How to build a website from scratch for beginners
Establishing an online presence is an absolute must for any small business owner. A professional, engaging website conveys credibility and reliability and allows you to market your business online. While the process of creating a website from scratch may seem a bit daunting, you can actually create a customized website all on your own.
No matter what type of site you want to make, this complete guide on how to build a website from scratch will guide you through the process.
01. Define the goal for your website
Whether you are creating a business, blog or portfolio website, defining your website goal will maximize the benefits of your online presence. A clear understanding of your objective will help you shape your brand identity and determine what assets and design effects to include on your site. This may be different depending on if you plan to monetize your website or not. Elements you may want to consider when creating a custom site:
- Blog
- eCommerce
- Photo gallery
- Social media links
- Online store
- Chat feature
- Members area
- Privacy Policy
Once you’ve narrowed down the purpose of your website, you’ll want to create your brand identity. This is another aspect that will impact your site design, from the tone of your microcopy, to your logo to the color of your buttons.
A great way to get started is by creating a simple idea map with a pen and paper. Write down the type of site you plan to make in the middle of your map and think about words and phrases that describe the vibe you’re going for as well as your brand voice. Then, write each in separate circles stemming from your initial idea. Once you’ve broken down your brand into individual elements, it will be much easier to continue on to the next step of the process.
- Conduct competitor research
- Explore visual options for your website
- Choose a domain name
- Design your website layout
- Craft a website color scheme
- Pick the right web fonts
- Prioritize your content hierarchy
- Optimize for SEO
- Make your site mobile friendly
