How to Build a Website in 10 Easy Steps

TL;DR: Building a website takes just 10 steps, from planning your site's purpose to launching and promoting — with Bubble AI and visual tools, you can build and launch faster than traditional coding or other no-code platforms.

You’ve got a website idea, now you just need to bring it to life.

Good news: Building your own website is a lot easier than you think — even if you don’t have a technical background!

We’ll walk you through the basics of building your own website from scratch — without coding — in ten simple steps: planning your concept, choosing tools, designing, building, launching, optimizing, and promoting your finished site.

Websites vs. web apps

Before we get started, you need to understand whether you're building a website or web app — they require different approaches and tools.

Website: A group of mostly static web pages linked under the same domain. Think blogs, event sites, and local business sites that primarily share information.

Web app: Interactive software that runs in your browser. Think Facebook, Gmail, or Etsy — sites where users complete tasks and perform various actions. Unlike static websites, web apps respond to user input and often require accounts, databases, and logic running in the background.

Websites are best for sharing information or marketing. Web apps are best if you have a specific goal or task you’re trying to help your target audience complete.

Not sure which you need? Read our websites vs. web apps breakdown to decide first before diving into the building process.

What you need to know before you create a website

Once you’ve determined you want to create a website and not a web app, you should figure out these three things first:

• What type of website you’re building
• Who your intended audience is
• What the goal of your website is

The concept

Figuring out the concept for your site will first help you determine if you need a website or a web app. If you go forward with a website, it can also help you decide what type of website will best suit your needs.

For example, do you want to build:

• A simple landing page?
• A brochure or portfolio site?
• A blog?
• An industry publication?

Like most things, the purpose of your website should inform the design, so start here.

The audience

Narrowing down the audience for your website will also help you make smarter decisions about content, UX, and more.

For example, designing a website for “everyone on the internet” isn’t likely or realistic for most companies, and it won’t help much with your design and decision-making process.

Instead, do preliminary research on your target market. A target market is the type of people, businesses, or customers you want to attract to your site.

Ask yourself:

• What problem are these people trying to solve?
• What information are they looking for?
• How can I help them solve it on or through my website?

Try to get a sense of who your audience is, what they need, and what other existing solutions exist. This will give you a solid foundation for setting your website or company apart from the competition.

The goal

Keeping your goal in mind from the start makes it easier to achieve it.

Websites can have many different goals, from trying to sell a product or service, to sharing your ideas online, to providing information, solving a problem, collecting event signups, or something else entirely.

Just make sure that you know what your goal is before you start building. Doing so will save you tons of time (and resources!) since you’ll be able to align your build with your needs from the start.

Key benefits of building your own website

Building your own website gives you several key advantages over hiring a developer or using restrictive templates:

• Complete control: Chat with AI when you want speed, edit directly when you want precision. You decide exactly how your site looks and functions through visual editing — no endless prompt loops required. When you want to make a change, you can do it instantly without waiting for AI to understand or a developer to implement.
• Significant cost savings: Building it yourself eliminates expensive developer fees, which can save you thousands of dollars upfront and on future maintenance.
• Speed and agility: Have a new idea at 10 PM? You can build and launch it by 11 PM. You move at the speed of your own ideas, not a developer's schedule.
• Direct learning and insight: Bubble shows you exactly how your site works through visual workflows, not thousands of lines of code. This understanding gives you the power to iterate and improve based on user feedback — and prevents you from getting stuck when AI can't help. You're not just a business owner; you're a builder who understands what you've built.

How to make a website in 10 simple steps

Many tools focus on either designing websites or building web apps — Bubble lets you do both!

In this article, we’re going to focus on how to do each of these steps with Bubble — the only fully visual AI app builder that lets you generate and edit both websites and web (and mobile) apps. While these basic principles apply broadly, Bubble AI and visual tools make the process significantly faster.

Phase I: Technical preparation

Before you start building, you need to lay the foundation and make some decisions about your site’s structure and design.

