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Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →   A membership website or online membership platform is created for individuals or organizations to provide exclusive content, services or resources to subscribed members. Membership websites, as a type of website , are a centralized hub for members to access privileged information. Learn more: How to create a membership website Building a website for your business, passion project or side hustle should be easy and exciting. With Wix, you can customize and launch a professional website in minutes, no coding needed. Wix is all about simplifying the process so you can focus on what matters most–bringing your ideas to life. So why wait? Let’s get started on creating the website you’ve always wanted. 8 components of a membership website There are several essential elements of a membership website that are important for ensuring a good user experience including building a subscriber base.  Membership plans Exclusive content User registration and login Payment gateway Community pages or forums Member profiles Newsletter Member support 01. Membership plans Membership websites typically feature different plans or levels of access, each offering varying degrees of content or services. These plans may include free, basic, premium or VIP memberships. You can incorporate a CMS  into your membership website to control levels of access, set up subscription tiers, restrict content access based on membership levels, handle payment processing securely and manage member profiles. Let’s say your membership site is focused on travel content. So as part of a free membership, you might send subscribers travel blog posts as soon as they’re published. As part of a premium package, you might offer them special deals on travel packages or accommodation, or an online course on how to make money as a travel blogger , or similar.  Or you might create a winery website and offer wine memberships that grant members discounts on wine you sell, invitations to different events and other types of perks. 02. Exclusive content One of the biggest hooks of a membership website is exclusive content. This could range from articles, videos, webinars or downloadable resources that are accessible only to subscribed members.  A membership website around starting a business could offer downloadable business plans for different types of businesses. A clothing line business plan or consultant business plan , as some examples.  03. User registration and login To access exclusive content, users need to register and create an account. The login feature makes sure that only authorized members can access protected and gated areas of the website.  04. Payment gateway For membership plans that require payment, a secure online payment system  is essential. This allows users to subscribe, renew memberships or upgrade to premium plans with ease. You will need to make sure that the payment system you use is protected by enterprise-grade web security infrastructure and features.  05. Community pages or forums Many membership websites include a community or groups section  where members can interact with each other, share insights and discuss topics related to the exclusive content offered on the site. As a membership site owner, you’ll need to moderate these community forums and initiate conversations to get users talking. They can be a great way for you to support your subscribers with advice and for them to help each other too. Be inspired by these community page templates . 06. Member profiles This feature allowing members to create profiles adds a personal touch to your online community and membership site.  Members should be able to customize their profiles, share information and connect with other like-minded individuals via their profiles.  07. Newsletter Membership websites often include a newsletter or updates section to keep members informed about new content, upcoming events or any changes to your site. You can choose to send a newsletter to all your members or as part of paid membership plans.  “A newsletter builds a base of engaged subscribers eager to hear directly from you. It allows you to develop content that resonates with your audience, even if it falls outside of top search engine results. Newsletters let you forge deeper connections through content crafted specifically for subscribers, not just optimized for keywords. You can provide value on topics and in formats that speak to their interests, driving loyalty. A newsletter audience is there because they actively want to consume and engage with your content in their inbox. This owned and direct channel allows you to enrich relationships beyond what the blog alone can do.” Dor Cohen, Distribution and Growth Specialist at   Wix.com 08. Member support Providing support to members on your site is crucial. This may involve a dedicated support system, FAQ pages or a customer service process or tool to address any queries or issues members may encounter when using your content or advice.  Why do you need a membership website? Monetization opportunities For content creators, organizations, or individuals with valuable expertise, a membership website offers a way to make money online. Memberships can also generate a steady and consistent income stream through subscription fees. Community building Membership websites foster a sense of community among members who share common interests or goals. The community or forum feature encourages interaction and networking, enhancing the overall member experience. It can also help you build a community to later market to or simply improve relations between people in the same industry or field.  Personalized user experience User accounts and profiles allow members to personalize their experience on the website. This may include tracking their progress, bookmarking favorite content, or participating in community discussions. This in turn should create more loyal users and subscribers both to your brand and website.  Content control and security Membership websites enable content creators to control access to their valuable content. This ensures that only paying members can benefit from the exclusive resources provided which in turn helps to attract more members and payers.  Learn more: How to make a website , Cost to build a website , Benefits of a website Top 5 membership website creation platforms 01. Wix    Wix is a membership website platform with a user-friendly interface and features. It offers a dedicated member's area feature for creating exclusive content for premium users, managing paid subscriptions and customizing the user experience without third-party integrations. 02. Content Hub by HubSpot   HubSpot's Content Hub integrates membership features with marketing, sales and service tools. It allows providing exclusive content for premium users, controlling access based on membership status using HubSpot lists and leveraging analytics to optimize member engagement. 03. MemberPress     MemberPress is easy to use for setting up and managing membership subscriptions on WordPress websites. It enables offering exclusive features and content to premium users, restricting access to posts, pages, videos and digital files based on subscription levels and customizing membership tiers for different user segments. 04. Uscreen   Uscreen is a membership platform for video creators to monetize their content. It allows you to offer exclusive video libraries for premium users, providing live streaming capabilities and creating a community space for member engagement. The platform focuses on delivering a video-centric membership experience. 05. MemberSpace  MemberSpace is a third-party website plugin that enables creating exclusive features and content for premium users by gating specific pages, controlling access based on subscription fees or actions and creating a personalized membership experience for different user segments. Membership website examples to be inspired by MC Visual Merchandising Specialists This private members site uses a forum to initiate conversation and engage users.  Cayman Canine This Cayman Islands-based site serves pet owners looking to connect and engage through their forum. Members can contribute to existing posts or write their own to start a conversation.  NJA Wheelers This adventure community website for off-road vehicles and trips aims to bring together fellow enthusiasts, complete with member uploads.  Healthy Nails Collaborative This private members site focuses on connecting nail professionals and enthusiasts, providing exclusive resources, insights and online trainings for a monthly subscription fee. Rainbow Fictioneers This platform caters to aspiring fiction writers, connecting them with fellow writers and providing resources and workshops to improve their craft. Members can also share their work for feedback and critiques from the community. What is a membership website? FAQ Is a membership website the same as an e-learning platform? No, while both provide valuable content, a membership website typically offers diverse content and services, whereas an e-learning platform focuses specifically on educational courses and materials. What information is on a membership website? Membership websites generally include details about various membership plans, exclusive content, community forums, member profiles and any additional resources or services provided. How much does a membership website cost?  The set-up cost for membership websites varies depending on the features and benefits offered by the website building platform through which you choose to build your website. You may need to factor in additional costs for website design, content creation and promotion efforts. Ultimately, the cost will depend on your specific needs and budget.  What’s the difference between a membership website and a subscription website?  A membership website is a private online portal that offers exclusive content, resources and benefits to its members. It requires users to pay a one-time or recurring fee to access the site's content and services. On the other hand, a subscription website refers to any website that charges users a recurring fee for accessing its content or services. This can include magazines, news sites and streaming platforms. The main difference between the two is that membership websites typically offer more value in terms of exclusive content and resources, while subscription websites focus more on delivering regularly updated content. You can create a membership website with Wix for free or with a paid plan .

Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →   Building your own website is the first step to starting your affiliate marketing journey. Whether you want to learn how to make a website from scratch , choose the right website builder or try an AI website builder , this guide covers everything you need. With the global affiliate marketing industry projected to grow  by over $13 billion between 2024 and 2031 - a 71% increase - affiliate publishers need a relevant website to remain competitive. By the end, you’ll know how to create a functional and attractive affiliate marketing website that drives traffic and generates revenue. Let’s get started. Building a website for your business, passion project or side hustle should be easy and exciting. With Wix, you can customize and launch a professional website in minutes, no coding needed. Wix is all about simplifying the process so you can focus on what matters most–bringing your ideas to life. So why wait? Let’s get started on creating the website you’ve always wanted. TL;DR: How to make an affiliate marketing website This guide covers the essential steps to create an affiliate marketing website. You’ll learn how to choose a niche, secure a domain and build your website using the right tools. From there, you’ll start publishing content, join affiliate programs and add affiliate links to your pages. Driving traffic to your site and consistently publishing high-quality content will help you grow your audience, build trust and turn your website into a reliable source of revenue. Key elements of an affiliate marketing website A successful affiliate marketing website combines strategy, design and content to attract the right audience and drive revenue. These are the essential elements your site should include: Key element What it includes Niche Define your focus and target audience. Domain & hosting Secure a professional domain and reliable hosting. Design Clean, user-friendly layout that highlights content and links. Content Publish valuable articles, videos or guides. Affiliate programs & links Join programs and add links naturally. Calls to action Guide visitors toward clicks or sign-ups. SEO & traffic Optimize for search engines and drive visitors. Mobile-friendly Ensure your site works well on all devices. Affiliate marketing explained: why a website matters Affiliate marketing is all about earning a commission by promoting products from other businesses. Think of yourself as the matchmaker who connects shoppers with what they're looking for. Each time someone buys through your unique affiliate link, you earn a percentage.   Why does this matter? Because it’s a steady revenue stream. Imagine creating content once and earning money while you sleep. Pretty impressive, right? Plus, affiliate marketing allows you to focus on topics you’re passionate about, build genuine connections with your audience, and create a reliable income stream over time.  Now, what about the website? It’s your home base. Whether visitors find you via social media or search engines, your site is where your content and affiliate links live. Without it, you’re leaving money on the table.  Still not convince d? Consider these affiliate marketing statistics : Total spending in the US affiliate marketing industry is projected to reach nearly $12 billion in 2025 , marking an 11.9% rise from the previous year. Over 80% of brands offer affiliate programs . You don’t need to own inventory or deal with shipping hassles. With the right  marketing strategies , web design  and a clear understanding of how to make a business website , you can tap into this growing space.  Learning  how to design a website  that reflects your niche and builds trust with visitors is key to turning your passion into profit. Expert tip from Adi Avraham, SEO growth specialist at Wix: "Affiliate marketing has emerged as one of the most dynamic strategies for business growth. It lets companies reach new audiences while growing meaningful, long-term relationships. The potential within this space is huge, and it's impressive to see how brands are leveraging it to adapt and thrive." Discover the  best website builders for eCommerce  websites to get started and learn how to make a website to sell . How to make an affiliate marketing website in 8 steps Now that you know why affiliate marketing websites are a great idea, here’s how to create one in just 8 simple steps. Choose a niche Secure a domain Build your affiliate marketing website Start publishing content Sign up for affiliate programs Add affiliate links to your website Drive traffic to your affiliate marketing website Consistently publish high-quality content 01. Choose a niche First things first—what will your site be about? Every great affiliate marketing website starts with a clear niche. This means narrowing your focus to a specific topic or category—whether it’s fitness gear, hom e tech or sustainable beauty. Choosing  niche products  not only helps you stand out, but also allows you to tailor your website features  and content strategy  to a specific audience.  When choosing your niche, focus on your interests and experience so creating authentic content feels natural. You should also look at audience size and demand. Make sure there’s a large enough audience to attract traffic—competition can actually be a good sign, showing that people are willing to spend in that niche. Research affiliate programs and their commission rates to ensure the niche has strong monetization potential. Learn more about how to make a communications portfolio. When you align your content with the right niche, you’re not just promoting links, you’re solving real problems for your readers. That’s one of the biggest benefits of a website  with purpose: it builds trust, authority and long-term value. Pro tip: Choose a niche that's popular but doesn’t feel too crowded. You want enough demand but also room to stand out. According to Emilio García, SEO podcaster and educator at Campamento Web: "Creating a niche website is similar to creating a regular website. However, when creating a niche website, it is essential to pay attention to two crucial aspects: monetization potential and competition." 