How to make a website from scratch (For Beginners)

Define the website purpose and goals

Before you start building your website, it’s important to know why you’re creating it and what you want it to achieve. Having clear objectives will guide your choices and ensure your website meets your needs.

• Objective: Why are you making this website? Is it to sell products, showcase your work, or share helpful information?
• Target audience: Who will visit your website? Knowing their needs and preferences will help you design a site that’s easy for them to use.
• Goals: What do you want the website to accomplish? Examples could include boosting sales, generating leads, or growing a community.

Take a moment to outline these details—it’ll make the rest of the process easier and more focused.

1. Choose a domain name

Your domain name is your website’s unique address on the internet. It’s one of the first things people notice, so picking the right one is important. A good domain name makes your site look professional, builds trust, and is easy for visitors to remember.

Why choose a custom domain?

Having a custom domain comes with key benefits:

1. Professional image: It makes your site look polished and credible.
2. Better SEO: Custom domains can improve your search engine ranking.
3. Builds trust: Visitors are more likely to trust a website with a unique domain.
4. Increased security: Custom domains often come with SSL certificates to keep your site safe.

Bookipi’s custom domain feature

With the Bookipi AI Website Builder, you can connect your existing domain or buy a new one. Through partnerships with Entri and Ionos, Bookipi makes it easy to link your site to a custom domain or find and purchase a new one using a domain lookup tool.

Tips for choosing a domain name

• Keep it short and simple: Easy to spell and remember.
• Make it relevant: Reflect your brand or purpose.
• Choose wisely: Avoid overly complicated names.

Using a custom domain through Bookipi gives your website a professional look, better search rankings, and added security—helping you stand out online.

2. Design and layout

Your website’s design and layout are key to creating a great user experience. A clear, organized layout keeps visitors engaged and helps them find what they need.

• Plan your structure: Outline the main pages your site will have, like Home, About, Blog, or Contact, and consider any subpages you might need, such as product categories or FAQs.
• Create a wireframe: Sketch a basic layout of your site to map out key sections like headers, menus, and footers. This helps you visualize your design before building.
• Focus on user experience (UX): Make sure your site looks and works well on all devices—mobile, tablet, and desktop. Keep navigation simple and layouts consistent for easy browsing.
• Choose your style: Pick a color scheme and fonts that align with your brand, keeping the overall look simple and professional.

Good design doesn’t have to be complex. Tools like the Bookipi AI Website Builder can simplify the process with ready-made templates, along with suggested content.

3. Choose a template

Templates are pre-designed layouts that help you create a professional website quickly and easily. Many website builders, like Bookipi AI Website Builder, offer customizable templates to get you started.

Here’s how to choose the right one:

• Match your purpose: Select a template that fits your website type. For example, if you’re building a store, pick one with product pages. For a portfolio, choose one that highlights visuals.
• Check responsiveness: Make sure the template is mobile-friendly and works well on phones, tablets, and desktops.
• Go for simplicity: Pick a clean, modern design. Avoid overly busy layouts that can make your site look cluttered.

Templates save time and effort, especially if you’re learning how to make a website of your own. They allow you to focus on content and customization instead of technical design.

4. Use an AI website builder

Building a website no longer requires coding skills, thanks to AI-powered tools like the Bookipi AI Website Builder. These tools make website creation simple and accessible, allowing anyone to build a site within minutes.

Here’s how an AI website builder can help:

• Easily customizable: Easily customize elements on your site without needing technical expertise.
• Automation: AI tools generate layouts and designs tailored to your business, saving you time and effort.
• User-friendly interfaces: Intuitive platforms let even complete beginners create a professional-looking website with ease.
• Free hosting: With the Bookipi AI Website Builder, your site is hosted for free, cutting out extra costs and setup challenges.

For those learning how to make a website from scratch, using an AI website builder is a stress-free and easy option. It’s perfect for anyone wanting to bring their ideas to life without the hassle of complex coding.

To unlock even more possibilities, explore the full range of Bookipi AI tools designed to streamline your workflow and take your website to the next level.

5. Add content

Content is the heart of your website. It’s what keeps visitors engaged and informs them about your brand or services. Here’s how to create content that stands out:

• Create high-quality content: Use clear text, engaging images, and videos that resonate with your audience. Make sure everything aligns with your website’s purpose and goals.
• Focus on readability: Break up text with headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs to make it easier to read.
• Optimize visuals: Use high-resolution images that are compressed for quick loading. This ensures your site looks polished without slowing it down.

Keep your tone consistent and reflect your brand in all the content you share.

6. Optimise SEO on your site

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is important for making your website visible to search engines like Google. Here are simple ways to optimize your site:

• Write meta descriptions: Create short, catchy summaries for each page to help your site stand out in search results. With Bookipi AI Website Builder, you can easily edit meta descriptions using built-in AI tools.
• Responsive design: Make sure your website looks good on any device. Bookipi AI Website Builder automatically ensures your site is mobile-friendly and responsive without extra work.
• Improve loading times: Compress images and minimize unnecessary scripts to speed up your site.

With good SEO practices, your site is more likely to rank higher and attract more visitors.

7. Promote your website

Once your website is live, it’s time to let people know about it. Here’s how:

• Social media: Share your website on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to reach your audience.
• Email marketing: Send updates and newsletters to your contacts, inviting them to visit your website.
• Networking: Join online communities or forums where your target audience hangs out and share your website with them.

Promoting your website ensures all your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed!