Most people who want to build their own websites will eventually decide on a platform like Wordpress or Google's Material Design (GMD). These platforms offer lots of great features at no cost, so you don't have to worry about spending money while building your site. But if you're looking for something more than just basic blogging functionality with minimal design, there are plenty of other options out there.
If you're new to web development, it can feel overwhelming trying to find out which one is best for you. You might not know where to begin in terms of choosing between all these different sites. So let's break things down into smaller parts. This way, when you're ready to create your very first website, you'll be able to pick from a variety of templates without having to spend hours researching each one. It also helps put everything in perspective—you won't get caught up in the hype surrounding certain tools and services.
For those starting out, we recommend making a personal blog. If you've ever wanted to learn how to code before diving headfirst into a larger project, this is an excellent place to start. Blogs aren't hard to set up and maintain even when you're completely inexperienced, meaning you can focus on learning instead of worrying about getting bogged down by technical jargon. Plus, blogs give you the freedom to try different layouts and designs until you figure out what works best for you.
There are tons of resources online explaining why you should write a blog, but here are three reasons to consider doing so yourself:
It's personal. A lot goes into creating a good blog post. You need to think carefully about what content you want to share. When you publish your posts, you're giving others permission to read them. That means you become responsible for what comes across as authentic and interesting. There's nothing worse than reading a boring article written by someone who doesn't care enough about his or her work.
You gain experience. The process of writing articles and editing drafts will help you understand how stories flow organically and improve your ability to express ideas clearly. And since you're publishing regularly, you'll naturally develop expertise over time.
It gives you a sense of control. By publishing your thoughts and feelings directly onto the internet, you take away any doubt that you may otherwise face concerning strangers' opinions of you. When you write your own stuff, nobody else has the power to affect whether or not your words reach readers.
When you're ready to dive in, here are four steps you can follow to get started with your very first website.
Pick a name. Whether you go with a domain name or use a.com URL, you'll probably end up settling on something catchy that describes your website. For example, if you plan to run a blog about food, you could call it "The Foody" or "Foodie." Or maybe you'd rather keep things anonymous by using a pseudonym. Don't forget to add keywords related to your business or industry.
Choose a theme. While you technically don't have to stick with a single style, many people prefer to stay consistent throughout their entire site. After deciding on a general color scheme and layout, you can then look through available themes on various sites and apps to see which ones match your vision. Once you settle on a particular theme, you'll still have the option to customize its appearance further later.
Install software. Many CMS systems come pre-installed with plugins, extensions, and utilities that allow you to tweak elements such as fonts, colors, and page widths. However, you may want to install additional plug-ins after testing them out because certain themes require specific versions of third party programs. Some popular choices include Elementor Pro ($99), Divi, Genesis Framework, and StudioPress WP Theme.
Create pages. In addition to installing WordPress itself, you'll likely need to download one or two premium themes depending on your needs. Then you'll need to configure it and upload custom images, videos, and CSS files. All of these tasks can be done manually or by following instructions provided by the developer.
Once you finish setting up your first website, you'll realize that creating a professional-looking site isn't quite as difficult as you thought!
Before you move forward with designing your website, it's important to determine exactly what kind of thing you want to accomplish with it. Do you simply want to showcase a portfolio full of your artwork? Maybe you want to sell products via shopify.net? Perhaps you hope to attract visitors with SEO strategies. Whatever you intend to achieve, it's helpful to identify the core purpose of your website first. Doing so will prevent unnecessary complications along the way.
As soon as you nail down your goals, you'll be better equipped to narrow down your search for a suitable website builder. Below are five types of websites commonly used by small businesses and individuals alike. Each category offers unique benefits and drawbacks, so weigh your options closely before committing to a particular service.
Personal website. Personal websites usually revolve around showcasing one’s passions—whether it's art, photography, fashion, music, or anything else. They tend to be easier to manage than eCommerce stores or corporate portals because users typically only update them occasionally.
Blog. Blogging allows you to connect with friends and family members as well as potential customers. Although you might initially struggle with coming up with topics to discuss, once you settle on a few subjects, you'll likely have a steady stream of inspiration flowing in.
Ecommerce store. Ecommerce stores enable you to sell physical goods online. Depending on your product line, you may need to provide detailed information regarding shipping costs, payment methods, returns policies, taxes, etc. As a result, you'll likely need to invest time upfront managing inventory levels, customer orders, and payments.
