How to create a site yourself and for free: site builder or WordPress

Using a website builder or CMS, such as WordPress, is as simple as creating a social media account - just sign up, upload your content, and start sharing. How to create a site yourself and for free: site builder or WordPress.

Is it possible to create a website for free?

Today, everyone can create a website for free, regardless of available technical skills, knowledge in programming and web design. This can be quite a challenging and daunting task for beginners, but it can be tackled if you have the right goals and effective tools to help you get the most out of the design process.

What you need to understand is that launching a free website takes some time and effort, and you will have to complete all the stages of the project development process on your own. Creating a website yourself is not such a difficult task, if you know the basic stages of this process and you have managed to choose the right tools.

Website designers and content management systems are two popular ways for a new generation of DIY websites. Both options allow you to run and manage quality projects, and both do not require serious programming or web design experience.

Web designers are more intuitive, simple and convenient than CMS, although the latter allow you to get more creative freedom and advance site design settings. You don't need to be a coding professional or an experienced web designer to master or use constructors - these systems are so clear and simple.

However, when it comes to using a CMS, you should be prepared to spend more time and effort on mastering the process: the use of content management systems first involves some knowledge in the field of web development and design. Therefore, you simply cannot do without editing the code, if you are going to run a professional site with noteworthy performance and exclusive design.

There are several aspects to consider when choosing the most appropriate and effective platform. These include your knowledge of programming basics, skills, web design experience, the type of project you are going to start, short-term and long-term goals, and more.

It's time to discuss the basic nuances of using both types of systems to help you find the best solution that you will be happy with in the long run.

What are the pros and cons of site designers?

The main advantage, of course, is that you create a site yourself without the involvement of specialists, cheaply and quickly. However, there are nuances.

Creating a site with the help of a designer will cost 150 dollar per month. Many options are available under free rates, but subject to certain restrictions. If you have already chosen a designer, but need more options, then a free rate is not enough.

Another cost item is connecting your own domain to get a more attractive site address. Of course, you can use the default option with placement on the free subdomain of the designer, but this option is not suitable for everyone. To connect your own domain you need to switch to a paid tariff. Also keep in mind that sometimes, starting from the second year of using the hosting, its cost may increase.

The second significant plus - you create your site yourself; do not pay for the work of either a programmer or a designer. The only thing you have to pay for your time, which will go to study the work of the service: you do not have to count on personal consultations - not all designers have technical support that can quickly serve customers.

Also, if the user is far from web design, the site is likely to be not very attractive. So if the budget allows, it is advisable to order it from specialists for certain tasks. In any case, with the help of a designer you can think about the structure of the future site and prepare content - it will speed up the development process.

The disadvantages also include:

• Lack of access to the HTML-code of the site;
• Limited functionality, especially at cheap rates;
• Inability to completely individualize the site;
• Mandatory surcharge for domain and hosting;
• Transfer only static files when switching to another hosting.

Choose which platform to use to create the website

The versatility of free websites does not mean that you have to choose the very first service you will encounter. There are systems that are best suited for your specific web design tasks and are world-renowned for their features, capabilities and importance.

Let's look at the best website development tools that balance ease of use with flexibility and accessibility.

Wix - the best designer to create a site for free

Wix is ‹‹the best designer you can choose and use to run a full-featured site without investing in a project. This system already supports millions of websites around the world, and you can also choose it to develop any personal or business project.

When it comes to choosing the best free platform for web compilation, Wix has no competitors at all. It is unlikely that there will be a user (whether a beginner or a professional) who has not heard anything about this designer. There are several free features that set the system apart from the crowd:

• Modern templates - Wix boasts one of the most amazing collections of mobile ready-made designs available for free. Currently, there are more than 550 high-quality topics, and many others are under development. The design is 100% customizable and you can access several design customization tools that can add your project an exclusive appeal.
• Wix ADI - Designer stands out from the crowd thanks to its free artificial intelligence tool (ADI), which allows you to easily, quickly and seamlessly edit a website. This feature provides an automated web design process, allowing users to create a personalized website layout and structure by answering a number of questions that the system generates by default. All you have to do is provide information about your website / business, download the necessary content and wait for the system to create a project for you.
• WYSIWYG Editor - for those users who do not want to use the tool

ADI, the designer allows you to create sites while working in the WYSIWYG editor. This is where you can use the handy drag-and-drop feature to design your own website. The editor is completely free and has built-in editing support to ensure the best possible result. You are responsible for the web development process. A handy preview feature allows you to see the website development process in action, thus controlling every step of it. In addition, you can create a mobile version of your site by making edits in the mobile editor absolutely free.

• Free App Store - Wix boasts one of the most amazing collections of free apps and widgets available in the integrated Wix App Market. There are dozens of free niche add-ons and widgets that you can view and select for further integration into your project.
• Blogging - Wix comes with a pretty good blogging platform that allows you to create, manage and update full-featured blogs. Here you can publish and schedule the publication of articles, integrate media files, enable the commenting function and add other elements that are necessary for the development of your blog.
• E-commerce - Website Designer also boasts a decent e-commerce engine that allows you to run and manage a small and medium-sized online store. This feature allows you to add and update product galleries, adjust payment / delivery / tax settings, configure web store management tools, create and implement discount / bonus coupons, choose from several customizable e-commerce templates, import / export products from CSV files, and more.

