How to build a website for free

two screens on a desk showing different webpages

(Image credit: Photo by Lee Campbell on Unsplash)

Building a website for yous or your concern has, traditionally, always been quite an expensive endeavor. This is considering at the very least, you would take needed to pay for hosting, domain registration, and - unless you designed and developed the website yourself - professional assistance to build the website.

However, in the last few years, advances in technology mean things have inverse, and now it's more than possible to build a website for free, without spending a cent. I of the simplest ways to practice this is choosing one of the all-time website builders, signing upward for your preferred service's costless programme, and then creating your own site yourself.

The best thing well-nigh undertaking this process yourself is that you don't demand to have any web development or design feel. That's because the more complex elements of the website building process are taken intendance of for yous. Here, we'll outline the steps you demand to have to build a website for gratis.

Step 1: Choose a gratuitous website builder

Wix's homepage — Wix is one of the globe's most powerful website builders (Image credit: wix)

There are numerous gratis website builders on the market. Most have their own sets of pros and cons, which means yous will need to spend a little fourth dimension choosing the best selection for your needs.

For case, Wix is the earth's most popular architect, and it comes with a groovy free programme. Notwithstanding, the sheer ability of its editor ways that a lot of people take problem learning how to use it, and information technology might not be the best choice for absolute beginners.

On the other side of the equation are options like the GoDaddy builder, which is quite basic but extremely easy to use. It doesn't offer anything nearly the power of competitors like Wix, simply it'due south a dandy option for absolute beginners with little confidence.

Step ii: Create an account

GoDaddy's account creation webpage — Creating a new GoDaddy account shouldn't have you more than than a couple of minutes (Image credit: GoDaddy)

Most website builders with a free forever option are very easy to get started with. Ordinarily, you will be asked to provide a few personal details, such equally your name, email address, and a password. Yous shouldn't ever take to enter payment information when signing up for a free website builder.

For example, GoDaddy asks for your e-mail accost, a username, and a password when you lot're creating an account. It likewise allows you to connect your Facebook and/or Google accounts to streamline the login procedure.

Step three: Select a template

a selection of Weebly's website themes — Weebly has numerous professionally designed themes (Image credit: weebly)

Every gratuitous website builder worth using has some sort of template library. Here, you lot will discover a selection of high-quality, professional designs that you can employ as a starting point for your new site. In most cases, templates are heavily categorized, allowing you lot to apace filter them co-ordinate to the blazon of site you desire to build.

Weebly is a keen example of a website builder with excellent templates. It comes with a pick of professionally designed themes that you can start editing instantly. These tend to be extremely attractive, and you shouldn't have too much trouble finding something y'all like.

Step 4: Cull a subdomain

Weebly's options menu for domain names — Weebly lets yous set a branded subdomain (Image credit: Weebly)

Most costless website builders, including Wix, Weebly, and GoDaddy, provide you with a branded subdomain. In full general, you will be able to customize this, but it will have some sort of extension related to your architect. You won't be able to connect your own domain without upgrading to a paid programme.

For example, Weebly gives you lot a domain that looks like "mywebsite.weebly.com" and lets you customize the "mywebsite" part. On the other hand, GoDaddy simply sets your domain as "websitename.godaddysites.com", and you can't change this.

Pace 5: Fix your global design settings

GoDaddy's website builder in use — GoDaddy lets y'all select from a range of font pairings and global color schemes (Image credit: GoDaddy)

Note that we've used the GoDaddy website builder every bit an example for the residuum of this guide, due both to its popularity and beginner-friendly editing interface.

At present that you've signed upwardly for a new account and selected a template, it'due south time to start editing your website. Showtime by customizing global design settings. GoDaddy allows y'all to select a color scheme and 2 universal fonts, merely some other builders let you change even more than than this.

GoDaddy's website builder in use, with menu tabs open — GoDaddy allows you to add new pages with but a few clicks (Prototype credit: GoDaddy)

Before you start editing your site's content, it'south a skilful idea to create the pages you're going to need and link to them from your main card. Most website builders make this very easy to practice, and many fifty-fifty have templates for things similar contact and service pages.

With GoDaddy, creating a new page is extremely straightforward. Simply head to the "Website" tab of the editing menu on the correct of the screen and click the small plus symbol in the top right corner. And then, label your page, specify whether to bear witness it in your main carte and/or footer, and hitting the "Create Folio" button.

Stride vii: Customize your pages

GoDaddy's website editor in use — Editing with GoDaddy is extremely like shooting fish in a barrel (Image credit: GoDaddy)

In one case you've created the pages yous need, it's time to jump into the content creation and page design processes. Some website builders, similar Wix and HostGator, use a drag-and-drop interface that lets you position design elements exactly where you want them.

Others, like GoDaddy, employ section-based editors with predefined layouts. Whatsoever the case, it's a good idea to play around with your layout for a while until y'all're happy with it. So, start adding custom content to your pages. Every editor is different, but most of them allow you to click on different elements before personalizing them.

For case, if you lot're using GoDaddy, you lot just accept to click on the element yous want to edit. Diverse editing options will announced on the right of the screen, and in most cases, you volition also exist able to edit by typing or adding new content straight to the page itself.

Stride 8: Optimize your site settings

GoDaddy's site settings demonstrated via the site editor — Make certain y'all edit your site settings before publishing (Image credit: GoDaddy)

Once yous're happy with your pattern, you should try and optimize your site settings to some extent. Different website builders are unlike, simply GoDaddy allows yous to add a favicon, basic metadata, and social media links, amid other things.

Step 9: Hit publish!

GoDaddy's website builder window confirming site publication — Once you're happy, yous tin can publish your site (Image credit: GoDaddy)

If y'all've got this far, congratulations! As long as y'all're happy with your overall blueprint and content, it's time to striking publish. Remember, y'all will be able to continue editing one time you've sent your site live, so don't worry if things aren't absolutely perfect.