02. Secure a domain Next up: sec uring your corner of the internet. A  domain name  is your site’s digital address—like yourbrand.com —and it plays a big role in how people find and remember you.  If you're wondering what is a domain , it's the unique name that identifies your site and you'll need to register a domain through a registrar or website builder. Wix, for example, offers free website hosting  with Wix premium plans , so you don’t have to worry about buying hosting separately.  Not sure where to start? Use a domain name generator or run a quick domain name search  to find one that’s catchy, clear and aligned with your niche. Expert tip from Einat Shafir, product manager at Wix: "Shorter domains can be easier to remember and type, but they aren't essential. What matters most is that your domain accurately represents your brand and is memorable." 03. Build your affiliate marketing website N ow the fun begins—bringing your site to life. If you’re wondering  how long it takes to build a website , the good news is that with modern tools like Wix’s drag and drop editor , it can be done in hours—not weeks. Plan your website user interface to make sure it’s intuitive and inviting. A well-designed homepage  and clean web pages help visitors find what they need (and click on your affiliate links). If you're still asking “ do I need a website? ”, remember: a site is your 24/7 storefront. And the benefits of a website—from brand credibility to passive income—make it more than worth it. Check out the  best website builders : Best mobile website builders Best website builders for consultants Best booking website builders Best website builders for creatives Best website builders for small businesses Best website builders for freelancers Best one page website builders Best AI website builders 04. Start publishing content Content is what brings your affiliate site to life—and makes it discoverable. Start by outlining a strong conten t strategy (or even an AI content strategy ) that includes blog posts, product guides and review articles.  Focus on providing real value, not just sales pitches, to build trust and keep visitors coming back. Consider different types of content, like product reviews that include pros, cons and personal experiences, comparison guides to help readers make informed decisions and tutorials or "how-to" guides that show users how to solve a problem using an affiliate product. One of the best ways to build trust and traffic over time is to  create a blog  focused on your niche. Not sure where to begin? Here’s how to start a blog  that engages readers and ranks in search engines. A reliable content management system ( CMS ) like Wix’s built-in blogging platform makes it easy to manage and update your website content , whether it's static or dynamic content . Explore the best content management systems  to see what works for your workflow—but above all, focus on creating value for your audience. According to Laurent Vermot-Gauchy, Co-Founder of Audrey Tips: "According to the Content Marketing Institute, content marketing generates 3 times more leads than traditional marketing and costs 62% less." Pro tip: Choose from pre-made website templates  to make the website building process easier, so that you can get your content plan up and running quickly. Explore free affiliate marketing website templates on Wix: Affiliate marketing portfolio (professional) template Affiliate marketing portfolio (business) template Affiliate marketing portfolio (vibrant) template Affiliate marketing portfolio (dark) template Affiliate marketing portfolio (dynamic) template Affiliate marketing portfolio (geometric) template Affiliate marketing portfolio (robust) template Affiliate marketing portfolio (innovative) template Affiliate marketing portfolio (modern) template 05. Sign up for affiliate programs To earn commissions, you’ll need to join affiliate programs that align with your niche. Start by looking for brands you already use and love—this makes your recommendations authentic and trustworthy. You can also explore popular affiliate networks like Amazon Associates, ShareASale or Rakuten.  When applying, pay close attention to the terms, including commission rates and cookie duration, to understand how much you could earn from each referral. As you start building your presence, consider putting together a basic marketing portfolio  that showcases your site’s focus, audience and traffic potential— think of it as your pitch deck for partnerships. 06. Add affiliate links to your website Once you’re approved for affiliate programs, start weaving affiliate links naturally into your content. This could be in a blog post, product roundup or tutorial. When learning how to create a professional website , think beyond just design—think about functionality and how links support your recommendations. Make sure to disclose your partnerships clearly. In many places, including the US, it’s a legal requirement to state that you earn a commission from affiliate links. An upfront disclosure also builds trust with your audience and keeps your site transparent. Structure your content so that affiliate links enhance your recommendations, not distract from them. Browse the  best websites  in your niche to see how they handle affiliate disclosures, product placement and link formatting. Learn more: What is web design? 07. Drive traffic to your affiliate marketing website Even the best website needs visitors to thrive. This is where search engine optimization (SEO) comes in. Use a platform tha t offers SEO features  out of the box—like Wix, one of the best website builders for SEO . Optimize your site’s structure and content with keywords your audience is searching for.  From blog SEO  to website SEO , there are countless strategies for increasing blog traffic  and figuring out  how to drive traffic to your online store .  A smart SEO website design makes all the difference. Expert tip from Esin D. Habif, product marketing lead 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." 08. Consistently publish high-quality content The more useful content you share, the more people will trust your site and keep coming back. Plus, search engines reward sites that regularly post fresh and helpful content.   Consistency is th e secret sauce. Launching your site is just the beginning—maintaining it with valuable content keeps people coming back (and clicking). Use tools to ensure you’re covering all the essentials, like: Website launch checklist Blog post checklist Ecommerce security checklist Website design checklist  Regularly  run a website audit  to catch errors, optimize performance and improve website security .  Affiliate marketing isn’t just about slapping links onto a page. Your personality and voice are what keep readers coming back for more. Sharing personal tips, honest opinions and genuinely good products can set you apart from c ompetitors. Think about your favorite YouTuber or blogger—that connection is what makes their recommendations powerful.   Affiliate marketing websites built on Wix Looking for inspiration? These affiliate marketing websites showcase smart design, strong branding and strategic content—perfect examples of how to turn clicks into commissions. 01. Nimble Marketing Group Nimble Marketing Group  offers full-service marketing solutions, including brand strategy, social media, and advertising. Their website highlights their approach to providing fractional CMO services, helping businesses build and lead their marketing efforts without the commitment of a full-time executive.  What makes it special:  Nimble's site showcases their agility and effectiveness in delivering marketing solutions that drive tangible business results. Their emphasis on providing fractional CMO services allows businesses to access seasoned marketing professionals tailored to their needs. 02. Adsolutely Adsolutely  is a Seattle-based marketing agency specializing in creating full-funnel campaigns to drive sales growth. Their webs ite details services like digital marketing, social media marketing and paid advertising, all aimed at boosting online sales. What makes it special:  Adsolutely's site stands out with its clear focus on delivering results-driven marketing strategies. Their commitment to providing affordable, high-quality marketing support is evident in their transparent pricing and tailored solutions. 03. O’brien Affiliates O’brien Affiliates specializes in providing expert marketing services for products and service-based companies, from startups to established businesses. Their website outlines services like B2B service marketing, eCommerce marketing and tailored marketing consulting. What makes it special:  O'Brien Affiliates' site emphasizes their commitment to expanding businesses through effective marketing strategies. Their approach to supplementing the need for a full-time CMO allows businesses to achieve their goals efficiently and within budget. The websites featured here were built with Wix and show what’s possible with real, DIY designs. They represent functional, effective and thoughtfully crafted options that help people run their businesses. Why trust Wix's experts? This article was written by Wix’s in-house team, with years of experience helping people build and grow successful websites. Every tip, template suggestion and example comes from real Wix projects, designed to help you create a site that looks professional, works smoothly and supports your long-term goals. We’ve helped millions of creators, business owners and entrepreneurs bring their ideas online. Our team stays current on website design, user experience and SEO trends, so the advice you get is practical, actionable and rooted in real-world results. Use this blog as your go-to resource for every stage of your website journey, from launching your first page to growing and scaling your site. How to make an affiliate marketing website FAQ How do I create my own website for affiliate marketing? Start by choosing a niche that aligns with your interests and has earning potential. From there, register a domain name, pick a reliable website builder like Wix and design your site using tools that offer drag-and-drop  functionality and built-in SEO features.  Add essential pages like a homepage, blog and disclosure page, then start publishing content that’s optimized for your audience. Finally, join affiliate programs and add affiliate links naturally to your posts and pages. Can you make $100 a day with affiliate marketing? Yes, with consistency and strategy, you can easily earn $100/day. You'll need a combination of quality content, high-converting affiliate products and steady website traffic. Some affiliates reach this goal through niche blogs with SEO-optimized posts, while others leverage email lists, social media or YouTube alongside their website. It won’t happen overnight, but with smart execution, hitting $100/day is absolutely possible. What type of website is needed for affiliate marketing? There’s no one-size-fits-all, but the most successful affiliate sites tend to fall into a few categories: Blog-style websites with product reviews, how-to guides and tutorials. Niche content sites focused on a specific category (like travel gear or pet wellness). Comparison sites that help visitors choose between similar products. Coupon or deal sites that highlight discounts and special offers. The key is to create a site that’s helpful, trustworthy and optimized for both users and search engines. Should I create a website for affiliate marketing? If you're serious about earning long-term income from affiliate marketing, then yes—creating a website is a must. It’s your digital storefront, content hub and brand platform all in one. While it’s possible to share affiliate links on social media or YouTube alone, a website gives you more control, credibility and SEO potential. Plus, you own your site and audience, which isn’t the case with rented platforms.

Think of the moment when your potential customers are shopping online and it’s time to share their personal data, like their address, credit card information or phone number on either your eCommerce site or business website . For first-time visitors, they’ll probably look for indicators that your site is reputable, with standard protocols for security and privacy. In fact, 75% of consumers will not buy products from a company if they can’t trust them to protect their data. These expectations have been reinforced by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ePrivacy Directive, intended to strengthen and unify data protection for European Union (EU) citizens, whether or not your business is located in the EU. If you're looking into making a website targeting consumers in the EU, you'll need to understand more about making sure its GDPR compliant. Understanding how to plan your website is a step not to be missed here. GDPR/ePrivacy compliant website checklist 1. Fine-tune privacy policies 2. Obtain clear consent to use tracking technology 3. Make sure plugins are GDPR compliant 4. Remove data that’s no longer needed 5. Clean up mailing lists 6. Use GDPR compliance to help build brand trust 01. Fine-tune privacy policies With GDPR, your site privacy policies must disclose the ways your website gathers, uses, and manages visitor data. They must be explicit, stated clearly and available in an easy-to-find document that says how you process data and the legal basis for it. You’ll want to state what data is being saved and how visitors can retrieve their data or delete it . If you're learning how to build a website from scratch its worth starting with your privacy policies. 02. Obtain clear consent to use tracking technologies Complementary to GDPR is ePrivacy Directive, which addresses tracking technologies, like cookies. If you’re going to use tracking technologies on your site, you must ask for consent from the visitor before such tracking technologies are placed on the visitor’s browser. Consider adding a cookie banner, which alerts site visitors of cookies prior to them being placed on their browsers. The data collected can only be used under the legal basis that consent was given. Keep in mind that the ePrivacy directive also requires a Cookie Policy which includes the name, type, purpose and duration of each tracking technology placed on the visitor’s browser . 03. Make sure plugins are GDPR compliant The more plugins you have, the more work you’ll have managing updates, changes in business models and so on. Many plugins are offered as GDPR compliant, but you’ll still need to check. Installing plugins according to the vendor’s guidelines won’t be enough to meet GDPR compliance requirements. However, website platforms like Wix are already GDPR compliant and use web apps that update automatically instead of plugins. 04. Remove data that’s no longer needed GDPR requires that all personal data related to a single individual must be accessible by that person and in a complete, accurate and portable form. The site owner needs to understand what personal data is stored, where it came from, who it’s shared with and why. You should review data you're collecting to better understand why you need it. For example, analyzing purchasing trends is good, but storing complete credit card numbers for this purpose is not. So, you should limit the data you collect and store via form submissions. 05. Clean up mailing lists Are you using mailing lists with correct consent? Under GDPR, receiving contact information from a public source, like Linkedin or a business card , doesn’t imply a legal basis. However, If someone has engaged with your business after using a product or service, they’ve indicated a desire to connect with you. In this case, you may have a legitimate reason to email them. Cleaning up mailing lists to follow GDPR compliance is also a smarter way to run targeted email marketing campaigns that will help you reach the right people. 06. Use GDPR compliance to help build brand trust Look at GDPR compliance requirements as a way to protect customer data, build trust and create long-term customer relationships when creating specific types of websites . GDPR also levels the playing field by giving small businesses the ability to process data on their customers when used in the right way. This opens a rich source of insight for innovation when learning how to create a professional website  or starting a business . You can browse all the Wix support articles on GDPR compliance to get a more full scope on the topic. *Any information contained herein is not legal advice and you should not rely upon it as such. The GDPR is a complex regulation and require multiple actions from site owners. We recommend that you seek legal advice to understand and to prepare for possible additional requirements stated in such regulations.

Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →   Thinking about creating a dating websit e? You’re in the right place. Whether you're an entrepreneur ready to break into this exciting industry or looking to expand your services, building a dating website is your chance to create meaningful connections and design a platform that you’re proud of.  Let’s walk you through the step-by-step process of how to make a dating website, from the features you’ll need to the costs involved. You’ll also discover the benefits of diving into this industry and find answers to common questions about getting started. By the end, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to understand how to create a website that matches your goals and outshines the competition. Start building your dating website with our  free AI website builder  today. Building a website for your business, passion project or side hustle should be easy and exciting. With Wix, you can customize and launch a professional website in minutes, no coding needed. Wix is all about simplifying the process so you can focus on what matters most–bringing your ideas to life. So why wait? Let’s get started on creating the website you’ve always wanted. What is a dating website? A dating website is an online platform where people can connect, interact and discover potential romantic or social partners. At its core, it’s all about building connections–through detailed user profiles, advanced search filters, direct messaging or algorithm-driven matchmaking that pairs users based on shared interests and preferences.  Today, dating sites are designed with user-friendly interfaces, making it easy for anyone to navigate and form connections at their own pace. These types of websites  break down traditional barriers–like geographical or social circles–that might otherwise limit opportunities for meaningful relationships.  How to build a dating website in 9 steps Research and define your niche Select a domain name and web host Choose a website builder and template Design your dating website Customize your site Start a dating blog (optional) Optimize for SEO Preview and publish your dating site Promote your dating website 01. Research and define your niche Success starts with knowing your audience. Take a close look at existing dating websites and identify gaps or underserved niches. Are you focusing on professionals, fitness enthusiasts or pet lovers? By clearly defining your niche, you’ll create a platform that draws in a crowd of like-minded individuals, which in turn will help to quickly grow your dating business.  For example, a dating site for fitness junkies could include features like workout partner matching or activity-based suggestions. Once your niche is defined, you can  plan a website  that directly caters to them, which helps you cut down on  how long it takes to build a website . 02. Select a domain name and web host Yo ur domain name  is your website’s first impression.  It’s recommended to use a a short, simple and memorable name that aligns with your business. A targeted domain like " ActiveMatches.com " for fitness-centric dating makes a clear connection to your audience.  Use a  domain name search  tool to ensure your selected name is available. Once finalized, choose a reliable  web hosting  solution that provides fast performance, site reliability  and secure encryption—both critical for managing user data. 03. Choose a website builder and template Building a website doesn’t have to mean starting from the ground up. With a website builder  like Wix, you can create a professional dating website with zero coding knowledge. Website builders allow you to quickly learn how to create a professional website  by offering customizable  website templates  perfectly suited for dating sites and other online platforms. Choose a template that aligns with your brand vision and identity. The advantage of these pre-designed layouts is that they are structurally optimized and ready-to-use, letting you focus on more important aspects of your website. 04. Design your dating website A great design directly affects user experience. Choose a color palette and layout that matches your niche. For example, soft pastels might appeal to a senior dating audience, while bold, vibrant tones could attract younger users.  Make sure the layout is clean, intuitive and user-friendly. Navigation buttons, profile displays and overall page flow should guide users seamlessly through the site.  Your web design  should prioritize functionality alongside aesthetics, balancing form and practicality. 05. Customize your site Now it’s time to make your dating website truly yours. Add essential pages like a homepage ,  registration page and user profile sections. Add  website features  like search filters, private messaging and notification systems to keep users engaged.  Remember to include trust-building elements like secure payment options, privacy policies and clear information on how user data will be managed. For guidance, check out this in-depth guide on  website management . 6. Start a dating blog (optional) Want to create a thriving community around your dating website? Adding a blog is a powerful way to engage users and keep them coming back. You can share valuable content like dating tips, success stories and advice that resonates with your audience. Beyond connecting with your visitors, a blog can increase your site’s search engine optimization (SEO), helping it rank higher in search results and attract more traffic. Your blog can play an important role in retaining users and growing your site. With the right blog SEO  strategies, and a user-friendly blog maker , creating your blog has never been easier.   Ready to share your ideas? Learn how to start a blog  today.  "Blogging is truly rewarding. Blog marketing goes beyond simply editing and publishing articles. It involves studying additional SEO strategies, experimenting with schema integration, delving into niche topics and engaging in numerous trials and errors to enhance EEAT. And when, at last, your own article appears as the top result for your target keyword, there’s a sense of accomplishment—like a winning an award." Miyuki Shimose, SEO and marketing blogger at Wix 07. Optimize for SEO Speaking of SEO, integrating relevant keywords and title tags –like “how to make a dating website” or “dating platform for professionals” – throughout your site is essential. If your website caters to a specific region, include location-based terms and list your site on Google My Business. User reviews and testimonials also help build trust and improve your search engine rankings.  08. Preview and publish your dating site Before going live, revisit every section of your website to fix any outstanding issues like broken links, incorrect text formatting or weak mobile usability. Make sure your website runs smoothly, then do a pre-launch review of every feature including search filters, contact forms and payment gateways. Use a  website launch checklist  to catch anything that might need tweaking.  Once satisfied with your site’s functionality and design, hit publish. 09. Promote your dating website Now comes the exciting part–spreading the word. The success of your dating website depends largely on visibility. Use targ eted marketing strategies  like: Share testimonials or success stories. Collaborating with influencers in your niche. Running ad campaigns that highlight your website’s unique features.  With a strong promotion plan, you’ll attract users who are part of your niche and grow your community quickly.  How much does it cost to create a dating site? Let’s talk about what it really takes to bring your dating site to life. How much a website costs  can vary a lot, depending on the features you want and how you choose to build your site. With a website builder like Wix, you can create a functional and beautiful site without breaking the bank. Of course, if you’re dreaming of a fully custom design, that can add to the price. Here’s what to consider: You’ll need essentials like domain registration and hosting.  Want extra bells and whistles, like custom features and marketing tools? Those come with a higher price tag.  But here’s the good news–you can start small, grow as your site takes off and still make a big impact. It’s all about finding what works for you and your budget.  Dating website examples built on Wix 01. Sugar A sleek and stylish platform, the Sugar  dating website is designed to connect people with shared interests and arrange dates that takes the guesswork out of modern matchmaking. By prioritizing compatibility and convenience, Sugar offers a seamless user journey from sign-up to setting up dates. The site showcases how a modern design paired with intuitive navigation can transform the dating experience, making it more engaging and inviting for users.   02. Matched with Love Matched with Love ’s mission is to create meaningful relationships, and their website perfectly reflects that message. The design is elegant and refined, featuring a warm color palette, thoughtful content and visually appealing images that immediately draw users in. What sets Matched with Love apart is its clear and heartfelt messaging, emphasizing authenticity and genuine relationships. The site’s intuitive layout offers a seamless user experience, making it easy for visitors to navigate through the site and explore their options. By staying true to their brand identity, Matched with Love creates a welcoming and trustworthy environment for people looking for love. 03. Date a Week LA Date a Week LA is a niche-focused dating website that connects singles in Los Angeles through a unique concept–encouraging users to go on one date every week. This community-driven approach fosters meaningful connections within a local setting, making it perfect for those who value in-person interactions. The website’s clean layout and smart use of design tools make sure it’s both functional and inviting, offering an easy-to-navigate platform for users to engage with and schedule their dates seamlessly. Discover free web design tools  to elevate your website.  04. Zoupple This creative take on dating highlights the flexibility of Wix's design tools. Zoupple  is a platform that offers users a fresh approach to online dating by focusing on compatibility based on shared experiences and interests. With its unique branding, engaging visuals and seamless user interface, the website makes it easy for users to connect and find meaningful relationships. Zoupple is an excellent example of how to make a dating website stand out by combining innovative features and intuitive design, all built on versatile tools. How to build a dating website FAQ Can I make my own dating site? Yes, you can create your own dating site, even without coding experience, by using website builders like Wix. Website building platforms offer customizable templates and user-friendly tools to make the process simple for beginners.  Are dating websites profitable? Dating websites can be very profitable if they attract and retain an engaged user base. It’s possible to monetize a website  through subscriptions, ads or premium features, such as advanced search filters or boosted visibility. The key is offering value that keeps users coming back. How to make a dating website for free? You can start a dating site for free using basic website building tools, though features and branding will be limited. For more customization and better long-term growth, investing in an affordable website builder plan is recommended. Paid plans unlock advanced options, making it easier to scale. Learn more: Is Wix really free? How to create a dating website and grow in a few months? To grow your dating site quickly, focus on a niche audience, optimize for SEO and invest in active marketing. Encourage user interaction with features like events or success stories to build community. Referrals and social proof can also help boost engagement. What was the first dating site? The first online dating platform was Match.com , launched in 1995. It revolutionized the way people connected online and set the stage for the evolution of the online dating industry. Match.com remains one of the most recognizable names in the space.

In the age of the Internet, having an online presence is more important than ever. That’s why you can always rely on Wix to know how to make a website , whether you are designing your photography portfolio or giving your hotel’s site a much-needed revamp. However, not everyone has the need for a full-fledged website. We get that. If you’ve always thought of Wix as just a platform for website creation, we’re here to prove to you it’s so much more than that. Our huge selection of amazing templates is just the first step on your journey of creating something outstanding for your next event, presentation or even your next film! Here are seven easy ways Wix can help you achieve all of your creative dreams by building a website from scratch. 01. Organize an event A once in a lifetime event deserves an unforgettable invitation. If you're wondering how to create a professional website to organize an event, you've come to the right place. Wix Events is an organized bride (or groom’s!) new best friend. Creating an event allows your guests to easily RSVP and gives an overview of all the important logistics your attendees need to know: a map to the venue, a link to a gift registry, accommodation recommendations and more. For an added personal touch, after the big day, you can create a photo album with your special moments and share them with friends and family. 02. Build a community We’re well aware of all of our unique users and their many interests. These range from cycling clubs to reality TV haters. So what if we told you that you can start a group and build a community for people who hold similar (often very niche) interests as you? Wix Groups gives you the power to grow your community and get the conversation flowing. Finally, you can share all your thoughts and opinions with the right crowd. 03. Create an online resume It’s no secret that HR managers spend time Googling prospective employees in order to learn more about them. How impressive would it be if your name yielded your online resume instead of some very questionable Facebook pictures? The best part of having an online resume is having the power of the link – making it quick and easy for you to share and send! Are you team Apple or Windows? It won’t even matter because you can trust that your resume will be viewed the way you intended – say goodbye to formatting issues. Adding your CV to the World Wide Web only enhances your online presence and shows just how web savvy you are! 04. Prepare an online presentation Thanks to your online resume you got that job – good for you! Now it’s time for your first presentation. Why not blow your boss’s socks off by creating a professional website presentation with one of Wix’s simple website templates ? If you’re in need of some more visual features, showcase a video with  Wix Video or stunning photos with the help of the  Wix Pro Gallery . Want to really take things to the next level? Consider adding parallax scrolling, slideshows and fun animation effects. Boring PowerPoint presentations are officially a thing of the past. 05. Design a promotional landing page Think of a landing page as a little piece of online “real estate.” These types of websites are an effective and beneficial way to push one specific agenda. For example, it’s an easy way to gather emails for your database, promote an upcoming sale or spread the news of your eBook to your followers. The key to a successful landing page is to keep it simple: one page with one call to action. The possibilities are endless! 06. Showcase your memories Moving onto all our pictorial friends, this is what you’ve been waiting for. Photo albums are an essential feature for any photography lover (both amateur and professional). Imagine coming back from a summer holiday in Italy. But before you’re longing to be back there, you’re able to send a link to your Wix Photo Album  containing all your cherished memories from your trip. That’s pretty impressive if you ask us. Plus, there’s no limit to how many albums you can create (and they are all for free). Next trip…Spain! 07. Give a sneak peak Got an exciting launch coming up? A newly designed website? Or perhaps your next album is about to drop. A ‘stay tuned’ page is the perfect way to build up suspense and create some buzz around your launch. You can take the excitement a step further by including a countdown clock so your visitors are up to date and know exactly when the party is about to start. Tick – tick, tick – tock. Conclusion It’s very clear to see from the above list that you can do practically anything with Wix. And we’re pretty proud of that. We’ve got your back for the big events, advancing your career, sharing your precious moments, building a community or even creating polls and online quizzes directly on your site. That means, with the combination of your imagination and wildest ideas, our endless beneficial apps in the Wix App Market as well as inspiring website templates , you have the potential to create anything. Looking for more inspiration? Check out these 10 Wix essential tutorials .

Although aesthetic design is important when planning how to build a website , it’s not the only thing that matters. As a Wix Partner who has built hundreds of websites, I (and the rest of the Wix Pro team) know that a quality site is so much more than a pretty picture. User-friendly navigation, intuitive design and airtight security are just a few of the most vital website features. Whether you’re figuring out how to create a website or how to improve an existing one, make sure to cover everything in this website features list. Want to hire a Wix Partner like me? Find website designers on the Wix Marketplace. Get to know the Wix Editor on Wix Learn . Website features list The importance of different website features depends on the purpose of a site, but there are a few that every site needs: Intuitive navigation Responsiveness Accessibility for everyone Mobile-friendly interface Attractive design High-quality content Multiple contact options Airtight security Reliable infrastructure This website launch checklist can help you get started, especially if you’re learning how to create a professional website . 01. Intuitive navigation If you have what a site visitor is looking for, they should be able to find it without much effort. That’s why it’s so important that your site is easy to navigate. An intuitive website smoothly guides site visitors and directs their entire experience. User experience (UX) design is not only helpful for site visitors, but it’s also a way for site owners to manage user behavior. One of my responsibilities as a website designer is to create paths that lead visitors where my clients want them to go. For example, the primary aim of the Symmetryk website is to encourage users to try a demo version. I designed a “Book a Demo" call-to-action (CTA) button in a grapefruit color that stands out against the blue background, then used it twice above the fold. Olya Black's site design for Symmetryk. The website features that make a site easy for users to navigate also help search engines understand its structure. Therefore, implementing navigational elements on your site increases the likelihood that search engines will index and rank its web pages. Let’s discuss a few website features that’ll make your site easy to navigate: Breadcrumb trails: Breadcrumb trails show site visitors where they are within a website and helps them understand its overall structure. They also make it easy for visitors to navigate back to higher-level pages. Breadcrumb trails are typically displayed near the top of a page and show the path that a visitor has taken to reach the current page. With Wix, you can customize breadcrumb trails to fit your purposes and brand. Clear calls to action: When implemented effectively, CTA buttons drive conversions and encourage visitors toward the desired actions. The language should be clear and concise, leaving no room for confusion about what the button does. Wix users can design and animate buttons to attract attention and make them more interactive. For example, I gave the CTA button on the GG Event House website a hover effect that reveals confetti when a mouse moves over it. Navigation bar: Also known as a navigation menu or header, a navigation bar provides links to the main sections of a website. This essential website element enables visitors to quickly find their way around the site. I typically use single-level navigation bars to avoid overwhelming site visitors, but complex websites can benefit from multi-level site menus . When designing the site for Primavera Clinic , for example, I built a custom navigation system that splits the menu across three slides. Olya Black's site design for Primavera Clinic. 