The best way to build a website in 2023
Emily Greenfield In this day and age, it’s hard to imagine a business without a website. Websites are the most effective sales and marketing tools you can have as a business owner, and establishing an online presence is often key to long-term success. That’s why it’s so crucial to know the best way to build a website in 2023.
You can do so much for your business with a website, and with the help of professional online website builders and website specialists, you can get one up and running pretty quickly.
If this has been something on your to-do list for a while but you’re not sure where to start, then read on as we dive into the best way to build a website in 7 easy steps.
Choosing the right website builder
First things first – we recommend you choose a website builder.
What is a website builder you ask? These platforms are essentially tools that help you structure and construct a website without having to manually code it from scratch. This means that you can put together a professional website quickly, without the headache of having to learn code and other jargon that you probably don’t have time for! If you’re looking for the best way to build a website, then you need to research which website builder is the best for your circumstances.
There are a variety of website builders on the market, but we’ve narrowed it down to 5 that we think are the best in the biz.
- Shopify (ecommerce)
- Wix
- Squarespace
- WordPress
- GoDaddy
Whilst these website builders make it easy to set up your website, you may still need specialist help to create bespoke features. PeoplePerHour hosts a pool of talented website builder specialists who know these platforms inside and out and can help you find the best way to build your website.
7 steps to creating a killer website
- Define the purpose of your website
Why are you creating a website?
Is it to host daily blogs or to sell products/services? Whatever it is, it’s important to define the main goal before you start building your website.
You’ll also want to consider the functionality of your website and what is a priority. Do you want a live chat function, a members area, a photo gallery, or an online store? It’s worth doing some competitor research, but also looking at websites outside of your industry for inspiration too! What do you like and not like?
Top tip: the best way to build a website from scratch is to create a good old mind map. Doing this makes it easier for you to visualise what you want your website to look like. It’s a great way to break down your brand into different parts, making it easier to move on to the next stage of the process.
- Choose your domain name
A domain name is what users will type into their browser to find your website ie. peopleperhour.com. This is usually the name of your business or something that can be easily linked to your business.
You want your domain name to be easy to spell, nice and short, and contain keywords that are relevant to your business – this will help boost visibility in search engines. But the most important thing to consider is making sure your domain is not already used elsewhere! This can become expensive if you need to purchase the domain name from a third party.
If you’re struggling to come up with a name or one that’s already been taken, you can always opt for website name generators that will help you create a unique domain.
- Design the user experience of your website
The best way to build a website is by meticulously planning the user experience of your website. This stage is all about the journey your customers will take, which is one of the most important parts of building a website.
Website builders have templates you can use to get started, which help visualise how your website pages look and how they link with one another – forming the foundation of your website layout.
But, if you really want to create a website that is fully optimised for conversions, it’s important to work with a professional UX/UI designer. They’ll help you to perfect your website navigation and provide a smooth-sailing user experience. Think about it, when a customer visits your website, you have seconds to grab their attention – a quality functioning website is going to keep them interested and build trust, meaning more conversions and sales for your business.
You can find a range of global UX/UI designers, with varying price ranges to fit your budget on PeoplePerHour.
- Create captivating copy
Now that you have your website layout figured out, you’ll need to fill the pages with content. This needs to be engaging, but well organised too – make communication simple and easy to understand.
For the best way to build a website, It’s important to have the most eye-catching and memorable content right in the heart of your website – the homepage. You want your customers to be engaged from the get-go and not scroll straight past the important stuff.
Whilst you may consider yourself a good writer, it takes a very special skill to be able to communicate complex ideas in a simple and engaging manner. It’s worth considering using a professional and experienced Copywriter to create captivating and memorable content for your website. Browse through the vast and talented community of website copywriters in the PeoplePerHour marketplace.
- Let’s talk website design
The design and aesthetics – the part where you get to showcase your brand. The best way to build a website is to take your time exploring and finding visual inspiration. Take a look at other websites and flock to platforms like Instagram and Pinterest for creative ideas.
From browsing, you’ll get a pretty good idea of how you want your website to look and feel, as well as what you think your audience will gravitate towards.
But if you’re not a designer, and you can’t afford to hire an agency, freelance designers are a great alternative. Take a look through fully vetted and reviewed Website Designers right here on PeoplePerHour. These experts will be able to bring the vision you have for your website to life.
- Hire a web developer
Okay so, you’ve got your domain name, your copy, and your layout. Now’s the time to work with a web developer.
The website builder you’ve chosen can undoubtedly help with this, but if you need bespoke features you’ll need to get in touch with a Web Developer. These are the people that can build unique elements of your website from scratch. Unless you’ve got a qualification in coding, you’ll be restricted to the templates of the website builder you’ve chosen – which may work just fine for your needs!
But, if you need more refined work done, or even just advice, find an established website developer on PeoplePerHour, and invite them to work on your project.
- Search engine optimisation
Last, but most certainly not least is SEO. If you’re serious about the best way to build a website, then you cannot ignore search engine optimisation. There’s no point in creating a killer website if no one can find it. An SEO strategy for launching your website is an absolute must.
Whilst your copywriter will be able to help with writing your content in an SEO-friendly manner, an SEO specialist will be able to build a far-reaching strategy that will really make the difference initially. They will provide a structured format that Google can easily scrape, as well as keep you up to speed with the right keywords to target. Truly understanding technical SEO is not an easy task, so we would highly recommend working with someone who knows what they’re doing – especially for the launch of your website.
The most cost-effective way to find an SEO expert is by using freelancers on PeoplePerHour. Explore our SEO freelancers, and get your website to the top of the Google rankings.
Congratulations! You’ve created your dream website. Now it’s time to promote it to the world. Once it’s all up and running – use your social media channels and email marketing software to spread the word to your customer base and beyond.