Step 1: Choose your website approach

While you can build your website from scratch with traditional code, modern tools like Bubble let you start even faster.

For example, Bubble lets you build websites or web apps by generating them instantly with AI, then customizing with visual editing — giving you both speed and precision. Other website builders take different approaches: Wix offers drag-and-drop templates (but limited customization), Squarespace focuses on design-forward templates (but also limited customization), and WordPress provides maximum flexibility through plugins and themes (but requires more technical knowledge to set up and maintain).

Once you've chosen your approach, you'll need a domain name. If you're using a platform like Bubble, hosting is included. Otherwise, you'll also need to choose a hosting provider.

Your domain name will be the URL of your website, like “bubble.io” or “bubble.com.” You can buy a domain name online through a variety of companies, like Domain.com or GoDaddy. Some website builders allow you to purchase a custom domain name directly through them as well.

Next, you’ll need to decide where your website will be hosted. If you’re using a website builder like Bubble, your website will be hosted on Bubble. If you're coding your website from scratch, you'll need to find an independent hosting option, such as Github Pages or Netlify.

Step 2: Decide what kind of database you need.

Are you familiar with Excel tables? If yes, then you’ve already interacted with a database before.

A database is simply stored data. Whether you need one depends on your website's purpose:

Need a database: Sites that collect visitor information (email addresses, form submissions, user accounts)

Don't need a database: Simple landing pages or portfolios with just static content

On Bubble, all sites come with a built-in database where you can see exactly how your data is structured and secured — no SQL required, no hoping you set it up correctly.

Sketching out the types of data you need helps you choose the right website builder and streamlines the building phase.

Step 3: Design your content architecture

Next, you'll want to think about the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of your website. You can describe your goals and audience to Bubble AI and let it generate the UI/UX, or plan it out yourself manually first.

It should be shaped by the goals, purposes, and audience of your site, as determined earlier. That is, is your site more about consuming content (like a magazine or Buzzfeed, for example)? Is it a shopping experience? Is it for marketing or finding information?

For example, if you are creating an online store, you may want the UI/UX to allow the user to do the following:

• Select a product
• Add it to cart
• Enter their credit card
• Check out and purchase products

Most static websites won’t offer much functionality, but good UI is still necessary to make your site look appealing. Good UX will help users navigate and engage with your site more easily.

At this step, you’ll also want to plan the web content needed for your site. This both shapes and is shaped by your UI and UX decisions. You want to decide things like:

• What site pages do I need to accomplish my goals and meet my audience’s needs?
• What do I want people to see when they first visit my site?
• What do I want people to click on when they visit my site?
• What else do I want people to do when they visit my site?
• What kinds of information does my site need to have?

Step 4: Execute content creation and design

You can now start planning your site in whatever way works best: sketch it with pen and paper, use a design tool, or describe what you want to Bubble AI and let it generate the initial design for you.

This includes mapping out:

• What pages you’ll have
• What those pages will look like
• Key site templates and page components
• Basic copy for your webpages
• Core customer journeys on your website

For example, you might decide that, for launch, you need the following webpages on your site:

• Homepage
• About
• Contact
• Services
• FAQs

For each page, you'll need design (layout, colors, images, buttons) and copy (the words and text).

Keep in mind that you don’t need to do all of this from scratch for each page!

Designing key pages and templates first can then give you a foundation for creating other pages for your site. For example, you might create a basic page template that lays out the UI and design, and then use that template for the “About Us,” “Services,” and “FAQs” pages.

Bubble makes this stage even easier with pre-built templates and component libraries, plus the AI Agent for help as you build.

Phase II: Build your website

Now it’s time to put everything together!

Step 5: Build your website pages

If you’ve done the technical preparation well, you should be well set-up for the actual build.

At this stage, you can use Bubble AI to generate your webpages from descriptions, or build them out visually using your sketches.

