Prior to starting, it is important to stress that creating your website is just one aspect of the web design process and should not be the first step! I strongly recommend acquainting yourself with the web design process beforehand to make sure you are adequately prepared for this stage. Numerous people jump straight into this phase without finishing the earlier steps, leading to a considerable loss of time. Take this as a warning. Now that this point has been made, let's delve into the different choices for constructing your website.
There are 5 main ways to create a website and although not all of them require knowledge of HTML and CSS it is definitely better if you have at least a basic understanding of them.
The 5 ways to create a website are...
programme it yourself
get a website template
use a website builder
utilise a CMS
hire a web designer
Now that we know each of our website creation options, let's explore each of them in more detail.
Programme it from scratch
If you already have good HTML and CSS skills or perhaps you are a web design or multimedia student in the process of learning HTML and CSS then this is a good option for you. Programming a website from scratch is also the most cost effective of the 5 options discussed in this article however it is also the most time consuming option.
To help with this approach there are a number of very good code editor programmes available online such as Komodo Edit, which is an excellent free code editor which you can use to make programming your own website a little easier.
Start with a template
If you really want to program the website yourself but need a little bit of a helping hand getting started then perhaps a website template is the way to go, just be sure to get a responsive template to ensure your website is as user friendly as possible. This is also a great option if your programming skills are better than your design skills as you can keep the templates design features and use your programming skills to edit the content to suit your website needs.
You can choose from an amazing 100 free responsive website templates here. So a website template is definitely a great idea, especially for new web designers, just be sure to customise it as, a bit like a stock photograph being used in a poster, it can appear stale and without character in it's raw, template state.
Use a website builder
Website builders advertise themselves as the easiest and quickest method to create a website. Companies like SquareSpace, Wix and Weebly are the best options for this approach and they both offer a starter package where you can get online with a free sub-domain name and free hosting. Although on the surface it may seem like a good choice, in my opinion, this is not a good option.
Website builders always seem to result in very rigid web designs, the free domain name is not a full domain and they tend to overcharge you for a full domain name. You often need to upgrade to a paid account to get a custom domain too and the monthly or yearly pricing structure is usually quite expensive. Bandwidth restriction, custom ads and extra storage space are other things that often need to be paid to unlock. In summary, this wouldn't be a choice I'd recommend.
Utilise a Content Management System
My top choice would be this option. Content management systems, known as CMS for short, are frequently mistaken for website builders. The key distinction is that in a CMS setup, the website design and layout are typically crafted by a web designer initially, and then the client is granted access to the front end for making necessary updates.
If you have acquired knowledge in HTML and CSS, you have the ability to independently design and structure your website using platforms such as Blogger and WordPress. The ongoing online debate regarding which of these is superior is a topic of discussion, with my personal choice leaning towards Blogger.
There are also eCommerce platforms such as Shopify that serve as a website builder, CMS, and online store combined. This is an excellent choice if you plan to sell online, and with Shopify, you can take advantage of a 14-day trial period to explore the platform before committing to a paid subscription.
Whichever you choose, there are many others available too, this is a great option which offers you templates to get started, widgets to drag and drop in while still having access to the HTML and CSS to make advanced or specific changes and tweaks.
Hire a web designer
If you don't have the time to learn how to build a website or you need to have complex functions or a very specific look for your website and you have a budget, then you will want to outsource the work.
Be careful who you hire, though. A poorly developed website can cost you money, drive away customers, and hurt your reputation. Following a few basic steps will increase your odds of hiring a creative, technically savvy, and cost-effective design firm or freelancer.
Much of your choice of designers depends on whether you want to work locally with someone, or whether you are willing to work remotely with them over the phone. Here are some things to think and ask about when hiring a website designer. If you would like to hire a web designer then we can proudly recommend Opus Web Design.
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