How to Create a Website

Learn to make your own website and get it online.

How to Create a Website

Creating a website is a powerful way to connect and engage with your audience, whether you have a business, personal portfolio or online store.

Fortunately, website builders have made it easier than ever for individuals and businesses to establish their online presence, without the need for coding experience or technical know-how.

This guide will walk you through 9 essential steps to create a website that fits your brand, builds an audience and supports your business. We'll include tips for optimizing your website for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to ensure that your site performs well in search engine results.

Follow this guide to create your website with the Website.com site builder or any website builder. We'll end the guide with an in-depth walk-through of Website.com website builder tools.

Updated: December 09, 2024

Part 1: How To Create a Website

  1. Define Your Website Goals
  2. Register a Domain Name for Your Website
  3. Choose the Right Website Builder For You
  4. Design Your Website Layout
  5. Add Relevant Pages
  6. Customize Website Content
  7. Add More Functionality
  8. Optimize Your Website For SEO
  9. Test and Publish Your Website

Part 2: Website.com Site Builder Guide

Conclusion

Part 1: How To Create a Website
1. Define Your Website Goals

Before you start building your website, you must decide on its purpose and goal. Understanding the goal of your website will guide your website structure, content and design decisions during your website building process.

Here are some common types of websites and their goals:

Business Website

If you are a small business owner, one of the main goals of your website is to attract leads and convert them into customers. Your website should act as an online storefront that showcases your products or services, highlights your unique value proposition, and provides clear calls-to-action (CTAs) that encourage visitors to make a purchase, book a consultation, make an inquiry or sign up for email marketing.

Online Store (eCommerce Website)

If you're selling products online, your website's goal is to drive sales. An eCommerce website requires secure payment options, detailed product descriptions, compelling product images, and above all, a user friendly shopping experience. Your website needs to attract visitors and build trust, turning them into loyal customers.

Portfolio Website

For creatives such as photographers, designers or artists, the goal of a website is to showcase work to attract clients or build an audience. A portfolio website could display high-quality images, information about the artist, and client testimonials or press reviews. A portfolio website should also include a contact form or a clear way to get in contact.

Nonprofit Website

For nonprofits, a website's main goal is to inform the public, build awareness for a cause, and encourage donations and volunteer or membership participation. Your nonprofit website should inspire action and create a sense of community. High quality content and clear CTAs are crucial on a nonprofit website, as well as an engaging About Us page or section to build credibility. You may consider adding forms for different purposes, such as a volunteer sign-up form, donor sign up, or RSVP form for an upcoming fundraiser.

2. Register a Domain Name for Your Website

After you have defined the objective your website, you'll need to get a domain name. A domain name is your website's address on the internet, such as www.yourwebsitename.com. Choosing the right domain name is crucial because it reflects your brand identity and impacts your ability to attract and retain visitors. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting a domain name:

Keep it Short and Memorable:

A short, simple domain name is easy to remember and type. Avoid long or complicated words that could confuse users or make it hard for them to remember your site.

Include Keywords:

Including relevant keywords in your domain name can improve your SEO and help search engines understand the purpose of your website. You can add a location or city in your domain name to draw traffic if your business is targeting a local audience. For instance, if you're running a cafe in New York, try including the word "cafe" in your domain (e.g., BarrysCafeNYC.com).

Make it Brandable:

Your domain name should be unique to your brand and easy to recognize. Aim for something that reflects what your brand is about.

Avoid Numbers and Hyphens:

Numbers and hyphens can be easily misunderstood. Stick to just letters to avoid typos.

Avoid Homophones If Possible:

Homophones are words that sound like another word, but have a different spelling and meaning, for example, "right" and "write." Using homophones can lead to missed opportunities through word of mouth marketing or typos. If you must use a homophone, consider purchasing an additional domain name with the common typo, and have it redirect to your main site. This way, you won't miss out on those visitors.

Choose the Right Domain Extension:

The most common domain extension is .com, but depending on your business, you might also consider other extensions like .org, .net, or country-specific extensions like .ca.


