups and version history Mistakes happen. You might accidentally delete a page, change something that breaks your layout or lose work during an edit. A good website builder will automatically save backups of your site and let you roll back to a previous version if needed. This can be a lifesaver when something goes wrong. Not all platforms offer this, especially on lower-priced plans. Check if the builder has version history, automatic backups or a manual way to save your site. It’s one of those things you hope you never need—but you’ll be glad it’s there when you do. Customer support and help resources When you're building a website, questions come up—whether it's how to add a section, connect a domain or fix something that isn’t working. Fast and helpful customer support makes a huge difference, especially if you're not a tech expert. Some builders offer live chat or phone support, while others only offer email or community forums. It also helps to have clear tutorials, FAQs or video guides built into the platform. Before choosing a builder, check what kind of help you can expect and if it’s available 24/7. If you run a business and need to fix problems quickly, strong support can save you time, money and frustration. Scalability You might be starting small, but your website should be able to grow with your business. Some builders make it easy to add new pages, open an online store, launch a blog or accept bookings—all without starting from scratch. Others may be more limited, especially on basic plans. Think about what you may need six months or a year from now. Will you want to offer memberships, run events or add more team members? Choosing a website builder that supports those features now—even if you don’t need them yet—can save you the hassle of moving to a new platform later. How to choose the right website builder Understanding what matters most helps you choose a website builder that fits your needs perfectly. This makes creating and managing your site simpler, faster and way less stressful from start to finish. Set your website priorities Start by figuring out what your website needs to do. Think about the type of website  you want — a simple info page, a blog or an online store. Knowing this helps you pick a website builder with the features you actually need, so you don’t waste time or money on extras you won’t use. Also, consider what you might want to add later, like booking tools or memberships. Some builders work better for certain types of sites, so choose one that fits your current goals and can grow with you. Keep your budget in check Set a budget for building and running your site. Website builders come with plans ranging from free to premium. Make sure you check what’s included at each price level and pick one that fits your budget but still gives you the features you need. Don’t forget ongoing costs like domain names, apps or eCommerce fees. Knowing these ahead of time helps you avoid surprises and keeps your website running smoothly. For more tips, check out maintaining your website . How to tell if a website builder’s worth it Test the editor before committing:  Try building a sample page to see if the editor is easy to use and responsive. A clunky editor wastes time and causes frustration. Watch for hidden fees:  Review plan details carefully. Some builders charge extra for domains, removing ads or eCommerce tools, which can add up fast. Time investment required:  Think about how much time you can spend learning and building. Some platforms offer fast setup with templates, others take longer but give you more control. Customer support quality:  Look for builders with fast, helpful support through live chat, phone or detailed guides so you don’t get stuck when problems come up. Template quality and flexibility:  Pick builders with modern, industry-specific templates you can fully customize to match your brand and style. Hosting and domain services:  Check if hosting and domain registration are included and managed by the builder or if you need to handle them yourself. eCommerce fees:  If you sell online, check if the builder charges transaction fees on top of payment processor costs to avoid surprises. Brand style support:  Look for features that support rich media, custom fonts, animations and video backgrounds so your brand stands out. App and tool integrations:  Check if the builder connects smoothly with marketing, CRM, analytics and payment tools you use or want to add. What to know about AI website builders AI website builder speeds up the process of getting online by removing much of the guesswork. Instead of picking templates or dragging elements manually, you’re guided through a short setup where you answer questions about your business, design preferences and goals. The AI then generates a personalized site layout—sometimes with written content, matching images and suggested pages based on your industry. This can save hours, especially for first-time users or busy business owners who just need a solid starting point. What sets one AI builder apart from another is how flexible the result is. Some let you fully edit everything after the AI setup, while others lock in certain layouts or design elements, making it harder to change later. Another factor is how well the AI handles essential features like mobile design, SEO tools or image optimization. If those are treated as afterthoughts, you may still need to do a lot of manual cleanup. Also, check if the AI offers ongoing suggestions to improve your site or if it’s just a one-time helper. "I think the biggest game-changer is the fact that you can easily create a stunning website, and you don’t need to understand layout, design or anything to get a great working website. You can get the creative juices flowing with AI’s help and Wix’s expertise until you get exactly what you want." Yaara Asaf,  head of product (Wix Editor) Learn more: Traditional vs AI website builders How to use a website builder like Wix Sign up: Visit Wix  and create an account. You can sign up using your email or social media accounts. Choose a template: Browse through Wix’s extensive library of templates and select one that fits your business style and needs. Customize your site: Use the drag-and-drop editor to add elements like text, images and videos. Adjust colors, fonts and layouts to match your brand identity. Add features: Incorporate additional features such as contact forms, social media links or an online shop if needed. Preview and publish: Once satisfied with your design, preview your site to ensure everything looks perfect across devices. Then, hit  publish to make your website live and share it with the world. Tips for using a website builder effectively once your site is live SEO optimization Keyword research : Identify relevant keywords related to your business and incorporate them naturally into your website content, titles and meta descriptions. Quality content : Create informative and engaging content that provides value to your audience. Regularly update your site with fresh content to improve search engine rankings. On-page SEO : Use headings, alt text for images and internal linking to enhance the structure of your site.  Regular updates and maintenance Regularly update your website’s content to keep it relevant and engaging for visitors. This includes blog posts, product listings and company news. Monitor your website performance using analytics tools to identify areas for improvement, not just site speed but traffic and engagement as well. What is a website builder FAQ What does a website builder do? A website builder helps you design, build and launch a website quickly. It handles layout, structure, hosting and sometimes SEO and eCommerce, so you don’t need to manage everything manually. What’s the easiest website builder for beginners? Most builders are beginner-friendly but look for ones with drag-and-drop editors, clear templates and good support. Ease of use matters more than the number of features. Do I need coding skills to use a website builder? No. Most builders are designed for people with no coding experience. Some offer custom code options but they’re optional. Are free website builders worth it? Free plans are fine for testing but they usually come with ads, limited features or no custom domain. For a professional site, a paid plan is better. What’s the difference between a CMS and a website builder? A CMS (content management system) gives you more customization options but often requires technical skills or developer help. A website builder is more beginner-friendly, offering drag-and-drop tools, templates and built-in features that make setup fast and easy. Do I need a website builder to make my website? Not necessarily. You can build a site using a CMS or by coding it yourself but a website builder is the fastest and easiest option—especially if you want to avoid technical setup. Should I pay for a website builder? Free plans are useful for testing but paid plans offer more features like custom domains, ad-free pages and eCommerce tools. If you want a professional-looking site with room to grow it’s worth paying.

Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →  Josh Harmon is not your average content creator. A drummer, comedian and former TODAY show writer, Josh managed to turn sound effects into a comedy act—amassing over 20 million followers across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. But Josh’s success didn’t happen overnight. It took persistence, experimentation and a whole lot of creativity. Most recently, he learned how to develop a website  where he could showcase his work and engage fans and potential brand partners. In Josh’s words, “A website is a powerful tool for brand building because, unlike being spread across multiple platforms, a website gives people a holistic view, allowing you to present your content exactly how you want it in one place.”  Hear more about Josh’s journey, and see how he crafted a website that captures his one-of-a-kind vibe and takes his online gig to the next level.  Feeling inspired and ready to  create a website  of your own? Get started with Wix. The early days of making noise on social media For Josh, music was less a choice and more of a calling. As a kid, he drummed on anything he could find, and by age two, he was taking drum lessons. There was no turning back after that. But it wasn’t until many years later that he started experimenting with social media as a creative outlet. “It was just a way to express myself after work,” Josh recalls. “I never planned to do it full time.” His first viral series featured him drumming along to bits from comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Burr. The series, dubbed Rhythms of Comedy , went viral. (“You never know who’s watching, and one video can change your life.”)  As his fame grew, Josh sought to branch out and reach a broader audience. “All my videos were in English,” he remembers. “One night, I realized I should remove language entirely and focus on something everyone could enjoy.” This shift led him to explore Foley, the art of sound effects. His videos evolved into performances where he would recreate iconic movie sounds using drums and unconventional objects. One such video, based on a scene from Ratatouille , took the internet by storm, racking up over 25 million views. It was a turning point. “I studied viral content obsessively,” he recalls. “I’d download videos, analyze them frame by frame and figure out what resonated with audiences. It became like an instrument I wanted to master.” The effort paid off. Over time, he gained a global following, catching the attention of music lovers and comedians alike. He was no longer just in the business of making cool sounds. He was in the business of entertaining, delighting and occasionally working with celebrity guests like Jimmy Fallon and Joe Jonas.     Creating a website that hits all the right notes Before long, Josh realized that he needed a space that could bring everything (and everyone) together. “When someone visits my website, I want them to have the same reaction that they have when they watch my content,” says Josh. “I want them to feel a little bit of positive energy that maybe they weren't getting before. And I want them to just learn a little bit more about me.” And thus, JoshHarmon.tv  was born.  For Josh, building a website marked an important step in his journey. While his massive social following offered reach, his website offered a chance to create more meaningful connections with listeners. A website would replace an endless scroll of videos with a curated, immersive experience—one that would better reflect his creativity and personality.  Josh chose Wix as his platform to craft a website as distinctive as his creations. Let’s take a closer look at how he did it. “I’m really proud of how my website turned out,” Josh says. “It’s the next step in building my brand and showcasing everything I’ve worked so hard to create.” Composing a brand identity  Bringing the website to life Choosing the right domain  Connecting a business email Composing a brand identity Josh began by defining his brand identity, starting with a hand-drawn logo that reflects the personal and tangible nature of his work.  This creative touch laid the groundwork for his entire website. “A lot of my work involves vintage cartoons, so I wanted that same aesthetic to flow through the site,” he says. “There are playful touches everywhere—little hand-drawn texts, scattered cartoons and animations that bring it to life.” For the site’s palette, Josh leaned into purple, a color he associates with magic and wonder, and often uses in his videos. “Purple and yellow are complementary, so they stand out,” he adds. “I brought that exact shade into the site to maintain consistency and catch the eye.” Related reading: Your website should speak your brand’s language—here’s how What we can learn from this Setting a clear intention with your brand identity is essential when creating a website. A well-defined identity shapes how visitors perceive your brand. When branding is consistent and purposeful, it builds trust while reinforcing your message.  “On Wix, it’s so easy to dial in the perfect shades and create visual harmony,” adds Josh. From the Wix Editor, you can set a color theme that is automatically applied across your site to keep backgrounds, text, links, buttons and other elements consistent.  Pro tip:  Want to design a logo that’s uniquely yours? Give the Wix Logo Maker  a try—it’s perfect for creating a logo that fits your site and brand.  Bringing the website to life When it came to his website design , Josh had four key characteristics in mind: playful, creative, magical and rhythmic. The result? A site packed with vibrant colors, animations and interactive elements that create a delightful and intuitive user experience. He carefully mapped out key sections and website features  like the homepage , “About” page, “Projects” page, “Contact” page and “Gear” page for selling swag. “On social media, I can’t control how people interact with my content. Building the site meant thinking about how visitors engage and optimizing my content for collaborations, partnerships and merchandise sales,” he explains. The hero fold features animated illustrations uploaded into the media manager in the Wix Editor synced with custom sound effects, creating a playful first impression. The site also includes a testimonials section, where Josh can highlight social proof (“Social media thrives on comments, so I wanted to bring that authenticity to the website by showcasing real quotes from people who’ve supported me”). Related reading: How my 14-year-old son built a website that 6x'd his sales What we can learn from this Custom details and distinct interactions make your site memorable. When designed thoughtfully like Josh’s, these elements can help express your brand’s personality and set it apart. Creative touches—like animations, custom buttons or interactive elements—can help to engage visitors even more. For example, Josh’s site uses a customized text marquee  scroll to add movement and entice visitors to click on his latest projects. He also highlights brand collaborations with a sleek Wix Pro gallery, which creates a seamless, looping experience. Did you know?  Wix includes an AI website builder  and built-in eCommerce platform  with print-on-demand features letting you create and sell custom products without managing inventory, making it easy to launch an online store quickly and efficiently. Choosing the right domain A website isn’t complete without the right domain name (“A domain name is the first thing people see. It’s part of your brand and your website’s first impression”). Josh decided to run with JoshHarmon.tv, a name that captures his full brand—not just his social handle, JoshPlaysDrums. “I wanted the website to represent all of me, my current brand and where it might go in the future. Using my name felt authentic and professional,” he notes. The .tv extension was another intentional choice. It played on the idea of having a “channel” and making the domain both memorable and creative. Plus, “now my email matches the domain, which looks so much more professional.” Pro tip:  Use a domain name generator  to find the perfect domain for your business website . Once you’ve found the right one, you can buy a domain  and easily connect it to your site. Related reading: Use this website launch checklist  as you create your own professional site.   Connecting a business email  For Josh, a professional email address  is a small but crucial business tool that adds credibility and sets a professional tone when brands like PepsiCo come knocking (and they have).  “Having a professional email linked to my domain is a game-changer. It’s a simple upgrade, but it makes a big difference in how you present yourself and manage your business operations,” he says. "It’s these little details that elevate your brand and make it stand out." Josh integrated Google Workspace with Wix for his business email. Josh also created a “Get in Touch” slide-in form that invites inquiries while keeping communication organized. From the form, visitors can select a “Subject”—be it fan mail, business inquiries or collaboration opportunities. The site’s CMS will then filter incoming messages accordingly.  What we can learn from this Josh’s site uses automated forms to streamline communication. For example, when someone submits a message, an automatic email response is sent. Josh was able to create this custom automation with Wix’s online form builder , ensuring prompt and professional follow up.  Ready to start your own business but not sure where to start? Learn how to start a business and tap into these free tools  to kick off your journey.  Key takeaways for aspiring creators and entrepreneurs Josh’s story shows the power of marching to your own beat. There are many lessons we can learn from him, including:  Focus on what makes you—you:  “If you want your content to stand out, lean into what makes you different,” Josh advises. His success stems from combining drumming, comedy and sound effects into something truly one-of-a-kind. Build a community:  Josh sees his audience as more than just followers—they’re a dedicated community. From fans expressing their love to brands reaching out for collaborations, these connections drive his business forward. Invest in long-term branding:  Think beyond the content. Your brand is the story you tell across every interaction. For Josh, creating a cohesive website was crucial to represent his full range of work. Stay true to yourself:  Authenticity is everything. Josh’s genuine passion for music, humor and creativity is the common thread across his videos, website and online presence. “Stay true to what excites you,” he says. “That’s what builds trust and connects with people.”

