How to create a website from scratch: from the simplest to the most difficult ways

Today, to create a site from scratch on your own, you will have to shovel a large amount of information:

• Understand the basic principles of html encoding.
• Understand how to work with designers (if you have chosen this particular development method).
• Start learning programming languages.

Do not spray – stop at one thing. If this is a serious project with ambitious ideas, it is better to entrust the development to specialists. It is worth starting work on small business card sites or landing pages. From our material, you will learn about all the possible ways and stages of creating a website from scratch.

Preparing to create a site

How to create a website from scratch? Web development requires skills in working with databases, user authentication, and the ability to control code versions and deploy them on various platforms.

Today, many free tools help you quickly create websites, albeit with limited functionality.

To get started, you need to learn the basics of web development. We are talking about the main stages of the formation of the site.

We bring to your attention step-by-step instructions for creating a website from scratch:

Step 1: Goal Setting

For what purpose do you want to create a website? By answering this question, you can understand which concept of an Internet resource is right for you:

• Commercial. Such a site may be used to place advertisements. In addition, various goods and services can be sold on it. If the site’s content brings indirect benefits or improves the company’s image, the resource is also commercial. Almost all modern Internet resources (about 95%) belong to this category.
• Non-commercial. In this case, the site is created for users to communicate or post useful materials. This category includes websites of educational institutions, authorities, charitable organizations, social networks, etc.

After that, you need to determine what tasks the site will perform. For example:

• placing orders;
• collecting customer contact information;
• publication of materials for subsequent download by users, for example, product catalogs;
• holding consultations;
• repeat sales.

Step 2: Choosing a site type

To create a website from scratch, you need to understand what functions it will need to perform (sales, product familiarization, user entertainment, etc.).

We list the main types of sites.

• Online store

Here the visitor can choose, add to the cart and buy the product. For customers to be able to pay and track orders, as well as make subsequent purchases, it is necessary to register on the site and create a personal account.

Each product will need a separate card with a photo and description. In addition, it will be necessary to connect payment systems to pay for orders with bank cards. It will be convenient if you can set discounts on the site (for example, for holiday sales)

• Services website

If you need a platform for selling services, it will be enough to create a small site consisting of several pages. Beauty salons, medical clinics, cafes, restaurants, etc., often use this format. The pages are filled with descriptions of the main services of the organization. In some cases, a price list is attached.

• Business card site

A small site that can consist of only one page. It contains basic information about the organization and contact information. This type of resource can be used to publish a portfolio of a specialist, present a single service, or a one-time event.

• Organization website or corporate website

In fact, this is the same business card site, but consisting of several pages. The menu may contain pages of the second and third levels. Such sites often contain large amounts of data (catalogs, various news, and information about completed projects and partners).

• Portals, news blogs

The user can read the news on such sites and find useful information. As a rule, they are used to post articles, texts, photos, and video materials.

• Forums

Help customers find answers to certain questions related to a product or service. Sometimes, these sites help form a whole community around the company. Groups, chats, and social networks are increasingly used instead of forums.

Step 3: Create a domain name

The domain name is the name of the site that the user enters into the search box (for example, google.com). It should include the brand name and be light and memorable. The easier it is to dictate it, the better, so you don’t need to choose too long a set of characters (no more than 12). In addition, do not use numbers and special characters, and avoid mistakes. Otherwise, your site may be considered fraudulent.

The top-level domain (domain zone) is the letters located at the very end of the address after the dot: .ru, .com, or .org. They indicate the company’s location (or the country where it operates). The most common domain is .com. Moreover, search engines can impose sanctions on your site if you use a domain in another country.

You can also choose a professional domain: .agency, .media, .travel, etc. Seeing it, the user will quickly understand what your company is doing.

At the same time, a domain name is not acquired forever but only for a certain period. So you will need to pay periodically (once a year, once every three years, etc.). When choosing a domain name for your site, make sure it’s different from other organizations in your niche. If it matches a competitor’s name, add a short word associated with your field of activity.

For example, if we are talking about an auto parts store, you can add auto, and for a medical clinic, the medic is suitable. To buy a domain name and select and register a domain, you can use special services: WebNames, REG.RU, NIC.RU, etc.