Portal/blog. Portal websites feature multiple sections meant to serve different purposes. Typically, the homepage serves as a landing page with links leading to relevant content categories. Meanwhile, blog pages act as individual hubs within the portal containing news and updates. Portals are generally more flexible than traditional websites due to their modular nature.
Corporate website. Corporate websites are designed to promote brands and projects. They often contain complex navigation menus, large amounts of text, and numerous calls to action. Because they're intended to convey powerful messages, they tend to appeal to marketing professionals.
Choosing the perfect website template depends largely on how much customization you want to perform. Since every website starts off blank, you can always change things later on. But unless you really enjoy tinkering with HTML codes, it makes sense to opt for a premade template whenever possible. Fortunately, there are several websites dedicated to helping you choose the ideal template based on your preferences.
Squarespace. Squarespace lets you quickly build stunning websites using drag and drop technology. Its intuitive interface makes it incredibly easy to navigate and edit content. Plus, you can easily convert your existing domain to a square space account.
Weebly. Weebly is another drag and drop tool that allows you to select from thousands of templates and customize them however you please. If creating a brand identity is your priority, check out Weebly's beautiful logo maker. Otherwise, you can explore hundreds of cool designs for sale.
Wix. Wix provides free and paid plans tailored specifically for creative entrepreneurs. On top of offering dozens of professionally made templates, Wix also includes a suite of advanced features including video hosting, social media integration, and analytics tools.
InMotion Hosting. InMotion Hosting prides itself on being extremely affordable yet reliable. With unlimited storage capacity and bandwidth, you can host your website anywhere in the world. Their range of packages start at $8 per month.
Builderall. Builderall is a fully customizable drag & drop solution that caters to both freelancers and companies. Alongside providing templates, Builderall also offers extensive support for mobile devices, email marketing, and advanced security measures. Pricing ranges from $9 to $50 per month.
Conclusion
It’s hard enough to start your own web business without having to worry about whether you made it too complicated or not. There's always going to be someone who wants something more than what you're offering, so making sure your site looks good will help you stand out from the crowd.
The problem with this is that there are lots of different kinds of websites - ranging from blogs to portfolio sites to eCommerce stores - and each one has its own set of requirements when it comes to design. If you want to keep things simple, then you need to choose an easy-to-use platform like Squarespace or Weebly. Both allow users to create their own custom designs using drag & drop tools.
But if you just want to get started quickly, which website should you use? What do these platforms have in common? And how can you tell which ones offer the easiest process? Let us break down the options below!
There’s no right answer here because every project requires slightly different skillsets. If you’ve never built anything before, you might find it easier to build a blog rather than a full-blown store – even though both require HTML coding.
If you don't know much about building a website at all, we recommend starting small by creating a landing page first (for example, a product showcase). This lets you test out your ideas on paper and see how well they work together. Once you feel comfortable, move onto bigger projects.
So what makes designing a website fun? It's really up to personal preference. Some people love taking screenshots and editing them into Photoshop or GIMP, while others prefer to stick to the basics and code directly in front of their computer screen. Either way works, and you'll probably learn quite a bit along the way.
We've rounded up some of our favorite website builders below, including popular choices such as WordPress, Wix, SquareSpace, Google Sites, and many more. But remember, if you want to take advantage of the most cutting-edge features, you may end up spending hours tweaking CSS styles and adding tons of plugins to achieve exactly what you want.
You also need to consider the time required to complete the task. In other words, what kind of speed does your chosen tool give you when compared to hand-coding? For instance, if you code everything yourself, you won't miss any deadlines – whereas if you opt for a prebuilt theme, you'd better hope you finish early.
And finally, let’s talk money. How expensive is it to buy a premium template versus paying $50/month for a hosted solution? Is it worth it? Keep reading to find out...
WordPress is a great option for anyone looking for a beginner-friendly solution. The interface allows newbies to easily edit text and images through a user-friendly dashboard. With hundreds of thousands of active installations around the world, WordPress is used by millions of websites across various industries. So this means you can trust that it’ll meet your needs regardless of what industry you operate in.
To get started, simply sign up on the official WordPress.com portal and install the plugin called “Visual Editor.” You can either use this editor alone or combine it with another service like Elementor Builder. Then follow the steps outlined on the VisualEditor homepage to customize your site according to your preferences.
