Build a Website & Getting Online
Creating a website might seem like a huge task, but with the right approach, you can build a professional, effective site without getting overwhelmed. Whether you’re launching a business, showcasing your portfolio, or simply carving out a corner of the internet for yourself, this guide will walk you through the essential steps to get your site live and looking sharp.
Let’s dive into how to plan, design, and launch your website, step by step.
Step 1: Start with a Clear Plan
Before you open up a website builder or start choosing fonts, take a moment to zoom out and clarify what you’re actually trying to achieve. A little planning upfront will save you hours later.
Ask yourself:
- What is the main goal of this website? Are you hoping to attract new clients, sell products, build your personal brand, or simply have an online presence?
- Who is your audience? Understanding who you’re speaking to will influence your design choices, tone of voice, and the content you create.
- What sets you apart? Jot down a quick sentence or two about what makes your business or offering unique. This helps AI tools and content generators create more personalised and relevant text.
- What are people searching for online? Doing some basic keyword research helps ensure your site speaks the same language as your potential visitors, and increases your chances of showing up in search results.
You don’t need a detailed business plan, just a simple outline with clear goals. This will serve as your roadmap as you move through the rest of the process.
Step 2: Choose a Theme and Make It Your Own
Most website builders (like Wix, Squarespace, WordPress, etc.) come with a library of pre-designed themes or templates. These give you a starting point so you’re not working from scratch.
Once you’ve selected a theme that feels close to your style, start customizing it to reflect your brand:
- Add brand elements like your logo, site title, and tagline.
- Adjust your colour palette to match your brand identity. If you don’t have one yet, check out tools like Coolors.co for easy palette inspiration.
- Pick your fonts—you can browse free options on DaFont or FontSpace.
- Update your copy and images. Many builders now offer built-in AI tools for content generation. If not, tools like Ahrefs’ AI Content Helper can give you a head start. For visuals, try using high-quality stock photos from Unsplash or create your own with Canva.
Themes typically come with several pages already set up (like Home, About, and Contact), giving you a solid foundation to build on.
Step 3: Create SEO-Friendly Pages with Reusable Templates
To help your site rank on Google, and be picked up by AI-powered tools, you’ll need to go beyond the default theme pages.
Start by mapping out the additional pages your site needs. For example, if you’re building a service-based website, you might want to include:
- Individual service pages (e.g., “Emergency Plumbing” or “Bathroom Renovations”).
- Location-specific landing pages (e.g., “Plumber in Durham”).
- Portfolio pages showcasing past work.
- Customer testimonials that build trust.
To save time and stay consistent, create a few reusable page or section templates. These could include:
- Testimonials
- Your process or workflow
- Benefit statements
- Calls to action
- Contact forms
If your website builder offers pre-made blocks or sections, customize your favourites so you can use them across different pages without starting from scratch each time.
You can also draw inspiration from your competitors, see what types of content and structure are already ranking well for your niche.
Step 4: Design Simple, Intuitive Navigation
Navigation is how visitors move through your site, so it needs to be clear and easy to use. Most of the time, this means setting up a top navigation bar that includes:
- Home
- About
- Services (or Products)
- Contact
If you have multiple services or locations, use drop-down menus to keep things tidy. And don’t forget to include at least one strong call to action, like a “Book Now” button or your phone number.
Next, design your footer. This often appears on every page and is a great place to add:
- Contact details
- Social media links
- Legal pages (like Privacy Policy and Terms of Use)
- Newsletter signup forms
- A Google Map (if location is relevant to your business)
For blog-style sites, consider adding a sidebar with a table of contents or recent posts to improve navigation within longer content.
Also, make sure to include internal links between related pages. These not only help users explore more of your content, they also make your site easier for search engines to understand and index.
Step 5: Connect Analytics and Tracking Tools
Once your site looks great and is ready for visitors, it’s time to set up tracking tools. This lets you monitor how people are finding and using your site, so you can improve it over time.
Here are some useful tools to consider:
- Google Search Console: Helps you see how your site performs in Google’s search results.
- Bing Webmaster Tools: Important now that AI-powered tools like ChatGPT use Bing’s search index.
- Ahrefs Web Analytics: A privacy-friendly alternative to Google Analytics, great for understanding where your traffic comes from.
- Ahrefs Site Audit: Helps you keep an eye on your site’s SEO health and fix technical issues as they arise.
Most website builders will allow you to add tracking scripts either through settings or with plugins like Insert Headers and Footers on WordPress.
Step 6: Launch and Celebrate!
Now comes the fun part, publishing your site!
Before you go live, double-check that your site isn’t set to “noindex” (a setting that tells search engines to ignore your site). You can usually find this in the site settings or SEO section of your website builder.
Once everything’s set, hit Publish, and take a moment to celebrate. You’ve just launched your website!
Final Thoughts: Progress Over Perfection
There’s no such thing as a perfect website, especially not at launch. What matters most is that your site exists, works well, and gives people a clear way to connect with you.
Your website will evolve over time. You can always tweak your design, update content, or add features as your needs grow. And when you outgrow the DIY approach, that’s a great time to bring in a developer or designer to help you level up.
For now, focus on getting it live, making it useful, and sharing it proudly with the world.
You’ve got this.