Building a website from scratch can be overwhelming, but with Wix, you can create a professional-looking site in no time. Wix has a drag-and-drop editor that makes it easy to customize your site without needing to know how to code.
To get started, you'll need to choose a template from Wix's vast library of options. With over 500 templates to choose from, you're sure to find one that fits your brand's style.
Here are the 10 easy steps to build a Wix website:
1. Sign up for a Wix account by providing your email address and password.
2. Choose a template that suits your website's purpose and style.
Getting Started
To get started with building a Wix website, simply sign up for an account. You'll then be presented with two options: using Wix's AI site generator or the classic editor.
If you choose to use the AI site generator, you'll be prompted to answer a series of questions about your site, such as the type of site you're building, its name, and the products and services you offer. It's that simple.
You can answer all of the questions or skip some, and then click on the "End Chat & Continue" button to move on to the next step.
Wix has over 900 templates to choose from, so you can start from scratch if you prefer. Either way, you'll be able to customize your site easily in Wix's drag-and-drop editor.
Wix's AI website generator can build a site based on your answers to its prompts, and it's one of the easiest platforms to build a website, suitable even for beginners.
Choosing a Template
You have over 500 Wix templates to choose from, all designed by professionals and categorized by website type and industry for easy filtering.
The templates are categorized by website type and industry, making it easy to find the perfect one for your site. You can browse through the different categories, such as e-commerce sites, lifestyle blogs, business platforms, and professional portfolios.
To pick the right template, ask yourself the following questions:
- What is the purpose of my website?
- What layout makes the most sense for my objective?
- What sort of features and functionality do I need built in?
- How would I describe my brand's look and feel?
- What's the right balance between text and imagery?
You can even view a template on a simulated mobile screen by clicking the smartphone icon, giving you a better idea of how your site will look on different devices.
Wix has taken the tough work out of coding and designing by creating hundreds of different layouts that you can easily edit and make your own. You can add almost any type of functionality to your site, like an online shopping page, booking forms, music players, and more.
All Wix templates are absolutely free for you to use, but bear in mind that your site will show a Wix ad at the top unless you choose to upgrade to a Premium plan.
Here are some popular template categories to consider:
- Online Stores
- Blogs
- Photography
- Portfolio & CV
- Restaurants & Food
Customizing Your Site
You can manipulate and tweak your chosen template to make it your own using the drag-and-drop builder.
The "Add (+)" icon in the left menu is your best friend, allowing you to add features like text boxes, image galleries, vector art, and buttons to your website.
To customize any feature already present in your template, select it and click on the icons that appear to edit text, change the font, tweak a design, add animated effects, link to a page, or swap out images.
With the drag-and-drop editor, editing your website is mostly a simple matter of dragging and dropping elements around, and you'll also find all the tools you need on the left-hand menu bar.
You can add elements like texts, images, and buttons by clicking on the “+” button on the left-hand menu, then choosing and customizing the element you want to add.
To add a section to your page, click on the section icon on the menu, then choose the section you need, and drag it over to your website.
Here are some actions you can take when customizing your site:
- Edit all text, and replace images and videos
- Add or delete pages
- Add call-to-action buttons, and link them to relevant forms and pages
- Add social icons and link to your business’s social accounts
- Add extra strips to pages (like a customer testimonials strip)
- Embed lead generation forms
- Add depth and interest by incorporating advanced design features, like parallax scrolling and hover states
- Incorporate additional business and marketing features, like a booking system, an online store, or an events calendar
If you want more freedom and creativity to develop your website outside the bounds of Wix’s templates, you can use Corvid by Wix (formerly known as Wix Code) to build and amend the back end of your site.
Wix even recommends features you may want to code into your site’s functionality yourself, such as adding custom widgets, allowing visitors to access a database, or making advanced forms.
Design and Layout
Designing your website is a crucial step in building a Wix site. You can click on the "Design Site" button in the upper right corner to get started.
Wix offers two options for designing your website: using the AI editor or choosing a template. If you're not comfortable designing your own website, the AI editor is a great option, generating a website for you based on your earlier prompts. It'll also give you the option to customize the design further.
To choose a template, browse through Wix's 500+ templates, categorized by website type and industry for easy filtering. Ask yourself questions like "What is the purpose of my website?" and "What layout makes the most sense for my objective?" to pick the right template.
Here are some questions to consider when selecting a template:
- What is the purpose of my website?