For the past six years now, I’ve worked behind the scenes at Wix, helping to create the tools that millions of people use every day as they explore how to build a website . Ironically, though, the idea of creating a website by myself is still overwhelming. My background is in product management, after all, not in graphic design. I spend my time leading a team of developers who work on technical projects, specifically around Wix Forms . But one day, my mom asked me to build a website for her art. (Typical mom behavior—full of confidence that her child can do anything.) She thought, “You work at Wix, so you must be amazing at building websites.”  Of course, I couldn’t say no. So, I set out to build her a site—and let me tell you, it was quite an experience. I leaned on Wix’s AI tools to get the job done, and the final result was clean and elegant, just as I’d envisioned. Through this process, I got to see my team’s hard work in action and experience the true power of AI first hand.   Ready to build your own website? Get started with Wix's website builder today. Pre-building: the prep work and what I had to work with  My mom had sent me the pictures in advance, but not all of them were in the best condition. Some weren’t properly cropped. Others had distracting backgrounds.  My initial thought was, “This is going to take forever to edit.” But within the Wix platform, I found our tool for photo editing, which was recently enhanced with AI. I simply asked the AI to remove the backgrounds—and within seconds, all the pictures were perfectly edited. I had done my other homework beforehand, too. I gathered pictures of my mom’s art and drafted the text I planned to include on the site. My experience as a product person paid off in this sense; I felt prepared and everything went smoothly.  Discover seven things you can do in 30 seconds with Wix's AI image tools . Building the website: the process from start to finish One common misconception about building websites is that it’s a time-consuming process. But it’s 2024, and the world has changed. What used to take me several days to complete can now be done in an hour (or less) with AI.  Related reading: How long does it take to build a website? How my 14-year-old son built a website that 6x'd his sales When it came to my mom’s website, I started working at 8:00 p.m., and by 8:45 p.m., the site was ready to go. It helped to have Wix knowledge already—I knew my way around the platform—but thanks to AI, I didn’t have to spend days trying to come up with multiple options and designs on my own either.  Here’s what my process looked like: 8:00 p.m.: I opened up the Wix AI website builder  and told the AI my requirements. I wanted a simple website with neutral colors that could showcase my mom’s art. I also wanted a web page that could share my mom’s personal history. 8:08 p.m.: Hit “create site.” (At this point, I was thankful that I didn’t need to spend hours trying to pick the right colors, typography and other design details.)  8:09 p.m.: The AI website builder presented me with a fully designed website. I asked it to create several more options for me, and I played around with each in the Wix Editor before deciding on the one I liked best. 8:12 p.m. :  I picked my favorite design, which was minimalistic and straightforward. 8:13 p.m. : Started   uploading and   enhancing the images my mom wanted to include on her site. Since a lot of the photos were taken with a phone, the quality wasn’t great. But Wix’s AI image tools made it easy to correct the alignment, size and quality of all the photos. 8:33 p.m. : Added Wix Multilingual, which auto-translated the site from Spanish to English. I spent some time proofreading the translated copy on each page. 8:45 p.m. : Published the site, together with a new domain and Google connection.   By 8:45, my mom was already sharing the final website with her friends. All I had to do was set her up with some guidelines on how to add new text and pictures on her own. After that, my job was done.  Key Wix features that I used If you’re curious about the Wix website features I used, here’s a quick list of the tools that made it possible for me to create a visually appealing, fully functional site in under one hour.  AI website builder: Asked me about my website goals and did all the heavy-lifting by designing the site and providing several options for me to choose from Wix Editor: Provided a space where I could customize any page or element of the website and upload content Photo editor : Gave me a range of AI-powered photo editing tools to choose from that let me enhance the quality of my mom’s art images   Multilingual translation: Automatically translated the entire site so it could be accessed by both Spanish- and English-speaking audiences Forms:  Gives visitors a way to reach out to my mom with any inquiries (I couldn’t, of course, pass up the opportunity to add my team’s product to the site) Analytics:  Probably my mom’s favorite feature, which lets her see how many visitors have been or are on her site in real time  Build your site quickly with a ready-made website template or get a polished, custom look with a website designer . Top takeaways One of the most thrilling aspects of this process was that I was using a product that I had a hand in developing. This project reinforced something I already knew: my work is meaningful. Seeing my mom proudly sharing her new art website was incredibly fulfilling. I went to bed that night with a renewed sense of pride in myself and my team. I also walked away with a few other reflections that I thought might worth sharing. 01. AI is changing how we work AI won’t do all the work for you (you still need to monitor it and be held responsible for the final results), but it can speed it up and help you overcome challenges that may have been impossible to do on your own. In my situation, AI helped me break through the fear of building a website from scratch. I could design an attractive website for my mom without having any prior design experience. Related reading: How to avoid generic website content 02. Preparation is important  Even though I used AI, preparation played a big role in making sure that this project went smoothly. Knowing what I needed in advance—such as the types of pictures, text and domain setup that I needed—allowed me to efficiently manage my time and resources. Even if you’re working on a relatively simple site, it helps to gather all of your materials first and have a clear idea of what you want your website to achieve.  Read also: How to plan a website 03. You must put yourself in your customers’ shoes Being able to use the product that I help build and improve on a daily in a real-world scenario was priceless. It offered a perspective that no amount of theoretical testing could provide. I was able to catch minor pain points, understand the user experience better and gather other helpful insights. This is a reminder to all product and brand owners of the importance of dogfooding—an industry term for using your own products to understand them. This also aligns with the principle of continuous improvement, which is necessary for any successful product development cycle.  Related reading: What makes a good website? My final takeaway is this: What my mom believed turned out to be true. I could  make her a visually appealing website. I just needed the right tools and motivation, which were right in front of me all along.  Read also: Your website should speak your brand's language—here's how

Wix is a powerful, versatile website builder that lets you create professional websites without coding or technical knowledge. Over the years, Wix has also evolved into a comprehensive business platform offering everything from an easy to use drag-and-drop editor , to eCommerce features, to advanced development tools with Wix Studio . Here's both a very quick and a more thorough guide on how to use Wix. How to use Wix - the short version Here's the quickest and easiest way to use Wix. Create a free account : Sign up for a Wix account to start building your website. You can create multiple sites under one account. Choose a website template : Select from over 2,000 customizable templates or start from a blank canvas to design your site. Use the Wix Editor : Access the Wix Editor to add and customize elements like text, images and apps. Use the left menu to manage pages and design settings. Optimize for mobile : Switch to the mobile editor to ensure your site looks good on mobile devices. Publish your site : Save your changes and click 'Publish' when you're ready to go live. Manage your business : Use Wix tools to manage your contacts, sales and marketing. ( Is Wix good for small business ?) Learn more: What is a Wix website? How to use Wix—a more detailed guide 1. Choose a Wix editor 2. Use Wix website templates to make your site 3. Design and customize your website with Wix 4. Add and organize your website pages 5. Run your business with Wix 6. Use Wix to choose and buy a domain name 01. Choose a Wix editor Begin by creating a Wix account . After signup, you'll face your first choice of how to use Wix. Wix Editor This is the classic drag-and-drop interface with complete design freedom. You can create a website by choosing from over 2,000 website templates to form the basis of your site and then customize them with a vast library of design elements including images, videos, shapes and buttons. Business website templates Restaurant website templates eCommerce website templates Portfolio website templates The Editor integrates seamlessly with Wix Apps to widen the functionality of your site. It balances creative freedom with ease of use, making professional web design accessible to everyone regardless of technical expertise. These website examples show more of what's possible when you use Wix. Risograph printing studio Dopple Press  really takes the cake. The site’s visually attractive and easy to read, thanks to a clean and spacious layout paired with a bright color scheme and palette for optimum aesthetics. Designer Liv White also worked with  Velo  to implement creative animations on every page, encouraging visitors to interact with her content- such a great example of interactive design at work. 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. Learn more: Is Wix easy to use? Do I need technical skills to use Wix? How my 14-year-old son built a website (on Wix) that 6x'd his sales Wix AI website builder The Wix AI website builder transforms site creation by using artificial intelligence to design professional websites in minutes. Answer a few questions about your business, preferences, and goals and the AI generates a website for you. The system intelligently selects appropriate layouts, color schemes, fonts and content based on industry best practices related to the type of website you want to create. As part of this it can create compelling text, suggest relevant images and organize information logically. Once you’ve learned how to design a website with AI  using Wix, you can also customize it just like a site built with the Wix Editor. These AI website examples show more of what's possible when you use Wix. Interior styling business Ares Design Studio  uses rich photographs to show the quality of their work. The homepage features vibrant, impactful images that reflect the overall aesthetic of Ares’ work. Each photo is clickable and brought to life with a subtle hover effect. Like crown molding on a wall, the site menu lines the top of the homepage and informs visitors of Ares’ offerings, including an online boutique where visitors can buy pre-designed room kits and styling packages.  UK-based catering business My Party Chef  harnessed AI to dish up an excellent website for anyone looking to elevate their event with delicious eats. The adage that ‘people eat with their eyes’ is proven true—My Party Chef’s website showcases the company’s beautiful work with a dedicated photo gallery page filled with elegant food photography.  You can also use Wix to start a business , with its AI-powered business launcher that can help you generate a business idea, a business name and create a business website . Wix Studio Wix Studio is an advanced website creation platform designed specifically for professional designers, agencies and freelancers. Released in 2023 it combines powerful visual design capabilities with robust development tools. Key features include a sophisticated drag-and-drop editor, custom breakpoints for perfect responsive design, Figma integration for seamless design workflows and a full-stack development environment with a built-in IDE. How to use Wix, our expert, Marina Tamir tech SEO at Wix, weighs in: “With Wix Studio templates , you’re never staring at a blank page. We’re here to give web creators a solid starting point, so whether you’ve got a full brief or just a rough idea, you can jump in and start designing without overthinking that first move.” Learn more: How to make a responsive website (with Wix) Studio offers advanced SEO capabilities including SEMRush integration and custom schema markup. It empowers professionals, agencies and developers to create highly customized, performance-optimized websites at scale while maintaining brand consistency across multiple client projects. Here is an example of how an agency used Wix Studio to create their site. The Boathouse Agency 's website exudes coolness and creativity, with meticulous attention to detail. The website glides gracefully when scrolling. The combination of videos, animations and unique scroll behaviors creates a non-traditional experience—a perfect complement to a portfolio that showcases innovative design projects and celeb collaborations. Notice how the logo plays well on all sections because it changes based on what’s behind it, keeping the agency’s  branding neutral and letting their work do the talking. 