Blog

Have you been dreaming of having your own corner of the internet, a digital space that's uniquely yours? Well, this blog is the perfect opportunity to make the impossible possible. Welcome to the ultimate guide on how to build a website from scratch. 

If you're looking to launch a personal blog, an online store, or a professional portfolio, building a website from scratch gives you complete control over every aspect, ensuring it perfectly fits your vision and needs.

However, building a website from scratch is no small feat. It’s a blend of art and science, requiring creativity, technical know-how, and a dash of perseverance.

Throughout this blog post, we'll demystify the process of website creation from scratch. By the end, you'll not only have a clear understanding of the steps involved but also be able to answer the most critical question - how to build a website from scratch.

Let’s Dive in!

• Can I Build A Website On My Own?
• How to Build a Website from Scratch: The Pros
• How to Build A Website from Scratch: The Cons
• Can I Use Website Builders To Build My Website?
• Website Creation From Scratch
  • Planning and Goal Setting
  • Technical Skills
  • Building the Website
  • Content and Design
  • Launch and Maintenance
• Is It Worth Paying Someone to Build Your Website?
• Need an Expert to Build your Website?

Can I Build A Website On My Own?

Are you a business owner? You've probably found yourself wondering, "How do I build a website from scratch?" 

The idea of creating a website on your own might be both thrilling and intimidating. It’s true that there are many resources and guides available online and it’s tempting to dive in and do it yourself. But before you set foot in this completely unchartered territory, it's essential to weigh the benefits against the risks. 

Are you equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to set up your own business website? Is it truly worth your time and effort? Let’s start weighing the pros and cons.

How to Build a Website from Scratch: The Pros

Complete creative control: When you build your website, you have 100% control over the design, functionality, and user experience that fits your customer base best. 

Scalability: As you venture into how to build a website from scratch, you can build your own that grows and adapts to your business needs over time.

Learning a valuable skill: Web development is a skill in demand, and learning it can open up new opportunities.

How to Build a Website from Scratch: The Cons 

Steeper learning curve: Setting up your website requires extensive knowledge of HTML, CSS, Javascript, and potentially server-side languages like PHP. If you're not a quick learner, building a website from scratch might not be your cup of tea. 

Time commitment: Building a website from scratch can be a time-consuming process, as it involves ensuring the website design, website development, and other elements remain cohesive with each other. 

Maintenance: You'll be responsible for fixing any bugs or updating the website as needed. Security updates and software tweaks must be given focus on as both are crucial elements in your own website. 

Can I Use Website Builders To Build My Website?

How to build a website from scratch, or should we say, using website builders?

Website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress have revolutionised the way people create websites, offering user-friendly interfaces that make web development accessible to everyone, even those with no technical background. 

These website builders are designed specifically to allow users with little to no coding experience to create and manage websites. The question of how to build a website from scratch becomes easier to answer with these website builders. 

But can these tools truly enhance the process of building a website from scratch? 

Drag-and-Drop Functionality

Most website builders offer user-friendly interfaces where you can visually arrange elements on your website by dragging and dropping them into place. There's no need to write code for layout and structure.

Pre-Designed Templates

Website builders typically have a library of pre-designed templates catering to different purposes like business websites, blogs, or online stores. These templates provide a strong foundation for your website's design and can be customised to fit your specific needs.

WYSIWYG Editing (What You See Is What You Get)

Many website builders allow you to see the changes you make to your website reflected live as you edit. This makes it easy to visualize the final product and make adjustments on the fly.

Built-in Features

Website builders often come with essential features pre-integrated, such as contact forms, image galleries, and SEO (search engine optimisation) tools. This saves you the time and hassle of finding and installing these features separately.

Website Creation From Scratch

Building a website from scratch can be an exciting and rewarding project, but it requires some planning and technical knowledge. If you believe you can do it, here's how to build a website from scratch. 

Planning and Goal Setting

Defining Your Website's Purpose

What do you want your website to achieve? Is it to showcase your portfolio, sell products online, establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry, or something else entirely? Having a clear goal will guide your website's design, content, and functionality.