Once you've decided on a domain name, you can simply register for a domain name with your website subscription plan with Website.com. Alternatively, you can register a domain with a third-party domain registrar and connect the domain to your website building account.

SEO Tip: Try to choose a domain name that is relevant to your business or niche. A keyword-rich domain can improve your chances of ranking higher in search results, but keep in mind that content and overall SEO best practices will have a greater impact in the long run.

3. Choose the Right Website Builder For You

Choosing the right website builder is a crucial step in creating a successful website. While there are numerous website builders available, the following factors may impact your decision:

Ease of Use:

Look for a website builder that is user-friendly and can make the website building experience more efficient.

Customization:

Ensure that the builder offers flexibility in design and features so that you can tailor the website to your needs.

Features:

Make sure the website builder provides tools and functionality to reach your website's goals.

Cost:

Consider your budget. A free plan is a good way to test the waters, but paid plans provide more features and control over your design.

Support:

Opt for a website builder with reliable customer support in case you encounter any problems.


Website.com is an excellent choice to build your website, offering an innovative way to build your website, starting with a customizable template. Website pages are built with sections that include the features you need, making it easy to update your content while keeping a consistent feel across your website. If you ever need help along the way, Website.com offers an in-house support team that you can reach by phone, email or live chat.

4. Design Your Website Layout

Once you've chosen a website builder, you need to create an account. Many website builders offer a free trial, so you can start building your site without any upfront costs. Website.com offers a free website plan so you can build your entire website at no cost.

After signing up, you will start with a template. Templates are pre-designed website layouts that are fully customizable. Choose a template that aligns with your brand's goals. Whether you're building an online store or a portfolio, there are templates for every type of website! Keep in mind that you can easily update images to alter a template to fit your industry. It is best to focus on choosing a template based on the structure and features the template offers.

SEO Tip: All Website.com templates are responsive, meaning that they adjust well to different screen sizes. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its search rankings, so responsiveness is crucial for SEO.

After you've decided on a template, it's time to customize the design of your website. Website builders offer an intuitive way to customize text, images, videos, buttons, and more.

Key design elements to consider:

Colors and Branding:

Match your website's colors with your brand identity to create a cohesive look.

Navigation:

Ensure that the navigation is simple and intuitive, with clear site menu titles and button labels so visitors can easily find what they're looking for.

Typography:

Choose fonts that match your website's brand and enhances readability. The Website.com Website Builder offers designer-made and fully customizable font packs that apply across your entire website, keeping your styling consistent across your website.


SEO Tip: Focus on user experience by making your site easy to navigate. Google rewards websites with good user experience with better search rankings.

5. Add Relevant Pages

Choosing the right pages for your website is essential for creating a user-friendly experience. The structure of your website should provide visitors with easy access to important information and guide them through the experience on your site.

Essential Pages to Include:

  • 1 Home page

    The home page is the gateway to your website. It should give visitors a clear understanding of who you are and what you offer. Make sure it's visually appealing, easy to navigate, and includes a call-to-action (CTA) to guide users to the next step (e.g., "Shop Now," "Learn More," "Contact Us").

  • 2 About Page

    The About page helps establish credibility and trust. Use this page to tell the story of your brand, explain your values, and showcase why you're different from competitors. You may also want to include pictures and bios of your team members to foster a deeper connection with your audience.

  • 3 Services or Products Page

    If you're running a business, this page should clearly showcase the services or products you offer. Beautiful images attract visitors and demonstrate the quality of services or products they can expect from you. You can easily add a Services section to display your list of services. Be specific and provide clear calls-to-action, like buttons to buy now, book a consultation, or learn more under each service.

  • 4 Resources Page

    If you're focusing on SEO, a resources page is essential for creating valuable content, attracting organic traffic, building an audience, and establishing yourself as an expert. Write informative, engaging posts that answer your target audience's questions. Update your resources page regularly to keep it fresh, as well as signal to search engines that it is timely and relevant.

  • 5 Contact Page

    Make it easy for visitors to get in touch with you. A contact page should include your business or store address, phone number, email address, and a contact form. You can also integrate social media links to encourage another level of engagement.

