Look, I get it. The whole "how to create in website" thing feels overwhelming. When I built my first site back in 2015, I spent three weeks just staring at domain registrars. Seriously. My coffee went cold while I debated ".com" versus ".io" like it was life-or-death. Turns out? Most beginners overcomplicate this.
Here's the truth: Building a website in 2024 is easier than ordering pizza online. But there's a catch - you gotta know which steps matter and which are distractions. That's where most tutorials fail. They'll drown you in jargon or sell you expensive tools you don't need.
After launching 23 websites (and messing up spectacularly on at least 7), I'll show you exactly how to avoid the pitfalls. This isn't theory - it's the exact blueprint I wish I had when I started. Let's cut through the noise.
Getting Your Head Straight Before You Build
Most people rush to buy domains immediately. Big mistake. I did this with my baking blog - bought "EpicCupcakes.net" only to realize later I wanted to sell baking supplies. Wasted $12 and two months of branding.
Ask yourself these questions FIRST:
- What's the one primary action visitors should take? (Buy something? Sign up? Read articles?)
- Who exactly is this site for? (Be specific: "men 45-60 who grill weekly" beats "people who like food")
- How will you measure success? (Sales? Email subscribers? Demo requests?)
Let me be real: Sites without clear goals become digital ghost towns. My failed photography portfolio proves it - gorgeous images, zero clients. Why? No call-to-action, no contact form prominence. Don't be like 2017 me.
| Website Type | Critical Elements | Budget Reality Check | My Personal Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blog/Content Site | SEO structure, newsletter signup, fast loading | $3-$15/month hosting | WordPress + GeneratePress theme |
| Ecommerce Store | Payment gateways, inventory management, SSL | $29-$299/month (platform fees) | Shopify for beginners, WooCommerce for control |
| Service Business | Booking system, portfolio gallery, testimonials | $10-$50/month | Squarespace or Wix for simplicity |
| Membership Site | Login portals, content dripping, payment subscriptions | $15-$100/month | WordPress + MemberPress plugin |
Notice something? Your site's purpose dictates everything - from platform choice to budget. Trying to build an online store on Blogger is like using a toothbrush to mow your lawn. Possible? Technically. Smart? Absolutely not.
The Domain Name Game
Domains stress people out more than taxes. Here's my hard-won advice:
Domain Selection Checklist
- Avoid hyphens (my-site.com looks spammy)
- .com still rules for trust (but .io/.co work for tech)
- Say it aloud - if people mishear it, ditch it
- Check social handles are available (use namechk.com)
I once registered "ContentLlama.io" because it sounded cool. Turns out people heard "Content Lama" and asked if it was Buddhist writing. Not ideal for marketing clients.
⚠️ Don't buy domains from your host! They'll charge 2x more. Use dedicated registrars like Porkbun or Namecheap where .com domains cost $9/year instead of $20.
Fun fact: Google doesn't care about keywords in domains anymore. "BestPlumbersInChicago.com" gives zero SEO advantage. Save yourself the headache.
Web Hosting Showdown
Hosting is where most beginners get ripped off. I paid $35/month for "unlimited premium hosting" that crashed when 12 people visited simultaneously. Learned the hard way.
| Hosting Type | Best For | Real Cost | Uptime Reality | My Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | Beginners, blogs | $3-$10/month | 99.9% (if you choose well) | SiteGround worked great for starter sites |
| VPS Hosting | Growing businesses | $20-$100/month | 99.95%+ | Linode saved me during traffic spikes |
| Managed WordPress | WordPress users | $25-$100+/month | 99.99% | WP Engine worth it for mission-critical sites |
| Cloud Hosting | Scalable projects | Pay-as-you-go | 99.99%+ | AWS is overkill for beginners |
My rule? Start cheap but not trashy. $3/month hosts will steal your time with crashes. I recommend SiteGround or A2 Hosting for starters - $6-$9/month gets you real support and decent speed.
☕ Pro Tip: Always check renewal prices! That "$2.95/month" deal often jumps to $12.95 after year one. Set calendar reminders before renewal.
Platform Wars: Picking Your Foundation
This is where most "how to create in website" guides get religious. Let's cut through the hype:
The Big Platform Tradeoffs
WordPress (.org not .com)
- Pros: Total control, 60k+ free plugins, SEO superpowers
- Cons: Steeper learning curve, you manage updates/security
- My Take: Still king for flexibility. Powers 43% of all websites
Wix/Squarespace
- Pros: Drag-and-drop easy, all-in-one solution
- Cons: Limited customization, harder to migrate, vendor lock-in
- My Take: Great for portfolios or simple sites. Feels clunky for blogs
Shopify
- Pros: Ecommerce made simple, handles payments/taxes
- Cons: Transaction fees ($2.9% + 30¢ per sale), limited blogging
- My Take: No-brainer for stores under 100 products
I switched from Wix to WordPress after hitting design limitations. The migration took 3 painful weekends. Moral? Think long-term.
Designing Without Losing Your Mind
Newsflash: You don't need to be Picasso. Good website design is about clarity, not creativity.