02. Responsiveness A responsive website is one with layouts that adapt to the size and orientation of a visitor’s browser window. That responsiveness ensures that the site looks great and functions well, regardless of whether the visitor opens it on a laptop or a smartphone. This website feature also makes the design process more efficient, because the site owner doesn’t have to create separate mobile and desktop versions of each web page. The Wix Editor has a variety of design tools that enable users to make their site more responsive: Customizable layouts Slideshows Galleries Full-width elements Container boxes Learn more about how to use Wix here. 03. Accessibility for everyone According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people experience disabilities . They are all potential customers that a business could lose if their websites aren’t designed with them in mind. Plus, having a website that doesn’t meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) opens you up to lawsuits. Here are a few website features that are necessary for accessibility : High-contrast color schemes: Customers with limited vision and color blindness struggle to read text that is too similar in color to that of the background. Use this contrast checker to assess your color scheme. Keyboard navigation: People with visual and mobility impairments often rely on their keyboards rather than a mouse to navigate websites. Simplified language: Writing conversationally, using simple vocabulary and avoiding complex sentence structures ensures that people with learning disabilities (and skim readers) can understand your site. Alt text: Screen readers use alternative text on images to translate them for people with visual impairments. Clear hierarchy: Design your site and content hierarchically, so that information flows from most to least importance. Use headings predictably and keep your design language consistent across the site so that people who use keyboard navigation can move easily through the site. Easy-to-read fonts: Choose simple or familiar fonts so that people with dyslexia, learning disabilities, aphasia, and poor vision can read comfortably. Wix's Accessibility Wizard helps identify and fix accessibility issues that I might otherwise miss. This handy tool ensures that every visitor, regardless of ability, can view and navigate the site. Keep in mind that the Wizard doesn’t address the entire scope of web accessibility, so consider hiring an accessibility expert to check your site for glaring issues. 04. Mobile-friendly interface As of February 2023, about 61% of internet traffic comes from mobile devices . Therefore, there’s a significant chance that most people are accessing your site from their phones. If your mobile site isn’t up to snuff, they might not stick around. Plus, mobile-friendly design is essential if you want people to find your business on search engines. Google uses mobile-first indexing, which means that it prioritizes websites that are optimized for mobile devices. Your mobile website must be convenient to use, quick to load and as interactive as possible. Although responsiveness is an important aspect of mobile-friendly websites, it’s not the only thing that’s necessary. Simple navigation, readable fonts, and quick-to-load imagery are also important. With Wix’s mobile website builder you can easily adapt your desktop website to a smaller screen and even create a customizable mobile app for your brand. You can eliminate and add content or even change the layout completely. I especially appreciate the quick action bar website feature because it encourages mobile site visitors to get in contact with the business. Be sure to consider mobile-friendliness right from the start as you map out how to plan website . 05. Attractive design An attractive design can capture the attention of visitors and make them more likely to stay on your site. This can lead to increased engagement and a lower bounce rate. Attractive site design can also convey a sense of trustworthiness and professionalism, which can help to establish your brand as a reputable and trustworthy source of information or products. MOOI Clinic has hired me three times in the past six years to give their website a makeover. This investment ensured that their website design is always current and that it evolves with the business’s evolution. According to the owner, these efforts have helped to bolster credibility and success. Luckily, you don’t have to be a professional designer in order to take advantage of this website feature—Wix has hundreds of website templates that you can customize to suit your needs. Related reading: How Roni Sagi , runner up on American's Got Talent brought her business online. Olya Black's site design for MOOI. 06. High-quality content The text, images and videos you put on your professional website are just as important as (if not more than) how well you build it. Content that is informative and unique catches and holds a visitor’s attention. It can also help with search engine optimization ( SEO ), because their algorithms avoid recommending poor-quality web pages to searchers. Content that is high-quality isn’t just accurate and well-written; it also provides value for a site’s target audience. Keep their needs and interests in mind as you create your content and aim to deliver information that is both relevant and engaging. Although AI bots such as ChatGPT or Wix’s AI Text Creator can be great for producing content, they can’t offer the unique perspective and human touch that you can. Because of that, search engines might skip over AI-generated content and site visitors might not find it engaging enough to stay. Therefore, it’s best to use AI-generated content as a starting point and editing it to best fit your site. The website I built for Unlimited Robotics demonstrates the power of high-quality content. With the Academy of free tutorials for robot developers, the robot-focused blog and the FAQ page, Unlimited Robotics attracts, engages and fosters relationships with its relevant audiences. 07. Multiple contact options Whereas some may want to speak to someone on the phone, others may prefer getting in touch through social media. Offering different contact options gives visitors the flexibility to choose the communication method they prefer. This shows potential customers that your business is reliable and prioritizes customer service. It also increases their likelihood of becoming customers. By providing multiple contact options, you can also make your site more accessible to a wider range of people. For example, visitors who are hard of hearing may prefer to use email or live chat instead of calling, while visitors who are visually impaired may prefer to use a text-based chat feature. Because you can respond to many different channels from the Wix Inbox and keep track of customer contact information with Wix Contacts , it's easy to provide efficient customer service. Therefore, offering multiple means of communication improves the customer experience without creating extra work for you. Here are a few website features to include so that all customers are comfortable getting in touch: Live chat: Users can customize Wix Chat according to their availability and design preferences. They can also automate the chat box to start conversations or reply to customer messages. Social media links: Linking to all your social media accounts in a social bar gives people more opportunities to get to know and engage with your business. Phone number: When you use Wix to set up a business phone number , you can accept both calls and texts. Contact form: A contact form is a great website feature because it enables you to keep your communications organized and collect customer information. Wix Forms automatically adds form submissions to your contact list. Email address: Some customers prefer emailing directly over filling out contact forms, so consider offering both. Quick action bar: As previously mentioned, I love adding quick action bars to mobile sites because customers can get in touch with the click of a button. 08. Airtight security If your website collects personal data (such as credit card information and email addresses) from visitors, a strong security system is a vital website feature. Site visitors need to know that they can trust you with their information, and security breaches can jeopardize your brand reputation. Luckily, every Wix user has enterprise-grade website security with features like two-factor authentication, secure payments and anti-fraud protections. 09. Reliable infrastructure Can your website’s infrastructure drive away business? Absolutely. If a site is slow to load, cluttered or hard to navigate, users may become deterred and abandon it. According to a recent survey, almost a quarter of consumers find slow loading to be the most frustrating aspect of shopping online. In order to keep your visitors interested, it’s important that every page on your site loads in fewer than three seconds. Compressing images, removing unnecessary plugins, fixing broken links and reducing cookie sizes can help to improve site reliability . That said, the best thing you can do is use a reliable website builder to run your site. Wix optimizes every website feature for performance . It even has a site speed dashboard that helps you track and improve load times. Check the load time and overall performance of your site on a regular basis to ensure that it is optimized. Website features FAQ What are features in a website? Website features refer to the functionalities and elements that are integrated into a website to enhance user experience, improve engagement, and achieve specific goals. The features of a website can vary based on the site's purpose, industry, and target audience. What are some important website features? Reliable, robust site infrastructure and security are two of the most critical website features as these impact a site's functionality. Other important functions can include navigation, responsiveness, accessibility, mobile-friendly design and great design. What are website features vs functions? Website features refer to the distinctive characteristics and capabilities that enhance user experience, such as navigation menus, search bars and contact forms. Functions, on the other hand, pertain to the practical operations a website performs, like processing payments, sending emails or managing user accounts. While features focus on user interaction and design, functions are the operational aspects that fulfill specific tasks or purposes, collectively contributing to the overall performance and utility of a website. What are some important business website features? Business website features include a clear and compelling homepage, an intuitive navigation menu, contact information accessibility, and a responsive design for various devices. Product or service pages with detailed information, a secure and user-friendly checkout process for e-commerce, and a blog or news section for updates and industry insights. Testimonials, social media integration and a well-designed "About Us" page can build trust. Lastly, incorporating SEO elements and analytics tools can enhance visibility and measure performance for business growth. What are some features of a dynamic website? Dynamic website features include real-time content updates, interactive elements like forms and user-generated content and personalized user experiences. Content Management Systems (CMS ) enable easy content modifications, while databases store and retrieve information dynamically. Dynamic pages adapt to user preferences and behaviors. E-commerce functionalities for dynamic product displays and pricing enhance user engagement. Integration with APIs allows for seamless connections with external services. Overall, dynamic websites provide flexibility, responsiveness and interactivity, catering to evolving user needs.

Working out how to make a website is an exciting endeavor, and launching it even more so. It’s a rewarding moment to see your site, a culmination of strategic planning and design, go live. That being said, you should do everything in your power to make sure it’s close to perfect by the time you share it with the world. When it comes to website design , mistakes happen, tasks go unfinished and sometimes, technology just doesn’t live up to our expectations. For these reasons and more, following a website launch checklist is a great way to ensure you’ve covered all your ground before you click the “publish” button. It should be an integral part of how you plan a website . From updating your design to ensuring good user experience and performance, continue reading for our curated website launch checklist, including 50 essential things to do before, during and after publishing your website. First starting your website? Learn about what makes a good website . Website launch checklist Here are the top 50 things to do before, during and after you press “publish.” As you read, you’ll see our website launch checklist is broken down into three parts, according to what phase you’re at with your website creation. Analyze what needs changing Check website speed Research competitors and industry trends Identify your goals List out action items Choose a website builder Pick a website host Set a publishing date Learn the steps of building a site Decide on a website layout Develop design elements Create your website pages Optimize photos Include your logo Integrate analytics software Purchase a domain name Design a website under construction page Arrange strategic CTAs Add an email sign up form Polish your mobile website design Optimize on-page SEO Link to your social accounts Connect or transfer your domain Update copyright year Proofread written content Test out forms Link logo to homepage Review your design Get feedback from a friend Check for broken links Test out UX Scan for accessibility Update contact information Set up live chat Customize 404 pages Write a privacy policy Plan off-page SEO optimization Organize your list of contacts Prepare social media accounts for promotion Click publish Back up your design Perform a usability test Check site’s security with SSL certificate Submit your website for indexing Verify analytics Test new website's speed Promote your site Outline a performance tracking plan Make it multilingual Map out a maintenance plan Website checklist part one: mapping out your site Before you start your design, you’ll want to map out how to make your website. From choosing the right website builder to making sure your elements are on-brand, here are twenty tasks you don’t want to overlook during this creative phase. Some of these are relevant only when re-designing a website, which will nonetheless come in handy in the future. 01. Analyze what needs changing If you’re redesigning a website, your first step should be to understand the scope of your project. Review your current site and make a list of the things that need to change. This can include everything from visual to broken links that negatively impact performance. It can also include removing pages or sections or adding new pages and features. Adding an online course for example. 02. Check website speed One of the great things about revisiting your site’s design is the chance to go back and understand how to optimize content for the highest performance. Run a speed test to figure out what’s holding your site speed back and incorporate this feedback into your updates. 03. Research competitors and industry trends Doing an analysis of websites within your industry is well worth the effort. This task can help you discover popular visual and technical features that will level up your design, making it well worth the effort. Equally important is ensuring it is unique and offers your target audience a new, better experience than competitors. It’s also a good idea to investigate what web design trends are making their way onto the scene. Being in the know about the elements trending in the web design world will give you fresh ideas and incorporating these qualities onto your site will make an outstanding impression on visitors. 04. Identify your goals Whether you’re redesigning your website or building one from scratch, the next thing you should check off your list is identifying your goals for doing so. For example, if it’s an online portfolio , one goal would be to gain more clients; for a business website, your goals might center on showcasing your services or improving customer experience—things you’ll define more clearly as you explore how to create a professional website . Of course, if you are redesigning your site, you'll have even more to work with. Your goals for this project will additionally focus on improving visual language, performance and user experience. 05. List out action items Understanding your goals will naturally lead you to think of the practical steps needed to accomplish your website launch . A detailed list of action items will help you stay accountable to the tasks at hand, while helping you manage and track them. We recommend using this website launch checklist as a starting guide—but as you get into the nitty-gritty of your design, you’ll want to add more details. Including specifics like dates, item descriptions and who is assigned the task (especially important when you’re working with a team) will help you reach goals efficiently. 06. Choose a website builder Finding the best website builder for your personal and professional needs is a must. There are a wide range of these platforms today, suitable for users with diverse experiences—from beginners who've never made a site before, to professional designers. For example, a content management system like Wix will connect data from your website with a server. The low-code no-code platform uses a WYSIWYG interface and CMS that reveals real-time edits on the user’s display—making the entire website launching process more streamlined and user-friendly for beginners. Research the options, keeping in mind how much it costs to make a website on each platform and which of them have the features you need. Look out for user reviews before making your decision. In addition, consider checking out an AI website builder (or something more specific to your industry like the best restaurant website builders ) to see if they are a good fit for your site. Read also: Wix vs. GoDaddy or Wix vs. Shopify 07. Pick a website host In order for your final product to appear on the internet, you’ll also need to decide how to host your website . This will ensure it is stored in a web space for visitors to access worldwide. Known as servers, these spaces can be rented and acquired through a website hosting provider, or built locally. Many website-building platforms include free web hosting . Like Wix, these platforms will usually include automatic setup and be protected by security monitoring. 08 . Set a publishing date A deadline is a lifeline. Make sure you don’t jump into your website creation (or re-creation) process without setting time-oriented goals. In addition to setting a publishing date, you should secure dates for having a draft website ready, getting feedback from your friends and performing a usability test. 09. Learn the steps of building a site With website builders like Wix, and with plenty of pre-design templates at your disposal, it’s easy to jump into creating your site confidently without preparation. But although you'll have the basic foundations covered, it doesn’t hurt to get a few pointers before you begin. There are plenty of resources and guides online on how to build a website from scratch which you can review to brush up or expand your knowledge. You might also need to consider using website under-construction templates . Waste no time and create your site from start to finish with Wix's website builder . 