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So, you want to create a website? Good news: making a website has never been easier.
These days, there are a number of website builders that make designing a site as simple as following a recipe. A mature website builder like Wix can also make running your business online significantly easier.
Wix gives you a range of high-quality features: a drag-and-drop website editor, templates, AI, marketing tools and native business solutions. Keep reading to learn how to make a Wix website by bringing all of your favorite elements together.
How to make a website with Wix
01. Define your goals
Creating a website starts with considering the goal of your website. Do you want to monetize your website, or simply share your favorite recipes? Whatever your aim is, be clear about your definition of success. This will help you determine the best platform, design and timeline for your project.
Related reading:
If you're still unsure about the kind of website that suits you, take some time to explore the different types of websites available or explore these website ideas for inspiration. Your website could serve as:
An online store where you sell custom merchandise, handmade items, branded products or even dropshipped items. (See our guides specifically on how to start an online store or how to make an eCommerce website.)
A blog where you share your own insights, interview experts or engage a community of people who share a common interest. (Learn how to start a blog.)
An online portfolio, which exists as a type of static website that shows off your experience to potential employers or clients. (Learn how to make an online portfolio.)
Note: One website can serve multiple purposes. You can create an online store that also has a blog. Or, you can create a blog that sells merchandise.
“Just as us humans, every website has its own needs. Try to define what those are and what goals you’d like to achieve in order to create a successful website that is truly original.” - Adi Huri, product marketing lead for the Wix Brand
02. Pick a website builder
Your website builder sets the foundation of your website. Pick a platform that doesn’t just accommodate your current needs but can scale with your business and keep all of your data and assets safe.
To this end, Wix guarantees enterprise-grade security with every site, in addition to 99.98% uptime and a scalable infrastructure. On top of this, you’ve got built-in tools for marketing and business management—saving you the headache (and cost) of finding third-party integrations to perform fundamental business tasks.
If you’re not sure where to start, jot down a list of needs and wants. Sign up for a free trial or free account. Spend time exploring the benefits and limitations of each platform, and look at reviews online.
Learn more: Wix vs. Squarespace
When it comes to Wix, you’ve got several options to choose from.
Wix AI website builder
An evolution of our Wix ADI technology (which we launched back in 2016), the AI website builder lets you create a fully functional website—simply by chatting with AI. Just answer a few questions about your business and website goals. The builder will then whip up a bespoke site with all the core pages, business apps and content (including images and text) based on your preferences.
Try out the AI website builder for free today.
Wix Editor
The Wix Editor is a drag-and-drop HTML editor with flexible customization options. You can choose from more than 900 website templates or start from scratch. The Editor allows you to create a professional website that still embodies your unique brand; customize the look and feel of your site for both your mobile and desktop. Enjoy various AI-powered tools, including our AI text creator, image creator, layouts tool and more.
See these Wix websites for inspiration or see the Wix Editor up close with this online course.
For more advanced website development needs: The Wix Editor offers access to Velo by Wix. Velo supports markup languages like HTML, CSS and Javascript for custom-coding elements of your site. For example, you can connect custom databases and build dynamic content, or use JavaScript to add more interactive behaviors. As another option, you can use Velo APIs to install a Wix website app to an existing site. (Learn more about Wix Wix Headless.)
Wix Studio
If you run an agency that’s regularly building a website for clients, or if you have an enterprise business with complex design needs, Wix Studio is probably your best bet. Wix Studio offers a collaborative platform and unparalleled customization options. Enjoy precise control over your design and easily create highly responsive, intricate animations (among other things). You can even export a design from Figma into the Wix Studio Editor, where you can bring your vision to life.
Discover more about Wix Studio.
03. Map out and create your pages
Before jumping into your design, take some time to map out your essential web pages. Start with the basics: a homepage, an about page and a contact page. Then, think about what else you need based on your site's purpose. You may end up needing:
Category pages: Category pages are helpful for organizing content, especially on an eCommerce site or blog. A category page can act as a navigational element, guiding visitors to the content that they’re looking for in a friendly, familiar way.
Product pages: Product pages should highlight key features and benefits of your product, giving enough space for images, videos and dynamic sections (such as “recommended products”). You may even want to include a reviews section, or an area showcasing user-submitted photos.
Services page: Here you can list the services you offer. For example, if you’re a freelance writer, you can talk about the types of projects you take on or the types of packages you offer.
Support page: A support page can include information on how to get in touch with your team, or how to handle situations like a return or issues with shipping.
Checkout page: Whether you run an eCommerce or service-based business, a checkout page can simplify (and speed up) the sales process. Make sure to offer multiple ways of paying and keep your form clear and to the point.
FAQ: Address common questions and concerns upfront to build trust and set the right expectations. Regularly update this page as new questions arise.
Testimonials/review page: A review page can consist of video testimonials, star ratings and/or written reviews.
