How to plan a website in 7 steps

The shopping cart you setup may need to be able to deliver digital goods, and unlock files for download once payment is completed. It’s rare that a website builder’s cart system will offer licensing, though. If you want to issue license numbers for each digital download, you probably want the WordPress solutions we’ll discuss in a bit.

Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with a detailed list of to-do items to plan a website before you build it yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. Planning makes perfect and a tool like Slickplan goes a long way towards sharpening the entire process. Moreover, Slickplan has a content block feature built right into the Content Planner meaning that we play very well with the Gutenberg editor. Nonetheless, both options save you a ton of time as well, as it would take months to learn how to code and create a website from scratch. These options give anyone the ability to design a website from scratch, tailoring it and optimizing it to suit their needs, whether it’s for business, personal or e-commerce. To set up a menu in the Wix editor, just head to your side panel on the left side of the editor and click on “+” at the top of the panel to add an element.

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Before releasing your site to the world, check that your site makes it easy for visitors to find the exact pages that they’re looking for. There are several main components to bear in mind, as listed below. Color psychology is important to take into consideration, as colors have the power to affect and evoke specific emotions and behaviors. Waste no time and create your site from start to finish with Wix’s website builder. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services.

Images, interactions, content, and other important elements are all in place and replicate the real-world design. Prototypes are used to get feedback and fine-tune a design throughout the process. As mentioned in the section about HTML, we recommend that you head over to Webflow University to see more about how CSS works.

Step 5: Create website structure and add pages

Without a name (also known as a domain name), your website simply cannot function. Think of it as https://deveducation.com/ a street address for a house, where the address is the domain name and the house is your website.

steps to designing a website

If you can’t find existing images to capture your brand, hire a graphic designer to create custom designs for you. Or explore your options with AI-powered image generators that can produce graphics and illustrations based on your directions and descriptions. If you are building your site using WordPress or a website builder, pick out a theme/template.

Consider enrolling in web design courses or programs offered by educational institutions, online learning platforms, or web design schools. Additionally, how to design website practice and real-world projects are essential to honing your skills. Before you launch your website, figure out what kind of content you have to offer.

  • Additionally, your payment system should be predicated upon quick, seamless and secure payments that instill a sense of fluidity and trust.
  • If you’re skeptical where to begin when creating your brand logo, Canva is a great place for you to start.
  • Combo classes save you time and let you set up variations of a class that you can apply wherever you need to in a web design.
  • Know the rules of composition and understand how elements like shapes, space, color, and geometry come together.