02. Use Wix website templates to create your site With over 2,000 professionally designed site templates to choose from, you can use Wix to create any type of website you need. Here are a few ways you can use Wix templates to make a website for your business. Looking to use Wix to create a blog website? Use these blog templates Looking to use Wix to create a beauty website ? Use these beauty website templates Looking to use Wix to create a photography website ? Use these photography website templates Looking to use Wix to create a music website ? Use these music website templates Looking to use Wix to create a service website ? Use these service website templates 03. Design and customize your website with Wix Once you've selected a template, the real creativity begins. Here's what you'll want to focus on when making your Wix website . Layout : Drag and drop elements like text boxes, images, and buttons anywhere Design : Customize colors and fonts to match your brand Mobile-friendly design : Check your site looks great on all devices with mobile editing tools Custom breakpoints : In Wix Studio you can define exactly how your site behaves on different screen sizes How to use Wix, our expert, Dafna Rabin, Wix Templates design team lead at Wix, weighs in: "Once you pick the right layout or template for you, it's really important to take the time to customize all the content. Many people overlook this step. Make sure you remove any unrelated images or paragraphs, and focus on creating a clear flow for the content that tells the story you want to share with your audience." Learn more: What is web design? 04. Add and organize your website pages Your site structure matters and because of this you'll need to create a logical hierarchy of pages. Here are a few of the main ones to include on your Wix site: Homepage: this is the main page of your site, both the first one users see and the one most visitors see. It represents your entire brand and business and so is the one you want to spend most time on. About: Your story and mission can go here. Products/services : If you plan to use Wix to sell with an eCommerce website or online store, you'll need to create and configure your product pages. If you plan to offer services, such as bookings via your site, you'll need to work on your scheduling page. Contact : How to reach you. You can also use Wix to add a chatbot to your site which means you can help site visitors 24/7. Blog : Starting a blog with Wix is easy, both as a standalone website or as a part of your business site. You can use Wix to build a community around your brand or services. How to use Wix, our expert, Nitzan Eiges, tech SEO team lead at Wix, weighs in: "When it comes to making a website, it's worth considering building a plan for all your website pages from the start of the process. This means creating a clear website plan that includes your planned and potential future pages. This allows you to build a URL structure for your site that is clean and consistent. In turn, this can also help you avoid making fixes to your URL structure later, such as adding redirects and manually updating or changing your internal linking." 05. Run your business with Wix Once you've created your website you can use Wix to manage and run your business. From the Wix app market you can choose from thousands of apps related to running a business. Some of the most popular include: Contact forms and live chat Booking systems Social media integration Marketing tools SEO helpers Many apps have free tiers, with premium features available with a Wix paid plan . How to use Wix, our expert, Esin D. Habif, product marketing lead (outbound) at Wix, weighs in: "The most important consideration is to choose a website builder that grows and scales with you and your business." You can also use Wix for specialized business solutions relevant to the type of business you plan to use your website to manage or market. Wix eCommerce : For selling products with integrated payment processing, inventory management and shipping options Wix Bookings and scheduling software : For service-based businesses that need appointment scheduling Wix Events : For hosting and managing events with RSVPs, ticketing and event pages Wix Restaurants: For food businesses with online ordering, reservations and menus There are also a number of in-built marketing and SEO tools available to anyone who uses Wix to make a website. Use Wix's SEO tool for step-by-step guidance on optimizing your on-page SEO including meta titles and descriptions for all pages (using the tool's AI assistant) You can connect Google Analytics and Google Search Console to your site to track website visitors and their behavior Use Wix to set up integrated email marketing campaigns, learn more with our guide, Does Wix have email marketing? 06. Use Wix to buy a domain name You can buy and understand how to register a domain name with Wix, to give your website a customized and professional domain name of its own. If you had a paid plan, a customized domain name is free. Wix functions as a domain registrar, registered with ICANN. If you create a free website you'll get a standard free Wix subdomain, for example, (username.wixsite.com/sitename). Learn more about how to go about building a free website. How to use Wix, our expert, Keren Friedlander, product marketing manager at Wix, weighs in: "There’s a positive correlation between clear and relevant domain name, and strong online visibility. I can say that a thoughtfully chosen domain name impacts the brand’s exposure." How to use Wix: best way to get started Signup for a Wix account Choose a template or get started with the AI website builder Get building How to use Wix: top tips for a successful website Plan your website: Start with a clear vision of what you want to achieve with your site. Your website planning is everything. Use consistent branding: This should apply across all your pages for a professional look. It means being consistent with your fonts, colors and layout. Don't overcomplicate your design: Clean and simple often works best especially if your site is designed for visitors to take an action, such as make a booking or buy something. Prioritize mobile optimization: Most visitors will use smartphones to access your site. Take advantage of Wix's learning resources including video tutorials and help center. Consider SEO from the start : This means thinking of optimizing your site and content for SEO before it goes and rather than as an afterthought Explore Wix Studio: Especially if you need advanced customization options or if you want to use Wix to create and manage multiple websites.

Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →   So, you want to create a website? Good news: making a website has never been easier. These days, there are a number of website builders that make designing a site as simple as following a recipe. A mature website builder like Wix can also make running your business online significantly easier.  Wix gives you a range of high-quality features—a drag-and-drop website editor, templates, AI, marketing tools and native business solutions—so you can start creating right away. Keep reading to learn how to make a Wix website by bringing all of your favorite elements together.  Learn more about how to use Wix  as a website builder and to manage your business. How to make a website with Wix Define your goals Pick your starting point Review and organize your pages Customize the design as desired Create your content Choose a domain name Get familiar with web hosting Promote and track your website 01. Define your goals Creating a website starts with considering the goal of your website. Do you want to monetize your website , or simply share your favorite recipes? Whatever your aim is, be clear about your definition of success. This will help you determine the best platform, design and timeline for your project. “Just as us humans, every website has its own needs. Try to define what those are and what goals you’d like to achieve in order to create a successful website that is truly original.”   - Adi Huri, product and creative director at Wow!, Wix If you're still unsure about the kind of website that suits you, take some time to explore the different types of websites  available or explore these website ideas  for inspiration. Your website could serve as: An online store where you sell custom merchandise, handmade items, branded products or even dropshipped items. (See our guides specifically on  how to start an online store  or how to make an eCommerce website .) A blog where you share your own insights, interview experts or engage a community of people who share a common interest. (Learn  how to start a blog .) An online portfolio , which exists as a type of  static website  that shows off your experience to potential employers or clients. (Learn  how to make an online portfolio .) Note: One website can serve multiple purposes. You can  create an online store  that also has a blog. Or, you can  create a blog  that sells merchandise.  Related reading: How long does it take to build a website? I built a Wix website for my mom: here's how it went What is a Wix website? Is Wix good for website building? 02. Pick your starting point When you start building a website on Wix, you have two main ways to get started: Use the AI website builder . Create a fully functional site by answering a few quick questions. The AI will automatically generate the layout, content structure and design elements, giving you a ready-to-use starting point. Start with a designer-made template. Choose from more than 2,000 website templates , which are tailored to different business types and industries. You can select a template that closely matches the style and layout you already envision, then customize it using the editor. Choosing a starting point depends on your workflow and priorities. The AI website builder is faster for immediate results, while templates provide a stronger visual starting point. Either way, you can customize and refine your site further from Wix's drag-and-drop editor. Both choices mean you'll avoid making some of the most common website building mistakes out there. See these  Wix websites  for inspiration or see the Wix Editor up close with  this online course . Learn more:   AI vs. template: Which should I use to create my website? How to vibe code a website How to create a professional website How my 14-year-old son built a website that 6x'd his sales Special note If you're an agency owner creating a website  for clients, or manage an enterprise with complex design needs, Wix also offers Wix Studio. Wix Studio offers a collaborative platform and unparalleled customization options. Enjoy precise control over your design and easily create highly responsive, intricate animations. Discover more about  Wix Studio . For more advanced website development  needs, the Wix Editor offers access to Velo  by Wix. Velo supports markup languages like  HTML ,  CSS  and  Javascript  for custom-coding elements of your site. For example, you can connect custom  databases  and build  dynamic content , or use JavaScript to add more interactive behaviors. As another option, you can use Velo APIs to install a  Wix website app  to an existing site. (Learn more about Wix  Wix Headless .)  03. Review and organize your pages Once you have a first draft of your website, either from the AI website builder or a template, it’s a good idea to step back and review the pages that are included. Make sure that all the essential web pages are covered, and check that each one clearly serves your visitors’ needs. Start with the basics— homepage , about page, and contact page—and then consider whether any additional pages would improve your site’s structure and usability. Here are some common page types to check for: Category pages: Category pages are helpful for organizing content, especially on an eCommerce site or blog. A category page can act as a navigational element, guiding visitors to the content that they’re looking for in a friendly, familiar way.    Product pages: Product pages should highlight key features and benefits of your product, giving enough space for images, videos and dynamic sections (such as “recommended products”). You may even want to include a reviews section, or an area showcasing user-submitted photos. Services page: Here you can list the services you offer. For example, if you’re a freelance writer, you can talk about the types of projects you take on or the types of packages you offer. Support page: A support page can include information on how to get in touch with your team, or how to handle situations like a return or issues with shipping. Checkout page: Whether you run an eCommerce or service-based business, a checkout page can simplify (and speed up) the sales process. Make sure to offer multiple ways of paying and keep your form clear and to the point.    