How to Build a Website: 8 Steps for 2024

Business ideas

Websites take businesses forward. A modern, clean site not only attracts new customers but also enhances their experience and streamlines sales through an online store.

Building your own website today is straightforward. Website builders empower you to create pages that echo your brand’s essence. They’re equipped with business tools for smooth shipping and checkout processes, plus marketing perks to boost your visibility.

This post unpacks everything you need to craft a business website with Shopify or another website builder.

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How to create a website using a website builder

1. Define your website’s objective

Kickstart the website creation process by setting clear goals. Decide on what success looks like for your business. This vision will shape your priorities and dictate the features you need to focus on first.

Businesses typically create a website to:

Market and sell products
Communicate their brand’s message
Share company news and updates
Present customer feedback
Convert site visitors into potential customers

After you decide on your goals, plan your approach. For example, if selling physical items is your aim, think through your inventory layout, how you’ll highlight your products, and the way you’ll handle sales.

Remember, a website is a constant work in progress. Clear goals and a step-by-step plan give your building process direction and intent.

2. Pick a website builder

For a quick website launch, choose a website builder. These are online platforms that help you design your site without needing to code. They offer a visual way to assemble your website—just click and place items where you want them. Look for website-building software that offers:

A simple drag-and-drop interface
Pre-made templates for quick setup
Customization options
A variety of images and videos
Tools for optimizing your site and boosting sales

As your business grows, you might want to add unique features to your site. This could mean tweaking the code itself. A solid website builder provides the flexibility to edit HTML and CSS, giving you more control when you’re ready.

Shopify website builder

Shopify offers a website builder that lets you create all kinds of sites, from online stores to personal blogs, portfolios, and more.

As a user, you get access to a range of customizable, mobile-friendly themes, ensuring your site looks great on any device. You also benefit from 24/7 live support, ready to assist you in crafting your website exactly how you envision it.

Plus, Shopify provides a comprehensive suite of tools to help you connect with your audience and grow your business without involving third-party services.

Other website-building solutions

Besides Shopify, there are several other renowned website builders available, such as Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress. Each of these platforms brings its own set of advantages to the table.

It’s crucial to consider your website’s objectives and identify which features are paramount for your needs. Look into how user-friendly they are, the variety of design options they offer, and the extent of customization they allow

For those who prefer drag-and-drop functionality, there are additional options to explore:

Weebly: Known for its intuitive interface and a wide range of design templates.
GoDaddy: Not just a domain registrar but also offers a user-friendly website builder with marketing tools included.
3dcart: Catering specifically to ecommerce sites with a focus on building a robust online store.
Volusion: Another ecommerce-centered builder that offers comprehensive tools for setting up a store

3. Select a domain name

Your domain name serves as your online locator, guiding customers to your virtual doorstep. A well-chosen domain not only lends legitimacy to your business but also boosts your visibility in search results

Tips for picking a domain name:

Incorporate relevant keywords to improve search relevance.
Opt for a concise, brand-aligned name.
Try to secure a top-level domain like .com for broader appeal.
For local impact, think about a country-specific domain such as .ca or .us.

Registering your domain name

Check if your desired name is free by using a hosting provider’s search function, like Shopify’s tool for domain availability.

If the name is open, register it via hosting services such as Shopify, Google Domains, or GoDaddy. All providers offer a uniform list of domain names.

If your first choice is taken, think creatively. Take inspiration from Biko, which uses “ilovebiko.com”—memorable, straightforward, and engaging.

If your top pick is unavailable, you might add a suffix or try a different extension. Remember, changing your domain name later can complicate your SEO efforts, so make your choice with the future in mind.

4. Choose a web host

When you build a website, it needs a home—a server where it lives. Web hosting services reserve this space for you.

Choosing a web host can seem daunting. You’ll encounter various pricing structures, data limits, and options for domain emails and storage space. And it’s hard to predict how fast your site will grow or what you might need down the line.

For online stores, consider web hosts specializing in ecommerce with features like:

Quick-loading servers to provide a smooth experience for customers worldwide
No limits on bandwidth to support your growing traffic without extra charges
The ability to register your own domain to establish a distinct presence online
Plenty of email forwarding options to streamline communication and present a cohesive brand image
Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance to protect your customers’ payment information

While most web hosting services cover these bases, we recommend Shopify for its fully hosted solution. “Fully hosted” means you don’t need to set up your own server—the web host stores and maintains your site’s data in the cloud.

5. Finalize a layout

When your hosting provider and domain are set, it’s time to decide on a website layout.

Many website builders offer a mix of free and premium themes tailored for different industries and content strategies. Shopify, for instance, has over a hundred options created by top designers. These themes are adaptable, easy to use, and allow for live previews during customization.

