In today’s digital world, having a strong online presence is key. At Search Wizards, we help Australians of all levels create websites that stand out. Our guide shows beginners how easy it is to make a website with modern tools. Let’s explore how you can make a professional website, even if you’re new to web design.

Key Takeaways

• Website design is accessible for beginners thanks to user-friendly website builders¹
• Identifying your website’s purpose and target audience is crucial for success²
• Researching competitor websites can provide valuable design inspiration²
• Choosing the right website builder with essential tools and customization options is key¹
• Optimizing your website for search engines and mobile responsiveness is a must¹

Decide What Type of Website You Want to Create

When planning your website, it’s key to know your purpose, goals, and who you’re making it for³. This helps decide the website type and what features it should have. For instance, a portfolio site shows off your work and has a contact form. An online store needs product pages, ways to pay, and might include print-on-demand options³. Nick Collins, the founder of Cleverchefs, says his site builds a strong brand connection with clients³.

Explore Different Website Types and Elements

Website builders and platforms have templates for many sites like e-commerce, blogs, and portfolios³. Things like colors, fonts, and images help make your site look unified³. Choosing a theme or template can help beginners design their sites³.

“Our clients often choose Cleverchefs because of the strong brand connection conveyed through our website.”

– Nick Collins, Founder of Cleverchefs Catering

Choose the Right Website Builder

For beginners, website builders are a great choice. They let you make a professional website without coding. But, picking the right one can be hard with so many options.

Evaluate Customizability and Design Options

When picking a website builder, think about how customizable and flexible it is⁴. Squarespace is easy to use, scoring 4.7/5, and starts at $16 a month⁵. It’s also highly rated for its user experience, with a score of 4.7 out of 5⁵. Its drag-and-drop editor makes it simple to customize your site to fit your brand.

Look for Essential Business Tools and Integrations

It’s also key to look at the business tools and integrations the builder offers⁴. Shopify is top for ecommerce, perfect for online stores starting at $29 a month⁵. Hostinger is the cheapest option, with a score of 4.3/5 and starting at $2.99 a month⁵. It has AI tools like an AI Image Generator and AI Writer to help with building your site.

Choosing the right website builder depends on your needs and goals. Take time to look at the different options and their features to find the best one for you.

As Esin D. Habif, a website expert from Wix, says, “The website builder’s infrastructure, security, and speed are key for a reliable and scalable site for your business.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvi_metetxk

Pick an Appealing Website Template or Use AI

Choosing the right visual layout is crucial when designing a website⁶. Beginners can find many professional website templates that match their vision⁶. These templates come with features like easy design, responsive layout, and more, making them great for a professional online look⁶.

For inspiration, check out competitor websites and platforms like Pinterest and Instagram⁶. Doing your homework helps you know what you want for your site, says Anna Suntsov of Wix⁶.

Or, use an AI website builder like Wix to make things easier⁷. These tools have many free templates that are easy to use, letting you create a website fast⁷.

No matter your skill level, there are many easy-to-use options for designing a great website⁷. Start by looking at these beginner-friendly templates and AI builders to begin your online journey⁶⁷.

Customise the Template to Match Your Brand

When designing your website, it’s key to make sure it matches your brand perfectly. At Search Wizards, we know how important it is to customise your website to fit your brand⁸. A Loyola study showed that using a signature color can make a brand 80% more recognisable⁸. Since most people skim online content, your website needs to grab their attention right away.

Review Competitor Sites for Inspiration

Looking at your competitors can help you make your website stand out⁸. With mobile devices making up nearly 57% of web views in 2021, making your site mobile-friendly is crucial⁸. People like websites that work well on any device.

Leverage Visual Platforms Like Pinterest

Sites like Pinterest and Instagram are great for finding design ideas for your website⁹. Canva has lots of design tools for websites, making it a great tool for designers⁹. It has a huge collection of images, graphics, fonts, and icons for customising your site. Using these platforms can help you create a website that looks great and reflects your brand.

