How to Make Website for Beginners Using Simple Templates

When first starting out, building a website can seem daunting for beginners without any design experience.

But with the right templates and easy-to-use website builders now available, anyone can create a professional, responsive website in no time.

In this post, you'll discover step-by-step how complete beginners can build their own website by selecting and customizing templates that match their vision and needs.

Introduction to Website Creation for Beginners

This article provides a step-by-step guide for beginners on how to make a website using simple templates. We'll cover picking a website builder, selecting templates, customizing design, adding content, and launching your site.

Understanding the Basics of Website Building

Building a website from scratch can seem daunting, but using a user-friendly website builder makes the process much easier for beginners. Key things to understand:

Website builders have drag-and-drop editors to easily add and style content
Pre-made templates help you create professional designs fast
Responsive design ensures your site works on all devices
No coding knowledge needed

Focusing on an easy-to-use website builder is key for beginners to create a quality website.

Identifying Your Website's Purpose

First, determine the main goal of your website. Common beginner website types:

Business - Showcase products/services
Portfolio - Display creative works
Personal - Share hobbies, interests
Blog - Publish articles

Defining a clear purpose will guide your site's design and content.

Exploring the Best Website Builders for Ease and Functionality

Beginner-friendly website builders like Wix and Squarespace make website creation intuitive. Benefits include:

Easy drag and drop editors
Professional templates
Responsive design
Built-in SEO
Domain registration

Evaluate features and prices to pick the best website builder for you.

Navigating the Costs of Website Creation

Costs to consider:

Domain registration - $10-$15 per year
Website builder plans - Free to $30 per month
Premium templates, stock images, plugins - budget extra

Balance cost vs features based on website needs. Start with free options.

Planning Your Website's Structure and Content

Map out website pages and core content before starting development. Key pages:

Home - Introduction, value proposition
About - Company or personal background
Contact - Email, phone, social media links
Services/Products - Offerings, pricing, descriptions
Blog/Updates - Latest news articles

Focus on quality over quantity for beginners creating their first website.

Can I create a website for free?

Yes, there are several options for creating a website for free, including popular website builders like Wix, Weebly, and WordPress.com.

These website builders offer free plans that allow you to create a basic website with their subdomain (yourwebsite.wix.com or yourwebsite.weebly.com). The free plans provide limited storage, bandwidth, and features compared to paid plans but can be a good starting point.

Some key things the free website builder plans typically include:

Ability to use pre-made templates and themes
Drag-and-drop editor to build pages
Basic blogging and contact forms
Limited storage and bandwidth

There are pros and cons to the free website builder options:

Pros:

Quick and easy set up
No coding required
Affordable way to test having an online presence

Cons:

Limited customization options
Branded subdomain
Ads may be displayed
Less storage and bandwidth

So in summary - yes beginners can definitely create a free website as a starting point using Wix, Weebly or WordPress.com. Just be aware there are some limitations compared to paid plans. But overall these website builders make launching a basic free site very achievable.

Can I build a website with no experience?

Building a website is easier than ever before, even for beginners with no coding experience. Here are some tips to get started:

Use a website builder

Website builders like Wix and Squarespace allow you to create a website by dragging and dropping elements into place. They have hundreds of professional templates to choose from and intuitive editors to customize the design.

With website builders, you don't need to know any coding. They handle all the technical stuff for you. You just focus on creating beautiful pages and writing great content.

Select a template

Most website builders come with professionally designed templates for different industries like restaurants, retail stores, portfolios, blogs etc.

Browse through the template library to find one that matches closest to the look and feel you want for your website. The template will have preset layouts, color schemes and content sections that you can easily customize.

Customize the design

Once you've selected a template, you can customize it by:

Changing colors and fonts
Adding/deleting sections
Dragging around elements to modify layout
Uploading your own images and logo

Take your time to personalize the template until you are fully satisfied.

Connect a custom domain

A custom domain like yourbusiness.com builds credibility and brand recognition. Most website builders allow you to connect a domain you purchase separately.

Add your own content

With the design set, it's time to add your own text, images and videos to the content sections. Showcase your products, write blog posts and describe your services.

Optimizing content for search engines will help people find your website on Google.

And that's it! With these simple steps, you can create a stunning website even if you have zero experience. The website builders do all the heavy lifting, allowing you to focus on design and content.

How much money is needed to start a website?

The amount of money needed to start a website can vary greatly depending on the type of website you want to build. Here's a breakdown of estimated costs for different website types:

Small Business Website (Up to 16 Pages)

Cost range: $2,000 - $9,000
Includes basic design, content creation, development and launch of a simple business website with up to 16 pages.
Suitable for small companies, online stores, portfolios, etc.