The free version of Wix allows you to create a good website on a subdomain under the Wix brand. With a free tariff plan, you can use almost all the functionality of the designer. The plan is endless, which allows everyone not only to test the capabilities of the service, but also to use it to create several types of sites to practice and improve their skills. Keep in mind, however, that the free plan comes with a system banner ad, a subdomain, and some other restrictions.

• uKit is a powerful site builder for your business

uKit is a powerful site builder for small business development. The platform has been specially tailored to the needs and requirements of small and medium-sized businesses and thus comes with a wide range of features needed to create such projects.

However, the designer can also be used to run other types of projects due to its flexibility, intuitive approach to web design, amazing ease of use and convenience. Now take a look at the uKit feature set to learn its strengths:

• Free collection of templates - the designer provides access to many free adaptive templates, which by default are responsive and customizable. No special technical skills or coding knowledge is required to personalize your chosen theme - a handy drag-and-drop editor along with a preview option will allow you to take full responsibility for the website creation process. In addition, if necessary, you can switch templates at any stage of the web development process.
• Widget integration - uKit allows you to create an individual site structure by integrating widgets. The number of widgets you can choose and use for your project is not so great, but they are all perfect for any site layout.
• Free SSL certificate - the platform allows you to get the most out of the security of your site, allowing you to connect an extended SSL certificate. This feature is completely free for all system subscribers. This adds to the security of the website, which is especially important for sites that contain sensitive information or payment information.
• Temporary site management rights - this feature simplifies the site development process for design agencies and web designers working in teams. uKit allows you to assign temporary website management rights to specific users so that they can work together to create a project. To prevent content loss, the system automatically creates a backup version of your project, which is another undeniable advantage of this designer.

The service has a free 14-day trial, which is enough to check and test all its features. At the end of the trial period, you will be able to subscribe to one of the paid plans that come with several benefits. Until then, your site will be stored for a year on uKit hosting, but it will not be available online.

Word Press is the best hosting platform (CMS) for a website or online store

Word Press is the most popular free content management system, which was originally launched for blogging, but later evolved into web design software used to develop a variety of Internet projects. CMS is slightly different from standard site designers in terms of complexity and degree of site customization.

Must Read: How to easily and quickly optimize a site?

This is not the best solution for beginners who have zero web design skills, but it is definitely great for experienced web developers who have some web design experience and are ready to handle the nuances of code editing. To get an idea of ‹‹all the benefits of Word Press that it is ready to offer, take a look at the list of CMS highlights:

• Plug-in integration - WordPress stands out from the crowd due to its great plug-in integration capabilities that allow you to use the system as a universal platform for web building. Large plugin integration allows you to use CMS to develop all types of projects. Yes, the WooCommerce plugin, for example, can be used to run all sorts of online stores, while the Elementor plugin allows you to create WordPress web pages. This makes the platform a decent tool for creating full-featured personal / business sites with virtually no coding skills.
• Template Selection - The system offers a set of built-in templates that are fully customizable, but you can also browse a large collection of third-party designs to choose the one that is ideal for your individual website development. By choosing the most appropriate theme, you get access to a variety of design customization tools and features that help give it a personalized look.
• Hosting and domain - like CMS, WordPress does not provide any hosting or domain options. You can choose any hosting provider of your choice, as well as the plans and domain name it offers. When it comes to choosing hosting, Bluehost is the most appropriate solution. This is the number one hosting provider that is officially recommended by WordPress. It provides many hosting solutions and benefits, including one-click WordPress installation, fast page load speeds, high uptime, and other benefits that most CMS users will definitely appreciate. The system also stands out from the crowd with its accessibility. You can take advantage of it for only $ 2.95 a month, which is definitely an undeniable highlight of the system. The most popular web-building platforms discussed above are the ones that deserve special attention when it comes to developing websites yourself. Which solution is best for your web design needs? Which ones can you use to run your personal or business project?

The final choice ultimately depends on your web design intentions, requirements, and the type of project you plan to launch. In fact, it makes sense to test each of these systems to find out which one best suits your needs based on your own experience. All of these systems are completely free - it's just a matter of your time and experience to choose the one that will best suit your needs.

Get and connect a free domain name

That you've tested and chosen the right tool to build your site, it's time to move on to choosing a domain name. Choosing a domain is very important when it comes to increasing the reputation and popularity of your project. No subdomains are allowed here, as this will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the further promotion of your business.

The choice of a domain name should be based on several aspects. It should be understandable and easy to remember so that your potential site visitors or customers can keep it in mind and not write it down somewhere. It should also not be too long and must be related to the name of your company or the niche you are focusing on.