⁸ Free templates might have the theme developer’s branding, affecting your site’s look⁸. Nulled themes can be risky for your site’s security⁹. It’s key to plan your design with your audience and site’s purpose in mind⁹. Looking at industry websites for inspiration is important in designing your site⁹. Canva is easy to use and has tools like text, shapes, and images⁹. Picking the right Canva template is key for the look and function you want for your site.

“Effective website design is not just about creating a visually appealing layout, but also ensuring that it seamlessly reflects your brand identity and resonates with your target audience. At Search Wizards, we are experts in crafting customised websites that capture the essence of your business and leave a lasting impression on your visitors.”

– Anna Suntsov, Wix Website Design Expert

To find out more about our custom website services, contact Search Wizards. Call us at +61 734 197 909 or email info@search-wizards.com.au⁸⁹.

Can a Beginner Design a Website?

Yes, beginners can design their own websites with the right tools and resources¹⁰. Over 1,100 clients have shared their success stories with a web design agency¹⁰. This agency has over 28 years of experience, making web design easy for everyone¹⁰.

Modern website builders and no-code platforms have changed web design for the better. These tools make building a website easier for beginners. Sites like WordPress, Wix, Weebly, and WooCommerce have easy interfaces and drag-and-drop features¹⁰.

Starting a website involves steps like registering a domain name and finding a web host¹⁰. It’s important to make sure your site works well on mobiles and is secure¹⁰. Beginners can handle these tasks with the right help and tools¹⁰. Start with a good template and customize it to fit your brand and content¹¹.

With the right mindset and a willingness to learn, anyone can design a website that shows off their brand and connects with their audience¹¹. Working with a custom web design agency like Search Wizards gives beginners expert advice and access to the latest tools and techniques¹⁰.

Build Your Site’s Structure and Navigation

Creating a clear website structure and navigation is key for a smooth user experience. At Search Wizards, we know how vital a well-thought-out¹² website structure and navigation is. We make sure your site has a clear site map and page hierarchy. This makes it easy for visitors to find what they need, boosting engagement and conversions.

Create a Clear Site Map and Page Hierarchy

A good site map shows all the sections and pages of your website. It helps visitors quickly see the layout and find what they’re looking for¹². We suggest keeping your main menu to about seven items. This makes it better for users and helps with search engine optimization.

A smart page hierarchy makes it easy to move between different parts of your website¹². Features like sub-navigation let visitors easily explore specific areas of your site¹². For example, the Nashville Zoo nonprofit website has a “Support” category with various ways to get involved.

We focus on designing user-friendly navigation that fits your audience and your site’s purpose¹². By using card sorting exercises, we understand what visitors want. This helps us design a navigation that meets their needs.

At Search Wizards, we use our knowledge in¹² website structure and navigation to make your online presence cohesive and user-friendly. This approach engages your audience and helps you achieve your goals. Contact us today to see how our custom web development services can help you.

+61 734 197 909
info@search-wizards.com.au¹²¹³

Add Engaging Content Tailored to Your Audience

Building your website means making engaging content that speaks to your audience. This content shares your message and gets users to interact with your site¹⁴.

We’ll use the goals and purpose you set for your website to make audience-tailored content. This ensures the content fits your strategy and meets your audience’s needs¹⁴.

• Use the audience insights to make buyer personas that help us create content¹⁴.
• Write eye-catching headlines and concise meta descriptions to grab attention and boost website content visibility¹⁴.
• Add relevant keywords to headings, body text, and image alt text to improve SEO¹⁴.
• Boost audience engagement with interactive elements like calls-to-action, social sharing buttons, and comment sections¹⁴.

With engaging content made for your audience, we’ll make a website that connects and drives meaningful interactions¹⁴. Next, we’ll pick a domain name and publish your site!