On Bubble, this is straightforward because you use the same editor to sketch out your design and build the backend databases that power your website. So instead of two steps, it’s really just one. Some common tips for web development on Bubble (the AI Agent can also help you learn and apply these as you build):

• Use styles to reduce editing time. This also comes in handy when updating fonts and primary colors on your site.
• Use reusable elements as much as possible.
• Group your workflows based on pages or site functionality. This will make it easier to locate your workflow actions. This is significant when debugging or reducing workflows to custom events.
• Use custom events to reduce the number of workflows by reusing common actions.
• Implement backend workflows to improve UX by taking actions away from the user’s browser and instead running them under the hood (server). An example is sending a series of emails when your user fills out the “Contact Us” form.

Overall, you want to follow the best practices of the platform you’re using. If you’re not sure about how to build something, ask the AI Agent for step-by-step guidance, or reach out to the community for more help.

Step 6: Preview and test your website

Once your site is built, most website builders let you preview and test it privately before going live. Test these key areas:

• Functionality: Make sure all buttons, forms, and features work as expected
• User experience: Have friends or potential users navigate your site and provide feedback
• Cross-device compatibility: Check that your site works on phones, tablets, and desktops

Quality testing with real users upfront helps you catch bugs and saves time later, letting you focus on marketing and growth instead of fixing issues.

Users can provide feedback on your UI and UX as well. For example, you may realize that most users prefer to use your site in a web browser as opposed to downloading the native version of your app. This can help you allocate resources more effectively going forward and get valuable feedback for future iterations.

Step 7: Go live

Having gone through all the above steps, you’re ready to release your site to a broader audience. Your first website visitors are critical, and getting feedback from them is a great way to source feedback for the second round of iterations to your website.

Whether you continue dedicated user testing or not, basic websites should track views, visits, and other relevant data through something like Google Analytics, which offers a free version (GA4) with comprehensive tracking capabilities for most small to medium-sized websites.

You can also integrate third-party analytics tools like Hotjar or Mixpanel to get more data on user behavior for future iterations. Hotjar provides heatmaps and session recordings, while Mixpanel offers event-based product analytics.

Phase III: Ongoing optimization and promotion

Building a website isn’t a one-and-done project. Here’s what to consider and plan for once your site is live to keep things growing and improving.

Step 8: Consider how to optimize for search engines (SEO)

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a discipline on its own. Thankfully, you don’t need to become an SEO expert before you can start building great websites!

However, it’s a good idea to understand the basics of SEO if you want your website to show up in search engine results — for example, when someone searches for relevant keywords to your business. If you want to dive deeper, check out Moz's Beginner's Guide to SEO for a comprehensive introduction.

Many website builders — including Bubble’s — will help you set up basic SEO best practices, such as page titles, meta descriptions, a solid site map, and more to get you started on the right foot. Doing so allows you to get more organic traffic to your website and reach more of your target audience.

Step 9: Decide how you’ll market your website

“Build it and they will come” is poor advice in today’s world.

You need to invest in marketing your website to make sure people know about it and get value from it. Luckily, you don't need to be a VP of Marketing to get started with a few basics:

• Business materials: Add your website URL to business cards, email signatures, invoices, and any printed materials. Make it easy for existing contacts to find you online.
• Social media: Announce your launch on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or wherever your target audience spends time. Share behind-the-scenes content about building your site, highlight key features, and post regular updates to keep people engaged.
• Email outreach: Send a launch announcement to your existing contacts, customers, or email list. Let them know what your site offers and why they should visit.
• Community sharing: Share your new site in relevant industry communities, forums, Slack groups, and networks where your target audience gathers. Provide value first — don't just drop a link.
• Local directories: If you're a local business, list your website on Google Business Profile, Yelp, and industry-specific directories to improve discoverability.
• Partnerships and collaborations: Reach out to complementary businesses, influencers, or bloggers in your space for cross-promotion opportunities or guest posts that link back to your site.