10. Decide on a website layout As you map out how to plan a website , think of it like setting the foundation of your site, since it will determine the arrangement of visual elements on each page. The best website layout for your design will be determined by a variety of factors: the goals of your website, the message you want to convey to viewers and what kind of content you’ll include. Brand designer Chantalle Alberstadt emphasizes why a clear structure is so crucial:   "A good sitemap is like the blueprint of your house—the more accurate it is, the smoother the implementation will be. UX and UI depend directly on how clear the structure is." 11. Develop design elements Running the gamut from your website color scheme to your choice of font—and even more sophisticated design elements like motion—every visual aspect of your site should be taken into consideration when checking off to-dos from your website launch list: Images: Have high-quality images and videos ready. Nothing is worse for your appearance than bad-quality images. Website color scheme: Choose a color scheme that represents your brand or otherwise creates the effect that you want. If you go the minimalistic route, you might want to stick with classic black and white, but bold colors can always make the right statement. Chantalle Alberstadt advises: “The color [of the CTA button] must stand out clearly from the rest of the design – ideally an accent color.” Typeface: Just the same as color, your choice of font should be considered when planning out your website. You might change your mind when you see the site’s design as a whole, but it’s a good start at this point to have a few typeface styles in mind. A checklist helps you define this role correctly from the start, explains Chantalle Aberstadt, founder of BoredBrands Studio.: "A website can only perform well if it fulfills the right role within the overall system." Related reading: Gather inspo from Roni Sagi , runner up on America's Got Talent and her dog dancing website. 12. Create your website pages Once you’ve secured basic visual guidelines for your website, it’s time to start building your individual pages. While the number of pages will depend on your website purpose and what type of website you are creating, here are some basic web pages to consider: Homepage: Since it’s likely to be the first thing visitors will see, aim for a homepage design that’s clean, organized and eye-catching. It should clarify who you are and what you do and serve as a starting point for visitors to navigate through your site. About Us page: A space to share your story, values, methods and any other information that defines your brand. Contact page: When visitors want to reach out, they should be able to get hold of you easily. Be sure to include a contact page with your phone number, postal address, business email address and social media accounts. 13. Optimize photos When it comes to photos, quality is everything. Ensure your images are the appropriate file type, because this will affect size and quality. Since Wix supports several image formats , you shouldn’t run into any issues. Pro tip: If you’re uploading a large photo, only to have it display very small on your website, that’s a waste of online storage for you and loading time for your visitors. When you can, user an image resizer to resize your photos to the resolution they will display at. 14. Include your logo Want to strengthen your brand presence? Whether it's a personal brand or business, including your logo across your website will be the culminating factor for branding its design. Typical places to include a logo include your website’s header, at the top of a homepage and especially in the favicon area. A favicon is a small icon that appears on a tab in your web browser that should also display your logo—adding this tiny element only enhances your brand identity. Don't have a logo yet? Try creating your own with the Wix Logo Maker . 15. Integrate analytics software Web analytics software will help you monitor your site’s performance and optimize as you grow. These platforms measure various metrics, like traffic and conversions and help gather insights about how users arrive at your website and interact with it. 16. Purchase a domain name A domain name is like your website’s online address. By choosing one that represents your brand, your site will definitely stand out professionally. Not to mention, it will help users find it. You can start by finding the right domain name on registrars like Wix before you connect it (more on that below) and launch your website. Learn more: What is a domain name? 17. Design a website under construction page While you're in the middle of your site’s design, it’s never a bad idea to get one page ready for publishing first: that is, a website under construction page. This way, people who reach your URL before your new site is ready will at least stay in-the-know and anticipate the upcoming reveal of your new website. Pro tip: Include an email list sign-up form on your under-construction page to encourage future engagement with visitors. 18. Arrange strategic CTAs One of the most important elements of your website is how to tell your visitors to perform a desired action. Calls-to-action are what prompt your online audience to do exactly that. Generally in the form of a clickable text or button with actionable short phrases like "sign up" or "click here," you want to make sure your CTAs are appropriately placed throughout your website. According to Chantalle, this is the foundation: "Before you choose colors, fonts or layouts, you need to know who you are, what you offer and for whom." Learn more: Website name ideas   19. Add an email sign-up form Forms are an essential part of web design and small business—whether it’s a contact form to get visitors interacting, or an email sign-up form to build your audience. If you see email marketing in the future, it’s a good idea to set up an email signup form on your site from the get-go. Wix Forms is an example of an online tool that makes creating signup forms easy, including customizable templates and streamlined data collection. Whatever platform you use, be sure to check this off your list so you get a head start on building your email list. 20. Polish your mobile website design With mobile internet usage constantly on the rise and mobile devices accounting for 52% of global internet traffic , providing the best possible web experience for smartphone users is an absolute must. Once your design elements are in place, and you're happy with the look of your website, preview how your site appears on mobile devices and make sure it’s either responsive or has a design adapted for smaller screens. Website checklist part two: pre-launch elements Once you’ve mapped out your website design, you're down to double-checking your content and fine-tuning the details before the official launch. 21. Optimize on-page SEO SEO , or search engine optimization, is the process of optimizing your website’s content so it ranks well on search engines. This is an important aspect of organic marketing. Some SEO best practices to check off your list include (but are not limited to): Adding meta descriptions throughout your site, which tell Google how each page should appear on search engines. Optimizing page speed , which is also a part of good user experience. Adding alt text to images, another way to ensure your site is accessible. Doing keyword research and implementing keywords throughout written content and alt text of your site. Chantalle Alberstadt explains: An accessible website is ultimately also a better UX website. Pro tip: With a website design platform like Wix, you’ll have built-in SEO tools to ensure you check off the most important steps for optimizing on-page SEO. 22. Link to your social accounts Social media marketing is an integral part of off-page SEO and will help you communicate with customers and boost engagement. Once your site is live, you’ll want to have it connected to social media accounts so visitors can follow you and stay up-to-date. In your design, you can include a stylish social bar that displays links to your accounts. 23. Connect or transfer your domain You’ve purchased a domain already, now it’s time to connect it to your site . Alternatively, if you already have one connected to another site or host, you should transfer your domain to the new one. Most website-building platforms will give you support to connect a domain directly through their platform. Once your domain is connected, individuals can use that address to access your site. Pro tip: At this point, if you’ve designed a coming soon page , you can publish it for visitors to see. 24. Update copyright year Most websites include a copyright date at the footer of their site. Before you click “publish,” make sure to add one with the correct year. Although it’s a tiny detail, websites with an old copyright year make the impression they’re out-of-date altogether. 25. Proofread written content Set aside time to double-check your written content for errors. Proofread all text added to your website–from informational copy to headlines and blog posts. Even better, ask a trusted friend or colleague to peer edit your site, since there's nothing better than a second pair of eyes. “A good headline combines getting to the point + emotion + benefit,” advises Chantalle Alberstadt. At this point, you’ll also need to replace and filler text, such as lorem ipsum , with the intended content for your site. Pro tip: Before you design a single button, answer the strategic questions. Who are your customers? What should your website achieve? “Ask yourself: Who am I helping specifically – and with what? The clearer your benefit, the better,” says the expert. 26. Test out forms Your website will likely include forms in order to connect with visitors and collect data from users. This could include an email signup form, contact form, online survey or more. Now’s the time to test out these forms, make sure they function properly for visitors and ensure the data gets stored. 27. Link logo to homepage Pinning a logo at the top of your website for all to see is a strategic move. Even better is to make sure you link that image back to the homepage. This is a common—often expected—feature in the user experience and helps visitors navigating your site get return to the homepage with ease. 28. Review your design Before you hit “publish,” review your website design from top to bottom to make sure you’re happy with the way it looks. You may want to refer to design theories like the principles of design, to ensure your site follows fundamental aesthetic guidelines like balance and visual hierarchy. 29. Get feedback from a friend We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: two sets of eyes are better than one. Ask a friend (or two) to review your website with diligence. They’ll certainly have a fresh perspective and can point out elements you may have overlooked. 30. Check for broken links In the midst of designing a website, it’s easy to link anchor texts to the wrong URLs. Run through each link on your site and make sure it leads to the right place and isn’t broken. This is something you should ask friends to report on, too. 31. Test out UX In addition to checking that links work properly on your website, you’ll want to ensure it gives visitors a positive user experience. This means ensuring website interactions run smoothly and making sure nothing impedes the browsing experience. Testing your site's UX design can include tasks such as (but are not limited to): checking that your pages are compatible across all browsers and devices, ensuring content— such as images and video—are uploading properly and performing a load test to make sure your site can handle increasing traffic. Chantalle Alberstadt recommends: “Make sure that individual images are no larger than 500 KB (I always try to stay below 200 KB) – even better, less.” 32. Scan for accessibility Making sure that all users have equal access to your website is crucial. This is where website accessibility comes in—it gives people with disabilities the opportunity to use and interact with your website. Run an accessibility audit to ensure your site meets the standards of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and make any necessary changes. When using Wix, the Accessibility Wizard is a one-of-kind feature that will scan your site, point out accessibility issues and guide you to resolve them. For more details on how to make a website accessible , check out our guide. 33. Update contact information Whether included in your About Us page, a unique contact page or in the footer of your website—double-check that the information you provide users is correct and updated. Especially if one of your website goals is to build an audience and customer base, it’s crucial they are able to be in touch with you. 34. Set up live chat Since instant messaging like texting or DMs has become a standard—it can only benefit your brand to include a live chat feature on your website. This extra form of communication will increase correspondence, improve customer services and close on more sales 35. Customize 404 pages A 404 error page online page that appears when you click on a broken link that's no longer available. This can easily happen if someone mistypes the URL as well. The look and functionality of a 404 page can make or break your customer experience. By customizing a 404 page for visitors, you can make a pleasant visual impression and include links that will encourage them to continue exploring your site. 36. Write a privacy policy A privacy policy accomplishes a number of things. First, it lets visitors to your site know what information you will collect and what you will do with it. It also tells visitors how you protect that information and provides recourse for those who feel that you or a third party has violated their privacy. Read more about how to write a privacy policy for your website to learn how to satisfy legal requirements and put your customers at ease. Alberstadt says: “I cannot give legal advice, but I recommend having the content reviewed regularly—especially if you are using new tools, tracking or newsletter forms. Even small changes can have an impact on the privacy policy.” 37. Plan off-page SEO optimization Off-page SEO optimization means the actions you can take outside of your own on-page SEO to boost your ranking. These include writing guest blog posts that link back to your own site, posting on social platforms, writing in forums and external linking. 38. Organize your list of contacts Whether you're using a built-in email marketing app or an outside platform like Mailchimp, start getting your email contacts ready at this stage. You’ll need to set up an official mailing list to promote your website after it goes live. If you’ve already added an email signup form to your under-construction page, it’ll be much easier to check this task off your list. However, you should spend additional time organizing your contacts, deleting inactive members and separating contacts into groups based on location, interests and where they sit in your marketing funnel. 39. Prepare social accounts for promotion Social media will play an important role in spreading the word about your website and getting more visitors. Subtasks on your social media prep list include: strategically gaining new followers, preparing and scheduling promotional posts and adding a link to your website’s domain in all social account profiles. 40. Click 'publish' It’s not likely you’ll forget this step, but once your design is set and reviewed—it’s time to click that “publish” button and let your site go live. Check this by plugging in the site’s URL into your browser and ensuring your site is displayed properly (don't forget to preview it on mobile). Website checklist part three: post-launch tasks Now that you’ve officially pressed “publish,” you’ve reached the post-launch website checklist. Here are elements you should review and follow up on to ensure your site is visible at its very best. “A website is never really finished – it grows with the company,” says Chantalle. 41. Back up your design Product yourself against losing your website design and data by setting up a backup plan. In order to do this, you need to choose a backup location and create a schedule to ensure your site’s copies are stored and updated on a regular basis. 42. Perform a usability test A common practice in UX design is usability testing and can be extremely helpful for revealing how visitors react to your site. It might be “extra”—but worth it. Ask a group of targeted users to do a test run and follow up with questions about their experience of your site. Key observations will include: seeing if the user can complete their tasks, whether or not they enjoy using the site and if it meets their needs. Whenever problems arise, it’s an opportunity to find solutions to users’ frustrations and challenges. 43. Check your site’s security with SSL certificate SSL certificates (the ‘s’ in https://) ensure that data transmitted to and from your site remains private and safe. These small data files connect a cryptographic key to the site owner’s details, establishing an encrypted link between the server and the browser. Generally, an SSL certificate will be provided by your website hosting software, or a third-party app. When building a website with Wix, your site will be automatically equipped with one of the best free SSL certificates in the market. 44. Submit your website for indexing Once your site is published, it needs to be indexed on Google in order to appear on search engines. In order to do this, sign up for Google Search Console and submit a sitemap . Sitemaps give information to search engines, such as which pages are on your site and when they were last updated. 45. Verify analytics Make sure that your integrated analytics software work, and start reviewing the data collected. Your web analytics tools will give you insights into how many people visit your site, what pages they clicked on, if they made a purchase, their location and more. Since this information can help guide the way you curate your website content, it will prove especially helpful in the first few months after you launch. 46. Test your new website's speed Page speed refers to how fast content on your webpage takes to load, which will impact usability, conversions and your site’s ranking on search engines. Typically, a page that loads in under three seconds on average is considered a good speed. One of the most reliable and popular methods is using Google PageSpeed Insights , where you can simply submit your site URL and wait for Google to deliver a report on your site's performance. 47. Promote your site It’s a good thing you’ve already used this website checklist to begin the process of gathering new contacts and setting up your social media accounts. Now that your new website is live, it’s time to promote it to the masses. There are a combination of resources you can use to advertise the launch of your new website. For one, you can promote it on social media by creating unique posts and stories leading visitors to your new site. Additionally, you can announce the news with an email campaign sent to your list of contacts and good old word-of-mouth. 48. Outline a performance tracking plan Planning ahead, set specific for regularly tracking your website performance in the future. This includes analytics, speed and scanning for bugs or errors. Whether it’s weekly, monthly or more often—staying on top of how your website performs will give you insights into what works and what doesn’t and can guide your maintenance plan moving forward. 49. Make it multilingual You may not have resources for a multilingual website at the start, but as you begin reaching new audiences, locations and languages, it’s something you’ll consider. From translations to localizing content and SEO, read more on how to build a multilingual website before you get started. 50. Map out a maintenance plan To ensure your site continues to be up-to-date, working at full capacity and performing well, a website maintenance plan is critical. Include a schedule for revisiting tasks—such as updating plugins, checking security, renewing content, refreshing design and ensuring usability—that should be done regularly and addressed when there are issues. About the expert Chantalle Alberstadt is a brand designer and entrepreneur with over seven years of experience developing holistic brand strategies. As the founder of BoredBrands Studio,  she guides companies on their journey to a strong brand identity. Her focus is on combining creativity, entrepreneurial thinking and authentic designs that resonate and foster growth. Website launch checklist FAQ What are the steps to launch a website? To launch a website, start by planning your goals, choosing a website builder and host and designing your site’s layout and content. Optimize for mobile, SEO and user experience then connect your domain, set up analytics and test everything—forms, links and design. Once it’s polished and ready, publish it and start promoting it across your channels. How to test a website before launching? To test a website before launching, check all links, forms, buttons and navigation to make sure they work smoothly across devices and browsers. Review content for typos, test page speed and scan for mobile responsiveness, accessibility and SEO readiness. Getting feedback from others and running usability tests can help catch anything you might have missed. Should you do SEO before or after website launch? Start SEO before your website launch. Optimizing your site structure, content, keywords and meta tags early helps search engines index your pages faster and builds a strong foundation. After launch, keep improving your SEO with performance tracking, backlinks and content updates.