6. Customize Website Content

Content is the foundation of your website. High quality content is the key to keeping visitors engaged. Good website content builds trust and interest with your brand, leading to conversions.

Types of Content to Add:

  • 1 Text Content

    Keep text on your website clear, concise, and focused on answering the visitor's questions. Focus on content that is relevant and appealing for your industry, and naturally incorporate keywords into your text. Break up large paragraphs with headings and subheadings to enhance readability. Incorporate whitespace so that content is not too lengthy and overwhelming. When your content is informative and appealing for your target audience, visitors will return to your website again and again - leading to more traffic and a higher SEO ranking.

  • 2 Images and Videos

    Visual content is a key component of web design. Use high-quality images that align with your brand and messaging. Videos can be particularly powerful for product demonstrations or sharing your brand story. Make sure all images and videos are optimized for web performance to reduce loading times.

  • 3 Call-to-Action (CTA) Buttons

    CTAs encourage visitors to take the next step, whether it's purchasing a product, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting you for more information. Place CTAs strategically on each page to guide users through the site, such as in your header menu, on the home page, and under your list of services.

  • 4 Alt-text and Meta Descriptions

    Include keyword rich meta descriptions and add descriptive image alt text to optimize SEO for your website.


SEO Tip: Make sure your pages have unique, keyword-optimized titles and meta descriptions. These are important for SEO because they help search engines understand what each page is about and improve your click-through rate (CTR) in search results. Use optimized page and site descriptions, and make use of image alt text. For content on your website, keep it relevant for your audience and industry, which leads to more traffic and a higher SEO ranking.

7. Add More Functionality

Add features to your website to enhance the user experience and make business operations more efficient. Popular website features include:

Online Store:

Add payment methods, store products and shop buttons. Organize your products into different collections, and add an online checkout with coupon codes and other marketing features.

Online Booking:

Allow visitors to book appointments or make reservations all directly through your website. Making it easy to book online gives you a distinct advantage over competition, allowing you to grow your customer base.

Video and Image Gallery:

Showcase your services and products in a beautiful way, giving prospective clients an idea of what you offer.

Contact Forms:

Collect information from your visitors to build an email list, allow visitors to ask questions, or RSVP to an event.

Member Login:

Add member privileges and member sections to encourage engagement on your website.

Google Analytics:

Integrate marketing tools to analyze and optimize your website performance to build your audience and get more conversions.

Social Media Links:

Get brand recognition and engagement by adding social media icons that link to your social media profiles, allowing them to follow you and return to your website easily.

Custom HTML Sections:

Easily enhance your website with custom HTML sections to implement third-party integrations on your site.


All of these popular website features are included with the Website.com website builder.

8. Optimize Your Website for SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is critical for increasing your website's visibility in search engine results.

With Website.com Website Builder, you can further enhance your website for SEO:

Meta Descriptions:

Write a concise and compelling meta description for each page. This text appears under your page title in search results and can impact click-through rates. In the Website.com site builder, you can update the SEO Description for each page by editing the page's Page SEO.

SEO Titles:

Each page should have a unique title tag that describes its content and includes relevant keywords. In the Website.com site builder, you can update the SEO Title for each page by editing the page's Page SEO.

Image Alt Text:

All images should have descriptive alt text that includes relevant keywords. This helps search engines understand what the image is about. The Website.com site builder offers a way to easily add alt text to images.

Internal Linking:

Link to other pages on your site to create a logical structure that search engines can crawl more easily.

Google Search Console:

Verify your website using Website.com's site verification tool so you can use Google Search Console to analyze your site's search traffic.


To ensure your website ranks well on search engines, implement these SEO best practices:

Keyword Research:

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find relevant keywords for your content.

Content Quality:

Google prioritizes high-quality, informative content that meets the needs of users.

Backlinks:

Earn backlinks from reputable websites to increase your domain authority and improve your SEO ranking. You can reach out to different websites and offer to be a guest blogger, contact relevant resource guides and get listed as a resource, and create great content that visitors would naturally be included to share online.