- What layout makes the most sense for my objective?
- What sort of features and functionality do I need built in?
- How would I describe my brand’s look and feel?
- What’s the right balance between text and imagery?
Select Homepage Design
Selecting the right homepage design is a crucial step in creating a website that effectively communicates your message and reflects your brand's identity. You'll have three possible designs to choose from, each complete with recommended copy and visuals.
Wix's AI will generate these designs based on the information you've provided earlier. You can review each design and pick the one that best suits your professional style and corporate identity.
The design you choose here is just a starting point, and you can make revisions in the next step. You'll have the opportunity to further customize your design using Wix's drag-and-drop editor.
Here are some questions to consider when evaluating your design options:
- What layout communicates your information most effectively?
- Does the design align with your brand's corporate identity?
- Is the design visually appealing and engaging?
By considering these factors, you'll be able to select a homepage design that sets the tone for your entire website and effectively communicates your message to your audience.
Edit Your Mobile
Editing your mobile site is a crucial step in ensuring your website looks great on smaller screens. Wix's mobile designs aren't always 100% mobile-friendly, so you may need to make some manual tweaks.
You can access the mobile editor by clicking the mobile phone icon at the top of the page. From there, you can make changes to elements, reorder sections, and even hide them completely when visitors are viewing your site on mobile.
It's worth noting that the mobile editor isn't as flexible as the desktop editor, so you're limited in what you can change. However, you can usually make some tweaks to make sure everything is aligned okay.
Almost 51 percent of global online traffic is via mobile devices, so it's essential to optimize your site for mobile devices. Wix automatically generates a mobile-friendly version of your website, but it's still worth making additional edits to ensure a seamless on-the-go experience.
You can make all sorts of adjustments in the Wix Mobile Editor, such as tweaking the font size, hiding elements that don't scale well, realigning images, or adding a quick action bar.
My Upload
My Upload is a powerful tool in WIX that lets you add a variety of files to your site, including images, vector images, videos, and fonts.
You can upload documents of all kinds, making it easy to add the files you need to your site.
WIX's My Upload feature is a convenient way to manage your site's files, keeping them organized and easily accessible.
With My Upload, you can upload files directly from your computer, making it simple to add the content you need to your site.
This feature is especially useful for adding multimedia elements to your site, such as videos and images.
More Pages
Having a well-designed website layout is crucial for user experience and conversion. A typical website has multiple pages, each serving a specific purpose.
The home page is the first point of contact for visitors, and it should include basic information about your business and a clear call to action. This could be a sign-up form for your newsletter or a link to your online store.
Some common website pages include an "About" page with background information about your brand, a blog for publishing stories about your business and industry, and a "Contact" page where users can reach out to you for more information. These pages help users navigate your website and find what they're looking for.
You can add new pages to your website using Wix's page management feature, which allows you to create, edit, and delete pages as needed. This is especially useful for adding a contact page or other important pages to your website.
Here are some common website pages to consider:
- Home page with basic information and call to action
- About page with background information and brand story
- Online store for selling products
- Blog for publishing stories and content marketing
- Contact page for user inquiries
Adding Features
Adding features to your Wix website is where the magic happens. With a vast assortment of services and add-ons, you can truly leverage Wix to build both your brand and your business.
You can add a header and footer to your site, which are essential elements that go at the top and bottom of your site. The header typically includes your website menu, login bar, shopping cart, and brand logo, while the footer includes social media links, addresses, and basic contact details.
Lead capture forms are also a must-have, especially if your main objective is to generate leads. You can use them to get people to sign up for a newsletter, a free trial, a product demo, or any other experience that requires their email address. Other brand identity elements, such as your brand colors, design motifs, and fonts, should also be reflected on your site to promote your brand well.
Here are some of the other features you can add to your Wix website:
- A favicon: A small icon representing your site on search engine tabs, which affects your site's credibility and professionalism.
- Other Wix apps: Wix has dozens of apps in its app marketplace for everything from managing reviews to generating QR codes.
Add Bookings
You can add an appointment booking feature to your Wix site using the Wix Bookings app, which can be found in the App Market.
This app is particularly useful for photographers who want to take photoshoot bookings through their website.
To add a bookings section to your site, first create a new section by clicking the "Add section" button in the editor. Then, go down to "Bookings" and drag your chosen block into the new section.
You can choose from existing options like appointments, classes, or courses, or start from scratch to create your own service.