“50% of marketers plan on increasing their investment in content marketing in 2024, and almost 40% consider content marketing essential to their marketing strategy.”¹⁵

Choose a Domain Name and Publish Your Site

Congratulations on building your website! Now, it’s time to pick a domain name and share your site with the world. You’ll need to upload your files to a server so everyone can see them. At Search Wizards, we know how crucial a catchy and fitting domain name is for your brand¹⁶.

Think about the top-level domain (TLD) you want for your site. A .com.au is perfect for an Australian business¹⁷. After picking your domain, you’re ready to publish your site.

Many builders like Wix and GoDaddy offer free hosting to help you start fast¹⁸. But, if you want more control, consider a paid plan. Paid hosting gives you more bandwidth, storage, and lets you tweak your site’s performance and look¹⁷.

Before you go live, make sure everything checks out. Test for broken links, check how your site looks on mobile, and make sure it’s search engine friendly¹⁶¹⁷. Keep an eye on your site after it’s live to keep it running smoothly¹⁸.

At Search Wizards, we’ll help you from start to finish with your website. Our experts can make a site that looks pro, ranks well in search engines, and speaks to your audience. Reach out to us to see how we can help with your website publishing needs.

Promote Your New Website Effectively

At Search Wizards, we know that promoting your website is key to getting more visitors and growing your online presence. After launching your site, the job is far from over. We suggest various digital marketing tactics to help promote your website well¹⁹.

First, make your site search engine friendly with keyword research and on-page SEO. This boosts your site’s ranking and makes it more visible¹⁹. Also, use social media to share your content, talk to your followers, and send more people to your site¹⁹.

Email marketing is a strong way to promote your site too. Create an email list of people interested in your business and send them useful content and updates¹⁹. Try guest blogging on websites related to your field to reach more people and link back to your site¹⁹.

Remember, make sure your site works well on mobile devices, as²⁰ most internet users use their phones to access the web. A site that’s easy to use on mobile will give a better experience to visitors and help turn them into customers²⁰.

With a strong plan for promoting your website, you can bring in more traffic, get more people involved, and grow your online presence. At Search Wizards, we’re here to help you at every step and reach your marketing goals²¹.

For more info or to set up a consultation, please get in touch with us at:

Conclusion

At Search Wizards, we see making a website as key for any business or person wanting a strong online presence. The process might look tough, but today’s website builders and no-code tools make it easier for beginners to design their own sites²².

This guide has shown you how to plan, design, build, and promote your website. You can now make a site that shows off your brand and connects with your audience. Our team of experts can help, offering powerful web services for any need, from a basic site to an eCommerce platform²³.

At Search Wizards, we know how vital SEO and digital marketing are online today. That’s why we suggest adding 20% to 30% of your web design budget for 2-4 months of digital marketing. This includes OffPage SEO and ad campaigns²³. With our skills in website design, development, and online marketing, we’re sure we can help you reach your goals and boost your business.

Source Links

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5. Easiest Website Builders in 2024 | Beginner-Friendly Picks
6. Simple For Beginners Website Template
7. Beginner Website Template
8. 14 Dos and Don’ts of Using Website Templates in 2022
9. Canva Template for Website: HIVO
10. How to Design a Website By Yourself (The 7-Step Guide for Beginners)
11. Web Design for Beginners
12. Website Navigation: The Ultimate Guide [Types & Top Examples]
13. A Complete Guide to Building a Website | Mailchimp
14. The Importance of SEO in Digital Marketing | Sagar Sethi
15. The Ultimate Guide to Content Creation
16. 7 Steps for Publishing a Website | Mailchimp
17. How To Make A Small Business Website In 2024
18. Beginner’s Guide: How to Publish a Website in 2024 (Step by Step)
19. 30 Proven Ways To Promote Your Website
20. Website Development: 8 Steps + Tips | Mailchimp
21. 16 Easy (And Free) Ways to Promote Your Website
22. Web Design 101: The Essential Guide for Total Beginners!
23. How to Design a Great Website in 6 Steps | Beginners Guide