Once you’re ready, click on “Publish” under the “Posts" tab. Your new post will appear live on your website within seconds. Now, go ahead and add content and publish it whenever you wish. When done, head back to the main menu and select “Settings." Click on "General Settings," scroll down to the bottom where you’ll notice a link titled “Activate Custom Menu.” Hit the button next to it to activate your brand new website menu.
Next, browse through the list again and locate the submenu item named “Pages.” Click on it and pick a layout, name, and description for your new pages. Next, open up the VisualEditor once again and begin editing posts. Just like that, you now have a fully functional website running on the world’s leading CMS system.
In addition to being very simple to use, WordPress boasts countless tutorials and support forums available online. Plus, unlike other solutions, it offers lifetime updates and upgrades. To top off your experience, you can also choose between paid and free versions.
While Wordpress is designed specifically for bloggers, it’s also perfect for those looking to sell products online. As long as you understand basic SEO tactics, you shouldn’t run into any trouble.
For starters, you’d need to decide on a hosting plan. Hosting is basically renting space on a server owned by a third party. Depending on the number of visitors and amount of data stored, hosting plans vary widely in price. A good rule of thumb is that the cheaper the host, the less reliable the service.
After you’ve decided on a suitable package, you’ll need to register for an account. This gives you access to your own domain name. Before signing up, however, check out the prices offered by competing services to ensure you aren't overpaying.
Now that you’ve got everything set up, you can begin installing the software needed to power your website. While some hosts provide instructions for setting up a fresh installation, others ask customers to download a zip file containing several applications. Whichever method you choose, you must install the following components:
Web Server : Allows you to upload files on your site and manage incoming requests.
Database Management System : Stores information related to your website, such as contact details, articles, etc.
Content Management Systems (CMS): Provide users with a convenient way to edit the look and structure of the website. Most often used to create static sites, these programs include WordPress, Joomla!, Drupal, etc.
As mentioned earlier, you could spend days tinkering with CSS to tweak your site’s appearance. However, since almost all modern CMS systems come bundled with powerful editors, you can save yourself considerable hassle and focus instead on writing quality content.
A few tips to remember:
Never share your password with anybody else. Even if you’re working with friends, family members, and colleagues, you still need to maintain control over your private documents.
Be mindful of security. Hackers are constantly trying to steal passwords and credit card numbers from unsuspecting victims via email phishing scams. Protect your accounts by enabling two-factor authentication wherever possible.
Keep an eye out for malicious apps. Make sure you only install apps from reputable sources, preferably direct downloads. Also, avoid downloading suspicious packages from shady app markets.
Lastly, make sure you regularly update your site with relevant news and useful resources. Search engines rank high-quality websites higher than low-quality ones, so try to stay current with trends and industry developments.
With tens of thousands of templates already available, it’s difficult to pinpoint the ideal choice. If you’re aiming for simplicity, you may want to consider Squarespace. Not only does it feature a clean and uncluttered UI, but you can also customize colors and fonts to suit your style.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are plenty of cool websites that look absolutely stunning. These range from minimalist layouts to complex 3D animations. To ensure your site stands out from the rest, you should experiment with various types of imagery, videos, and interactive elements. After all, nothing says “professional” like a slick logo, animated background video, and responsive scrolling effects.
Whether you’re planning to launch a blog, a shop, or perhaps a portfolio website, there are dozens of ways to approach the challenge. The important thing to remember is that choosing a template doesn’t mean sacrificing creativity and originality. Rather, it provides you with a blank canvas upon which to paint.
A lot of people think a great way to get started designing your own website is by using one of these “simple” website templates. But while it's true that many websites use them, there are others who don't really fit this description at all. So what makes a good site template? And which ones do you recommend?
In order to answer these questions, we'll first need to define what exactly constitutes an "easy" or "simple" website template. Is it just about how few features it has, or does it also have to be something that can easily be understood without much explanation? In short, here are some of our favorite website templates that meet both criteria:
This question isn't quite so cut-and-dried, since everyone wants their site to look unique. That being said, if you're looking for a more universal template, then Simple Website Templates For Beginners HTML might be perfect for you. It comes with everything you need to start building your website from scratch including a clean design, customizable header, featured image, footer, logo, social links, contact form and even a blank page. You can add photos, videos, text, images, custom colors, fonts, callouts, sliders, buttons, animations and anything else you'd like. The only thing missing is a domain name -- although you could always purchase one through the theme's developer (see below).