Owning a health and fitness business isn’t always a walk in the park. True to this dedicated lifestyle, a good dose of hard work and determination is needed to make sure that your business is in top shape. Whether reeling from an unexpected tax hike , or looking to bootstrap your small business there are a ton of free promotion solutions that you can take advantage of online. Even the most physically active person knows that you need a healthy online presence in order to keep your business in top shape! If you’re lucky enough to work in the health & fitness industry, here are our tips to pump up your business and make sure you look as good online as you do off! 1. Create a Killer Website This may sound obvious, but there are still plenty of small businesses that do not realize how important it is to have a fitness website to show off their work. A great looking website can be the distinction that gives your business a professional edge against the competition. Furthermore, by creating one with Wix Fitness , you'll be matched with some unbeatable benefits. This complete one platform solution - that’s both accessible via desktop and on-the-go - makes managing your fitness business simple. This includes membership options, calendar management, and many more customizable capabilities. To learn more and get started, read up on this guide to starting a fitness business and health and wellness websites examples. Once you’ve designed your website to your specifications, take the time to make it SEO ready so that your audience won’t have any trouble finding you on search engines. 2. Show Off with Videos Do you have some great workout tips or serious skills? Show off your stuff by offering some killer how-to workout videos. Videos make great promotional tools and can be embedded right on to your site. Shorter clips by way of Vines and Instagram Videos are great ways to tease potential clients with short snippets of your skills. Vines and Instragram Videos are also great tools to reach new audiences with highly sharable social media content on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and more! 3. Give a Tease with Strong Visuals Look so good they can’t ignore you. As the old saying goes… a picture is worth a thousand words! Strong visuals are a beautiful way to show off your work across a variety of mediums. Are you a personal trainer with a proven success rate? Have your work speak for itself with client before & after photos. Like videos, photos are one of the best tools to effectively share your work on social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and more. 4.  Be the Talk of the Town Generate some buzz in your own backyard by offering special rates or services for local partners. Not only will this create some great word of mouth in the neighborhood, but it might also lead to some great publicity by way of news articles, social media mention and other PR. One company that does this really well is yoga giant Lululemon . Their free weekly yoga class in Ottawa’s Parliament Hill attracts hundreds of people and garners great buzz for this brand, including free publicity like a feature on the city of Ottawa’s social media channels . 5. Cross Link with You Community Whether you have your own studio or you’re a one-man-show on the go, it’s essential for your clients to know when and where they can find you. Include a comprehensive calendar like Google’s super easy to update calendar to your website. If you offer your services at varying locations, ask that they include your business on their community calendar with a link to your website. Show yourself off as a proud member of your community by properly listing your address and contact details on your website and within local community directories. This is also a great tool to improve your SEO presence. 6. Position Yourself as an Knowledgeable Authority In the health and fitness industry, giving over good advice can sometimes be truly life changing. Use your wealth of knowledge in your field to position yourself as a leader in your field and a force to be reckoned with! You can offer useful advice that new and existing clients can benefit from in a variety of ways: Write a blog with helpful tips that your clients will look forward to reading. Guest blog on traffic heavy, popular industry blogs or online magazines to promote yourself on different avenues. Send helpful tips right to your clients inbox by way of an insightful newsletter . Offer snippets of helpful advice by way of quick tips on your Twitter channel. Host Google Hangouts of Q & A sessions right on your web page. Essence Acupuncture >> 7. Cross Promote with Similar Businesses Join up with similar businesses in your industry by offering mutually beneficial promotions. Do you know of a juice bar or organic market that fits with your ideology? Offer a coupon on your site and ask them to do the same. Looking to grow your nutrition practice online? Check out how to create a nutritionist website for a complete guide to building the perfect site.

Get started by: Creating a website →  | Getting a domain → Learning how to create a website  is more accessible now than ever. User-friendly website builders  make it possible to get a site up and running in a flash - but can that website make you money? Monetizing a website  can provide you with a flexible, scalable and even passive income stream. But for many people, figuring out how to earn money from their site feels like an elusive goal. The good news is that monetization is achievable with patience, strong website promotion  and the right tools. In this blog, we'll guide you through how to make money from a website using proven strategies. We'll also break down best practices on how to implement each strategy effectively.  Getting started with your online journey? Take a look at our website launch checklist , as well as Wix’s what is a website  guide.  TL;DR: How to make money from a website You can make money from a website in lots of ways — like affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, selling products or services, display ads, premium content for members, courses and webinars, launching a podcast, SEO optimization, email marketing, dropshipping, flipping your site, accepting donations or offering freelance services. Pick what fits your goals and start small, then grow over time. How to make money from a website: Learn how to sell products online, offer services, build memberships and subscriptions, use display ads, try affiliate marketing, partner with brands, host online events and generate leads for clients. What is website monetization? Website monetization is a blanket term for various strategies of turning your website traffic , content or services into revenue. There are several ways to monetize a webpage . The best methods of monetization for your website will depend on your specific niche, audience and goals.  If you’re building a website from scratch keep in mind that some methods of website monetization rely on built-in features (like banner ads and blogs), that will impact your website design . This means you’ll want to keep future monetization strategies in mind as you consider which website builder to use and which website templates   include the features that you want.  How to make money from a website: 18 best practices Develop marketing strategies Create sponsored posts Affiliate marketing PPC advertising and promotion Build email lists Sell products or services Implement banner ads Coupons with affiliate links Launch a podcast Create premium content for members only Generate courses and webinars Start a blog Optimize for SEO Dropshipping Sell ad space on your website Flip your website Accept donations Offer freelance services 01. Develop marketing strategies Making money from a website is a business. And whether you’re starting a business  from scratch, or working to improve an existing brand you’ll need to identify the marketing strategies  that will offer you the highest ROI and best help you reach your goals. Get started by identifying your niche, target audience and unique value proposition. Analytics tools like Wix Analytics  can help understand your current baseline. Including important metrics like how many site visitors you are getting, where they are coming from and what parts of your website visitors are interacting with the most. With this information, you can set specific goals for growth and then decide which monetization methods you want to include as a part of your overall marketing strategy. 02. Create sponsored posts Sponsored posts can be a lucrative way to make money from your website. To create sponsored posts, you partner with a brand or business to promote their products or services. Sponsored posts on a website can take the form of product reviews, sales announcements, product launches or special offers. Sponsored posts can be a win for everyone involved: you get paid to promote brands you’re passionate about, your audience gets insider tips from you—a trusted source and your sponsor gets an inroad to your website's targeted audience. If sponsored posts are not done with tact and transparency however, you risk losing credibility. Be selective in partnering with brands whose values closely align with your own. You’ll also want to make sure and strike a balance between sponsored and organic content so you don’t oversaturate your audience.  03. Affiliate marketing Affiliate marketing can enable you to generate passive income from your website. Once affiliate links are set on your site there is little upkeep required, and you earn a commission for each sale or lead generated through your unique link. Affiliate marketing can be direct, where you actively promote a product through a product review, blog or post. It can also be indirect, where you more subtly integrate your affiliate link into your content or on banners on your site. The key to successful affiliate marketing is partnering with the right companies and choosing products to promote that are attractive to your audience.  Learn more about how to make an affiliate marketing website . 04. PPC advertising and promotion PPC (Pay-Per-Click) ads and paid promotions can help you make money from your website by leveraging the power of targeted advertising. Platforms like Google AdSense make it easy to get started with PPC ads, automatically placing ads on your site that match your site's content and audience. PPC ads offer you a commission per a certain number of clicks. By strategically incorporating PPC ads and paid promotions into your website monetization plan, you can generate a reliable stream of passive income that provides value to your audience and advertisers alike. 05. Build email lists Email marketing  remains one of the most cost-efficient forms of online marketing, and can help you make money from your site in many ways. With a strong email list you can directly engage customers and boost sales. Further, you can use email to send coupons, affiliate links and sponsored content. Setting up email automations, such as abandoned cart and back-in-stock notifications can also help you generate revenue by saving sales that might otherwise have been lost. Once you have a robust email list, third party companies may pay you for access to the list. So—start early. You can collect emails through newsletter sign-ups, membership forms, your blog and via link through any kind of messaging you send to your site visitors.  06. Sell products or services Selling products or services can be a great way to make money from your site—and may be simpler than you think. Even if eCommerce  isn’t your primary focus, incorporating an online store  to your site can create a revenue stream, increase your brand presence and even help with SEO. If you’re interested in selling physical products, print-on-demand and dropshipping can eliminate the hassle and costs behind inventory and shipping. Selling digital products like instructional videos, PDFs or consulting services are also a strong strategy for website monetization. Also, learning how to make an online course can expand your offerings and attract a wider audience. Website builders  like Wix offer a suite of comprehensive eCommerce features  that can help sell online with a low-cost investment upfront. Creating and selling custom products has never been easier. With Wix’s on demand printing , powered by Printful, you can design and launch personalized apparel, accessories, home goods and more—made to suit any style, niche or need. No extra tools, no complex setup. Just pick a product, upload your design and start selling—all from your Wix dashboard. With seamless Printful integration, you get a streamlined way to build, brand and sell—without ever leaving Wix. 07. Implement banner ads By strategically placing banner ads on your site, you can capture your audience's attention and encourage them to click through to the advertiser's website. To maximize your earning potential, consider partnering with ad networks or directly with advertisers who offer products or services that align with your website's audience. Experiment with different banner ad sizes, formats and placements to find the combination that drives the highest click-through rates without compromising your user experience.  Read also: CRO tests that have made the biggest impact on the Wix website 08. Coupons with affiliate links Coupons with affiliate links allow you offer your audience exclusive discounts to brands that you’ve partnered with. Affiliate link discounts offer you two-fold value; you earn commission from any purchases made through your link, and you’re strengthening the stickiness of your brand by offering additional value to customers. Credit card companies often employ a similar strategy; by owning a specific credit card customers often gain access to special deals on travel, hotels and restaurants, which ultimately increases customer loyalty to the credit card. To maximize the effectiveness of this strategy, choose affiliate programs that align with your niche, and make sure your marketing content showcases the value of the discounts you’re offering. You can promote your affiliate coupons through blog posts, email newsletters and social media to help you drive sales and gain revenue for your site.  09. Launch a podcast Tapping into the growing popularity of audio content can be an effective way to make money from  your site. By creating engaging and informative episodes you can attract a dedicated audience. As your podcast gains traction, you can use it as a vehicle for various monetization strategies, such as sponsorships, affiliate marketing or as a part of premium content for subscribers. By consistently delivering high-quality content and building a loyal audience, your podcast can become a significant driver of traffic and revenue for your website. 10. Create premium content for members only Offering members-only content can help you increase customer loyalty and can create a predictable, recurrent revenue stream for your site. Keeping premium content behind a paywall can increase its perceived value. Premium content can take many forms depending on what your website offers. For an eCommerce store, members might gain early access to product drops, promotions or exclusive offers. If you're running a blog, you may restrict your most in-demand or freshest content for members.  Note: This strategy also helps to create a network effect , or specifically, a 'compulsion loop.' "Why do we compulsively check our phones and 'doomscroll' through TikTok every day? It’s because we never know what we’re going to see next, and each little surprise hits our brain with a dopamine rush," says Oren Inditzky, VP and GM of Wix Stores. "When it comes to your website, visitors are much more likely to come back if you give them something new to look forward to." 11. Generate courses and webinars The internet has leveled the playing field for people who want to learn, and offering paid courses or webinars can be a flexible and scalable way to make money from your website . Offering webinars can help establish you as a credible authority and  provide an engaging, interactive platform for you to share your expertise with a global audience.  By creating content that addresses your audience's pain points and offers actionable solutions, you can attract customers who are willing to invest in their education. You can host live sessions that allow for real-time interaction and Q&A, or create pre-recorded webinars that can be accessed on-demand. Additionally, webinars can serve as a powerful lead generation tool, helping you to build an email list of engaged prospects.  Learn more: Can I create an online course on Wix? 12. Start a blog Starting a blog  can be a powerful way to make money from your website. By creating consistent, high-quality content that resonates with your target audience you can attract a following of readers who trust your opinions and recommendations. This trust is the foundation of successful blog monetization, as it allows you to promote products, services or affiliate offers that genuinely benefit your audience. A successful blog also opens the door to opportunities for sponsored content and partnerships.  13. Optimize for SEO Investing in SEO , or Search Engine Optimization,  can help you to improve your site's visibility, organic traffic and ultimately revenue potential. By optimizing your website and content for relevant keywords and phrases, you can attract targeted visitors who are actively searching for what you offer. This increased traffic leads to higher-quality leads, enhanced credibility and more opportunities for conversion. SEO is a cost-effective, long-term strategy that complements other monetization methods, such as affiliate marketing or sponsored content. To leverage SEO for monetization, focus on creating high-quality content that targets relevant keywords, optimize your site's structure and web indexing  and build high-quality backlinks.  