In the present digital landscape, a well-designed website can open the gateway to numerous opportunities. Whether you are a freelance blogger or trying to establish an ecommerce business, a solid digital presence can scale your business, helping you to establish your brand and stay ahead of your competitors.

According to Netcraft, there are more than 1 billion websites globally. 

However, website designing may seem an intimidating task, especially if you do not have firsthand experience. So, as a beginner, you will be baffled as to where to start from. But, believe us, with the right elements and some basic knowledge, you can create an attractive, informative, and well-organized website.

We are here to guide you on how to build a website from scratch so that in no time, you will have a fully operational website shaping your digital dreams into reality! Let’s do it like a pro!  

A Beginner’s Guide to Build a Website from Scratch

It is possible to build a website without coding and programming skills when you have a concrete plan and a distinct strategy for implementation. In this blog, we will steer you through the process from identifying your goals to launching your website. Stick with us as we will make everything streamlined for easy understanding and successful results.

Know Your Goals-

Why are you creating a website? What is the purpose of the website? Is it to generate brand awareness? Is it to sell products? Who is your target audience? When you have discovered the answers to these questions, you have a crystal-clear goal. It will help you plan your website, like the theme, architecture, site interface, potential pages, type of content, and other features. When building a website from scratch, your strategy will be deeply rooted in your goals.

Pick Your Platform-

To create a website, you will need an appropriate platform that will meet your requirements. There are several platforms or website builders to ease your website-building process, even when you do not have any understanding of the technical aspects. The best part is using these DIY tools anyone can build a website without knowing coding!

From themes to templates, web builders have unique features dedicated to ecommerce, portfolio, and blogging websites. Some platforms also support domain registration and hosting. Nonetheless, when you choose a platform, consider factors like user-friendliness, mobile responsiveness, hosting services, etc. Some notable website builders are WordPress, Shopify, GoDaddy, Hostinger, and Wix.

Decide on a Domain Name-

The next step to creating a website from scratch is to choose a domain name for your business. What is a domain name? The domain name is a unique address of your business on the Internet. It is related to the physical IP address on the web. So, keep it simple and accordant to your business. You can pick a free domain name or a custom one.

However, always remember that the domain name is your digital identity. Therefore, ensure it is impactful so your target audience can easily remember it. Performing keyword research and checking your competitor’s domain name can provide you with prospective ideas.

Website Customization-

Now, it is time to organize the elements. Begin with selecting a template or theme. These are pre-designed layouts that help you to draft your website’s appearance. The layout or template of your website defines user experience. Thus, before settling on a specific theme, research and plan meticulously.

Once you choose a template, start adding other elements that induce life to your website. These elements specifically include colors, fonts, white space, contrast, background, images, text size, and static page. The way you map out your website will generate the first impression on viewers. 

• Build Site Architecture- Is it an ecommerce site or a company portfolio? Depending on the purpose of your website, the web pages will vary. You must be very speculative when determining the pages you will require. Along with the Homepage, your site will have many other pages featuring various aspects of your business. These supporting pages are the building blocks of your website, delivering the intended message. Typically, every website comprises of the following pages:
• Home Page– It is the landing page that includes your business name, logo, and navigation menu. The Homepage connects all the other pages, aiding easy navigation.
• About Page– The second most important page on your website is the About page. Here, you will highlight your story and introduce yourself to the visitors. 
• Product or Service Page– What are you offering to your visitors? Are you selling products? Do you want your visitors to make a direct purchase? If it is an ecommerce site, you must create a catalogue page to exhibit the items.
• Testimonials Page– Reviews and feedback from existing clients are essential in depicting a business’s trustworthiness. A testimonials page encourages prospective customers to take actions like subscribe or buy.
• FAQ Page– Answering the frequently asked questions helps visitors learn more about your products or services.
• Blog Page– Blogging is one of the smartest ways for content marketing. You can publish blogs related to your business and products to promote audience engagement and generate interest.
• Contact and Support Page– Including your physical address, phone number, and email address is mandatory so interested visitors can reach you instantly. Also, link your social media accounts to the contact page for maximum impact.
• Set Up Payment Gateway (if required)– If you have an ecommerce site, it means you facilitate online shopping. Thus, your site needs a storefront layout where all the products will be listed, and customers can navigate through the lists to choose and buy the desired products.

The navigation must be seamless and prompt to ensure buyers do not get disappointed and leave your site. It is a significant section of an ecommerce website defining your credibility. Pick a reliable digital storefront like UPI or PayPal. These are easy to use, supporting smooth transactions. As you build a website from scratch, prioritize user experience since it significantly impacts trust and loyalty.

Create Content-

When you have finally mapped out your site, it is time to add content to the pages. Content forms the core of a website’s performance. It considerably affects search result rankings, audience engagement, lead generation, and conversions. So, your content must be valuable, serving a purpose to audiences. It must be informative with strategically placed keywords, relatable, and accurate.

Give your website a voice. Focus on creating high-quality content to establish your domain authority and foster client relationships. Add HD-quality photos wherever needed. Photos are a distinctive way of expression. They make your website attractive and aid a better understanding of content. It is easier to remember photos, as well! 

Test and Hone-

You are almost ready to let your website go live! Are you excited? Of course, you are! But wait! Did you test your website’s functionality, accessibility, and compatibility? Is your content readable? Did you check for mobile responsiveness? How is the user experience? All these factors are responsible for your website’s performance.

Today, in the mobile-first indexing era, having a mobile-friendly website is immensely crucial if you do not want to get lost in the crowd! Check if all the pages are working and if they have contact forms. Additionally, the user interface must be captivating and well-optimized. You can ask your friends or family members for their valuable feedback. 

Get Set Launch-

Finally, all your efforts about how to make a website from scratch are coming to life! It’s time to publish your website to the world! If all the basic elements are in place and working perfectly, all you have to do now is launch your website. Once your website goes live, promote it to your social media channels to expand reach and attract more traffic. The more you promote, the higher the views.

Keep Tweaking-

Nothing in the digital landscape is permanent. The search engine algorithms keep changing. There is a fair chance you will miss out on the race if you do not stay updated with the latest trends. Therefore, update your website content frequently so they do not become stale and outdated. Such content does not fetch the audience’s attention and gradually loses value. Whether it is blogs or videos, schedule a calendar, repurpose old content, and update. Adding fresh content is a secret to improving your website’s performance. 

Key Takeaways

Designing the first website without any coding experience can be challenging. Luckily, we have platforms or website builders with unlimited customization features requiring no hardcore skills. When you have successfully created a website, you can take it a long way!

There are no limits to refining your website. You can perform search engine optimization (SEO) and track results to secure a high rank in the search results and increase visibility. Other digital marketing elements like content marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, and performance marketing can readily improve your site’s domain authority, credibility, and reputation. We will discuss it in another post. For now, let’s hope you will soon run a successful website!