FAQ: Address common questions and concerns upfront to build trust and set the right expectations. Regularly update this page as new questions arise. Testimonials/review page:  A review page can consist of video testimonials, star ratings and/or written reviews. Privacy policy page: A privacy policy page can demonstrate that you take your customers’ privacy seriously. It may also be a legal requirement if you do business in certain countries or states. Read also:  How to build a homepage   04. Customize the design as desired At this point, you’ve probably got all the bones of your website in order. Now, it’s time to refine any details you wish. Considering how 75% of website’s credibility is influenced by its design, you’ll want to be very intentional about each component of your site. Here’s how to fine-tune the main components. Colors Colors are one of the first things visitors notice and can influence how they feel about your site. Use a main brand color with a few complementary shades to keep your design consistent, and reserve bright or contrasting hues for buttons and calls to action. Your color choices set the tone—bright colors like yellow feel energetic, while muted tones like brown convey warmth and reliability. For example, Simply Ollie uses earth tones to create a cozy, nostalgic vibe that matches its products and brand values. You can adjust your site’s colors directly in the Wix Editor, or use the Theme Assistant if you need guidance. Menus Your site’s menu is the main way visitors navigate your pages, so check that it’s organized and clearly reflects your site goals. Make sure each page is easy to find and labeled in a way that makes sense for your audience. For example, a travel blog could group content by destination or type of trip (e.g., city- vs. nature-oriented trips) , while a service site might highlight key offerings. “Keep in mind that the menu is the map of your website. By adding the right pages to your menu, in the right order, it can be the heart of your website’s success.” - Adi Huri, product and creative director at Wow!, Wix Buttons Small but mighty, buttons guide your visitors to the next step, whether that’s completing a purchase, subscribing to your blog or signing up for your service. They can also help you track engagement. Simply put, if people are clicking your buttons, they’re interested in what you have to offer (or curious enough to stick around). But for buttons to work, they need to be clear and noticeable. Visitors should know exactly where a button leads, and never feel confused after clicking it. Take a moment to review your buttons and make sure they’re clearly labeled and placed where people naturally look. Remember, both text and graphics can help here. Most people instantly recognize icons like social media symbols or a “download” arrow. In the Wix Editor, you can even add hover effects to make your buttons pop more. Visual elements and effects While all of  web design  is visual, certain elements truly enhance the user experience of your site. Things like images, shapes and scrolling effects can catch users’ eyes. At the same time, you want to avoid overwhelming your visitors.  Prioritize simplicity by using a clean, straightforward layout and giving each element enough space to breathe. Balance visuals and content so that images, videos and effects highlight key information rather than distract from it. Always use high-quality media; select high-resolution images and videos that are relevant, plus add value to the page.  When you’re building a site on Wix, you can take advantage of stock content or the AI image creator to jazz up your site. You can experiment with different shapes, layouts, backgrounds, animations and scrolling effects. Or, use one of Wix’s branding tools—like the Wix logo maker —to develop your brand identity if you’re just starting a business.   Read up on more image optimization  techniques and about what web design is . Mobile web design A whopping 96% of the global digital population  now uses a mobile device to connect to the internet. It goes without saying that you’ll want to give some TLC to your site’s mobile experience and consider the case for making a  responsive vs. adaptive website . Because phone screens are smaller than desktops, layouts should be adjusted accordingly. Prioritize what appears first (above the fold), and move or remove less essential elements for a smoother mobile experience. Make navigation simple by placing key links at the top. Many mobile sites use a hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) to organize and condense links. Website performance and speed are just as important. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or the Wix Site Speed Dashboard to check your scores and Core Web Vitals. Faster sites deliver a better user experience. If you’re using Wix, your site is already optimized with globally distributed servers, auto- caching and WebP image optimization. You can also preview and edit your mobile site in the Editor, or turn your website into an app with the AI-powered Branded App tool. Learn more: How to choose a website template on Wix 05. Create your content  Your site may already come with placeholder text and images, but this is your chance to make it truly yours. The words and visuals you choose will shape how visitors experience your brand—and whether they take the actions you want. Review each section and decide what you want to keep, revise or remove. Consider whether your message is best conveyed through text, visuals or a mix of both. For example, if you want visitors to take a specific action, make that clear in your copy. If you’re introducing a new product or service, a video or image may be more effective. As you update your content, keep SEO best practices in mind: Incorporate relevant keywords naturally into your copy Write unique meta descriptions and title tags for each page (you can use Wix’s AI meta tag creator for help) Use header tags (H1, H2, H3) to structure your content clearly Include links to other relevant pages on your website to guide users and boost engagement Create content that aligns with search intent and answers visitors’ questions Website builders like Wix combine their content management software  with their editors, helping you manage content effectively and experiment with static vs. dynamic website  content. You can additionally tap into built-in AI tools for generating unique text or images for your site. “There are over 2 billion websites out there and we all visit many of them daily. With visual and textual content you have the opportunity to make a statement and have your site stand out. This is the place to add your brand personality. If you are more traditional, no need to go wild. Often, unique copy or a cool visual is all you need for your site to be memorable.”  - Adi Huri, product and creative director at Wow!, Wix 06. Choose a domain name Your domain name is your site's title, which makes it easily identifiable and accessible. A custom domain name also adds a professional touch. For this reason, domain names often match their brand names, like Wix and wix.com. To understand better how to choose a domain name, start by understanding what a domain is . Then, pick an appropriate domain extension  (.com, .net, etc.) and consider relevant subdomains. Once you've decided,  purchase your domain name  through an official registrar like Wix. Note: If you publish your site under a free account, Wix provides a default domain name. However, you can always purchase a custom domain and choose what will become your top-level domain. Or, if you upgrade to any of Wix’s paid plans, you get a private domain free for the first year. (Learn more about how to build your website for free. ) Need help finding the perfect domain name? Try using a  website name generator  for inspiration or check out our list of website name ideas . Examples of available domain extensions:  .de domain .xyz domain .ch domain .store domain .info domain 07. Get familiar with web hosting At this point, you might be wondering how to make sure that your website actually goes live and can be found online. This is where web hosting comes into play. Web hosting is like a storage house for your website, ensuring it’s accessible on the internet. There are different types, like VPS, shared hosting, managed hosting  and cloud hosting . Read more: What is web hosting? With Wix, you automatically get free web hosting  when you publish your site, so you don’t need an external host or your own web server . The platform utilizes multiple  content delivery networks  around to maintain a 99.99% uptime.  Security is covered, too. Wix provides 24/7 monitoring, auto backups, enterprise-grade website security , TLS  and public key certification for every site. You can further secure your site with measures like multi-factor authentication .  Is my Wix website secure? Yes and we explain how. 08. Promote your website The work doesn’t end after you’ve published your site. Once your site is live, you’ll want to proactively draw visitors to your pages using strategies like the ones below.  Social media marketing Using social media to promote your new website involves a strategic blend of content creation, audience engagement and targeted advertising.  The most important tip here: avoid spreading yourself too thin and focus on the platform(s) where your target audience is most active. Utilize Wix’s social media schedule tools, in addition to the AI caption creator and social ads features to keep everything in one place.  Invite two-way conversation. Make sure you’re not simply talking at your followers and bombarding them with content they don’t care about. Pay attention to what they post. Respond to their comments.  Consider collaborating with influencers and industry leaders who can endorse your website and attract their followers to your platform. SEO and GEO SEO remains a key factor in your website’s success, but it’s more than just keywords. It’s about optimizing your content, structure and user experience to be discoverable by search engines and relevant to your audience. Fortunately, Wix’s SEO  features provide a solid infrastructure to meet search engine requirements. You’ve got AI-powered text writers, assistants and checklists to provide suggestions on how to improve your content for ranking. For advanced users, Wix offers tools like a robots.txt editor, dynamic XML sitemaps and customizable canonical tags to further optimize your site. In addition, Wix offers tools for GEO (short for "generative engine optimization") and LLM optimization. For instance, the AI Site Overview report helps you understand how people are finding your website through AI platforms like ChatGPT. This, in turn, can inform how you can improve the content and type of information your offer on your site. “GEO is SEO for the AI era, providing users an all‑new level of search visibility...Just as we’ve supported our users in optimizing for traditional search engines, we’re now equipping them to navigate and succeed in an AI-driven landscape. With the AI Visibility Overview, businesses can finally see how they’re being represented—and take steps to increase visibility, influence perception and drive real outcomes." - Doreen Weissfelner, head of analytics at Wix Google My Business A Google My Business (GMB) profile is especially handy if you have a physical storefront. For many business owners, GMB is important for local discoverability—it serves as a listing on Google Search and Google Maps.  You can set up a GMB profile directly inside Wix. Once it’s set up, your GMB profile will provide a snapshot of your business location, hours, contact info, reviews and website. Make sure to fill out your profile as fully as possible. Add helpful visuals. Explore GMB’s extended capabilities. And carefully choose your category (a generic category like “restaurant” will be swarming with competition, whereas a category like “Italian restaurant” will be less competitive). Web analytics Web analytics tools  are like your eyes and ears online. They show you how people interact with your site, helping you identify issues and improve your website management  in the long run.   Analytics like visitor counts, click paths, purchase rates and most engaged regions can guide how you tailor your content or offers. Most importantly, web analytics can help you dissect user behavior. For instance, if many users leave before reaching the checkout button, you may need to rethink your button placement or webpage design.  In a similar vein, data like this may point to the best ways to promote or monetize your site.  Use  Wix Analytics  to your advantage. Wix Analytics will provide you with essential data (e.g., the total number of site visitors, time spent on pages, number of sales and much more). You can additionally use the AI Site Overview tool (as mentioned earlier) to track the behaviors of people who find you through AI platforms and/or integrate Google Analytics for comprehensive insights.  How to make a website FAQ How much does it cost to make a website? A website can be built for free, with a website builder like Wix. Or you can opt for a premium plan where prices range from tens to hundreds of dollars, depending on the website builder you choose. If you hire a developer or technical designer to make a website it could cost in the thousands. How long does it take to build a website? The time it takes to build a website can vary significantly depending on various factors, including the complexity and functionality of the website, the design requirements, the size of the project team, and the availability of resources. A simple website could take a day, a more complex one several months. Do I need a technical designer to create a website? Not if you use a website builder, like Wix. The editor is easy to use and customize. Do I need a web developer to build a website? It will depend on the functionality on your site, but to build a website from scratch or even a professional website for your business, if you use a website builder, a developer isn't necessary. How do I create a business website? Choose a website builder that can help you create a business website that will scale with your business, and allow for added functionality - like an online store. How do I build a website from scratch? Start by choosing the right website builder for your needs, then plan out your webpages, design and content. Every website starts with a great idea or brand so lead with this. How do I make a professional website? First decide what type of professional website you want, including if you want your professional site to be a portfolio site or not. Then choose your website builder, plan out your pages and functionality, work on the design and then promote your website with SEO and other marketing strategies.