Schema Markup:

Implement schema markup to help search engines understand your website's content and improve visibility in search results. With the Website.com Site Builder, schema markup is automatically generated for your website.

Mobile Optimized:

When your website is optimized to be viewed on a variety of screens, it not only provides a better user experience, but is considered an SEO best practice by Google and other search engines. All websites made with the Website.com Site Builder are automatically mobile-optimized.


SEO Tip: Focus on creating high-quality, keyword-optimized content that provides value to your audience. Google rewards informative and engaging content with higher rankings.

9. Test and Publish Your Website

Once you've completed your website design and content customization, it's time to take your website live, getting it online for everyone to view. On the Website.com site builder, just click the "publish" button in the top right corner once your website is ready. Before publishing, test to ensure that:

  • All links and buttons work correctly.

  • Social media icons link to your social media accounts.

  • Any placeholder content from the original template has been updated with relevant content.

  • Your text content is free of grammatical errors.

  • Your business info is set up correctly, so you can offer a smooth experience through your online store or online booking.

Part 2: Website.com Site Builder Guide
In-Depth Guide to Using the Website.com Website Builder

Working with the Website Builder

The website builder is where you will be creating and editing your website.

The main area -- or the canvas -- is the working area of your website. This is where you'll see your website header, website body, and website footer. Your entire website body layout is made up of sections, and within the sections are the website items.

  • 1 Design

    You can change the overall color theme and font packs for your website. Click Site Design on the left side of the website builder to access the Design functions.

    Fonts

    The fonts for your text elements are linked to a font pack, or font pairing, by default. Any changes you make here will be applied to all text that is linked to that font style in order to achieve a consistent style across your website.

    Colors

    Like font packs, the colors for your entire website are linked to a color theme by default. You can drastically change the look and feel of your website by changing to a different color theme.

    Buttons

    Choose a consistent button design style that will apply for all of your website buttons. Select the button size and button border radius.


  • 2 Sections

    Sections contain website elements, like images, text and media, to make up your website page layout. You can customize sections with your own content.

    Section Mini Toolbar

    When you click on any section, you'll find these functions in the section toolbar located on the top right of the section.

    Section Mini Toolbar

    Design

    Click the "Change Section Design" icon to change your section's layout, color, or other aspects of the design.

    Design

    Clone

    Click the Clone icon to create an identical section that will be added below the existing section.

    Clone

    Move Up and Down

    Click the Move Up or Move Down arrow to move your section up the page.

    Move Up and Down

    Hide Section

    By clicking the Hide icon, the section will not be visible on the website builder, nor on your published website. If you choose to Unhide Section, you will be make it visible on the page again.

    Hide Section

    Delete

    To remove a section from your website page, just click the garbage can icon.

    Delete

    Add Sections

    To add a new section, hover on a section on your website page. Click + Add Section that will appear at the bottom of your existing section. Choose a section category and section layout to add it to the page. The new section will be added below the existing section.

    Add Sections

    Remove Sections

    To remove a section on your website page, hover on the section, and click on the garbage can icon on the top right corner.

    Section or Element Left Panel

    When you click on a section or website element, you may see functions that are specific to each section or website item on the left side of the website builder.

    Section or Element Left Panel

    Item Specific Mini Toolbar

    Click on a website item within a section, and you'll see functions specific to the website element right above the element.

    Item Specific Mini Toolbar

    Customize Text

    Simply click on any text within the layout to customize the text.

    Customize Image, Videos or Media

    Click on any image or media within the website layout, and click the folder icon. Choose from your own uploaded files, or select an image from Stock Images or Stock Videos under Explore.

    Customize Image, Videos or Media
  • 3 Header

    The header is the very top section of your website. A website header typically includes the website name and/or logo, website menu, social media links and a call to action button.

    Header

    Header Design

    Easily choose the header background color from your color theme.

    Header Design

    Company Name

    Add your website title or company title beside your logo to complete your branding. If you do not want to show a website title, just toggle this off.