Step 4: Hosting selection

Hosting is a place on the server where your resource’s content will be stored. In the selection process, you must consider uptime – a parameter that determines the time of non-stop operation. The closer to 100%, the better. The convenience of functionality is another important criterion for choosing a hosting. In addition, if the site worsens, you will have to contact technical support.

Hosting, like a domain name, is purchased only for a certain period. The rental price will depend on the size of the storage. Therefore, if you are going to create a small site, then to save money, you should choose inexpensive hosting. However, it is better to choose something other than the free options, as they are not as reliable. In such hosting, errors often occur, due to which the content may disappear from the site for some time.

Sites and designers for beginners in creating sites

Having decided on your site, you need to choose a service with which you can start developing. If you have programming skills, then great; if not, it is better to turn to professionals.

Constructor services allow you to simplify the development process. They work with code according to given templates, but you can choose the design.

Thus, for people ignorant of programming, using constructors is the only option that makes it possible to create a site from scratch on their own. Upon completion of the work, you will be able to make adjustments to the design of your platform, edit the placement and relevance of content, etc. All materials will be securely stored on the hosting. At the same time, the development team will be responsible for the security and performance of the site.

At the moment, there are a huge number of such online services. Almost all of them work in the Freemium format. This means that only a limited set of features are free, and you have to pay for everything else. You can order services for website design development, domain name registration, and further promotion of the resource. Keep in mind that free features are enough for basic tasks.

We list the most reliable constructors.

uCoz

This service was created in 2005 and has changed many times. The architecture is built on a modular basis, allowing you to use different functionality separately. By combining modules, you can expand the scope and functions. The development process is greatly simplified thanks to open access to forums, knowledge bases, and specific instructions.

But keep in mind that this designer is becoming less and less popular. The fact is that competitors of this service allow you to use more advanced and convenient functions.

WIX

This builder is usually used to create small websites. The visual editor can be controlled with the mouse. The service provides a variety of templates to choose from. However, they are only suitable for some business tasks. But it should be noted that thematic sections sort the templates. This allows you to find the options you need quickly.

Please note that during the design process, you can only partially change the design. The problem is that the site’s materials will be inextricably linked with its interface, so that adjustments can lead to a deterioration in the functionality of the resource. This, of course, is extremely inconvenient, especially for those who want to perform detailed customization.

Adding content can be done through the built-in image editor. In WIX, there is no way to edit HTML code. The paid version of this constructor is quite expensive. At the same time, the free tariff cannot be called multifunctional.

ites.google.com

Constructor from Google, which makes it possible to use other services of this company (maps, documents, calendar). The site being built will automatically adapt to smartphones and other mobile devices. However, you will not be able to create a forum and use different fonts on the same page.

uKit

A good option for creating a portfolio, landing page, or a small online store within a small and medium business. It is better to use one of the above services for large projects. The constructor is quite easy to use, so you can quickly create a web page. uKit pays special attention to contact details, so the platform will be comfortable designing a business card. The service automatically adapts the site for mobile devices.

There are four tariffs to choose from, each of which differs in cost and number of functions.

Please note that you will not be able to customize the design in detail. Yes, you will have several options for color schemes in the templates, but few of them. There is no possibility to change fonts and letter sizes.

Webasyst

The constructor is usually used to create large online stores. Embedding functional systems allows us to call Webasyst a fairly convenient service. You can set up the nuances of working with a shopping cart, placing an order, calling a consultant, subscribing to mailing lists, etc. An additional benefit is web analytics services.

This allows you to explore your target audience, statistics, customer journey, their behavior on the Internet, and visit results. But it is worth considering that you will have to pay well for such a wide range of service functions. In addition, other services provide several paid options at a basic level. Another important drawback should be noted: the constructor will be quite difficult to use if you are a beginner.

How to create a website from scratch: solutions for more experienced users

Visual editors (don’t confuse them with constructors) are used for various tasks. With their help, you can work with ready-made code or create a new one.

Speaking of such programs, one cannot fail to mention the WYSIWYG abbreviation, which stands for “What You See Is What You Get.” Translated from English, this means, “What you see is what you get.” This principle underlies visual editors.