Get your professional business email address → Wix provides email hosting for your business email address through a partnership with Google Workspace, giving you the ability to create custom email addresses that match your domain directly from your account dashboard. Establishing a dedicated business email is a smart move for building credibility with your customers and keeping your professional communications organized. You don't need to be a tech wizard to set this up. When you make a website with Wix, integrating a professional mailbox is a straightforward process that connects your domain name to Google's powerful tools. This guide covers everything you need to know about setting up, managing and benefiting from email hosting with Wix. Get your business email up and running fast. Wix provides built-in security, plenty of storage and real-time tools to help you stay on top of your work. Everything’s backed by 24/7 support so you can focus on growing your business. TL;DR: what is email hosting? Short on time? Here’s what you’ll find in this article: Feature Description What is email hosting? A service that runs email servers, allowing you to send, receive and store emails using a custom domain. Does Wix offer it? Yes. Wix offers business email addresses with Google Workspace integration. Why use it? To look professional, secure your data and separate work from personal life. Cost Paid plans are available through Wix via Google Workspace. Difficulty Easy setup directly through the Wix dashboard. Explore more: What is a business email? Is Wix good for business email? What is email hosting and does Wix provide email hosting? Email hosting is a service where a hosting provider rents out email servers to users. While free services like standard Gmail or Yahoo are great for personal use, they don't allow you to use a custom domain (like info@yourbusiness.com ). Email hosting services provide the technology and server space to make those professional addresses work. So, does Wix provide email hosting? Yes, but with a powerful twist. Wix gives you a business email to match your domain by partnering with Google Workspace. This means you aren't just getting an email inbox; you are getting the reliability, security and interface of Gmail, branded with your own business name. Instead of building its own email servers from scratch, Wix offers custom business email addresses through this integration. You manage the billing and setup directly through your Wix account, keeping everything central and simple. It combines the ease of Wix's platform with the robust functionality of Google's business tools. Already have an email elsewhere? You can link it to your Wix domain by updating the MX and DNS settings directly in your Wix account. Although it is not possible to transfer existing mailboxes to Wix, you can connect them via DNS records. Business emails must be purchased separately from Wix Premium or Studio plans. You may also be interested in custom domains . Benefits of email hosting Switching to a hosted email solution offers advantages that go far beyond just looking fancy. It changes how customers perceive your brand and how you manage your day-to-day operations. Instant credibility A recent survey   found that 60% of young businesses saw an increase in customer engagement after adopting a professional business email address, and 42% reported increased sales.  Sending an invoice from a generic "@ gmail.com " address can look amateur. A custom domain shows you are serious about your business. It acts as a trust signal every time you hit send. Enhanced security Free email services often lack the enterprise-grade security features found in paid hosting. With Wix and Google Workspace, you benefit from advanced spam filters anti-phishing protection. Your data stays safe, and your emails actually reach the recipient's inbox. You may also be interested in website security . Better organization Keep your personal receipt clutter away from your client communications. A dedicated business email helps you focus when you are working and switch off when you aren't. Plus, you get access to shared calendars and cloud storage. You may also be interested in website management . Common challenges of email hosting While the pros are heavy, there are a few hurdles you might face when setting up professional email hosting. Being aware of these can help you navigate them smoothly. Cost considerations Unlike a personal inbox, business email hosting usually comes with a monthly fee per user. As your team grows, these costs can add up. You have to budget for each new employee who needs an address. Learn more: how much does a business email cost? Migration headaches If you are moving from a different provider or trying to transfer old emails to a new system, things can get tricky. You don't want to lose important history or contacts during the switch. You may also be interested in: how to transfer a domain name . Management You become the admin. That means if an employee forgets their password or needs to change their name, you are the one logging in to fix it. However, Wix simplifies this by keeping the management panel user-friendly. Does Wix provide email hosting? How to set up email hosting with Wix Getting your professional inbox ready is faster than you might think. Since Wix offers business email addresses with Google Workspace integration, the process is built right into your user experience. Get your domain Select a plan Create your alias Verify and connect 01. Get your domain You need a domain name to hang your email on. You can purchase one through Wix or connect a domain you already own. Use Wix's domain name search tool to check availability, and the domain name generator to get unique domain name suggestions for your site. Learn more: how to register a domain name . 02. Select a plan Inside your Wix dashboard, navigate to the "Business Email" section. You will see options for Google Workspace plans. Choose the one that fits your storage and team size needs. 03. Create your alias This is the fun part. Decide what comes before the "@". Common choices are "info," "support," or just your first name. Explore more: business email name ideas . 04. Verify and connect Wix automates much of the technical verification (like MX records), so you usually just need to follow the prompts to connect your new inbox to your domain. Explore more: Best domain registrars Types of domains Web host vs domain registrar Does Wix provide email hosting FAQ Is Wix email hosting free? No, business email hosting through Wix is a paid service because it utilizes Google Workspace. However, Wix often offers a free trial or discounted rate for the first year when you upgrade to certain Website Premium Plans. You are paying for the reliability and ad-free experience of Google's business tier. Can I use an existing email with Wix? If you already have a custom email domain hosted elsewhere, you can keep it hosted there and still connect it to your Wix website. If you want to manage everything in one place, you can migrate your email service to Google Workspace through Wix, though this may require some manual data migration steps. What is the difference between Wix email marketing and email hosting? This is a common point of confusion. Email hosting (as discussed in this article) is the service that gives you a customized inbox for 1-to-1 communication (like receiving a client inquiry). Wix Email Marketing  is a separate tool used to send newsletters and promotional campaigns to a large list of subscribers at once. You use your hosted email address to send those marketing emails.

Get  free website hosting  from Wix today → Website security should be a top priority when choosing website hosting and building a website . Protecting your site and your visitors’ data starts with a secure hosting provider and simple steps you can take to strengthen your site. In this guide, we’ll walk you through practical ways to keep your website safe and reliable. The increasing sophistication of cyber attacks makes all websites vulnerable to security and privacy breaches. When it comes to understanding better how to start a website , its security should be top on your list of priorities. Wix hosting keeps your website running smoothly and securely from day one. With reliable performance, strong security and built-in tools for SEO, analytics and marketing, your site is ready to grow without limits. Plus 24/7 support means help is always just a click away. TL;DR: website security Website security protects your site, its data and your visitors’ information from cyberattacks like SQL injections, ransomware and DDoS attacks. Using a website builder and hosting service that focuses on security with features like SSL/HTTPS, automatic updates and strong infrastructure makes it easier to keep your site safe. Even with strong protections, having a plan to recover your site if something goes wrong is important. Regularly checking for suspicious activity, updating software and limiting who can access your site helps reduce risk. By prioritizing website security from the start, you can focus on building your site and growing your business with confidence. Why website security matters Why it matters Description Data protection Keeps your customers’ personal and financial information safe from hackers and unauthorized access. SEO and reputation Secure (HTTPS) websites are favored by search engines like Google. Unsecured sites can lose rankings or show “Not Secure” warnings to visitors. Compliance Helps your website meet legal requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA or PCI DSS, protecting your business from penalties. Financial security Preventing a single breach can save your business from costly cleanup, legal fees and customer compensation. What is website security? Website security is the protection of your site and your website infrastructur e from malicious online attackers that can access, alter and steal your site’s content and data. It should also protect the personal data and privacy of your site's users. Every individual or business with a website should have a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity basics to ensure they're website is safe from attacks. You need to trust that your site and its data is secure. Cyber attacks are on the rise and growing increasingly more sophisticated. This makes them difficult for security professionals to spot, let alone website creators. The right website builder will prioritize security, so you can focus on your business. Is my Wix website secure? Yes, and we explain how. Website security threat examples As the number of websites globally grows—to a record 2 billion websites  as of 2025—the number of cyber attacks increases in tandem. Attacks on websites in the United States have increased almost 400%  since 2020, with the FBI reporting up to 4,000 cyber attacks a day. It’s also estimated that in 2025, the number of DDoS (distributed denial of service)  attacks will rise significantly compared to previous years , with experts expecting an increase in both their frequency and severity. There are a number of ways in which a site’s security may be broached. We’re going to explain some of the most frequently occurring ones and the potential threats they pose to your site here: SQL injections SQL injections involve the use of search query language (a type of computer code) to take control of a database and extract sensitive information. Such an attack can also be used to edit, modify or delete information within a database, and may even be used to retrieve passwords or user information. According to Akamai's State of the Internet/Security Report , there were 6.2 billion attempted SQL injections between January 2020 and June 2021, placing them at the top of most common web attacks. SQL attacks pose a real threat to keeping both your site and its data safe. These cyber attacks can impact your site's functionality, and lead to the loss of sensitive user data. For example, passwords retrieved from your site might be used to hack your users’ accounts across multiple online platforms. Ransomware Ransomware  is a form of malicious software used to infect computers. Once uploaded it can block access to files, systems, software and applications. Hackers then demand a ransom from the affected user, and once paid, the computer and related files are decrypted and the ransomware removed. In 2021 organizations, from public hospitals to government bodies, to large corporations, were victims of ransomware attacks. The majority of these ransomware attacks were the result of phishing — computers and systems became infected when employees received a phishing email and then clicked on a malicious link within it. Ransomware attacks are on the rise and 2021 was a particularly busy year with 37% of corporate organizations reported being the victims of a ransomware attack. In the first half of 2021 alone, the FBI reported a 62% year-on-year increase of such attacks. Cross-site scripting (XSS) A cross-site scripting  attack occurs when malicious javascript code is injected through a trusted website into a user's browser. This type of attack works similarly to an SQL injection attack and preys on the inability of browsers to differentiate between malicious and harmless markup text. Browsers simply render whatever text they receive, regardless of its intent. Cross-site scripting is often used to steal a user's cookies (stored information) and pose as them online. It can also be used to edit websites, collect secure user credentials (e.g. passwords or credit card numbers). Between January 2020 and June 2021, there were an estimated 1.019 billion such attacks , so it goes without saying that protecting against cross-site scripting is an important part of website security. Credential reuse When user credentials are stolen, it can impact more than just your  website. They can be used to access multiple sites where the same credentials apply and create damage that extends across many websites at once. Credential reuse attacks are one of the most common threats to site security, in part because users commonly repeat their credentials over multiple sites and online platforms. Therefore, hacking just one of these gives access to more than just the site they were stolen from. DoS/DDoS attacks DoS (denial of service) attacks aim to interrupt the functionality and usability of a website. One of the most common forms is a “distributed denial of service” (DDoS) attack. This is when a bot sends huge amounts of fake traffic to a website from multiple sources in an attempt to overload the server. DoS attacks cause server time out, and will render the attacked website inaccessible. This can be incredibly harmful for websites of all sizes, negatively impacting website performance . How to check how secure my site is There are a number of ways to keep ahead of potential online security threats when it comes to protecting your website. The best option is to choose a secure website builder, like Wix which comes with robust and secure security infrastructure, including 24/7 monitoring. But you can also: Use CISA's cybersecurity advisories : Subscribe to their alerts and regularly check their website for updates to be aware of. Web application firewalls (WAF):  Tools like Cloudflare, Sucuri or AWS WAF can protect against common threats like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). Vulnerability scanners : Regularly scan your website for vulnerabilities using tools like Nessus, OpenVAS or Acunetix. Intrusion detection systems (IDS): IDS solutions such as Snort or OSSEC can be used to monitor and analyze incoming traffic for suspicious activities. Website security in 7 steps Making sure your site is secure starts with choosing the right website builder. Opt for one that prioritizes website security, leaving you free to focus on managing your site. Here’s a run down of the 7 steps both you and your website builder should take to protect your site: Core platform and 3rd party updates   SSL and Https protocols   Secure web hosting   Established and restricted admin privileges   Site backup   Change default CMS settings   Follow password best practices   01. Core platform and 3rd party updates Despite the known risks from cyber attacks, your site's security should be something you can take for granted. This might sound counterintuitive but hear us out. Building your website from scratch on a platform that’s monitored 24/7 means complete peace of mind when it comes to the security of your site, and by extension—your business. A platform that scans for vulnerabilities, includes auto software security patches and makes updates in response to these is ahead of the game when it comes to securing your site. Third party apps can be a major source of site security breaches, with the potential to harm millions of sites at once. To avoid this happening, we recommend choosing a website builder that contains as many built-in features as you need to run your business. Leaving you less dependent on third party apps, and more focused on your business. 