    Company Logo or Header Image

    Upload your own business logo to complete your website branding.

    Site Menu

    You can rearrange your website menu order or change the page titles under Pages.

    Button

    Add a call to action for your website by changing the Button label and adding a link URL.

    Social Media Links

    Link your social media accounts so that visitors can easily connect with you. If you do not want to show any social links, simply toggle Social Links off.

  • 4 Footer

    The footer is the very bottom section of your website. A website footer typically includes contact details, quick links and a call to action button.

    Footer Design

    Easily choose the footer background color from your color theme.

    Logo or Footer Image

    Upload your own business logo to complete your website branding.

    Contact

    Contact Address, Phone and Email

    Add relevant contact details for your business so that visitors can contact you easier. Contact details also add legitimacy to your website and business.

    Social Links

    Link your social media accounts so that visitors can easily connect with you.

  • 5 Files

    This is where you can manage the image, audio, video and other document files that you've uploaded.

    Files



Managing Your Pages

The page management function in the website builder gives you complete control over your pages. Not only does it let you add and remove pages, it also allows you to rearrange your site menu and set up your meta title and meta descriptions.

You can access the page management function by clicking on Website Pages.

  • 1 Pages

    Add New Web Pages

    You can add additional web pages to your website by clicking Manage Pages in the dashboard on the left, and then click + Add Page.

    Add New Web Pages

    Navigate to a Different Page

    You can jump to a different web page and work on it by clicking on the page name from the list under Site Pages, or using the dropdown at the top of the editor.

    Navigate to a Different Page

    Delete Pages

    You can delete unwanted pages by clicking on the Settings icon beside the page name in the list under Site Pages, and clicking Delete. Deleting the page will also remove it from the site menu.

    Delete Pages

    Rearrange Website Menu Links

    Your website menu allows visitors to navigate through different pages on your website. You can edit the order of your pages on your website menu by clicking on Website Pages. Under Site Menu, you'll see the list of website pages. Just click and drag on the dots beside a page name to rearrange its order on your site menu.

    Rearrange Website Menu Links
  • 2 Page Settings

    In the Site Pages area, you can edit your page settings. The page settings are found by clicking the gear icon that's to the right of the page name.

    The settings are split into four categories: General, SEO, Social Sharing and Custom Code.

    Page Settings

    General

    Page Title

    You can change the name for your page here. This page name will be used to reference this page in the website builder, and will be the page title displayed in the site menu.

    Page URL

    The Page URL will be the website address for the website page.

    Visibility

    Public

    Your page will be able to be viewed by all online.

    Offline

    If you choose to make your page Offline, it will be disabled and will become unreachable by the public.

    Set Page As Coming Soon

    Choose this option if you want to temporarily hide a page as you make internal changes to your web page. On the published side, visitors will see a Coming Soon page.

    SEO

    Search Results Preview

    See what your SEO Title and Description will look like in search results.

    SEO Title and SEO Description

    Add a meta title and meta description for your page, which will be displayed in search engine results. A page title and page description can improve your search rankings by letting search engines know what your content is about.

    Learn more about meta tags and SEO

    Let Search Engines Index This Page

    Keep this toggled on in order to allow search engines to crawl your page content.

    Social Sharing

    Upload an image to be displayed as the preview for your website page. The preview will appear when your web page URL is shared on social media.

    Custom Code

    Header and Body Code

    If you're using any 3rd party scripts or conversion tracking services (like Google Analytics or Google Adwords) and you need to add custom code to your page, you can do it here.

    Learn more about Google Analytics




Saving and Publishing Your Website

Saving Your Work

The website builder will automatically save your work so you don't need to worry. To see the Site History of saved versions of your website, you can go to Site Settings > Site History.

Saving Your Work

Previewing Your Website

You can view a preview of your published website by clicking Preview in the top right.

Previewing Your Website

Desktop Preview

See a preview of how your website will look like when visitors look at your website on a laptop or computer.

Desktop Preview

Tablet Preview

All websites built with the Website.com website builder are responsive. This means your design will automatically be optimized for tablet view! Just click the tablet icon to see what your website will look like when viewed on a tablet.