Corporate Website (Up to 75 Pages)

Cost range: $10,000 - $35,000
Includes custom design, extensive content creation, complex development and launch of a large corporate website.
Suitable for mid to large companies, organizations, etc.

E-Commerce Website (Up to 1,000 Products)

Cost range: $5,000 - $55,000
Includes store design, product pages, secure checkout, inventory management, shipping calculators, etc.
Suitable for online stores selling up to 1,000 products.

Website Application (Up to 2,000 Pages)

Cost range: $6,000 - $75,000
Includes design and development of complex, data-driven websites like social networks, forums, job boards, etc.
Suitable for web apps with heavy custom functionality.

The final cost depends on features needed, complexity, custom functionality, and more. But this gives you a general idea of potential website costs. The key is finding the right balance between budget and goals.

What is the minimum cost to start a website?

Starting a website can be done at very little cost these days thanks to abundant free and low-cost tools available. Here is a breakdown of the minimum costs to get started:

Local Informational Website

For a simple local business or personal website with just a few pages of information, you can launch a site for free or very low cost:

Use a free website builder like Wix or WordPress.com to create a nice looking site with no coding needed. These are ad-supported but offer free plans.
Get a domain name for around ₹500 per year. Choose something short and easy to remember.
Find a low-cost web hosting plan if you outgrow the limits of free plans. Shared hosting starts around ₹1000 per year.

Minimum cost: ₹1500 per year

National Informational Website

For a more robust informational site for a business reaching national audiences, the costs rise slightly:

Spend more on a premium template and branding/logo design, around ₹5000. This makes the site look more professional.
Upgrade to better web hosting with more resources as your site and traffic grows. Typical cost around ₹2000 per year.
Should budget at least ₹8000 total to launch a nice national site.

Global Informational Website

For global reach to international audiences, costs increase more:

Consider a custom site build instead of templates for full flexibility and customization, starting around ₹15,000.
Upgrade to advanced web hosting plans with CDNs and caching for fast international delivery, around ₹5000 per year.

Minimum for global site: ₹20,000 for initial build plus ₹5000 yearly for hosting.

The above covers basic informational sites. More complex sites like ecommerce, SaaS apps, etc have higher startup costs. But the good news is anyone can launch a professional looking small site very affordably today!

Selecting and Customizing a Template

Choosing the Right Template for Your Needs

When starting your website build, it's important to select a template that aligns with the purpose and goals of your site. Consider elements like:

Industry - Choose a template designed for sites in your field, like ecommerce, blogging, portfolios, etc. This ensures useful features are already built-in.
Aesthetic - Opt for a clean, modern template that makes the right visual impression on your audience. Stay on-brand.
Features - Assess if the template has key features you require like contact forms, galleries, user logins, etc.
Responsiveness - Ensure the template adapts well across desktop, tablets and mobile devices with no loss of functionality.
Customization - Pick a flexible template you can tailor to your brand identity without coding skills.

Taking stock of these factors means you start with a solid foundation to then customize to your needs.

Customizing Template Design Elements

Once you've selected a suitable template, personalizing the design is critical. Key elements to customize include:

Colors - Change default colors to match your brand palette. Altering key elements like headlines, menus, buttons and backgrounds is important.
Fonts - Choose complementary fonts that strengthen your brand identity. Avoid too many different ones.
Layout - Adjust column sizes, spacing, content width and other structural elements to optimize user experience.
Images - Add images, graphics and icons that visually communicate your brand personality.
Styling - Use bold, italics and text size changes to create hierarchy and draw attention to key messages.

With most templates, you can edit all these from a simple admin dashboard or editor without technical skills.

Incorporating Multimedia and Interactive Features

Consider enhancing your website with engaging multimedia like:

YouTube or Vimeo videos to showcase products, services or team members.
An embedded map with your location and contact details.
An image gallery or slideshow to display work samples or products.
User-friendly forms and quizzes to capture visitor data and interactivity.
Chat boxes for instant customer service and contact.

These features boost visitor engagement and provide interactive ways to communicate your offering. They can readily be added into most templates.

Optimizing Templates for Mobile Devices

With Google prioritizing mobile-friendly sites, ensuring your template is responsive is essential. When previewing templates, check:

Site layout adapts seamlessly to fit mobile screens without horizontal scrolling.
Tap targets like menus, buttons and links are large enough for fat finger taps.
Key site functionality works as intended across devices.

Tweaking your template to be mobile-optimized improves visitor experience and your search ranking. It avoids losing visitors on mobile.

Previewing and Revising Your Template Choices

Before launching your site live, rigorously test it using:

Mobile previews to view the responsive design on multiple device sizes.
Site previews to test forms, multimedia, interactions and flows.
Page speed tests to check load times and optimize if required.
HTML validation to catch and fix errors with links, markup, etc.

