First things first: Why are you building a website?

• Is it a personal blog to share your thoughts?
• A portfolio to showcase your work?
• A small business site to attract customers?

Knowing your purpose will shape every decision you make, from design to content. Once you know the “why,” think about the goals for your website. Do you want to:

• Share your expertise?
• Attract new clients?
• Sell products or services?

Lastly, consider your audience.

Who are they?

What are they looking for?

Write down a few things your website visitors might expect from you. This will help you stay focused as you plan.

Selecting a memorable and relevant domain name is a crucial step in building your first website, as it sets the tone for your brand

When building you first website, themes or templates determine how your site looks. Most platforms offer free and paid options. Pick one that matches your style and is mobile-friendly (because everyone uses their phones these days).

Keep It Simple

Stick to clean, easy-to-read fonts, high-quality images, and a layout that’s easy to navigate. Less is more when it comes to good design.

This is where your site starts to take shape.

Add Content

Think about what information your audience needs. Write short, engaging text for each page. Avoid long blocks of text—break it up with headings, bullet points, and images.

Install Plugins or Widgets

If you’re using a platform like WordPress, plugins can add functionality to your site. Some essential ones to consider:

• SEO tools (like Yoast SEO) to help people find your site.
• Security tools to keep hackers away.
• Contact forms so visitors can reach out to you.

Before you launch, let’s make sure everything works smoothly.

Test Your Site

Check all your links, buttons, and pages. Does your site load quickly? Is it easy to read on a phone? You can use free tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights to test performance.

Get Feedback

Share your site with friends or family and ask for honest feedback. A fresh pair of eyes can catch things you might have missed.

Optimize for SEO

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) helps your site appear in search results. Focus on:

• Adding relevant keywords to your text.
• Writing clear page titles and descriptions.
• Including “alt text” for images so search engines understand them.

You’re almost there—time to share your website with the world!

Launch Your Site

Double-check everything before going live:

• Is your content polished?
• Do all links work?
• Have you backed up your site?

Once you’re ready, hit that publish button. Congratulations, you’re live!

Promote Your Site

Tell the world about your website! Share it on social media, add it to your email signature, or even write a blog post announcing your launch.

Keep It Updated

A website isn’t a “set it and forget it” deal. Regularly update your content, fix broken links, and add fresh material to keep visitors coming back.

By following this roadmap, building your first website becomes a manageable and rewarding project, laying the foundation for your online presence

1. What You’ll Need Before You Start

• A clear idea of your website’s purpose (blog, business, portfolio, etc.)

• A name for your website (you’ll need this to choose a domain)

• Some content ideas or starter images

• Willingness to learn and test things out

2. Choosing a Website Builder

• WordPress.org (most flexible, but needs hosting)

• Wix or Squarespace (drag-and-drop and beginner-friendly)

• Wealthy Affiliate (if you want hosting, training, and community in one place)

If you’d like a beginner-friendly all-in-one platform to host, build, and learn how to grow your site, I personally recommend Wealthy Affiliate. It’s where I got started, and it’s especially helpful if you’re feeling a bit unsure of the tech side of things.

3. Hosting and Domains in Simple Terms

• Domain name = your address on the web

• Hosting = your plot of land where your website lives

Think of your domain as your shop’s street address, and your hosting as the actual building your shop sits in.

4. The Importance of Starting Simple

You can always change your design, colours, or layout later—so don’t let decision overwhelm stop you from hitting that ‘Publish’ button.

And there you have it—your beginner’s roadmap to building your first website!

Building your first website is a significant milestone, and it’s natural to have questions or encounter challenges along the way. Have you started creating your site, or are you still in the planning stages? Share your experiences, tips, or questions in the comments below—I’d love to hear your journey and help where I can!

Remember, it’s okay to take it one step at a time. Your first website doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to exist. The more you work on it, the better it will become.

So what are you waiting for? Start building your dream website today!

If you pop over to Wealthy Affiliate, Kyle will lead you through the process so easily.

Here’s a little transparency: My website contains affiliate links. This means if you click and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. Don’t worry, there’s no extra cost to you. It’s a simple way you can support my mission to bring you quality content.