Tablet Preview

Mobile Preview

Your website is responsive, and will be automatically optimized for viewing on a smartphone. You can click the Mobile icon to preview what your website will look like when visitors view your website on a smartphone.

Mobile Preview

Publishing Your Website

Once you've built your site or you're done making changes, you will need to publish your website in order for the changes to go live.

To publish your website, click Publish at the top right of the website builder.

That's all it takes! Your website is now online.

Publishing Your Website
Conclusion

Creating a website using a website builder is a smart way to take your business to the next level. By following the steps above and implementing SEO best practices, you can create an impressive website that engages visitors, ranks well on search engines, and leads to more conversions for your business.

FAQs

  • How much does a website cost? What does a Website.com subscription include?

    The cost of running a website requires 3 essential components: the domain, hosting, and the tools for making a website.

    A domain is the unique web address that visitors use to find your website, e.g. www.website.com. A domain name is usually a yearly cost, ranging from around $20/year and up.

    Website hosting allows your website files to be stored and seen on the internet, and impacts you website's performance and reliability. This is typically a monthly ongoing cost, usually around $14.99/month and up.

    The website platform you use to create a website is another factor. The cost of making a website differs depending on whether you choose a DIY approach or hire a web designer or developer. Hiring a designer can be a significant expense that generally requires an initial design cost and an ongoing maintenance fee.

    With Website.com premium plans, everything is included to create your website, including a professional domain name for 1 year, web hosting, and a website builder with easy tools to create your site, sell products, and market your website. Premium plans range from $3/month (promo price for the first year), an extremely low cost way to own a professional website.

    With a free Website.com plan, you'll get a free website name and can make your entire website for free. Keep in mind that Website.com premium plans include a professional domain name registration, more website pages and advanced features to make your website more competitive and professional.

  • How easy is it to make a website? Can I make a website without knowing how to code?

    The Website.com website builder is the easiest way to make a website! Our innovative tools allow you to create your website without any design or coding experience. You can even create your entire website, from start to finish, right from a mobile device! Just start with a template, add your own website content, choose sections with the functions you need, and publish to get your responsive website online. If you need help, our support team is here to answer any questions you have. In addition, we offer web design services to help you craft your website on the Website.com website builder, giving you total control of your website after your design is complete.

  • Do I need a domain name? How do I get custom domain emails?

    Yes, every website on the internet needs its own domain name. A custom domain name can make your website look professional online. A good domain name strengthens your brand, makes your website more memorable, and most importantly, helps visitors find you online.

    With Website.com, you can start with a free website name, and all premium Website.com plans include a professional custom domain name for 1 year at no additional charge!

    Problems can arise when domain names are left to expire or become open for anyone to register under their name, from identity theft and impersonation to extortion and malware injection. This is why Website.com offers domain auto renewal feature to help prevent these problems from appearing. Let us know if you are unsure about whether your domain name is set for auto-renewal.

    Using your custom domain name in your email address (info@yourdomainname.com) can boost brand and create trust across all customer communications. Website.com Elite plans and above include professional emails at your domain name, and a mailbox to store your emails. You can read your emails anywhere, or set up emails to be accessed on the go.

  • How do I make my website mobile friendly?

    More than 62% of users access the internet using a mobile phone around the world. That means a mobile-friendly website is essential for reaching potential visitors. Plus, mobile-friendliness is a critical aspect of SEO.

    All websites made with Website.com are responsive, which means they are automatically optimized for both mobile and desktop devices! Your Website.com website will provide website visitors with an optimized user experience from any device they are visiting from.

  • How does my website get found on Google?

    A top ranking on Google's results pages can greatly increase your website traffic, build your audience, and get more customers.

    Website.com has SEO (search engine optimization) tools to help get your website found on Google and other search engines. Explore automatic mobile optimization, a site map generator, and the ability to employ on-page SEO techniques like image titles and page descriptions. Verify your site with Google Search Console using the site verification tool to help you discover the keywords that bring in the most traffic to your site.

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