Even a decade ago, creating a website was extremely tough and many people were already wondering how to create a website for free.
We needed to develop a website from the ground up using HTML, CSS, and PHP at the time, which was very consuming and required a lot of patience.
Surprised, right? Let us pull you back to 2021. Now, we have content management systems (CMS) such as Wix, which allow us to create websites in no time. But, if you’re interested in learning how to create a website for free, stay tuned!
Why Creating a Website is Worth It?
A website can be thought of as a tract of land. You can build your business with minimal disturbance, whether it’s for your new startup or for launching a blog as a passive income. You’ll be the proprietor, and you’ll be able to run it however you choose.
On the other side, this is a chance to reach a worldwide audience without having to leave your home. There have been numerous occasions where the following base has been disrupted as a result of algorithm adjustments on popular social networking sites such as Facebook and Instagram. As a result, building a website is one of the best investments you can make.
Where Do I Get a Domain Name and Hosting?
There are two things you’ll need in order to get a new website up and running-
- Domain Name
- Website Hosting
When choosing a domain name and hosting, we must go through a series of processes. And don’t worry if you’re not familiar with the method. We’ve got your back.
Remember that your domain name must be just like the name of your company or personal blog. For example, it will be YourBusinessWebsiteName.com, using your specific business or personal blog as the domain name.
Each domain name comes with a corporate email address that you can use to manage all of your professional tasks. Typically, domain names end in extensions such as .com,.org, and so on.
There are a lot of extensions that are overused presently (ex: .blog or .party). However, unless the usual extensions properly define your website, we recommend using them.
There are a few things to keep in mind while choosing a domain name:
- Try to ensure that the domain name you choose is distinctive.
- It will be easier to read if you choose a domain name that is concise, snappy, and straightforward.
- If you’re about to complete the procedures above, check if your name is brandable, as your domain name is crucial to your website’s identity.
You can host your website on a range of unique website hosting services. They offer a variety of hosting plans to match your requirements. However, it is prudent to select a reliable web host because it will save you money.
Furthermore, having a good hosting service will ensure that your website does not go offline and runs swiftly.
How to Choose a Platform
You can find a variety of site-building platforms on the internet that will allow you to design your site for free. Furthermore, you won’t have to worry about server space because it will be stored on the cloud automatically.
Let’s have a look at some of the best website builders that will allow you to create a website with less effort.
- Webnode
- Wix
- Weebly
- Webstarts
- Ucraft
- Site123
- Jimdo
- Webflow
- GoDaddy
- WordPress
- New Google Sites
- Adobe Spark
Starting Up and Design
Website development entails a progressive approach. Here, we’ll show you how to create a website for free using Wix’s site builder to create a website for free.
Phase 1: Sign up for a Wix profile
The concept of constructing a Wix profile is really straightforward. To create a free website, go to the Wix homepage and select the “Start Selling Now” button. Afterwards, you’ll be directed to the signup page, where you must create an account. After that, you must respond certain questions to help Wix identify what types of sites you want to develop.
You’ll now be presented with two options. You may either use Wix ADI to develop the site for you or build it yourself. If you want Wix ADI to design your website, it will customize it based on your responses to their queries. Alternatively, if you want to add a personal touch, you can use the Wix Editor to do so.
Even for novices and non-technical people, Wix is basic to use. So don’t be put off by the prospect of building something from the ground up. Let’s look at what you’ll need to do if you want to develop your own website.
Phase 2: Select a Design Template
If you’ve reached this point, it indicates you’ve made the decision to develop the website yourself. That’s why the initial step will be to select a template that best suits your preferences and product visualization.
Consider a template to be your store, with you as the proprietor. As the proprietor, you will, of course, make every effort to give the store a profitable appearance. The same rule applies, except this time it’s in the form of online.
You can pick from dozens of templates and also change the colors if you like the template. You may also use the search bar at the top to discover the templates you need. This will save you time by preventing you from becoming lost in the maze of templates.
If you’ve found your ideal template, move on to the next step for more personalization. Also, keep in mind that you can always go back and change things.
Phase 3: Customize Your Template
After you’ve decided on a template, click the “Edit” button. It will redirect you to a new page, where the real fun begins!
On the editing page, you’ll have complete control over the design of your template. In the template’s left hand corner, you’ll discover an editing menu with choices for adding pages and making any other adjustments you need. It’s also ok if you don’t want to use it. Individual items can also be changed by clicking on them.