Put, as you edit the pages, you can immediately see on the screen how the product will look in the end.

Consider a few popular programs:

• WYSIWYG Web Builder . The principle of operation is as follows: you need to arrange blocks for text, graphics, and other content in the optimal order for yourself. Following your actions, the program will automatically adjust the code. The user is provided with a choice of about ten templates. In addition, a set of add-ons using Javascript is provided, which significantly increases the site’s functionality, Page Maker. Typically used for small scripts limited to a few pages. In addition to standard elements, the program allows you to add a navigation menu as a separate block. Several templates are provided to help you quickly customize your settings. There are Javascript add-ons (under Web Page Maker).
• TinyMCE. Easy to use editor. Plugins are installed by default. The functionality is similar to CKeditor and NicEdit.
• Xinhua. Provides a choice of a large set of tools that allow you to fine-tune the site to your needs.
• WebSite X5 Evolution. With this program, you will be able to use detailed instructions.

The disadvantage of visual editors is obvious – you have to install the program on your computer. This will require a certain amount of RAM and appropriate skills.

Many solutions have been developed to increase your knowledge of writing codes. Let’s consider some of them:

• Composer. This constructor is suitable for any OS. Contains open source. The program must allow you to work simultaneously with several pages.
• BestAddress HTML Editor. A modern editor with which you can understand how to create an html website from scratch. In addition, it will help improve your skills in CSS, Java, and PHP codes. If you encounter difficulties, you can use the guides for beginners, step-by-step instructions, and tips – all this is freely available on the Internet.

To choose the most suitable program, you need to compare several options. Evaluate the level of convenience and functionality based on your individual preferences. Today there are many tools, each of which has advantages and disadvantages.

Creating a website from scratch on CMS platforms

Free and shareware CMS platforms

How to create a website from scratch for free? To do this, you can use some CMS platforms. Content Management System is a content management system. To create a CMS project, you need web development skills.

You don’t need to know the nuances of writing code when using regular constructors. But at the same time, such programs have many limitations. CMS allows you to manage all the site content, whether text blocks, graphic content, widgets, or built-in services. There are both paid and free options. Of course, the functionality will not be so wide in thconnarrower

We list the most common free CMS platforms:

• WordPress. Used to create blogs, business cards, and online stores. Contains open source.
• Joomla. It was written using JavaScript and PHP. It has a built-in security module.
• Open cart. Suitable for creating online stores.
• InstantCms. Allows you to work with social portals, dating / thematic communication sites, and online clubs of interest.
• Drupal. You can manage a corporate website, portfolio, and online store with it. There are special modules with which you can expand the functionality.
• Phpbb. A good tool for forums.
• OsCommerce. Allows you to design online stores.

Paid CMS platforms

Their main advantage lies in a large set of functions. This allows you to fine-tune the site based on your personal preferences. The most convenient options, according to users:

• Cms. Nice design and many tools for promoting a commercial project – that’s what we can say about this platform. Integration with Yandex. Market 1C is available. You will be able to upload information via Excel. There is a shop window in VKontakte. The platform complies with the norms stipulated by 152-FZ and 54-FZ.
• 1C-Bitrix . Program for professional work with large projects. Several licensed versions are provided. Pretty expensive solution.

Creating a website from scratch without a constructor using programming

How to create your website from scratch? Above, we discussed methods that allow you to complete this task without programming skills. But if you want to go a more complicated way, you will need a text editor, a local web server (to link the project to it), and programming languages.

This is the most traditional way of creating websites, but it has long lost its relevance. Modern professionals rely more and more on frameworks to save time.

Usually, only new employees are asked to write a site from the visual type of the HTML or CSS wrapper, which needs to be tested for professional suitability. The same goes for knowledge of Javascript and other service scripts (ASP.NET and PHP). HTML is the main markup language. With its help, a “skeleton” of the future site is created. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is needed to visualize the appearance of an Internet resource.

If you have already mastered the basics of programming, then you can simplify development using the following tools:

• Notepad++ . A good alternative to a regular notepad.
• Balsamiq Mockups. Helps to develop mockups (prototypes of future online products).
• PHPDesigner. Professional platform for rich web pages.