Privacy policy page: A privacy policy page can demonstrate that you take your customers’ privacy seriously. It may also be a legal requirement if you do business in certain countries or states.
Read also: How to build a homepage
04. Design your site
At this point, you’re probably itching to get started on your design. Considering how 48% of website visitors judge a site’s credibility by its design, you’ll want to be very intentional about each component of your site. Dig a little deeper into the main components.
Colors
Colors are one of the first things that catch your visitors’ eyes. They have the power to evoke certain emotions or draw attention to certain parts of your website.
Use complementary colors to help your site look uniform while reserving certain hues for attention-grabbing text and buttons. Choose colors that fit your brand, sticking to one main color and a few secondary ones to avoid overwhelming visitors.
Your color choices shape your site's feel—bright colors like yellow can create an energetic and cheerful vibe, while darker tones like brown can convey a sense of reliability and warmth. For example, Simply Ollie uses muted earth tones, making its site feel cozy and traditional. This works in harmony with the brand’s nostalgic products (paper diaries and planners) as well as its emphasis on nature and sustainability.
Subscribe to the Wix blog for a weekly dose of fresh web design tips and trends.
Menus
As the central navigation point of your website, your site menu lets visitors search your pages. It’s one of the first places they’ll likely look to find the information that they want. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you carefully consider what to include in your menu.
Your menu should reflect your site goals, in addition to clearly organizing your pages. For instance, if you run a travel blog and your aim is to share itineraries and travel tips, consider a menu that categorizes content by destination or type of vacation (e.g., city- vs. nature-oriented trips). In this case, having a "Travel Tips" section at the top would be more relevant than a "Contact Us" page.
“Keep in mind that the menu is the map of your website. By adding the right pages to your menu, in the right order, it can be the heart of your website’s success.” - Adi Huri, product marketing lead for the Wix brand
Buttons
Small but mighty, buttons guide your visitors to the next step. Be it to complete a purchase, subscribe to your blog or sign up for your service, buttons can also help you track engagement. Put simply: if people are clicking your buttons, then they’re likely interested in what you have to offer and/or curious enough to stick around on your site.
But for buttons to work, they need to be clear and noticeable. Visitors should know exactly where a button leads—and not feel duped or confused after clicking it.
Note that both text and graphics can be helpful here; by now, most people can recognize social media symbols like Facebook and Instagram, or the classic “download” symbol. Moreover, bright colors, button size and strategic placement can help your buttons get the attention they deserve.
Visual elements
While all of web design is visual, certain elements truly enhance the user experience of your site. Things like images, shapes and scrolling effects can catch users’ eyes. At the same time, you want to avoid overwhelming your visitors.
Prioritize simplicity by using a clean, straightforward layout and giving each element enough space to breathe. Balance visuals and content so that images, videos and effects highlight key information rather than distract from it. Always use high-quality media; select high-resolution images and videos that are relevant, plus add value to the page.
When you’re building a site on Wix, you can take advantage of stock photos or the AI image creator to jazz up your site. You can experiment with different shapes, layouts and backgrounds (among other things). Or, use one of Wix’s branding tools—like the Wix logo maker—to develop your brand identity if you’re just starting a business.
Read up on more image optimization techniques.
Mobile web design
A whopping 96% of the global digital population now uses a mobile device to connect to the internet. It goes without saying that you’ll want to give some TLC to your site’s mobile experience and consider the case for making a responsive vs. adaptive website.
Since phone screens are much smaller than computer screens, the layout and design need to be different. Prioritize what elements to show first (above the fold) and decide what can be found elsewhere. Some elements might need to be removed entirely for the best mobile experience.
Make it easy for users to navigate by placing key links at the top. Many mobile sites use a hamburger menu (three lines) to organize and condense links.
Remember to focus on your website's performance and speed. Use Google PageSpeed Insights or the Site Speed Dashboard in your Wix account to check your scores and Core Web Vitals. Faster sites provide a better user experience.
If you're using Wix, your site is already optimized for great performance with globally located servers, auto cache and auto image WebP optimization. In addition to this, you can easily preview and adjust your mobile site from the Editor—or turn your website into an app with our AI-powered Branded App tool.
05. Create your content
There are many aspects of a site’s success, however on a basic level, content is king. The type of content that gets added to your site will define how visitors interact with it and your business.
Take the time to plan what you want to say and consider whether your message is best conveyed via text or visuals. For example, if you want visitors to take a specific action, make it clear in your copy. Alternatively, if your goal is to introduce a new product, perhaps a video is the way to go.
Regularly update your content to keep it relevant and fresh. Pay attention to SEO best practices as well, including:
Incorporate relevant keywords into your copy
Write unique meta descriptions and title tags for each page, using Wix’s AI meta tag creator if needed
Use header tags (H1, H2, H3) to structure your content and make it easier for both search engines and people to understand the main points
Include links to other relevant pages on your website to guide visitors and keep them engaged
Create content that satisfies searchers’ intent when they land on your page
Website builders like Wix combine their content management software with their editors, helping you manage content effectively and experiment with static vs. dynamic website content.