You can also make a lot of other modifications with the Wix Editor, which is quite user-friendly. By clicking on the placeholder text, you can, for example, add your company’s information or make other changes. It’s also ok if you wish to include links on the page.
You can also change the font style, type, and size to your liking. You can upload a photo and put it wherever you like. There are many activities you can do with the editing tools at your disposal, such as altering the background color, adding pages to the main menu, and so on.
Phase 4: Insert Pages
We’ve already indicated that you can add pages to suit your needs, so now is where we’ll show you how.
First, from the editing toolbar on the left, go to the main Editor menu and select “Menus and Pages,” which will take you to a new page. You’ll see a “+ Add Page” button there. When you click it, a new page will be added to your template. From a selection of custom pages to your website, you can change and modify the page.
Phase 5: Install the Applications
Creating a website entails not just adorning and modifying it, but also integrating apps to serve customers better. Consider it a way of bringing your website to life.
There are numerous programs that can help your website run more smoothly. They’re ready to use right now and may be installed and placed on your template. For example, if you’re creating an electronics page, you can include an app that allows clients to place orders directly from the page. Then there may be a separate app that sorts the orders so that they may be shipped in the correct order.
What’s the best way to include them now? Simply go to the editing menu on the left and select “Add Apps.” It’s that easy! This will open an application menu where you can look for particular features that are relevant to your company’s needs. Furthermore, each program has user reviews so you can determine whether or not to trust it.
Phase 6: Publish a Blog
Blogging is such a vital part of any website that it may assist you step up your game. It has been discovered that individuals enjoy reading blogs. As a result, those who publish blogs, receive more visitors than those who do not.
You can include a blog on your new Wix website. This can be done by returning to the left-hand editing bar and clicking the “Start Blogging” button.
Despite the fact that blogging is optional, we strongly advise you to do so due to the increasing amount of visitors. Basic SEO optimization capabilities are included in all Wix plans, including the ability to:
- Modify the URL of our blog
- Create a unique SEO title for the search engines
- Add a meta description to your post
- Use alt tags in your pictures
All of this can be done directly from the Wix post editor, which is pretty simple.
Furthermore, Wix provides site-wide SEO optimization features such as AMP for mobile platforms and schema markup, which provides search engines with additional details about your website.
Phase 7: Establish Your Store for Business Purpose
If the website is intended for commercial use, e-commerce features such as product portfolios, payment mechanisms, and supply chain management may be required.
All you have to do is go to the main menu, and press the “+” button to accomplish this. Then select “store” from the drop-down menu. You’ll have a plethora of features to your page. Choose the ones that you’ll need for your website. It also comes with a plethora of customization options that you can control from the store’s interface.
Phase 8: Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly
Another fantastic feature of Wix is that it will adapt your website for mobile viewing. Customers can now access your website from their mobile devices. Overall, this is favorable to you from every viewpoint.
You may examine how your website appears on smart phones while you’re focusing on the design. This may be accessed by pressing on the mobile phone icon at the top of the Wix editor, which will lead you on a journey of the mobile version.
What’s more, you may tailor the mobile version to your preferences without impacting the appearance of the desktop version.
Phase 9: Make Your Website Public
And now, once you’ve finished all of the edits, your website is ready to go live. Please ensure to go over your website one final time. This will assist you in removing any irregularities that may have escaped your notice during the procedure.
Ascertain that the site is being edited according to your standards, and that all pages have the information that potential buyers require in order to make a purchase.
Click the “Publish” button once you’ve finished the final examination. Don’t worry, if you need to make any more adjustments, you can always return to your dashboard and do them. Then click “Edit Site” after selecting “Manage Site.” When you’re finished with the changes, click the “Publish” button once more to make your website live.
What Kind of Investment Do You Require?
You may require more than unlockable content to construct a sleek website at times. In such scenario, you can always start on your own at first and then graduate to a premium plan once you’re ready to publish your website to the public.
With Wix, you can get such options for as little as $14 per month. That’s a little outlay for such a promising start. However, if you’d like to sell products online or accept online payments, you’ll have to invest more.
Conclusion
You’re one step closer to realizing your dream now that you know how to create a website for free. Of course, you can use alternative website builders because they all go through the same procedure, so you won’t have any trouble utilizing them.
Before we depart, we recommend that you take your time building your website because it can be an asset in and of itself. So, to create the greatest website for your personal or e-commerce business, be diligent, inventive, and smart!