Your Target Audience

Who are you trying to reach with your website? Understanding your ideal visitor will help you tailor the content and user experience (UX) to their needs and interests.

Your Content Planning

What kind of content will you include on your website? This could include text, images, videos, infographics, downloadable resources, etc. Plan the structure of your website and how you will organise this content.

Competitor Research

Take a look at the websites of your competitors or businesses you admire in your industry. See what they're doing well and what you can learn from them in terms of design, content strategy, and user experience.

Technical Skills

Web Development Basics

The question of how to build a website from scratch involves coding, and a lot of it. While the specific languages can vary, HTML, CSS, and Javascript are the foundational ones you'll encounter most often.

Let's differentiate these three according to how they can help boost your website from scratch. 

• HTML defines the structure and content of your webpages.
• CSS controls the visual design and layout of your website.
• Javascript adds interactivity and dynamic elements to your website.

Web Development Resources

To help with how to build a website from scratch, there are many online tutorials, courses, and bootcamps available to help you learn web development. Websites like W3Schools offer free resources and interactive exercises to get you started with HTML, CSS, and Javascript.

Building the Website

Web Hosting

Your website's files need to be stored on a server to be accessible on the Internet. For this purpose, you'll need to choose a web hosting service provider. Many web hosting companies offer various plans with different features and storage capacities.

Domain Name Registration

A domain name is your website's address (e.g. www.yourbusinesswebsite.com.au). Your business website must have a unique domain name registered through a domain name registrar. Many web hosting companies also offer domain name registration services.

Also, it’s important to identify your domain as to where your business operates. In our context, use .au if you operate here in Australia. 

Website Development

Here's where you put your newfound coding skills to use! 

You can either write the code yourself from scratch or use a framework to streamline the process. Frameworks like Bootstrap can provide pre-written code snippets and templates to help you build responsive websites more efficiently.

Content and Design

Content Creation

To complement your excellently built website, write high-quality content that informs, engages, and provides relevance to your target audience. Optimise your content with relevant keywords to improve your website's search engine ranking.

Website Design

How to build a website from scratch? Design a website that looks visually appealing, user-friendly, and reflects your brand identity. It's easier to do so knowing you have all your business goals in mind when designing your website. 

User experience (UX)

Make sure your website is easy to navigate and find information. Your self-made business website should essentially lead your customers into their respective transactions, whether it’s the buying platform or the checkout page. 

Responsiveness

Ensure your website looks good and functions properly on all devices (desktop, mobile, tablet). Use responsive design techniques to adjust the layout based on the screen size automatically.

Test and Refine

Once your website is built, test it thoroughly on different devices and browsers to identify and fix any bugs or usability issues.

Launch and Maintenance

Website Launch

Once you're happy with your website, it's time to launch it to the world! Upload your website files to your web hosting server and ensure everything functions as expected.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

Implement SEO best practices to help your website rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). This can involve keyword research, optimising your website's content and structure, and building backlinks from other websites.

Website Maintenance

Maintaining your website is an ongoing process. Keep your website's content up-to-date, fix any bugs that arise, and update your website software regularly to ensure security and optimal performance.

Is It Worth Paying Someone To Build Your Website?

We've already unlocked the secrets of how to build a website from scratch, guiding you through every step from research to launch. But what if the thought of doing it all on your own feels overwhelming? Don't worry—you don't have to go it alone. Professional website builders are ready to lend you a digital helping hand!

These experts bring a wealth of knowledge in website design, user experience, search engine optimisation, and website security. Their proven expertise can transform your vision into a sleek, functional website that stands out from the competition.

And the best part? Their support doesn’t end once your site goes live. They offer ongoing maintenance and updates, ensuring your website continues to meet your customers' needs and stays ahead of the curve.

Need an Expert to Build your Website?

Are you looking for a reliable website design and development company that won't break your bank? Our expertise might be the one you're looking for! 

Here at Elephant in the Boardroom, your long-standing question of how to build a website from scratch gets a fulfilling answer, from stunning website design to a reliable website development that puts your business in front! 

Curious about us? Contact us now and let's bring your vision to life!