14. Dropshipping Dropshipping can help you make money for your website by enabling you to sell products without the need for inventory. By partnering with a dropshipping supplier, you can sell products directly to your audience, while the supplier handles the storage, packaging and shipping of the items. When a customer makes a purchase through your website, you simply forward the order details to your supplier, who then ships the product directly to the customer. You earn a profit on the difference between the retail price you set and the wholesale price charged by the supplier. Dropshipping allows you to offer a wide range of products to your audience without the risk and overhead of traditional inventory management, making it an attractive option if you’re looking to get started with e-commerce or expand how you make money with your website. 15. Sell ad space on your website Selling ad space on your website can be a lucrative way to make money from  your online presence and generate a steady stream of income. By offering advertisers the opportunity to reach your targeted audience, you can create a mutually beneficial partnership that provides value for both parties. Start by identifying the ad formats that best suit your website's layout and user experience, such as banner ads, native ads, or sponsored content. Set competitive pricing for your ad space based on factors like your website's traffic and  audience demographics. Reach out to potential advertisers who align with your brand values and whose products or services would be of interest to your audience. As you build relationships with advertisers and demonstrate the effectiveness of your ad placements, you can expand your inventory and increase your revenue potential. 16. Flip your website A successful website is a valuable asset. Domain flipping  is the practice of fixing up websites, then selling them off for a profit. Building a website from the ground up is one way to get your start domain flipping, but with practice you can also learn to strategically acquire underperforming websites and then use your skills to revamp and optimize them for success. This may include fixes to the website user interface , website layout  and SEO. This might also include incorporating monetization methods we covered in this article, like adding a blog, premium content and ads. To maximize your earnings, focus on building a portfolio of successfully flipped websites that demonstrate your ability to create value. As you gain experience and refine your process, you can scale your website flipping business and establish yourself as a sought-after expert in the industry.  17. Accept donations Support from your audience can go a long way. Add a donation option to your site to allow visitors to contribute directly. This works well for creators, educators or nonprofit organizations looking to monetize their efforts while staying true to their mission. Be transparent about how the contributions are used—it helps build trust and encourages more people to give back. Highlight specific projects or goals that donations will support to make the impact clear. Share success stories or milestones achieved with the help of contributions to keep donors engaged. Regularly thank your audience for their support to show appreciation and foster a sense of community. 18. Offer freelance services Leverage your skills to generate income by selling services like writing, graphic design, marketing, data entry or virtual assistance. Your site can double as a portfolio to showcase your skills and attract new clients. Regularly update it with your best work and include testimonials from satisfied clients to build credibility. By networking and consistently providing high-quality services, you can stand out and grow your freelance business directly through your website. Interested in learning more about how  to plan a website ? Check out these comprehensive guides on the Wix blog: How long does it take to build a website  and how much does a website cost .  Ways to make money from a website FAQ Which type of websites are the best for making money? The best types of websites for making money include e-commerce sites, affiliate marketing websites and content-driven platforms. Why? E-commerce sites sell products or services directly, generating revenue through sales. By their very nature they're designed to make money this way. Affiliate marketing websites earn commissions by promoting other companies' products and driving sales or leads. If you have a site with a lot of traffic and engaged readers who click through, you can make a lot of money this way. Content-driven platforms, like blogs or niche websites, can generate income through ads, sponsored content and membership subscriptions. They can also offer online courses or digital products, all of which can be profitable. However success depends on targeting the right audience, quality content and effective monetization strategies. How much money can be actually made from a website? How much can be earned from a website will vary widely, from a few dollars a month to thousands or more. Its dependent on factors such as traffic, niche, monetization methods,= and audience engagement. Small blogs might make $100-$500 monthly, while successful e-commerce sites or affiliate websites can generate thousands. High-traffic sites with strong ad revenue or premium content can earn six figures annually. But nothing is given, it takes a lot of time investment and effective marketing as well. What’s the fastest way to make money from a website? It depends but you can use Google AdSense for quick ad revenue or start affiliate marketing with relevant products or sell digital downloads as some of the fastest ways to make money from your site. What skills do I need to monetize a website? Basic skills include SEO, content creation, affiliate marketing and understanding the user experience. Advanced skills like email marketing, sales funnel design, and analytics can significantly boost your earnings. Do I need a niche to make money? A niche increases your chances of success as you attract a targeted audience with higher intent. It’s easier to monetize with products, services or ads tailored to specific interests or problem

Influencer marketing is a collaboration between yourself and someone your audience follows on social media and respects their opinion. There’s actually much more to it than that, but we’re going to get you started with the basics and how to tackle this popular form of marketing below. What is influencer marketing? Influencer marketing is a collaborative social media marketing campaign between an influencer and a brand. The influencer uses their reach to boost awareness about a brand or product to their following, which overlaps with the target audience of the sponsoring business. It’s great for audience building, lead generation, growing sales, engagement, and customer loyalty. It works as part of both local marketing and global marketing efforts. All in all, influencer marketing can help get the word out about your brand or product, with the help of a knowledgeable figure that has sway in your market. Just like any other important tool for your business, influencer marketing is another way to speak to your target audience. Also, it is one fastest growing marketing trends . Influencer marketing taps directly into the concept of social influence. This is a process by which individuals or communities change their behavior to meet the demands of a social environment. In this example the environment is social media, where many of the factors of social influence exist - peer pressure, socialization, conformity and persuasion. Influencer marketing statistics If you’re still on the fence as to whether you should give influencer marketing a chance, try these stats on for size. Less is sometimes more : A study from Markedly shows that micro-influencers tend to get more engagement than celebrities. The industry isn’t losing steam : Mediakix estimates the influencer marketing industry to reach $5-$10 billion dollars by the year 2020. Making money as an influencer is a growing trend and for good reasons. It’s marketer approved : Mediakix reports that 89% of marketers say that influencer marketing ROI is at least as good or better than other methods. But finding the right fit is hard : According to Mediakix , 61% of marketers say that their number one challenge with influencer marketing is finding the best influencer for campaigns. Why influencer marketing? One of the toughest things a small business can do is to get in front of the right audience without being immediately dismissed. The way people respond to ads and other promotional material is much different than it once was, making it harder for people to figure out which marketing strategies will help them achieve success. This is due to several factors: the number of ads shown, the now-expected marketing tricks, lacking in any sort of originality. Due to the number of ads shown and over-familiarity with marketing tricks, it's getting harder to catch consumers' attention - making it especially difficult for those just getting started in business. Well, if you’re struggling to get to your audience effectively or if you’re just trying to stay ahead of the curve, you may want to look into influencer marketing. First, what (or who) is a marketing influencer? A marketing influencer is a person who can effectively sway an individual’s purchasing decisions. Influencers are generally very knowledgeable and credible within a niche market and very actively engage with its members. Take makeup artist, Nikkie De Jager ( @NIKKIETUTORIALS ) for example. She shares valuable techniques and impressive works of her craft, garnering her the massive 12.4 million Instagram followers she has. What makes these social media stars effective is that they have essentially built themselves into their own independent brand - one that feels genuine and relatable to their followers. So when they promote other brands, their followers are likely to trust their recommendations. They’ve also put in the effort to learn and become an authority on a particular subject. It's that kind of expertise that launches them beyond just another traditional advertisement. Instead, they have built themselves into independent, identifiable brands of their own. They then use that platform to promote other brands that align with their values and outlook. How do influencers make money? There are several main ways in which influencers make money as the stars of influencer marketing. - Sponsored content. Brands pay influencers to create content around them using a product or service. - Affiliate marketing. Influencers earn a commission when their followers purchase products or services thr ough their unique affiliate links (learn more about h ow to make an affiliate marketing website ) - Product placement . Influencers are paid or receive products for free if they use them in their photos and videos. - Product endorsement . Influencers endorse a product or service through their social media platforms and fees. - Influencer events. Influencers are paid to attend brand events and to promote products at it. Learn more about how to edit photos: How to edit AI generated images How to edit stock photography How to edit images for social media Types of influencers Much like there are different markets to advertise to, there are different types of influencers to partner with, each with their own specialty and market. Influencers can be celebrities, journalists and reporters, bloggers and vloggers and other types of content creators. Each type has their own audience and expertise, and the size and nature of each should be considered when finding an influencer to work with on a campaign. If you’re just getting started with influencer marketing or are trying to get into a hyper-specific niche, you can look into micro-influencers. Unlike typical influencers, “micros” tend to be regular people that are knowledgeable about a topic that isn’t incredibly popular, but has its own dedicated following. They can be seen as more relatable than higher-profile influencers. The number of followers needed to be categorized as a micro-influencer is wildly debatable. Some say less than 2,000 followers, some say a minimum of over 3,000, and others claim anywhere from 1,000-10,000 to 1,000-100,000 followers. Feel free to do a Google search. We’ll wait. Jokes aside, micro-influencers prove that you don’t need to hire a millionaire to effectively reach your audience. Just know that when you go lower on the influencer spectrum, you’re aiming for a “regular person” speaking to “regular people” vibe for your campaign. When going higher up the pole, you’re more likely to work with industry experts, CEOs, and celebrities. Looking for an influencer? Check out our list of up and coming influencers who are making waves in their respective industries. How to find influencers With the last stat above in mind, it’s important that you take your time trying to find the right influencer for your campaign. You want to make sure your goals, audience, and expectations are aligned from beginning to end - but that’s for when you find the best influencer. How do you find an excellent partner in the first place? Try these sources: Blogs and other online publications If you’re looking for an expert on a subject, finding a writer or reporter within your industry is a good place to start. If you have someone in mind, be sure to do more research by reading content they’ve published. Social media This should be a relatively obvious one. Even if you’re not specifically seeking a social media influencer , there’s still a large chance that your candidate has a social media following to some extent. This can allow you to see how they interact with their followers. A great resource for finding an influencer on social media is your own audience. Keep tabs on accounts that are continually mentioned and tagged in posts or have their posts shared often. Still searching for an influencer on social media? Well, did you use the search? It’s your friend and you should find both relevant content and people by searching for your industry keywords and hashtags. Search engines Speaking of search, did you try Google? It may sound silly, but doing a search for an influencer, especially with your market in the search box ( e.g. ‘your business industry’ + ‘influencer’ ) could yield some favorable results. Even if it leads you to one of the other tools to help find an influencer, it’s hard to go wrong with the world’s most popular search engine. Of course, you’ll also need to do additional research on your influencer if you get a hit to make sure they’re aligned with your values and are a good overall fit. Online influencer software With the growth of influencer marketing steadily rising, it’s not surprising to find there are specialized services for finding influencers. One of the most popular sites around for this is BuzzSumo. It allows you to find influencers by topic or location, and then analyze them by reach authority, influence, and engagement. Influencer marketing firms If you have the budget and don’t have the time, hiring an agency is another route you can take. While you may not learn as much about the process as you would if you did it yourself, agencies like Obviously can help you meet your goals. From identifying influencers to managing your networks and devising a complete social strategy, you’ll be taken care of. Influencer marketing examples H&M H&M is one of the most well-known fashion brands in the world. Its global reach also helps explain its massive reach on social networks, like its over 31 million followers on Instagram. There’s a reason why: A quick look at the official @hm account will also show you a very well put together Instagram marketing strategy. The brand is also very familiar with influencer marketing. Campaigns have included @laura_tobon , @sincerelyjules , and @elavelden Wix Here at Wix, we’ve been lucky to partner up with several amazing people. From Karlie Kloss to Rhett and Link from Good Mythical Morning, we’re more than a little proud. Lyft Lyft, a popular ride-sharing service, has partnered with several celebrities in a series of YouTube videos called “Undercover Lyft.” The premise of the series is simple: A celebrity disguises themselves as a Lyft driver and reveal themselves at the end of the ride. There’s a decent assortment of videos that have been produced, including ones featuring Shaq, Olivia Wilde, Jason Sudeikis, and Danica Patrick, just to name a few. Influencer marketing drawbacks While there are many benefits to influencer marketing, there are also several drawbacks brands and marketers should be aware of when formulating a strategy for social media. These include: - Cost: Depending on the influencer you use, influencer marketing can prove to be expensive, especially if the ROI is low. This is why micro influencers have grown in popularity over the last few years, as often they charge lower fees but can still have considerable impact for a brand and their promotional tactics. - Content control and quality: Some influencers have iron-clad contracts limiting the type of content they can create. Make sure at the same time the content they create aligns with your brand values and ethics. - Time and effort: Influencer marketing often takes considerable time and effort to make it successful over the long term. The whole life-cyle from choosing an influencer, to agreeing on content creation terms and schedule, to publishing and promoting, can be drawn out.