With the bookings element, users can start taking bookings on their site as soon as it's published. If you don't have this element, you can find it in the App Market.
You can manage bookings and add new services to your site using the bookings element.
Online Forms
Online forms are an integral part of almost any website. They allow you to collect information from web visitors, whether it's a contact form, an order form, or a booking form.
To add a contact form to your Wix site, click + in the left toolbar and navigate to "Contact & Forms". You can also add a new field by clicking on the form and selecting "Add New Field".
Form settings allow you to change the name of the form, choose a message to display when a user submits a form, and even accept payments directly through your form if you're on a Wix Business plan.
Jotform is a popular option for payments on Wix websites, allowing you to collect payment via PayPal, Stripe, or Square with just a few clicks. You can link your account to Jotform by dragging the option onto your form, configuring your payment details, and clicking Connect.
Embedding your payment form on your Wix website is easy - all you need is your unique form URL, available once you publish your form.
6 to Make
Adding features to your Wix website is a breeze, and with these 6 steps, you'll be up and running in no time.
To get started, you'll need to create an account. This will give you access to the Wix dashboard where you can start building your site.
You'll then be asked to answer a series of questions to help the WIX ADI build your site. This AI-powered tool uses your input to create a unique and attractive website that's tailored to your needs.
Once you've answered the questions, you can choose a template that suits your style. With Wix, you'll have a range of options to choose from, so take your time and pick the one that resonates with you.
Now it's time to edit your site and make it your own. You can change and customize anything you like, just like you would with the WIX editor.
To make sure your site looks great on mobile devices, you'll need to optimize it for mobile. This will ensure that your site is user-friendly and looks great on smaller screens.
Finally, you'll need to connect your domain to your Wix site. This will give you a professional-looking URL that's easy to remember.
Here are the 6 steps to make a Wix website in a nutshell:
- Create an account
- Answer the questions
- Choose a template
- Edit your site
- Optimize your site for mobile devices
- Connect your domain
App Market
The App Market in Wix is a treasure trove of features that can take your website to the next level. You can add social media apps, online store apps, and much more to make your site work to its full potential.
One of the most exciting things about the App Market is the variety of apps available. You can find apps for making bookings at hotels and restaurants, for example, or for integrating your social media feeds into your site.
If you're looking to generate leads, you might consider adding a lead capture form to your site. This is especially important if your main objective is to generate leads, but even if it isn't, lead capture forms are a good way to keep people engaged with your brand.
Some examples of Wix apps include loyalty programs, countdown clocks, audio streaming, and many others. You can browse the Wix app marketplace to find the perfect app for your site.
To make the most of your site, you should also consider adding a favicon. This is a small icon representing your site on search engine tabs, and it can significantly affect your site's credibility and professionalism.
Optimize for Mobile and Search
Wix automatically generates a mobile-friendly version of your website, but it's still worth making additional edits to ensure a seamless on-the-go experience.
Almost 51 percent of global online traffic is via mobile devices, so it's essential to optimize your site for mobile devices.
To make additional edits, switch over to the Wix Mobile Editor by clicking on the phone icon in the Editor's top menu bar.
You can make all sorts of adjustments using drag-and-drop functionality that won't reflect on the desktop view of your site.
Domain and Hosting
To set up your Wix website, you'll need to assign it a domain name. You can choose from a few options, including using a free Wix domain name, purchasing a domain name from Wix, or connecting your own domain name.
Wix offers free website hosting, which makes it easy to publish your site and get it up and running. You can purchase and register a domain name directly through the Wix site, or connect a domain name you already own.
Wix's hosting is reliable, with a 99.9 percent uptime success rate, and secure, with data stored in compliance with international security standards. You'll also get free web hosting, which includes 500 MB of cloud storage and 500 MB of bandwidth.
If you want a custom domain name without the "wixsite" prefix, you'll need to upgrade to a premium plan, which starts at $11 per month. The most expensive business plan costs $35 per month and includes features like unlimited bandwidth and 50 GB of storage.
Here are the options for setting up your domain and hosting:
- Free Option: Use a free Wix domain name (e.g. username.wix.com/sitename) - fine for personal projects, but not recommended for professional sites.
- Wix Domain: Purchase a domain name from Wix - included for free in the first year of a paid yearly plan.
- Custom Domain: Connect your own domain name from another provider (e.g. Namecheap) - usually cheaper in the long run.