02. SSL and https protocols A secure website will include a SSL  (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol (or SSL certificate), which can be spotted by the https  at the front of a domain name within a site’s url. SSL protocol protects communication between the website and server by encrypting it. This prevents hackers from reading or interfering with the information passed from one to the other. A SSL protocol should be standard on any new site created, but is especially important on those that perform online transactions and sales. Recently, SSL protocols have been updated to handle more sophisticated attempts to breach its encryption. You can identify a website with an SSL certificate by looking for an "s" following "http" in the URL or a padlock icon. When choosing a website builder like Wix, you’ll automatically create a site with extra layers of protection, using the most updated and secure protocol: TLS 1.2. You can create and manage any type of site you need—from a personal website , to an eCommerce site —rest assured that your data, and that of your customers, is protected in line with the highest industry standards. Choose a builder that prioritizes website security . To learn more about how Wix protects your site, visit our Security Hub.   03. Secure web hosting There are many layers of protection necessary to secure a site, and reliable  web hosting  is an integral part of this. Secure web hosting  is a must, and will prevent attacks on your website through your server. It’s also important that your cloud hosting  is screened regularly to ensure it’s prepared for any threats, including DDoS, that comes its way. For a detailed look at cloud hosting vs. shared hosting , check out our guide. Ideally, secure hosting should involve continual testing, a bug bounty program  and 24/7 monitoring to guarantee it can withstand even the most advanced cyber threats. It should also be GDPR compliant and adhere to international standards regarding online web privacy  and security. Even better if it also uses Content Delivery Network (CDN) to distributes your website's content across multiple servers globally, improving loading speed and performance. Wh en it comes to building a Wix website ,  you can rest assured your site's performance and reliability is bolstered by its network of global CDN's. Learn more: How to host a website 04. Established and restricted admin privileges Large sites especially need a team of people to manage them, and each will require varying degrees of access. Make sure to think carefully about just how much access a website manager needs to do their job, then award admin access to your site accordingly. Blindly granting full access to everyone who works on your site will leave it more vulnerable to attacks. We also recommend writing a security policy that applies to all site admins. This should include: choosing a password, third party app downloads, and other important site management tasks to make sure your entire team has your site's security as their number one priority. 05. Site backup While the best website security  methods involve pre-empting attacks, in the event of a security breach, quick recovery will depend on your site being backed up. This means saving a version of your site separately, and making sure it can be restored should the original be attacked in any way. Many website builders, Wix included, automatically backup all their sites. You don’t need to do anything, but rest assured that your site is saved. If you’re not sure that your site is automatically backed up, we recommend checking with your website builder or your site developer from the get-go, to make sure. 06. Change default CMS settings Your site is easier to hack if your default CMS (content management system) settings haven’t been changed. Make sure to alter these when making your site. For example, you can start by changing your comments and user settings — one way to do this is by assigning different privilege roles to each of your site's admin. Changes to these default settings make it more difficult for hackers to understand your system, leaving it less vulnerable to attacks. Increasing numbers of cyber attacks are automated, executed by bots who understand and can breach the default settings of many CMS. Changing these settings makes it more difficult for these bots to read, and attack your platform. 07. Follow password best practices Changing your site password regularly can protect your website against credential attacks. Opt for strong, complex passwords—making sure to use a mix of numbers, letters and characters (pro tip: the longer, the safer.) Other important credential practices include: never share your password or save it on your browser. Always avoid using the same one across different sites. Make sure everyone who has access to your site knows how to keep their login credentials safe. It’s also highly recommended to set up multi-factor authentication (MFA). This makes it more difficult for potential hackers to access your site. MFA will involve adding another level of login authentication, such as a push notification from a mobile device. Why is website security important? Website security is important for a number of reasons, including: To protect your customers' personal and financial information If your website is hacked, attackers could steal customer data such as names, addresses, credit card numbers and Social Security numbers. This information could then be used to commit identity theft or other crimes. To protect your business reputation A website hack can damage your business reputation and erode customer trust. If customers believe that their information is not safe on your website, they are less likely to do business with you. To avoid financial losses A website hack can lead to a number of financial losses, such as the cost of cleaning up the infection, paying for legal and regulatory compliance and compensating customers for damages. To prevent malware attacks from spreading to your other systems If your website is hacked, attackers could use it to spread malware to your other computer systems, including your servers and databases. This could cripple your business operations and lead to even more financial losses. Website security is also important for specific types of websites, such as eCommerce websites and healthcare websites. eCommerce websites store sensitive customer data and financial information, so it's especially important to protect them from attack. Healthcare websites store sensitive patient data, which is also a valuable target for hackers. Impact of website security breaches Cyber attacks can have significant, lasting effects on the functionality and performance of your site. In the short term, they can limit traffic growth and conversions. In the long term, they can damage your brand identity and business reputation. Some of the most significant impacts of security breaches include: Customer churn Users need to know their data is safe in order to trust and use your website, and come back as repeating customers. It is important users trust your site, in order to click on a CTA or make a purchase. Malicious attacks which lead to the loss of customer’s credentials and sensitive information will undoubtedly affect how your site and business are perceived. This will unfortunately have consequences beyond just your website, affecting your brand reputation and customer service as well. Search engine blacklisting Search engine blacklisting can be a very harmful consequence of a site security breach. If Google crawls a website and finds malware or malicious code, it may decide to black list the affected site, making it more difficult to find in search. In turn this can also lead to dramatic traffic drops, and have a negative impact on a site's ability to generate and retain customers. Likewise, websites that suffer from regular downtime and server errors often experience page indexing issues. If Google crawls a page and comes across a server down error (usually a 500 error), they can decide not to crawl the page again. This has a dramatic impact on a site's visibility in search and on its ability to attract new visitors. You can learn more in our guide to website security and SEO. Site suspension Security attacks can suspend crucial site services, such as login, signups and shopping functions. Consequently, this can make it difficult for users to interact with your site. Since malware is costly to remove and time consuming to fix, it’s much better to pre-empt security attacks with a strong website security plan, than to deal with their aftermath. Website security checklist Does my site have HTTPS as standard? Are all my plugins and add-ons up to date as they can be? Do I have strong passwords across all users who access my website? Did I implement two or multi factor authentication for users? Have I assigned user roles within my site carefully? Not everyone needs admin access Is my website backed up regularly, either by me or automatically? Is my server secure? Is my site scanned regularly for irregularities or attempted attacks? Do I have processes in place to monitor my site regularly for any suspicious activity? Website security best practices Make sure your website remains secure by following these best practices: Train your employees : Educate team members on cybersecurity basics, such as identifying phishing scams, creating strong passwords and safely handling sensitive data. Manage data wisely : Limit the collection and storage of sensitive information. Encrypt all data and ensure regular backups are securely stored in multiple locations. Perform regular updates : Keep your website's software, plugins and CMS updated to patch vulnerabilities and protect against new threats. Conduct frequent security audits : Periodically review your website’s security measures to identify potential risks and implement improvements. Monitor for suspicious activity : Use automated tools or monitoring services to detect unusual traffic patterns, unauthorized access or malware. Restrict user permissions : Limit administrative access to your website, allowing only authorized users to make critical changes. Secure file uploads : If your website allows file uploads, implement scanning tools to check files for malicious content before accepting them. Regularly test your security : Simulate attacks, such as penetration testing, to ensure your defenses are effective and your team is prepared. Create a website recovery plan Even with strong protective measures in place, no website is immune to cyberattacks. A recovery plan ensures your business can bounce back quickly, minimizing downtime, safeguarding critical data and preserving trust with customers. By mapping out actions to take in the event of an attack—whether it’s a ransomware breach or a DDoS disruption—you can limit the damage and maintain business continuity. Here are the steps for creating an effective website recovery plan: Identify key assets such as databases and customer information. Set up automated backups stored in multiple secure locations. Define clear roles for team members to streamline the recovery process. Include step-by-step instructions tailored to different attack scenarios. Conduct regular testing of the plan through practice drills to uncover gaps and ensure readiness. Regularly updating your plan to reflect changes in your website or emerging threats keeps your defense strategy sharp. Learn more: How to make a Wix website Website security FAQ How can I know if my website is secure? Firstly, if you build your site with a website builder like Wix, you can be rest assured that your site is secure from the second it goes live. This is because of our robust security infrastructure, including 24/7 monitoring. If you're not sure about how secure your site is, you should check with your website builder or the web developer who created it. Do I need security for my website? Yes, you do need security for your website. Even if you don't think your website has anything valuable to protect, hackers may still target it for malicious purposes. Security should be one of the first considerations when setting up a website, and an ongoing process of review. Can you use a website that is not secure? You can use a website that is not secure, but it isn't advisable. When you visit a website that isn't secure, your data is transmitted over the internet without encryption. This means that anyone who is monitoring the network traffic could potentially steal your data, such as your passwords, credit card numbers or other personal information. If you must use a website that is not secure, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself: Don't enter any sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers, on the website. Use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your traffic. Keep your antivirus software up to date. Be careful about what links you click on. What is SSL and why do I need it? SSL (Secure Sockets Layer): Encrypts data between server and browser Protects sensitive information Builds trust with visitors Is often a must for e-commerce sites and payments online What's the difference between http and https? HTTP vs HTTPS: HTTPS is secure, HTTP isn't HTTPS encrypts data transmission HTTPS uses SSL/TLS protocols HTTPS shows padlock icon in browsers How can I protect my users' data? To protect your user's data you should: 1. Use HTTPS/SSL encryption 2. Implement strong password policies 4. Use secure payment gateways 5. Employ data encryption at rest 6. Limit data collection to essentials 7. Regularly back up data 8. Train staff on security practices 9. Use firewalls and security plugins 10. Conduct regular security audits How do I know if my website has been hacked? Some of the main signs of a hacked website include: Unexpected changes to content Strange files in directories Unusual admin activity Slow performance Search engine warnings Suspicious outgoing links Unusual traffic spikes What role does hosting play in website security? Hosting's role in security included providing server-level protection, auto backups, software updates and threat monitoring — all of which Wix providers for its users.

Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →   What is Wix and why do so many people use it to create a website? If you’re researching a free website builder  or learning how to make a website  without technical skills, Wix is one of the first platforms you’ll come across, and for good reason. Wix is a flexible, all-in-one solution that helps individuals, creators and businesses design, publish and grow online, all from one place. Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder that combines built-in business features and AI-powered guidance, making it easy to go from idea to live site faster. You can start building with Wix's free plan, then scale with advanced tools for eCommerce, marketing and SEO features as your needs grow. In this guide, we’ll break down what Wix is, how it works and who it’s best for so you can decide whether it’s the right website builder for your goals. Start building your online presence today by creating a website with Wix . 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. TL;DR: what is Wix? Wix is a flexible, all-in-one website builder that helps you create, manage and grow a website, whether you’re just starting out or scaling a business. It combines design freedom, built-in business tools and AI-powered features, making it suitable for beginners, professionals and agencies alike. Key takeaways at a glance: Wix is a free website builder with scalable paid plans. You can design sites using Wix AI , website templates or full drag-and-drop customization. Wix supports your eCommerce website , online scheduling , blogging, marketing and apps via the Wix App Marketplace . It’s built for performance, website security , accessibility and reliability. Wix works for creators, small businesses, developers and agencies. What Wix offers by use case Goal How Wix Helps Build a website AI website creation, templates, Wix Editor Make money online Ecommerce, POS, bookings, subscriptions Market your brand SEO tools, blogging, email, ads, social media Scale or customize Velo by Wix, App Market, Wix Studio Track performance Built-in analytics and reporting tools If you’re researching what Wix is, how it works and whether it’s right for your goals, this guide walks through everything, from design and monetization to marketing and performance. What is Wix? Wix is a powerful, no code website builder that comes equipped with business tools that can help you build something as simple as a personal blog to something as complex as an enterprise-grade hub for your online business. Wix has built-in features for eCommerce, marketing, scheduling, branding and more. An incumbent in the website space, Wix has long been a leader in web design and an early adopter of new technologies, like AI website creation. Wix’s web design options Whatever your experience level with web design , Wix makes it easy to learn how to make a professional website  and build the functional, professional site you want. Today, Wix users can pick from a variety of web design options, including the ones listed below. Jump to the section you want: AI Templates Wix Editor Wixel Video Maker Wix Photo Studio Wix Studio Wix Marketplace 01. AI Using an AI website builder is all the rage these days, but few come with the customizability and range of tools that Wix does. Once you answer several questions about the site you want to create, Wix will generate it in seconds, filling it with text and imagery that fits your answers. You can play with themes, layouts, colors, tone of voice, images and more until you get a result you’re happy with. Wix has been incorporating AI solutions into its products since 2016. "Our models are based on decades of deep knowledge and experimentation, which makes them a lot more reliable and a lot smarter,” says Yarden Geffen, product marketing manager at Wix. Here are just a few of the AI-powered solutions that Wix offers to its users: Website creation Text creation Logo design Trailer generation Auto background removal Chatbot Section generation Layout switcher 02. Templates If you don’t have a clear vision for what you want your site to look like, starting with a template might be a better option for you. Wix has hundreds of website templates to choose from. You can browse templates by industry (such as health, restaurants or beauty) or by purpose (such as building a community or showcasing a portfolio). After you’ve selected the perfect template for your website, use the Wix Editor to make it your own. 03. Wix Editor Customize your website however you’d like with Wix Editor . Write content and upload images, videos and other elements and put them in the perfect spot with drag-and-drop technology. Then, rotate, resize and recolor your content however you see fit. 04. Wixel Video Maker Wixel Video Maker , powered by Vimeo, is a free online video editor designed to assist you in crafting videos for embedding on your website and incorporating into promotional materials. Simply input your business details and upload your intended content, then seamlessly integrate text and music to create a cohesive presentation. In just a matter of minutes, you'll have a polished, professional video at your disposal. With Video Maker, you can produce content for a variety of purposes, such as crafting social media posts, demonstrating products, recapping events, announcing sales and commemorating milestones. The versatility extends to where you can share your creations, whether on your Wix website, across your social media platforms, on YouTube or anywhere else you prefer. 05. Wix Photo Studio With Wix Photo Studio , you can edit your images without leaving the platform. Think of it as built-in Photoshop. You can crop and resize photos, adjust brightness and contrast, apply filters, remove backgrounds, add text and more with this versatile tool. 06. Wix Studio If you run a marketing or design agency, Wix Studio is for you. Wix Studio is a powerful Wix product designed to help agencies build powerful websites for their clients at scale. You can add custom CSS and code-free animations for bespoke projects. Multi-project management tools help you track all of your agency’s projects on desktop or on mobile. Internal and Studio-wide design libraries let you share templates and reusable assets with teammates. Collaboration capabilities and custom roles make it easy to work on the same website at the same time, while restricting who can do what. 07. Wix Marketplace Looking to outsource the task of building or developing your website? Wix Marketplace can connect you with a freelancer or agency with the expertise you’re looking for. Beyond design, these professionals can help you improve your site’s SEO, write blog content, optimize your eCommerce shop, design your logo, set up integrations and much more. Making money with Wix So, what is Wix besides a website design tool? It’s also a hub for your business. There are lots of ways to make money with Wix . Here’s how. Online store With Wix eCommerce, you can build an online store and sell your own creations or curate products from vendors. Customize the design of your store, upload products, add photos and descriptions, set prices and you’re off to the races. Accept all kinds of payments online with Wix Payments, including buy now, pay later solutions and online credit card processing . You can set up one-time payments for product purchases, or recurring payments for subscriptions and memberships. If you also sell in person in the U.S. or Canada, Wix Payments also seamlessly connects to Wix's point of sale (POS) system to help you better manage inventory and transaction data. Manage everything from order logistics to your social media campaigns all through your Wix dashboard. You can additionally launch your store on various third-party marketplaces, like Amazon, eBay and Google Shopping, directly through Wix. Wix POS Unify your online and in-person presence with Wix POS . This point-of-sale system lets you accept payments in-store and on-the-go with stationary and mobile hardware. By integrating Wix POS with Wix eCommerce, you can share in-store and online data. Furthermore, this integration helps you manage your catalog, transactions, analytics and payments with ease. Scheduling software Wix's scheduling software is a versatile and user-friendly tool that simplifies appointment booking and management for businesses and service providers. This powerful feature is an integral part of the Wix ecosystem, designed to enhance the functionality of your website and streamline your operations. With Wix scheduling, you can effortlessly create a custom booking system tailored to your specific needs. Whether you're running a small business, offering services, or organizing events, Wix allows you to set up and customize your availability, services offered, and pricing. This flexibility ensures that you can adapt the scheduling tool to match your unique requirements. The booking process is equally straightforward for your clients or customers. They can easily view your availability, select their preferred date and time and make reservations directly through your website. What sets Wix scheduling apart is its seamless integration with your website. You can embed booking forms, calendars, and even payment options directly into your web pages, creating a cohesive and professional online presence. Plus, the software offers synchronization with popular calendar apps, ensuring you stay organized and never miss an appointment. Staff members can even sync their personal calendars with the business one to help with meeting scheduling and keeping you in the loop. Wix's scheduling software empowers businesses of all sizes to manage their bookings efficiently, save time, and deliver a convenient and user-friendly experience to their clients. Whether you're a fitness trainer, therapist, consultant, or run any other appointment-based business, this tool can be a valuable addition to your Wix website. Dropshipping Looking for a passive income stream? With Wix’s dropshipping tool, you can sell products without ever handling your merchandise. To get started with dropshipping, connect your Wix eCommerce shop to the Modalyst marketplace and select from millions of products to sell online. When you make a sale, your suppliers receive your orders and ship products directly to your customers. You’ll earn a margin from each sale. Print on demand Like dropshipping, print on demand frees you from dealing with logistics and investing in inventory you can’t sell. Wix’s print-on-demand integration lets you design printed and embroidered products that Wix’s partners print and ship on your behalf. You can add your original designs or business branding to shoes, mugs, phone cases, food packaging and more. Marketing with Wix Beyond its website-building and money-making capabilities, Wix is also a full suite of online solutions designed to help you grow a business . “The great thing about the Wix marketing tools is that they help business owners with the short and long game,” said Josh Brentan, Content Lead at Wix. “Not only do we offer all the tools to run promotions and ads for short term benefit, but we also provide content tools for SEO, blogs, email marketing and even an app that lets entrepreneurs engage with their target audience at every stage of the customer journey.” Check out these marketing tools from Wix. Landing page builder Want to gauge interest for a new product or spread the word about your ebook? A landing page is the perfect place to do those things. Wix’s landing page builder helps you build a powerful, objectives-driven page that converts without code. Use the drag-and-drop editor to achieve the look you want. Add eCommerce options like discount codes and payments, signup forms and more. You can even create dynamic pages that change depending on who lands on your website. SEO Digital marketing lore claims that the best place to hide a dead body is the second page of Google search results. While this saying is sensational, research backs up that people only pay attention to the first few search results. In fact, data shows that the first three search results get 55% of clicks. Wix’s built-in search engine optimization (SEO) tools can help your website land at the top of search engine results pages. Jumpstart your success with an SEO setup checklist that’s personalized for your website. Customizable metadata, URLs and tags empower you to optimize each page, product and blog post. Then, let Wix’s optimized infrastructure and Google Search Console integration help you make the most of each keyword. What truly sets Wix apart is its AI-powered infrastructure, combined with seamless integration with Google Search Console. This dynamic duo empowers you to not only optimize your content but also leverage AI-driven insights to monitor your website's performance. By making data-driven decisions with AI at your side, you can continuously enhance your search engine rankings. Blogging Maximize your SEO efforts by creating a blog for free on your Wix site. By writing about content that’s relevant to your target keywords, you can attract new audiences and become a thought leader in your industry. New blog content also gives visitors a reason to keep coming back to your website. Wix lets you add a blog to your website and scale content creation with templates and an intuitive content management system (CMS). You can schedule blog post publication, collaborate on posts with multiple writers and manage content on the go with the Wix app. Email marketing Spread the word about your blog posts or business with email marketing from Wix. You can use templates or start from scratch with Wix’s user-friendly editor. Personalize emails with subscribers’ names to boost open rates and engagement. You’ll save time with automations that send email campaigns when you want them. A/B testing content helps you optimize performance, while real-time analytics help you create an even better campaign next time. App builder If you thought only enterprise businesses could build their own apps, think again. The app builder by Wix lets you create an app without coding. Use your app as an extension of your business and let visitors shop, book services, engage in forums and more. The app is completely white labeled, so you won’t see Wix’s name or logo in the app, App Store or Google Play. You have full creative freedom to design your app icon and layout however you’d like. The best part is, all app activity syncs to your Wix dashboard for a seamless backend experience. Social media Did you know you can handle your social media marketing without leaving Wix? The native social media manager tool allows you to design social media imagery and videos, and schedule posts to publish simultaneously on multiple platforms. Ads You can create and manage Facebook and Instagram ads without leaving Wix. Simply open Facebook Ads in your Wix dashboard to get started. Then, create your ad by uploading media and writing a caption. Set your target audience by choosing their demographics. Finally, determine your campaign budget and timeline, then publish your campaign. You’ll be able to track ad performance and see how they affect your sales and business goals. How does Wix compare to other website builders? Beyond its massive library of templates and apps, Wix is leading the way in performance, reliability, security, accessibility and analytics. Read more: Wix vs. Squarespace Wix vs. Shopify