Non-Negotiables for Every Page
- Speed: 53% of mobile users abandon sites taking over 3 seconds to load (Google data)
- Mobile-First: 68% of web traffic comes from phones (StatCounter)
- Clear Hierarchy: Eyes scan in F-pattern - put key info top-left
My biggest design mistake? Using heavy slider plugins. They looked fancy but murdered load times. Stick to static hero images with strong headlines.
| Element | Beginner Mistake | Pro Solution | Tools I Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fonts | Using 5+ fonts | Max 2 fonts: 1 for headings, 1 for body | Google Fonts (Open Sans + Merriweather) |
| Colors | Rainbow vomit palette | 3-color max: primary, secondary, accent | Coolors.co for palettes |
| Navigation | Overloaded menus | Max 7 items, logical grouping | Hotjar to study user clicks |
| Images | Unoptimized 5MB files | Compress to | ShortPixel plugin |
Want proof simplicity works? After simplifying my consulting site's homepage, conversion rates jumped 27%. Less really is more.
Essential Pages You Can't Skip
Building pages feels exciting until you hit writer's block at 2 AM. Here's the framework I use:
Core Pages Checklist
Homepage
- Hook within 5 seconds (clear value proposition)
- Primary call-to-action above the fold
- Social proof (logos, testimonials)
About Page
- Your "why" not your resume
- Professional but human photos (no stiff suits)
- Connect values to visitor needs
Contact Page
- Form + email + physical address if applicable
- Set expectations ("We reply within 24 hrs")
- Embed Google Map for local businesses
I once forgot to add an email address to a client's contact page. They missed consulting requests for a month. Don't be that guy.
? Legal Must-Haves: Privacy policy (required by GDPR/CCPA), Terms of Service, Disclaimer if making money claims. Generate free templates at TermsFeed.
Launch Checklist: Don't Hit Publish Yet!
I've launched sites with broken forms, 404 errors, and even placeholder "lorem ipsum" text. Embarrassing but true. Use this pre-flight list:
- Browser Test: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge (check mobile/desktop)
- Speed Test: Aim for
- Form Test: Submit every form, check notifications work
- Broken Links: Scan with Screaming Frog (free version)
- SSL Check: Padlock icon in browser bar? Good.
A client once launched without redirecting old URLs. Their organic traffic dropped 90% overnight. It took months to recover.
? Pro Move: Launch on Tuesday morning. Avoid Fridays (if something breaks, you'll ruin your weekend).
Post-Launch: The Real Work Begins
Creating the website is just day one. Now we make it visible:
SEO Basics That Actually Matter
- Keyword Research: Use Ubersuggest or Ahrefs to find low-competition phrases
- On-Page SEO: Title tags, meta descriptions, header structure (H1/H2/H3)
- Content Creation: Solve problems better than competitors (depth > frequency)
My first blog got zero traffic for 4 months. Why? I wrote about topics I liked, not what people searched for. Took painful pivots to recover.
| Tool | Free Tier? | Best For | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics | Yes | Traffic sources, user behavior | Essential (but complex) |
| Google Search Console | Yes | SEO health, keyword rankings | Must-have |
| Ubersuggest | Limited | Keyword ideas, competition check | Best free option |
| Hotjar | Limited | User session recordings, heatmaps | Reveals UX issues |
Analytics paralyzed me early on. Focus on 3 metrics initially: Traffic sources, top pages, bounce rate. Ignore the rest.
Maintaining Your Digital Home
Websites rot faster than bananas. My neglected WordPress site got hacked in 2019 - took 72 hours to clean up. Now I automate everything.
Maintenance Routine
- Weekly: Backup site + database (use UpdraftPlus)
- Monthly: Update plugins/themes/core (test on staging site first)
- Quarterly: Audit content (update outdated posts, fix broken links)
- Annually: Review hosting plan, check domain renewal date
Seriously, automate backups. That $40/year for VaultPress saved me when a plugin update nuked my client's online store.
⚠️ Security Basics: Strong passwords (use 1Password), limit login attempts, install Wordfence (WordPress) or Sucuri. Basic precautions block 99% of attacks.
Real Questions from Real Beginners
How much does creating a website really cost?
Honestly? $50-$500/year for most sites. Domain ($12), hosting ($48), theme ($59 one-time). Avoid "premium" plugins until necessary. My active blog costs $72/year.
Can I create a website without coding?
Absolutely. Platforms like WordPress (with page builders), Wix, or Squarespace require zero coding. I built my first site dragging blocks - no "Hello World" needed.
How long does it take to build a website?
A simple site? 4-8 hours if you focus. My record: 3 hours for a basic business site. Complex sites take weeks. Secret? Prepare content BEFORE building.
Which platform is best for SEO?
WordPress wins for control but Squarespace/Wix improved massively. Ultimately, your content quality matters more than platform. I rank Wix sites higher than poorly optimized WordPress sites.
Do I need to hire a web developer?
Probably not for standard sites. But hire if: You need custom features, hate tech, or value time over money. My developer charges $85/hour but saves me 10 hours/week.
Parting Wisdom from My Failures
When learning how to create in website, remember: Perfect is the enemy of published. My biggest sites started ugly. Iteration beats initial perfection.
Start small. Launch fast. Improve daily. Seriously, your version 1 should embarrass you. If it doesn't, you waited too long to launch.
Final tip? Backup twice before major changes. Because when you inevitably break something at midnight, that backup file tastes better than cold pizza.
Comment