If you want a beautiful, fully functional website in no time flat, check out Easy Website Template For Beginners HTML. With its minimalistic style, you won't find any flashy elements or extra bells and whistles. Instead, you will find a simple layout with a dark background, a menu bar that slides over when clicked on, three columns, and a handful of other small details. This template was made specifically for those who want a fast loading experience, because it doesn't include unnecessary elements such as popups, scrollbars, animations or flash players.
You can customize every single element of this template, so you can change the color scheme, upload your own logo, set up a different navigation bar and tweak the widths and heights of each section. One cool feature worth mentioning is that you can choose whether or not you want to show ads on certain pages. If you decide against displaying them, though, you still have access to all of the content inside of the ad block.
And finally, if you prefer something a little bit simpler, try Dummy Website Template For Beginner Html. At first glance, this looks like a typical website template, complete with a full-width slider, featured image, social icons, blog post area, testimonials, pricing table, checkout button, video player, copyright information, etc. However, once you dig deeper into the coding, you'll see that it actually consists of nothing more than a bunch of div tags and CSS code. There is literally no graphics whatsoever.
The reason why this template works well is due to the fact that it uses a very basic approach to styling. All of the sections are placed within the same container, making it extremely easy to make changes to the overall look and feel of the entire website. Plus, it's super simple to remove certain parts if you ever wanted to. Just delete the div tag containing that particular piece of code.
Website templates aren't necessarily limited to just plain HTML files, either. Many developers offer prebuilt sites that come packed with tons of additional functionality and tools for creating a professional online presence. Some popular options include Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, GoDaddy Hosting, Siteground, Dreamhost and more. These services usually allow users to create a completely customized website, complete with multiple layouts, unlimited storage space, drag & drop editor, SEO optimization tools, security suite, analytics and more. They cost money, obviously, but depending on your budget, they may be worth considering.
For example, Squarespace offers a $10 monthly fee per account that allows you to host five domains and 10 email addresses. On top of that, you receive 24/7 customer support, advanced eCommerce capabilities, unlimited pages, plugins, apps, galleries, blogs and much more. While it's pricey, I personally love the ease of Squarespace and how user friendly it feels compared to some other platforms.
Weebly is another option, offering six months of service for free before requiring payment. This includes hosting your website on Weebly's servers, plus a selection of premium features that range anywhere from 15 percent discount coupons to 50 percent off annual plans. Like Squarespace, Weebly provides plenty of customization options which means you should be able to personalize your new site to whatever extent you desire.
Finally, let's talk about Weebly's sister platform, GoDaddy Hosting, which costs $20 per month. Similar to Weebly, this package gives you the ability to edit almost any aspect of your website right away, along with unlimited bandwidth, unlimited disk space, unlimited domains, SSL encryption, unlimited subdomains, 1TB of cloud storage, 30GB of emails, 100MB cache, auto-updates and much more.
All in all, there are lots of options available when it comes to picking a website builder. Which is your preferred choice? Or maybe you would rather go DIY? Either way, keep reading for more tips!
Not all website templates fall under the same category, so let's take a closer look at them. First, we have static website templates. Static templates work perfectly fine for smaller projects where you know exactly what you want your final product to look like beforehand. For instance, if you were planning on selling t-shirts, you wouldn't want to waste valuable real estate showing a picture of a shirtless model. Therefore, you would probably opt for a photo gallery instead of having a separate webpage dedicated to showing off your merchandise.
On the other hand, dynamic website templates give you total control over how your finished project turns out. Since you can customize nearly every part of the site, you can achieve results similar to the above example without sacrificing screen space. Also, if you plan to sell things online, you can make sure that your visitors have quick and easy access to your products by placing them directly in the main body of your home page. This type of template is especially useful for businesses who already have existing customers and want to continue promoting themselves on their own website.
Now that we've covered what makes an ideal website template, lets discuss the subject of simplicity. As mentioned earlier, a lot of people believe that simply choosing a template labeled as "very simple" is enough to guarantee success. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth. Sure, you can build a decent website quickly using a simple template, but if you lack the technical knowledge necessary to properly optimize it for search engines, you risk losing potential traffic. To avoid this problem, always research your chosen template thoroughly before diving in headfirst. Make sure that you understand what kind of marketing strategies you intend to implement on your website and that you have the proper skills needed to execute them effectively.
So there you have it - our list of the most simplistic website templates around. Now that you know what makes a truly easy website template, you can safely pick one that fits your needs without spending too long researching it. Whether you end up going with a standard template for your business or a specific designer created it, remember to stay consistent across all of your digital assets to ensure maximum exposure.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.