Iteratively revising your template based on testing results means you can proactively fix issues instead of reacting after launch. This polish makes a positive first impression.

Building Your Website with a Wix Template

Wix provides an easy way for beginners to create a website using pre-made templates. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Getting Started with Wix

Sign up for a free Wix account at wix.com.
Choose the template that best fits your website needs and vision. Wix has hundreds of professional designs to select from.
Personalize the template by adding your own text, images, videos and more using Wix's drag and drop editor. No coding needed!

Selecting a Wix Template that Fits Your Vision

When browsing Wix templates, consider:

Purpose - Will your site be a blog, portfolio, ecommerce store, etc? Filter templates accordingly.
Visual Style - Modern, classic, minimalist? Find a design that matches your tastes.
Adaptability - How easy is it to customize the template? Check editor reviews.

Shortlist a few templates first before deciding. View demos to get a feel of the responsive design.

Customizing Your Wix Website

Tailor your Wix template site to your brand:

Colors - Change template colors in Theme Settings.
Images - Add your own photos and graphics.
Text - Edit template text with your own branding.
Pages - Add, delete or reorder pages.
Settings - Adjust site animations, fonts and more.

Take advantage of Wix's intuitive drag and drop editor to personalize your site.

Adding and Editing Content in Wix

Enhance your Wix site by adding rich content:

Blog - Easily add a blog to share articles.
Gallery - Display stunning image galleries.
Contact - Let visitors message you.
Social media - Link your social profiles.

Seamlessly blend content into your template design using Wix's editor.

Launching and Promoting Your Wix Website

Get your Wix website online:

Preview site first.
Use SEO tools to optimize site content.
Connect a custom domain.
Publish your live site!

Promote your new website on social media and local business directories. Add Google Analytics to track visitors.

With its simplicity and customizability, Wix empowers beginners to create professional quality websites. Their pre-made templates provide the design framework while letting you add your own personal touch.

Creating a Website on Your Phone

Building a website directly from your phone using mobile apps offers convenience, flexibility, and simplicity for beginners. These apps provide user-friendly interfaces and powerful features to create professional sites on the go.

Choosing the Right Website Building App for Mobile

When selecting a mobile website builder, consider these key factors:

Intuitive interface: The app should have clean, simple menus and options optimized for touchscreens. Wix, Squarespace, and Google Sites have excellent mobile interfaces.
Responsive building: Build your site using a mobile-responsive editor to preview how it will look on desktop and mobile. Most top apps like Weebly have this.
Design customization: Choose a versatile app like WordPress that enables extensive site design customization like themes, layouts, and styling.
Functionality: Select an app like Wix that offers abundant site features like forms, galleries, blogs, ecommerce, and more to suit your needs.

Navigating the Mobile Website Building Interface

When designing your site's mobile interface, follow these tips:

Use a simple, clean layout with minimal complex navigation menus.
Ensure buttons and links have ample spacing for easy tapping.
Optimize images for fast loading using compression and resizing.
Check your site on multiple mobile devices to address any display issues.

Adding Content and Media on Mobile

Uploading content while mobile building is easy with these steps:

Text: Use your phone's keyboard or voice typing to add text efficiently. Most apps autosave drafts to avoid lost work.
Photos: Upload from your camera roll or cloud storage. Drag and drop images directly into your site editor.
Video: Add YouTube or Vimeo embeds using share links from those platforms. Some apps support video uploads too.

Testing and Previewing Your Mobile-Created Website

Be sure to thoroughly test your mobile site:

Preview on various device sizes using your app's responsive editor.
Check load speeds using Google PageSpeed Insights or web.dev Test My Site.
Tap every link and form to ensure full functionality.

Fix any issues before publishing your mobile-optimized site!

Publishing Your Mobile-Made Website

When launching your mobile-built website:

Choose an SEO-friendly domain name and set up hosting within your site builder app.
Submit XML sitemaps to search engines for better indexing.
Enable HTTPS encryption for security and SEO benefits.
Use social media and email marketing to spread the word about your new mobile site!

Building an entire website through your phone is achievable thanks to modern mobile apps. With some planning and testing, you can create a fully-functional site with excellent user experience.

How to Create a Website on Google

Google provides several free and easy-to-use website building tools that are great options for beginners looking to create their first website.

Utilizing Google Sites for Simple Website Creation

Google Sites allows you to make a basic website for free without needing to know any coding. You can choose from several templates or design your own site using drag and drop components. It has integrated Google functionality like Drive, Calendar, and Maps. Some key features:

Easy drag and drop interface to add and style content
Variety of templates to select from
Custom domains supported
Integrates other Google services
100GB of free storage

With Google Sites, you can quickly set up a simple informational site or blog that looks professional.