Mad Men ’s Don Draper tells us that “advertising is based on one thing— happiness.” Since everyone is focused on the pursuit of happiness, it’s no wonder that businesses seek persuasive copy that promises to meet their customers’ needs. The written word has the power to transform people’s minds about a product or service, to convince them to think differently about something, to propel them to perform a certain action and so much more. Companies harness the power of the written word across their various marketing assets. Indeed, strong copy forms the backbone of nearly all branding efforts, from deciding to create a website to advertising online. For that reason, professionals in all industries should familiarize themselves with copywriting basics as part of growing their business. Here’s the complete beginner’s guide on how to write effective copy. What is copywriting? Copywriting is the activity of writing texts for advertisements or other promotional material. A key component of content marketing , copywriting combines the art of the written word with the science of advertising. Think about copywriting as a call-to-action but on a larger scale. The goal of copywriting is to evoke emotions in potential customers that compel them to buy or learn about your product or service. Copywriting appears across a wide range of marketing and branding assets. This includes online ads (think website banners, pop-ups and social media ads), website content , email newsletters, print ads, physical advertising spaces and landing pages. It’s also the backbone of scripted, auditory marketing materials, such as promotional content on radio, TV and podcasts. A good copywriter demonstrates a deep understanding of a business’s target audience, delving into their psychology and learning how to persuade them with the written word. Copywriters can either be part of a marketing department within an organization, work for an advertising agency, operate independently as a freelancer. Learn more about how to build a copywriting portfolio  of your own. 10 tips for writing copy that sells Given the crucial role copywriting plays in marketing and advertising, every business professional should have an understanding of the most important copywriting principles. These 10 proven methods that will help you write original, persuasive copy for your product or service. Craft a compelling headline Write from a fresh perspective Know your target audience Respect the customer Emphasize your value proposition Be clear and concise Prioritize benefits over features Use the AIDA model Overcome customer objections Delve into your audience’s psychology 01. Craft a compelling headline Your first order of business is to craft a headline that will grab your audience’s interest. Arguably, your headline is the most important part of your copy. Statistics have shown that about 80% of people read headline copy, but only 20% will read the rest. To create the best possible headline, start with the four U’s: Useful: Lead with a benefit that your audience won’t be able to ignore. Urgent: Show your audience why they need to take advantage of your offer right away. Unique: Tickle your reader’s curiosity by explaining why your solution is one-of-a-kind. Ultra-specific: Use numbers in your title, as they build credibility and are proven to boost conversions. This case study by ContentVerve shows just how critical headlines really are. A simple tweak to the landing page headline of a local Scandinavian gym led to a 38.46% increase in memberships. For more inspiration, try out this blog title generator to help spark new ideas. 02. Write from a fresh perspective With so many marketing messages coming at us from every possible direction, consumers are accustomed to blocking them out. That’s why brilliant copy has to surprise the reader by using different approaches and angles that they didn’t see coming. Readers tend to predominantly focus on the first two paragraphs they see and read in a horizontal movement—what is termed as an F-shaped pattern . For that reason, effective copy should include the most important points at the very beginning. Use the first few lines of your copy to jolt your audience with a fresh perspective, and infuse your content with emotion to show them why they should care. 03. Know your target audience According to the legendary British advertising executive, David Oglivy, “advertising people who ignore research are as dangerous as generals who ignore decodes of enemy signals." A copywriter can’t simply trust their gut instinct. They have to employ a data-oriented approach and have a thorough understanding of who their customer is and how the product solves their problems. When dreaming up website content ideas, try to get into your customers’ minds and see from their perspective. One helpful way to do this is by creating buyer personas, or fictional representations of your ideal customers. Your buyer personas should include details such as demographic information, geographic location and career. This will give you a better understanding of the kinds of people you’re targeting with your product, also known as your target audience. Once you form a deep understanding of your audience, you’ll be better equipped to tap into their wants, passions and dreams. That way, you’ll be able to create copy that directly speaks to their needs. This not only includes offering them solutions relevant to their interests and lifestyles, but also using language and cultural references that are familiar to them. 04. Respect the customer To quote Oglivy once more, “the consumer isn’t a moron; she is your wife.” As such, your copy should show them consideration and respect. While you should be direct, beware of coming across as pushy or aggressive. Well-crafted copy speaks to consumers as friends, which in turn makes the brand likable and builds trust in the company. Furthermore, good copywriting is strong enough on its own. It should be truthful rather than mislead customers. With that in mind, avoid over-exaggerating product benefits, using false or misleading testimonials, or talking down to your readers. If you wouldn’t send your copy to your loved ones, it shouldn’t be sent to strangers either. 05. Emphasize your value proposition A value proposition is a sentence that tells your visitors why they should buy a product or service from you, rather than from your competitors. Note that this is different from your slogan. Essentially, it’s a unique identifier that shows why your offering stands out. Getting this message across is critical to writing copy that converts. In fact, value propositions are so crucial to an ad’s success that in a test conducted by QuickSprout, they found that they can help boost conversion rates by over 10%. Don’t over complicate matters - keep your value proposition short, clear and direct. Examples of great value propositions include: Slack : Be more productive at work with less effort. Evernote : Keep your notes organized and effortless. Zoom : Flawless video, clear audio, and instant sharing. All your marketing materials should include your value proposition, as this helps persuade customers and is also a good practice for establishing your brand identity. The process wording of this proposition can vary, but you should include some form of it on crucial assets such as online and print ads, landing pages, and the homepage of your website. 06. Be clear and concise “Murder your darlings” is a phrase coined by English writer Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch in his 1916 book On the Art of Writing . It serves as a metaphor for how you should approach the editing process. One of the most important principles of good writing, the idea is to edit your work objectively and without sentiment, keeping it simple and direct. Clarity and concision are the building blocks of powerful copy. Be ruthless with your edits: Avoid using industry terminology that your audience won’t necessarily understand or relate to, and rid your copy of excess descriptors, adverbs and fluff. 07. Prioritize benefits over features A big mistake people make when selling a product is focusing on the product’s features rather than its benefits. Don’t simply describe the product in your copy. Instead, explain what your product can do for customers and how it can better their lives. Then, connect that to the experience of using the product. Contextualize your product’s features by directly tying them to the benefits. 08. Use the AIDA model Developed in the late 19th century, the AIDA model is used to describe the steps a customer goes through when purchasing a product. This is a useful formula to consider when you’re trying to get past writer’s block as you create your copy. The acronym AIDA stands for: Awareness: Begin each piece of copy by grabbing customers’ attention with an eye-catching headline or opening sentence. Explain what your product does, and make your value proposition clear from the beginning. Interest: Then, pique your prospect’s interest in the product or service that you’re selling so that they keep reading. For example, you might provide a compelling statistic. Desire: Next, build their desire to purchase your offering. Show your audience how badly they need your product or service, and how it will change their lives for the better. A great way to do this is by providing a clear list of the product’s benefits. Action: At this point, make it easy for customers to close to the sale or otherwise convert. For example, you might have a CTA that takes them directly to a product page or signup form. Follow these steps with all your copy, and you'll be creating evergreen content for your audience to enjoy for years to come. 09. Overcome customer objections Let’s say a potential customer sees your copy and understands your value proposition. Still, they might have concerns: Can they trust your brand? Will your product really be all that it claims to be? Will it arrive on time or at all? At this point, it’s crucial that you acknowledge and empathize with your reader rather than ignore their gnawing objections. You need to build mutual trust between you and your audience. One way to do this is by adding a guarantee that will prove to your reader that they can only gain from this deal and have nothing to lose. You can offer free trials, for example, to help seal the deal. Testimonials from happy customers are another effective way to respond to people’s hesitation and assuage their concerns. 10. Delve into your audience’s psychology The way you craft your copy can increase the perceived value of the product you’re selling. For example, companies that add a payment in installment section to their copy (and make it more prominent than the full price) make the product appear cheaper. With short-form content such as emails, ads and landing pages, create cliff-hangers that speak to your audience’s desire for story. For example, you might conclude an email with an important question - and then delay the answer to keep your readers riveted and engaged. To paraphrase Margaret Atwood, don’t wait for perfection because you won’t end up writing anything. Copywriting is all about being original and inventive - and that involves taking bold risks and learning from your mistakes. Use these tips as guidelines for your own experimentation and creativity.

Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →   Over the past twenty years, I’ve learned some of my most important website building lessons the hard way. When I built my first site, I had no idea what I was doing, and that turned out to be a gift. It forced me to understand what truly matters online: not perfection or complexity, but clarity. I’m a physician by trade, not a developer. But between medical school, clinical work and late nights exploring technology, I’ve built more than a dozen websites, some for fun, others for businesses and a few just to test ideas. Through it all, one lesson has stayed constant: simplicity wins. If you’re ready to experience that for yourself, try a free website builder  and see how far clarity can take you. Whether you’re looking to launch a business website or testing an idea, you can learn how to make a website from scratch . 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: website building lessons After two decades and dozens of websites built from the ground up, Dr. Pouyan Golshani has learned one enduring truth: simplicity wins online. In this post, he shares seven hard-earned lessons, from defining a clear purpose to using the best website builders , like Wix, to move fast, stay authentic and keep your site evolving. 7 website building lessons Start with a clear purpose Choose tools that let you focus on content, not code Don't chase design trends, chase authenticity Build for mobile first, not late Let AI help, but keep your voice Update often, even if it's small Measure feelings, not just clicks 01. Start with one clear purpose Whether you’re a restaurant owner, therapist or designer, your website should answer one question in five seconds: what do you do, and how can I reach you? Most small business owners overload their homepage with every service they’ve ever offered. They forget that a visitor’s attention span online is shorter than a text message. If someone can’t figure out your purpose immediately, they leave. When I built my medical directory site, I made the mistake of listing every possible specialty, pricing model and technology stack. It looked impressive but confused everyone. Once I simplified it into a single headline: “Find and connect with trusted physicians in seconds,” engagement tripled. Your website isn’t a resume. It’s a welcome mat. Learn more: What is the purpose of a website How to build a homepage Best homepages 02. Choose tools that let you focus on content, not code For non-technical owners, platforms like Wix  are game-changers. You don’t need to hire an expensive developer or learn HTML to create something beautiful. What matters is choosing a tool that gets out of your way so you can tell your story. When people ask me where to start, I tell them: start where you can move fast. Even simple WordPress hosting or an all-in-one builder like Wix can take you 90% of the way. The rest is iteration. You don’t get points for complexity, you get results from momentum. Did you know?   Nearly three‑quarters (74 %) of people who’ve built a website in the last year used a website‑builder service rather than coding from scratch. 03. Don’t chase design trends, chase authenticity In medicine and business alike, people can feel when something’s real. The same applies online. Clean, honest design builds trust far faster than flashy animations or endless stock images. Pick colors that reflect your brand’s tone. Use real photos of your space, your team or your work. A visitor doesn’t want to be impressed, they want to feel connected. When I launched my consulting platform, I hired a designer who showed me ten sleek layouts. The one I chose had the least polish but the most sincerity. It felt human, not corporate. Visitors stayed longer and conversions improved. "If you have a brand, make sure your website aligns with it. This includes matching your brand colors, properly positioning your logo and making sure your business name is clear and easy to understand. People should immediately recognize your brand and know where they’ve landed when visiting your site." - Dafna Rabin, Wix Templates design team lead Create one of the best websites  for your business by learning how to design a website  that feels authentic, reflects your brand and truly connects with your audience. 04. Build for mobile first, not last Mobile devices accounted for over 60% of global website traffic . If your website isn’t easy to scroll, tap or load in under three seconds, you’re invisible. I learned this after realizing most of my real-estate investor traffic came during lunch breaks or commutes. Once I simplified layouts and increased my mobile website speed, my leads doubled without a single ad. This is a perfect opportunity to explore how to make a website mobile friendly and ensure it works seamlessly across devices. If your font looks too small or your call-to-action button is hard to tap, fix that before you worry about SEO. User comfort is SEO. Learn more: What is a mobile website? Best mobile website builders Best website builders for SEO Best mobile websites Mobile templates 05. Let AI help, but keep your voice AI tools , from ChatGPT to Wix’s own text and image generators, can save enormous time. Use them to brainstorm copy, create a logo or polish headlines. But always reread what they produce and inject your tone back in. I use AI as an assistant, not a ghostwriter. It’s great for speed, but connection comes from your humanity. Tell small stories: the moment you started your business, a mistake you learned from, a happy client. Those details make people stay. 06. Update often, even if it’s small Websites age quickly, like unwatered plants. A monthly website update refresh—new photo, new blog, updated hours—keeps search engines and visitors engaged. You don’t have to redesign. Just keep breathing life into it. Google notices. So do people. “Even small updates make a big difference. Fresh content shows visitors and search engines that your site is alive, and that your business is active and reliable.” - Sharon Hafuta, SEO blog editor at Wix 07. Measure feelings, not just clicks Website analytics are useful, but they don’t tell the whole story. The real metric of success is whether your website makes people feel they’ve found someone who understands them. I’ve built data dashboards and SEO experiments: they’re important. But the most powerful response I ever got came from a single line on my medical site, “You’re not just a number here.” That one sentence turned visitors into patients. Keep learning: your website grows as you do The best website building lessons don’t end once your site goes live. Every update, every new page, every user comment teaches you something about what works (and what doesn’t). The key is to treat your website as a living project, one that evolves with your business, your audience and your goals. Revisit your analytics regularly, test new layouts, refresh old copy and keep experimenting with tools like Wix's free AI website builder . The more you explore, the more confident and creative you’ll become. What to review Why it's important How often Quick win Website analytics Understand what pages perform best and where visitors drop off. Monthly Use heatmaps or Wix Analytics to spot improvement areas. Design layout Keeps your site modern and easy to navigate. Quarterly Test one new layout or section per quarter. Content & copy Ensures your message stays relevant and aligned with your goals. Monthly Update headlines or add a new blog post. SEO performance Helps your site stay visible and competitive in search results. Monthly Refresh meta titles and add trending keywords. Meet the author Pouyan Golshani, MD  | Interventional Radiologist & Founder, GigHz and Guide.MD Pouyan combines over two decades of experience in medicine, materials and markets with a passion for clear, human-centered technology. He’s built and tested dozens of websites, from medical directories to tech startups, and continues to share practical, real-world lessons to help others create websites that communicate with clarity and purpose. Website building lessons FAQ What are the most important website building lessons for beginners? The top lessons include defining a clear purpose, choosing tools that prioritize content over code, building for mobile first and keeping your website authentic and updated. These foundations ensure your site grows with your goals. How do I start learning website building lessons without coding? Use an AI website builder or no-code website builder like Wix, which lets you design, publish and customize without technical skills. You’ll focus on storytelling, visuals and structure, the real building blocks of a great site. How often should I update my website? Because over 60% of all web traffic now comes from mobile devices. A mobile-friendly site improves user experience, boosts SEO features and keeps visitors engaged longer. What’s the biggest website building lesson after 20 years of experience? Simplicity wins. The most effective websites communicate clearly, use authentic visuals and evolve continuously with your business.