How to Create a Website: In 5 Simple Steps

How to Create a Website in 5 Simple Steps | Natasha Gomes

Creating a website is intimidating, to put it simply. With the options of hard coding to templates to something in between, there are quite a few ways to create a website.

Stressed yet?

While I don't have any coding experience, I've found going the template route the easiest option. Not only can you choose from several designs and styles, but also most of them are easy enough to customize with a few clicks.

In my career, I've created about 5 websites and this - my favorite - is the sixth.

Let me walk you through my process in a few easy steps to creating your website.

Creating a Website: The Step-by-Step Guide

Let's start at the beginning. The first website I created was back in 2018 when I was handling the digital presence of a group of companies and they needed a website fast. Like, yesterday fast.

Overwhelmed, and with zero prior experience, I searched for a few platforms to build the site and found Wix. It seemed easy enough and I began immediately.

Voila! Within a week I had created my first website. It was exhilarating.

#1 Choosing a platform

This is the simplest, and yet, the most difficult step to begin your website-creating journey. While I was spoiled for choices, I researched several options and templates and chose Wix. It was easy enough to navigate without watching several YouTube tutorials.

I suggest the same. Research the options and choose the one you are most comfortable using as it will save you a lot of time and effort in learning how to create pages, templates, and layouts. My tip would be to assess the functionality and customizability of the templates.

Look at Wix, Squarespace or any other website-building platform and ask yourself -

"Do I like their templates?"

"Is it easy for me to use and navigate?"

"Does it fit my budget?"

These are important questions to answer before you begin creating a website.

You will also need a domain to host it. I suggest splurging and buying one that means something to you. After your name or your role. Your future self will thank you.

A domain on GoDaddy and hosting plan can cost anywhere between $6.99 to $21.99 a month. Buying it for a year or two years is a better deal.

#2 Building on Your Idea

When you have decided to build a website, you already have a vague concept of what you want it to be. In case you don't spend some time thinking about it. Ask yourself -

"What do I want to use this website for?"

"Is it a passion project or do I want to share my thoughts and ideas or market my service?"

"What's the outcome I'm hoping for?"

When you have the answers, create a rough blueprint of all the pages you want on the site - the site map.

To give you an example, I knew that I wanted to showcase my portfolio and past experiences. I also knew that after my website was ready, I would want to share some fun yet insightful content - this article for instance.

With that settled, I created a rough plan on a piece of paper and decided to begin creating these pages and then tackle the other stuff. And oh boy, was there a lot of stuff. But don't be dissuaded, it's not that hard.

#3 You've Chosen a Template and Have a Website Blueprint, Now What?

For your website to stand out it should have a nice template and some cool colors - your brand colors.

You can create a palette on Coolors, which does all the work for you, and arrive at a combination of shades that work together. From there on, choose your primary and secondary colors, and there you have it - your brand palette.

#4 Collate, Write and Post

Now begins the real work. The part that's not so fun, at least for me.

If you have chosen to create a website to showcase your portfolio, collate all your previous work samples and organize them in a folder for easy access. Trust me, this is essential and something you will be glad about when the time comes to create pages.

If you want to use your website as a blog, begin writing and have a few pieces ready to be published once the website is live.

If you're creating a business website, this guide isn't for you. What are you doing here?

With all the information ready, start creating the pages for your website. A basic site needs -

• A home page

• An About You page

• A Blog/Portfolio/Services page

• And a Contact page

Anything more can be added at a later stage.

#5 Admire your Finished Work

Gotcha! The work is never done.

A website is constant work and maintenance.

You may be done creating all the pages but the work doesn't end there. As your portfolio evolves, your site has to be updated constantly.

If you want visitors to your page, you must create informative articles that rank well and drive traffic.

If you are selling a service, you need buyers. This means advertisements, backlinks, testimonials, and so on to build credibility.

To Wrap Up

Building a website is a great way to showcase your work. It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears (more sweat and tears to be honest) but the result is so rewarding.

I hope this article has shed some light on getting started with your website. There are a few technical guides about SEO, backlinking, domain authority and other boring stuff that are not covered here.

This website is a happy place with funny GIFs and a calming color palette to melt your stress away.

Until next time!