Designing Your Google Site with Templates

Google Sites has template options for common site types like portfolio, resume, small business, blog, etc. You can browse templates, preview them, and select the one you like best as a starting point.

Then you can customize it by:

Adding your own text, images and videos
Modifying layouts and color schemes
Rearranging, adding or deleting sections

Using an existing template saves time and gives you a structured format to build on top of.

Integrating Google Services into Your Website

Embed other Google features directly on your site pages to enhance functionality:

Google Maps - Display locations, driving directions and local business info
Google Calendar - Surface event listings from your calendar
Google Drive - Show documents, spreadsheets or slides

This gives site visitors quick access to your content stored in other Google services.

Once your site is ready, you can:

Publish it publicly or privately share access
Allow users to comment on pages
Embed site content elsewhere with iframe code
Promote your site on social media and elsewhere online

Google Sites makes it easy to get your site live and share it.

Optimizing Your Google Site for Search Engines

To help people find your site through search engines like Google:

Use relevant keywords in headlines, content and image names
Create XML site maps to index all pages
Submit your site to search engines for crawling
Link internally between related content

With some search engine optimization (SEO) best practices, you can drive more organic traffic to your Google Site.

Step-by-Step Guide with Visuals

Creating a website can seem daunting, but breaking it down into simple, visual steps makes the process much more manageable.

Starting with a Clear Vision and Plan

Before diving into the technical aspects, it's important to step back and clearly define your website's purpose, target audience, content strategy, and design style. Outlining this information visually in a mind map, mood board or wireframe will provide crucial guidance as you build out your site.

Selecting and Customizing a Template with Visual Aids

Next, browse website templates and select one that aligns with your vision. Platforms like Wix and Squarespace offer beautiful, responsive templates that can be customized to match your preferences. Follow their visual guides to tweak colors, fonts, layouts and more until your template reflects your desired look and feel.

Adding Content: A Picture-Based Tutorial

With your template set up, it's time to add your content. Follow easy, illustrated instructions to upload images, embed videos, integrate social media feeds and populate pages with your text. Arrange these visual elements in an intuitive way to enhance user experience.

Previewing and Testing with Visual Checklists

Before launching your site, thoroughly test it using screenshot checklists. Verify that images are displaying properly on all pages, forms are submitting correctly and links are routing to the right destinations. Tick off each checklist item as you confirm functionality.

Going Live and Monitoring Performance

Congratulations, your website is ready to go public! Use visual performance analytics to monitor visitor traffic, top pages, conversion rates and more. These graphics will dictate where to focus your optimization efforts.

Conclusion: Launching Your First Website

Creating and launching your very first website is an exciting achievement, and templates make the process simple even for total beginners. This article has covered the key steps to get your website live, from choosing a template to customizing it and finally publishing your new online presence.

Reviewing the Website Creation Journey

Let's quickly recap the journey you've taken to launch your first website:

Selected a template that matched your needs and preferences from the available options
Customized colors, fonts, layouts by tweaking built-in settings
Added your own text, images, videos and other content
Connected your domain name and configured hosting
Published your finished website for the world to see!

Even with no prior experience, you've successfully created a website through an easy-to-use template builder. Great job!

Celebrating Your New Online Presence

Pat yourself on the back - you now have a live website showing your unique brand and offerings to prospective visitors. This is an important first step to establishing your digital presence, and you should feel proud of achieving this milestone.

As you continue on your website building journey, remember to stay open-minded and keep learning. Find inspiration from other sites, continue tweaking your design, add richer content. Use this initial website as a foundation as you develop your brand identity.

Next Steps After Launching Your Website

Your website is now live, but your work isn't over. Here are some recommendations on what to focus on next:

Promote your site - Increase visibility through SEO, social media, email campaigns
Add more content - Blog posts, videos, images to engage visitors
Fine-tune design - Review analytics to optimize conversions

Revisit your site metrics frequently and have a plan to produce new content on an ongoing basis.

Resources for Further Learning

Interested to learn more about building better websites? Here are some helpful resources:

Web design courses on Udemy
Moz Beginner's Guide to SEO
Google Analytics Academy course
r/webdev and r/web_design subreddits

Leverage these to continue expanding your skills!

Encouragement to Explore Advanced Features

As you get more comfortable with web design, explore adding advanced functionality like:

User logins and profiles
Custom forms and database integration
Advanced interactivity with JavaScript
Ecommerce capabilities
Custom CSS layouts and animations

Don't be afraid to experiment with the more complex capabilities of your chosen website builder. Or if you ever outgrow the constraints of templates, consider exploring custom development frameworks like WordPress. The possibilities are endless!

You've accomplished something great by launching your first website. Now the real fun begins - where will you take it from here?