When you're ready to scale up, consider working with marketing specialists to implement SEO strategies, run paid advertising campaigns (Google Ads, Facebook Ads), set up email marketing automation, or create a content marketing plan that drives consistent traffic over time.

Step 10: Plan your content maintenance

Finally, plan for maintenance. Even the best websites need regular care to stay relevant and functional.

Content-heavy websites need both:

• Existing content updates: Review and refresh outdated information, broken links, and old statistics. Set a quarterly review schedule to check that hours, contact info, pricing, and key details remain accurate.
• New content creation: Plan what you'll add over time — whether that's blog posts, case studies, product updates, or seasonal promotions. A content calendar helps you stay consistent and avoid last-minute scrambles.

Your maintenance needs depend on your site's purpose:

• Local business sites: Minimal new content needed, but schedule monthly or quarterly reviews to update hours, prices, services, team photos, and seasonal offerings. Set calendar reminders so nothing slips through the cracks.
• Blogs or publications: Regular new content is essential. Decide on a realistic publishing schedule (weekly, biweekly, monthly) and stick to it. Consistency matters more than frequency — your audience will come to expect and trust your rhythm.
• Portfolio or landing pages: Update project showcases, testimonials, and featured work as you complete new projects. Even static sites benefit from fresh examples that show you're active and growing.

Mapping out a maintenance plan upfront — including who's responsible, how often updates happen, and what triggers a review — makes execution much easier and prevents your site from becoming stale or outdated.

Create a website quickly with Bubble

With AI and visual tools working together, building a website is much easier and more enjoyable, even if you don't have a technical background.

Bubble's AI-powered, full-stack platform removes a lot of decisions right off the bat, such as:

• What type of builder is right for your goals (Bubble lets you build all kinds of websites or web apps)
• Where to host your website (on Bubble!)
• How to create a database for your site (a built-in feature on Bubble where you can see exactly how your data is structured)
• How to build the best UI and UX for your site (use Bubble's AI page designer to generate instantly, or start from pre-built templates, then customize either way)
• How to protect your end-users’ privacy

If you get stuck at any point, ask the Bubble AI Agent for help — it can troubleshoot issues, explain how things work, and provide step-by-step guidance. You can also tap our knowledgeable community via the Bubble Forum for additional support. You can also check out our build guides to get custom step-by-step directions for building all kinds of apps.

Even better: You can build on Bubble for free until you launch — giving you all the time you need to get things right before you go live. But take our word for it: With Bubble's visual editor and this guide in hand, you’ll need less time than you think.

Frequently asked questions about building a website

Can I build a website for free?

Some website builders, including Bubble, offer free plans that allow you to build and learn without any cost, though these often come with limitations like storage caps, bandwidth restrictions, and branding. Other popular builders like Squarespace offer free trials instead of free plans. You typically only need to upgrade to a paid plan when you're ready to launch with a custom domain or need more server capacity.

Can I build my website myself?

Modern tools like Bubble combine AI generation with visual editing, designed for people without a technical background, so you'll understand exactly how your site works.

What are the five golden rules of a website?

While there are many design principles, five key rules are: clarity (make your purpose obvious), simple navigation (help users find what they need easily), consistency (use the same styles and patterns throughout), a clear call-to-action (tell users what to do next), and fast load times (don't keep visitors waiting).

Can ChatGPT create a website?

ChatGPT can generate the code (like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) for a website, but it can't host or launch it for you. You would still need to know how to host and implement that code — and when something breaks, you're stuck trying to debug code you didn't write. In contrast, AI-powered platforms like Bubble generate a fully functional, visual app that you can edit and launch directly, without ever needing to see or manage the underlying code.

How long does it take to build a website?

Much faster than it used to be:

• Simple landing page: A few hours
• Multi-page business site: Generate with AI in hours, refine over a weekend
• AI-generated first draft: Just minutes