Website building lessons Performance Performance is at the forefront of every Wix element, feature and component. That’s why Wix is always working to improve its Core Web Vitals (loading time, interactivity and visual stability) for its merchants. These efforts have paid off: as of September 2023, Google found that 70.4% of websites created with Wix had good Core Web Vitals . One of the major changes that have contributed to this improvement is the addition of the Site Speed Dashboard to the platform, which users can access to see how quickly their sites load and get personalized recommendations for optimizing speed. The dashboard uses actual user data as opposed to lab data, which only estimates potential visitor performance by simulating slow networks. "Wix always makes performance their priority and it definitely shows, both in monitoring tools and in their user's experience." —Yoav Weiss, Senior Software Engineer and Developer Advocate at Google Site reliability Due to Wix's exceptional site reliability , Wix websites consistently achieve an impressive 99.99% uptime. Wix employs a multi-cloud free website hosting approach, meaning it utilizes data centers worldwide to distribute workloads, enhance performance and serve as safeguards in case of localized disruptions. As a result, Wix sites load swiftly and efficiently, unaffected by potential regional outages. Wix monitors its infrastructure around the clock to anticipate issues before they occur, minimizing disruptions. Wix also monitors your website for unusual activity to keep your content, data and customers safe. Security Wix monitors website security 24/7 and constantly upgrades its practices to keep your site, data and customers safe. In addition to our multi-layered defense system for threat prevention, detection and response, we also have a team of people who actively monitor the system around the clock. Here are a few other ways Wix helps keep your website secure: Content management security: When you have multiple people contributing content to your website, you need a way to make sure that contributors only have access to the features that are relevant to them. Roles and permission settings let you determine who can manage what on your website’s backend. Payment security: A data breach can be the end of your business, which is why Wix pulls out all the stops to ensure sensitive information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Wix follows the highest payment data security standards to help you keep your customer data safe. It also uses machine learning and data analysis to monitor websites for malware and vulnerabilities. Wix account security: To help secure your account, Wix offers two-step verification via SMS, email or an authentication app. Accessibility Website accessibility is paramount for ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, can access and use online content effectively. In this context, Wix shines by adhering to the highest global standards for accessibility across all its features (including templates and Wix apps ). “What we offer is the ability to make accessible websites easily without taking creative freedom from the users,” says Nir Horesh, Wix’s Head of Accessibility. Moreover, Wix equips users with a range of website accessibility tools to make the process of making a website accessible as easy as possible. Here are a few examples of the tools you’ll have at your disposal: Accessibility Wizard: The Wix Accessibility Wizard searches your website for accessibility obstacles and offers personalized solutions for resolving them. Alt text: Alt text is a description of an image that is built into its code to ensure that site visitors who use screen readers won't miss important context. Wix Editor users can find an alt text form in their image settings that automatically inputs the description into the site code. Document Object Model (DOM): The DOM represents the hierarchical structure of a web page’s elements (headings, paragraphs, links, etc.), which is crucial for users that rely on assistive tech to navigate them. Wix automates the DOM to ensure that it is structured in an accessible and logical manner for all users. Keyboard functionality: For some people with motor control disabilities, navigating a website with a keyboard can be easier than using a mouse. Wix ensures that people who use keyboard inputs alone can navigate your site with ease. Accessible templates: Wix offers a number of templates that are designed to be accessible. These templates are built with accessibility in mind and include features like clear and concise language, high contrast colors and keyboard navigation. Check out Wix’s accessible website templates today. Analytics Wix Analytics is a powerful tool that can help you track the performance of your website and make informed decisions about your marketing efforts. It provides access to key data, including: Sales over time: See how your sales are performing now compared to previous time periods. Sales by order type: Identify which Wix apps (Bookings, Events, eCommerce, etc.) are generating the most revenue on your site. Average order value over time: Track how much the average customer spends on your site over time. New vs. returning visitors: Determine whether the bulk of your traffic is coming from new or returning visitors to guide your marketing focus toward acquisition or retention efforts. Page visits: Learn how each page of your site is performing. Button clicks over time: Find out what buttons or clickable images on your site are performing best and how it changes over time. Traffic sources: Discover where your traffic is coming from, such as search engines, social media, referrals, ads or direct traffic. Versatility Whether you're launching a blog, opening an online store, or building a portfolio, Wix flexes to fit your vision. It's packed with features and design options that cater to a broad spectrum of industries. (That's one of the many reasons Wix can simultaneously be the best website builder for photographers and the best restaurant website builder .) From the plethora of customizable templates to the drag-and-drop interface, Wix empowers you to craft a unique online presence without getting bogged down by code. And if you're ever aiming to expand your site's functionality, Wix's App Market steps in with a wide selection of apps and services that integrate seamlessly. See Wix up close True to its mission, Wix makes it easy for you to create your own professional website—exactly the way you want. From its user-friendly drag-and-drop editor to its diverse array of features, Wix offers the tools and flexibility needed to bring your vision to life. Still on the fence? Try the free plan to start, then switch to a premium plan to get access to all its features. Sign up for Wix today. What is Wix? FAQ Is Wix really free? Yes, Wix offers a free website builder that lets you create and publish a website at no cost. The free plan includes Wix free website hosting and access to core design tools, but your site will display Wix branding and use a Wix subdomain. To connect a custom domain name and unlock advanced business features, you can upgrade to a Premium plan. What types of websites can you build with Wix? Wix supports a wide range of website types, including business websites, online stores, portfolios, blogs, booking-based service sites and enterprise-level projects. Whether you’re learning how to make a website for the first time or managing multiple client sites, Wix provides templates, AI tools and advanced customization options to match your needs. Is Wix good for small businesses and entrepreneurs? Yes, Wix is a popular website builder for small businesses because it combines design tools with built-in business features. Users can sell products, accept bookings, run marketing campaigns, manage payments and track performance—all from one dashboard. As your business grows, Wix scales with you through apps, integrations and premium features.

Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →   Wix Premium plans are designed for anyone ready to go beyond the basics of a website builder  and turn their site into a serious business or professional presence. If you’re learning how to make a website from scratch , choosing the right plan matters just as much as choosing the platform itself, especially when features, scalability and pricing can directly impact how your site grows. Wix is one of the most trusted platforms for individuals and businesses building online, powering more than 8.5 million websites globally and ranking as the most popular hosted website solution on the internet, according to BuiltWith. You can start building with Wix for free, but upgrading unlocks advanced tools for branding, eCommerce and growth. In this guide, we break down Wix Premium plans to help you understand what each option includes and which plan best fits 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. Available Wix Premium plans Wix's paid plans range from $17 per month to $159 per month, as listed below:* Light: $17 per month Core: $29 per month Business: $39 per month Business Elite: $159 per month Wix offers a 14-day money-back guarantee, and you can upgrade or cancel your plan at any time. In addition to these paid plans, custom Enterprise pricing and plans are available upon request. The exact plan you choose will depend on your business size and goals. For example, if you run an eCommerce or other online business that needs to accept payments through your site, you'll want to explore the Core plan or higher. You can rest assured that every plan, including our free plan, comes with secure web hosting  and several free business tools . View a detailed breakdown of each plan on our pricing page or learn more about what Wix is . What Wix Premium plans offer While our free plan offers all the essential tools for creating a website and remains free forever, our Premium plans offer some unique benefits. Custom domain name A domain name is your online address—by choosing the right domain name , you can directly impact other areas of your online presence and more importantly, help visitors find your website. Wix streamlines the process of brainstorming unique domain name ideas with a domain name generator and helps you select a top-level domain extension to protect your brand. With a paid plan, you can connect your custom domain to your Wix website (websites created with a free plan will be assigned a Wix-branded URL). You can even enjoy your custom domain free of charge for the first year of your subscription. Ad-free experience When you learn how to create a professional website , you want to put your best foot forward. But while many free options let you build a good-looking website quickly, there is a drawback: you'll likely have to host ads on your site. Ads can make your website look unprofessional or cluttered in your visitors' eyes. By upgrading your free website plan to a premium one, you can remove Wix ads from your site, connect a custom domain and enjoy full control over your site experience. Related reading: 10 essential Wix tutorials Website building lessons Additional collaborators Each Premium plan allows you to add extra collaborators and control their access with customizable permissions. So, if you’ve got multiple team members working on your site, everyone can contribute without stepping on each other’s toes. Increased storage and bandwidth Purchasing a Wix Premium plan will significantly increase the amount of storage and bandwidth on your website. When you get generous storage space, you can upload more images, videos, audio and data to your website without having to sacrifice usability and accessibility. For website owners, having more bandwidth means better connectivity. As a result, web pages will load faster on any given browser because bandwidth determines how much data travels on a server at one time. If you’re running an online store or business, you’re going to need extra bandwidth to handle high traffic and multiple daily visitors. Wix Premium Plan Storage Light 2 GB Core 50 GB Business 100 GB Business Elite Unlimited Free ad vouchers Just because you build a website, doesn't mean people will immediately come flocking over. To drum up attention around your site, you'll want to create an advertising plan to help promote it and get in front of the right audience. First-time Google Ads advertisers that set a daily budget of at least $10 (or spend $500 in the first 60 days) are eligible for up to $500 in Google Ads credit. This is a great way to break into the online advertising space and drive more traffic to your website without breaking the bank. For more information about claiming a Google Ads voucher, read this article . Did you know? You can create, manage and track your Google Ads campaigns from within Wix. Tap our AI tools to set up your campaigns and create compelling ad copy, plus keep all of your data synced between your website and campaigns. Online payments One of the most popular website features offered by Wix: our suite of eCommerce tools. Users with a Core plan or above can access a range of eCommerce tools, including multi-channel product listings, product reviews, pre-orders and more. Note: You can design and publish your online store entirely for free. However, to start accepting online payments, you'll need to upgrade to a paid plan. Wix offers a complete online payment solution, Wix Payments , that allows you to accept more than 80 payment options worldwide . You can manage everything from your product listings and inventory to orders and checkout from Wix—plus manage subscriptions, multiple currencies, loyalty programs and more. Other industry-specific business solutions Wix has a slew of built-in business solutions for all types of industries. Whether you're in the restaurant, event, hotel or fitness industries (just as examples), you've got your choice of website templates , marketing features and business management tools to pick from. While many of these features are available for free, some are reserved for our users with premium subscriptions. These additional perks include: Bookings/service subscriptions and memberships SMS notifications Mobile bookings Booking analytics Multi-calendar sync Online courses and programs Quizzes, surveys and certificates of completion Unlimited events and ticket sales Mobile tickets (for event management) Online orders (for restaurant owners) Reservation management Custom menus Promo codes Online fitness sessions Automated reminders And more Priority customer care Customer service is a top company priority. For example, at Wix, there’s a team of customer care experts who understand the product features inside and out, playing a vital role in moving the world of website creation forward. When you purchase a Wix Premium plan, you skip the lines and receive 24/7 priority care. Free app upgrades All plans Core and above include free access to the Events Calendar and Get Found Today  app for a year. Display external calendars on your website and boost your visibility on Google properties, respectively, using these apps. You can explore many other Wix Apps  that are compatible with Wix sites, but each of these may come with additional pricing and subscription plans. Learn more: Is Wix good for website building? *Editor's note: Plans and pricing are current as of the time of this writing. They are subject to change at any time.