When choosing a domain, consider the following recommendations:

• The domain name should be concise, simple and memorable.
• Don't make it too long or oversaturated with characters: the shorter it is, the easier it will be for the user to remember it.
• A domain name should not contain a meaningless combination of letters, symbols and numbers. Instead, it should include a word or phrase that will be somehow related to your business, site type and specialization, and so on.
• Brand reputation. A beautiful domain name should be a reflection of your corporate style: it should emphasize and strengthen your brand, making it resistant to competition in the niche.

Is it possible to get and connect a decent domain name for free when working with site creators? Or do you still have to pay for recognition?

You will be happy to know that most website designers (including those discussed above) allow a custom domain name connection, providing this option absolutely free. Moreover, reputable designers often have special offers and discounts for premium users.

For example, Wix provides a bonus domain name for users who subscribe to an annual plan and make a one-time payment. This saves up to 10-30 dollars depending on the selected domain zone.

You don't need to do anything special to connect the domain to your site. This will be done automatically as soon as you receive it. Very simple, saves time and convenient!

Customize your site

So you've decided to use Site Builder and have already chosen a domain name for it. What do you need to do to make the process successful? What steps do you need to take to complete the task and get a full-featured ready-made website that meets your personal / business needs? Here are the steps you need to follow when setting up your website:

• Log in to your chosen system. Some services allow you to register using social network accounts, but you can also use your email address.
• Select a template. Open the template collection and explore the categories to choose a topic that fits your niche and specialization.
• Set it up. Open the dashboard and find out what customization tools the system offers to give your site maximum performance and the best visual appeal.
• Create your website. Now is the time to design your site and configure the necessary settings. Upload content you think is important and create as many pages as you need. This is the most time consuming part of the whole site creation process.
• Choose the plan that works best for your site. Examine the pricing policy of the system and the functions it has. Choose the plan you like best.
• Choose a domain name. When you're done designing your site, choose a domain name to go online. Website designers offer a one-click domain connection, simplifying the process.
• Publish the finished site. Finally, publish your site and enjoy it!

The steps listed above contain detailed tips on how to get started with your site. Choosing a platform and getting a domain name are just the first two steps needed to launch a full-featured project. Once you are done with these steps, you can start choosing the design and downloading the content. Take your time and approach the process wisely.

What you should also know is that popular web-building platforms like the ones above always come with integrated web design tools and tips on how to get the most out of each stage of your website development process. These include tooltips and menus, several customer support options, recommendations and video / text tutorials, etc., which provide clear information about the website creation process.

Following these tips will ultimately give you a personalized website that has nothing to do with the template you choose. After completing the site setup process, proceed to the publication of the project.

Another question: Does creating a website come down to just the development process or is there something more to make your project a success?

In fact, launching a website is only one part of the web development process. Once you make it available online, you should take care of a few important nuances, namely:

• SEO optimization. Carefully adjust the necessary SEO-parameters of the site to increase its ranking in search engines. This helps you compete in the niche, promote your brand and ultimately generate more traffic.
• Content quality. Make sure you update the content of your site regularly. However, pay attention to the quality of the attached content. "Content - the main thing" - do not forget about it!
• Social networks. Another factor in the successful promotion of the site is effective marketing on social networks. Take the time to create a social media group, encourage users to join it, introduce special offers to increase user loyalty, and apply other marketing strategies (or develop your own) to make your newly created site popular with your target audience. May your website development efforts succeed!

To pay or not to pay for the site?

Although site builders and CMSs allow you to run and manage full-featured projects for free, they are not completely free. Each of these platforms comes with paid subscriptions (or plug-ins) that cover a wide range of web design features, tools, and options. Are paid investment options worth it in the long run?

Definitely so. You get a tool that puts you at the forefront of the website development process, providing leeway, a thoughtful and intuitive approach to web design, and access to several design customization tools.

On the one hand, you can use these features without investing in them financially, and you will like the result. However, if you really intend to start a full-featured project with high performance and impressive visual appeal, we recommend switching to one of the paid options provided by the platform you have chosen.

This is definitely a worthwhile investment that is sure to pay off. Moreover, the subscription is not so expensive, and in most cases you will have to pay a couple of dollars a month just to get a result that will meet all your needs and the needs of web design.

If you are really going to create a website, the best way to do it quickly and at no cost is to use a site builder. Such services cover a wide range of web design needs and allow you to start a decent project on your own. No need to deal with web design studios or hire developers. Instead, you get the opportunity to save by using a first-class result that exceeds your expectations.

What to look for when choosing a site designer

You shouldn't count on free platforms because of their limited functionality. A good designer will be paid. But if you compare paid rates and the cost of the designer and programmer, it is obvious significant budget savings. When choosing, you should start from what you need to get at the exit: each service has its nuances; the functionality of many is sharpened for specific types of sites.

Factors that are important when choosing a designer:

• Clear and user-friendly interface. Ideally, if the user immediately understands what's what, and does not spend many hours studying;
• Opportunity to develop the site. Will the selected service be able to provide everything necessary for development, solve new problems;
• Ratio of functionality and price. You need to understand whether the functionality of the asking price is worth it;
• Customization features. The more additional parameters can be adjusted, the more difficult it is to use the designer.