In addition, graphic editors such as:

• Adobe Dreamweaver. Speeds up the programming process due to the ability to preview the prototype;
• Adobe Muse. Used to create landing pages.

Having independently created a site, you will get the opportunity to fill it with any content. Any templates will not limit you.

As we mentioned earlier, you can speed up your work with the help of frameworks. Professionals use these software environments to simplify the coding process. As a rule, they include basic modules, attached interchangeable elements selected for a particular product.

It is worth noting that projects developed using frameworks can withstand more serious loads than sites formed using standardized developer programs. This solution is often used when working with large online sales platforms and other portals of a similar scale.

Studio frameworks are used for internal interactions within certain companies.

Public solutions can be divided into several groups, depending on the language used:

• PHP: Yii, Symphony, Zend
• RUBY: Ruby on Rails, Sinatra, Padrino;
• JAVA: Spring MVC, JSF, GWT
• PYTHON: Django, Plone, Flask
• multilingual from Microsoft: ASP.NET (ASP.NET MVC) and Net Framework.

If these frameworks are too complicated for you, it is better to seek help from an agency. Specialists will do all the work but will require a certain fee.

There is also a shareware option – the exchange of services. The principle is simple: you help the developers with something and, in return, ask them to make a website for themselves.

Where can I learn how to create websites using programming languages?

Do you want to understand how to create a website from scratch? Looking to make money with web development? You will need to learn the relevant programming languages ​​and frameworks in both cases.

The final stages of creating a site

Stage 1: Creating the site structure

After completing all the previous steps, you will need to think over the site’s structure, which is the general scheme of its pages. To do this, you can use a regular sheet of paper. If you want search engines to rank your site in high positions, then it must have the following characteristics:

• The ability to navigate to the main page from anywhere on the site. This is achieved through a link inserted into the header and logo of the resource.
• “Breadcrumbs.” We are talking about buttons with which you can take a step back from any resource page. For example, go to the general catalog when viewing a specific product in a store.
• At most, four levels of pages. For example, Clothes —> Outerwear —> Coats —> Insulated coats.

Stage 2: Content preparation

We are talking about texts, photos, and videos with which you will fill your site. If you do not have time, contact a copywriter and content manager.

Pay attention to the following nuances:

• Texts must be original. Uniqueness is an important criterion for evaluating a site by search engines.
• Photo and video materials should be light enough. For example, one photo – at most 1 MB. Some CMS can automatically compress files during the download process. But this can also be achieved with the help of special services – converters or graphic editors (for example, Adobe Photoshop).

Stage 3: Usability Testing

You need to understand how easy it is to use your site. Testing can be done after the project is launched or during development. However, at the very beginning, you must make sure that the site complies with the following standards:

• The font is large enough for easy reading.
• No numerous pop-up windows prevent the visitor from using the content.
• There are “breadcrumbs,” which we talked about above.
• From the main page, you can go to all the others.
• The visitor can find all the information he is interested in regarding payment, delivery, returns, and contacts.

The shorter the customer journey (from the moment they enter the site to complete the target action), the better.

Stage 4: Registration

When using designers or systems like WordPress, you can choose a design from the list of free templates. But to make your site unique, you must master the skills of working with HTML and CSS. In this case, you can customize the template based on personal preferences.

Ensure your site looks good on different devices (PCs, tablets, smartphones). If the resource is uncomfortable to use through one of the types of gadgets, then you will not achieve maximum sales. At the same time, template sites, as a rule, are already initially adapted for mobile devices.

Stage 5: Layout

If you have made a site layout, you will need to create a code for it. Contact a layout designer who can perform this task. The main thing is to make sure that the code matches the layout.

You can use programs such as Atom, Sublime, and Visual Studio Code for independent layouts.

Stage 6: Site launch

Do a browser test. If everything is functioning well, then you can share the site.

After registering a domain, paying for hosting, and checking the resource, it will need to be transferred to the server. Explorer programs, such as FileZilla, will help with this.

Now you know how to create your website from scratch. To develop the resource, you will need copywriting skills and the ability to work with the semantic core. In addition, learning how to embed keywords in snippets and texts will not be superfluous. Website content needs to be updated and adjusted regularly. But everything comes with time, so develop and learn from your mistakes.