- Dr. Pouyan Golshani
- Nov 12
- 6 min read
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
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:
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:
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 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.
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