When picking a theme:

Opt for versatility. Themes with multiple style options provide extensive customization flexibility.
Evaluate built-in features. Choose themes with functions that meet your specific business needs. Themes with search bars are great for extensive inventories, and those with media sections highlight company achievements.
Look beyond colors and fonts. Since you can change these elements later, focus more on layout and features.
Experiment with different themes. If a theme doesn’t meet your expectations, switch it out without losing your content.

Remember, a well-chosen theme supports your SEO efforts and ensures a seamless experience across devices. For specialized design needs, consider hiring a Shopify Expert to optimize your site.

6. Add relevant pages

Craft the right pages for your website’s purpose. If you’re launching an online store, prioritize product and collection pages. Restaurants will need pages for menus and booking tables. Real estate agents should include listings and a contact form.

Key web pages for a business website:

Homepage: This is the first page most visitors will see. It should highlight your brand identity and direct visitors to important areas of your site with clarity and purpose.
About page: Use this space to convey your business’s backstory, values, and the people behind the brand, which can resonate with customers and build trust.
Contact page: Make it simple for website visitors to reach out with inquiries or support requests by providing contact information, including a form, email address, or phone number.
Product pages: For every item you offer, there should be a dedicated product page with detailed descriptions, pricing, availability, and customer reviews to inform and encourage purchases.
FAQ page: Help customers help themselves by answering the most common questions related to your business, products, or services, which can also reduce the volume of support queries.
Policy pages: Clearly outline your business’s policies on shipping, returns, privacy, and terms of service to ensure transparency and legal compliance.

Create a content strategy for SEO

Ensure every page on your website serves a clear purpose and reflects your business’s focus. This approach lays the groundwork for your site’s authority within your niche. As you populate your site with content and visitors engage with it, search engines begin to recognize and categorize your pages.

This is the core of search engine optimization, or SEO. It’s when you fine-tune your content to align with the search terms and keywords your audience uses. Use keyword planning tools to identify terms closely related to your business, then integrate them into your content to improve your performance in search engine result pages.

7. Set up business tools

If you’re building your site with Shopify, you can take advantage of business tools to expand its capabilities. The Shopify App Store has more than 8,000 apps that can connect your website with logistics platforms, social media channels, email service providers, and more.

Ideally, you should locate free Shopify apps that let you:

Run TikTok ads
Find trending products to sell online
Build lead generation pop-ups
Create loyalty programs
Add payment gateways to your shopping cart
Provide live chat support
Build an email marketing list

Choosing the right apps can significantly improve your store’s performance and customer satisfaction, paving the way for increased sales and business growth.

8. Preview, test, and launch

Before launching your site, conduct a thorough test. Experience it as a customer, evaluating content, image quality, loading times, and overall user experience impartially.

Invite friends, family, or colleagues for additional insight. Ask them to explore your site using various devices and internet providers to identify any performance issues.

For instance, they might discover broken links that need fixing. Or, they may find that the site is not rendering properly on mobile devices. Gathering this feedback is essential for ironing out any kinks before your site’s official launch.

Creating a free website with Shopify

If you’re looking to create an online store or showcase your brand, Shopify’s website builder offers an immediate start.

Begin with its three-day trial at no cost, and continue to develop your website for just $1 per month over the initial three months.

Shopify doesn’t just help build your site—it also equips you with an array of tools to expand both your online and physical store’s reach.

Here are the steps:

1. Create a Shopify account

Visit Shopify and sign up for a free trial. Provide an email address and your reason for creating a website. You can register a custom domain later, if required.

2. Provide basic site information

Upon entering the store builder, you’ll see a menu on the left with links to various resources. Click Settings to personalize your website’s name, adjust the time zone, and set your preferred currency.

3. Choose a theme

You can immediately start adding products or choose a theme by clicking Customize Theme. Shopify offers a default theme with a seamless checkout process. For a unique design, browse additional themes or purchase a professional one from the Theme Store.

4. Customize your theme

After theme selection, you might want to alter universal aspects, like color or fonts. Edit these using the Customize option, which also lets you set the logo, layout, and other elements.

5. Create pages and posts

Whether you’re still in the live builder or following the setup guide, now’s the time to add pages. Write content for your Home and About Us sections. Consider posting a blog to convey more in-depth or personal information.

6. Add your products

With your store’s look complete, press the Products button to list your items. Add titles, descriptions, prices, images, and videos. Get organized with collections and categories for ease of navigation. Shopify accommodates your products, digital goods, services, and items from external vendors.

7. Set up a payment method

Activate a payment gateway before launching. In Settings or the setup guide, navigate to Payments to enable Shopify Payments or other providers to accept major payment method

8. Test and launch

Conduct a trial order to check functionality. Choose a plan that suits your needs to publish your site. As you grow more comfortable, explore Shopify features like shipping, marketing, and analytics to enrich your store’s functionality

Keep your website growing

Once your website is up and running, it’s not the end, but a fresh start. Keep it dynamic with regular updates, new features, and expanded content to stay ahead of the game. Taking these steps will ensure your site doesn’t just exist but grows consistently.

Start selling online now with Shopify

Start your free trial