Did you know? Wix offers AI tools for text generation, image editing, image creation, product descriptions and more. Test drive our tools for free by creating a Wix account.
“There are over 2 billion websites out there and we all visit many of them daily. With visual and textual content you have the opportunity to make a statement and have your site stand out. This is the place to add your brand personality. If you are more traditional, no need to go wild. Often, unique copy or a cool visual is all you need for your site to be memorable.” - Adi Huri, product marketing lead for the Wix brand
06. Choose a domain name
Your domain name is your site's title, which makes it easily identifiable and accessible. A custom domain name also adds a professional touch. For this reason, domain names often match their brand names, like Wix and wix.com.
To choose a domain name, start by understanding what a domain is. Then, pick an appropriate domain extension (.com, .net, etc.) and consider relevant subdomains. Once you've decided, purchase your domain name through an official registrar like Wix.
Note: If you publish your site under a free account, Wix provides a default domain name. However, you can always purchase a custom domain and choose what will become your top-level domain. Or, if you upgrade to any of Wix’s paid plans, you get a private domain free for the first year.
Need help finding the perfect domain name? Try using a website name generator for inspiration or check out our list of website name ideas.
Examples of available domain extensions:
07. Select web hosting
At this point, you might be wondering how to make sure that your website actually goes live and can be found online. This is where web hosting comes into play. Web hosting is like a storage house for your website, ensuring it’s accessible on the internet. There are different types, like VPS, shared hosting, managed hosting and cloud hosting.
Read more: What is web hosting?
With Wix, you automatically get free web hosting when you publish your site, so you don’t need an external host or your own web server. The platform utilizes multiple content delivery networks around to maintain a 99.98% uptime.
Security is covered, too. Wix provides 24/7 monitoring, auto backups, enterprise-grade website security, TLS and public key certification for every site. You can further secure your site with measures like multi-factor authentication.
08. Promote your website
The work doesn’t end after you’ve published your site. Once your site is live, you’ll want to proactively draw visitors to your pages using strategies like the ones below.
Social media marketing
Using social media to promote your new website involves a strategic blend of content creation, audience engagement and targeted advertising.
The most important tip here: avoid spreading yourself too thin and focus on the platform(s) where your target audience is most active. Utilize Wix’s social media schedule tools, in addition to our AI caption creator and social ads features to keep everything in one place.
Invite two-way conversation. Make sure you’re not simply talking at your followers and bombarding them with content they don’t care about. Pay attention to what they post. Respond to their comments.
Consider collaborating with influencers and industry leaders who can endorse your website and attract their followers to your platform.
SEO
SEO remains a large part of any website’s success. SEO can be complex, involving various steps like optimizing your site's content and design.
Fortunately, Wix’s SEO features provide a solid infrastructure to meet search engine requirements. You’ve got AI-powered text writers, assistants and checklists to provide suggestions on how to improve your content for ranking. For advanced users, Wix offers tools like a robots.txt editor, dynamic XML sitemaps and customizable canonical tags to further optimize your site.
Keep in mind that it takes time to see the results of SEO, and your site may not rank well immediately. But the effort you put in now will pay off in the long run.
Google My Business
A Google My Business (GMB) profile is especially handy if you have a physical storefront. For many business owners, GMB is important for local discoverability—it serves as a listing on Google Search and Google Maps.
You can set up a GMB profile directly inside Wix. Once it’s set up, your GMB profile will provide a snapshot of your business location, hours, contact info, reviews and website. Make sure to fill out your profile as fully as possible. Add helpful visuals. Explore GMB’s extended capabilities. And carefully choose your category (a generic category like “restaurant” will be swarming with competition, whereas a category like “Italian restaurant” will be less competitive).
Web analytics
Web analytics tools are like your eyes and ears online. They show you how people interact with your site, helping you identify issues and improve your website management in the long run.
Analytics like visitor counts, click paths, purchase rates and most engaged regions can guide how you tailor your content or offers. Most importantly, web analytics can help you dissect user behavior. For instance, if many users leave before reaching the checkout button, you may need to rethink your button placement or webpage design.
In a similar vein, data like this may point to the best ways to promote or monetize your site.
Use Wix Analytics to your advantage. Wix Analytics will provide you with essential data (e.g., the total number of site visitors, time spent on pages, number of sales and much more). You can additionally integrate Google Analytics for comprehensive insights.
How to make a website FAQ
How much does it cost to make a website?
A website can be built for free, with a website builder like Wix. Or you can opt for a premium plan where prices range from tens to hundreds of dollars, depending on the website builder you choose. If you hire a developer or technical designer to make a website it could cost in the thousands.