Remember to upgrade to a premium plan to get rid of the "wixsite" prefix and access more features, like unlimited bandwidth and 50 GB of storage.
Ecommerce and Monetization
WIX has many features and apps for E-commerce, making it a great option for online stores. You can add E-commerce to your site using the app market if your template doesn’t already have it.
To build a fully equipped online store, WIX makes it easy to create websites with online stores. However, you won’t be able to accept orders or payments on the free plan, so you'll need a paid plan for that.
You can earn money from WIX by selling products through an E-commerce site, which is the main way users can earn money from WIX. Having your own domain also helps with earning money, as your site will rank higher within search engines.
Set Up Online Store
Setting up an online store on Wix is a breeze. You can showcase your store's products or your restaurant's menu on the free plan, but to accept orders or payments, you'll need a paid plan.
To add your online store, open the "My Business" menu from the navigation bar, then click on "Manage Products." This will open a window where you can manage your products, including editing the names, prices, and images of sample products or adding new ones by clicking the "New Product" button.
You can also use Wix's E-commerce features and apps to set up your online store. Depending on your template, E-commerce may already be in use, or you can add it using the app market.
To make your store more attractive, consider adding a contact form to your site. This will allow customers to get in touch with you directly, and you can even accept payments directly through the form if you're on a Wix Business plan.
If you want to take it to the next level, you can use Jotform to create custom payment forms and embed them on your Wix website. This will allow you to collect payments via PayPal, Stripe, or Square, among other options.
Remember, having your own domain can also help you earn money from Wix, as it can improve your site's ranking in search engines.
Optional: Upgrade Your
Upgrading your website is a crucial step in taking your online presence seriously. If you want your website to be taken seriously, I recommend upgrading to a paid plan.
A paid version of Wix gets you a custom domain, which is free for one year. This means your website will have a professional-looking address, like yoursite.com, rather than yoursite.wix.com. This is a major advantage over the free plan.
With a paid plan, you'll also get transaction and ordering capabilities, which is essential if you have an online store. This feature allows customers to make purchases directly from your website.
Wix offers several paid plans, each with its own set of features. Here's a breakdown of the costs and features of each plan:
As you can see, the costs increase with the number of features and storage space. However, the Business Elite plan offers the most comprehensive set of features and storage space.
Unlocking AI Power
Wix offers a vast assortment of additional services and add-ons that can enhance the overall look and feel of your site, your visitors' experience, and your business's functionality.
Whether you're a photographer looking to showcase your work, a startup offering online sales, or a nonprofit looking to improve your fundraising efforts, these extras can truly leverage Wix to build both your brand and your business.
Wix is first and foremost a website builder, but it's also a platform that can help you build your business.
The extras offered by Wix can help you improve your fundraising efforts as a nonprofit, or enhance your online sales as a startup.
These extras are where you can truly leverage Wix to build both your brand and your business – not just your website.
Conclusion
Building a Wix website is a straightforward process that requires minimal technical expertise.
You've successfully chosen a domain name and registered it through Wix's built-in domain registration feature. Now, it's time to start building your website.
Wix's drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to add and arrange content on your website. In the "Adding Content" section, we discussed how to add text, images, and other media to your pages.
By using Wix's pre-designed templates, you can create a professional-looking website without needing to know how to code. These templates are customizable to fit your brand and style.
In the "Customizing Your Website" section, we covered how to change the layout, colors, and fonts of your website. This will help you create a unique and engaging user experience.
With Wix's built-in SEO tools, you can optimize your website for search engines and improve your online visibility. By following the tips outlined in the "SEO Best Practices" section, you can increase your website's chances of ranking higher in search engine results.
Your Wix website is now live and ready for the world to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a Wix website for free?
Yes, you can build a fully functioning Wix website for free. Sign up to get started and upgrade later to access premium features.
How do Wix websites work?
Wix websites work through a drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to create an online presence without coding or technical expertise. With Wix, you can quickly build a site and get started with just an email address, even for free with optional ads.
Is Wix easy to use for beginners?
Yes, Wix is easy to use for beginners, with a quick learning curve that allows you to get started and edit pages in just a few minutes. You can have a website up and running in a day, even with a small amount of content.
Can Wix design my website?
Yes, Wix's AI website maker can design a website for you, which you can then customize to your liking. Let Wix's AI do the initial design work, and then take control to make it your own.
Featured Images: pexels.com