Zero To Website: A Beginner's Guide To Using A Free Website Builder

A website is crucial for businesses and individuals today. It is a powerful tool for establishing an online presence, showcasing your work, and reaching a wider audience. However, creating a website can be challenging, especially for those who need more technical skills or experience. Fortunately, free website builders have made it easy and affordable for beginners to create their websites without hiring a professional web designer. In this article, we will find the best free website builders available and provide a step-by-step guide on how to use them to build a website from scratch.

Understanding Free Website Builder

Without coding experience, you may construct a website using a website builder. With a website builder, you can use drag-and-drop tools and templates to create a website quickly and easily. Website builders are often more affordable than hiring a web developer and offer a great option for those new to website creation.

Free Website Builder Vs. Content Management System (CMS)

The choice between a website builder and a content management system CMS depends on the specific needs and goals of the website. A website builder is a good option if you want a simple website with basic functionality. However, if you need more control over your website's design and functionality or want to manage a large amount of content, a CMS may be better.

Free Website Builder

• A website builder is a tool that allows users to create websites without having to write any code.
• It usually includes a drag-and-drop interface that lets you easily add text, images, and other elements to a pre-designed template.
• Website builders are designed for users who want to create simple websites quickly and easily.
• They are easy to use and require less technical expertise than a CMS.
• It is generally less flexible and customizable than a CMS.
• Website builders are ideal for small businesses or individuals who want to create a simple website quickly.
  

Content Management System (CMS)

• A CMS is a software application that helps you manage your website content, including text, images, and other media.
• It allows you to create, edit, and publish content on your website without having to write any code.
• It also provides user management, search engine optimization, and website customization features.
• You get more flexibility and customization options than a website builder.
• They are better suited for larger websites or websites with complex functionality.
• They require more technical expertise than a website builder.
• A CMS is suitable for businesses or individuals who want to manage their website content more efficiently and have more control over the website's design and functionality.
  

Benefits Of Using A Website Builder

Using a website builder has several advantages, including ease of use, affordability, and convenience. With a website builder, users can create a website quickly and easily without technical expertise. This makes it ideal for beginners and small enterprise owners who want to establish an online presence without investing significant time or money.

• Ease of use. Website builders typically have a user-friendly interface that allows anyone to create a website quickly and easily without technical expertise.
• Cost-effectiveness. They are free or cheap, making them an apt option for those with a limited budget.
• Design flexibility. With various templates and customization options, website builders allow you to create a distinctive and visually appealing website.
• Time savings. They can help you create a website in the short time it would take to code a website from scratch.
• Customer support. Many website builders offer customer support and resources to help you with questions or issues during the website creation process.
  

When choosing the builder to make the best free website, it's crucial to consider your specific needs and goals for your website. With ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and design flexibility, free website builders like Strikingly are a great option for beginners looking to create a website.

Image taken from Strikingly

Choose A Free Site Builder

Website builders come in different types: drag-and-drop, template-based, and code-based. Drag-and-drop builders allow users to customize their website design by dragging and dropping elements onto a blank canvas. Template-based builders provide pre-designed templates for users to choose from and customize to fit their needs. Code-based builders are more advanced and require knowledge of coding languages. Each building type has advantages and disadvantages, so choosing the one that best suits your skill level and website goals is important.

When choosing a website builder, it's pivotal to consider your needs and goals for your website. Look for a website builder with the needed features, such as e-commerce capabilities, blog integration, or mobile optimization. Additionally, consider the ease of use, cost, and customer support offered by different website builders. Some of the best free website builder options include Strikingly, Wix, and Weebly.

Image taken from Strikingly

Introducing Strikingly

Strikingly is a free website builder with drag-and-drop and template-based options. It's designed to be user-friendly and is an apt option for amateurs or those with limited coding knowledge. It provides a variety of templates to choose from and allows users to easily customize their design with text, images, and other content. Additionally, Strikingly offers features such as e-commerce integration and a blogging platform.

Strikingly is a free website maker that offers a range of features to help you create a stunning website. Some of Strikingly's features include:

• User-friendly interface. Strikingly's interface is intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy for users to create a website quickly and easily.
• No coding required. You don’t require coding skills, so even users with no technical expertise can create a professional-looking website.
• Mobile-responsive templates. It offers a range of mobile-responsive templates optimized for different devices, ensuring your website looks great on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
• Affordable pricing. You get competitive pricing plans, including a free plan with basic features and paid plans with more advanced features, making it accessible to many users.
• E-commerce integration. It offers e-commerce integration, allowing users to easily set up an online store and sell products or services directly from their website.
• SEO optimization. You get built-in SEO optimization tools that help improve the website's visibility on search engines, increasing the chances of attracting more traffic to the website.
• 24/7 customer support. Strikingly offers 24/7 customer support via live chat and email, ensuring that users can get help whenever needed.
  

With its user-friendly interface, customization options, and e-commerce functionality, Strikingly is a great option for those looking to create a website for free.

Getting Started with Strikingly

Strikingly is a free website builder with various templates and features to create a professional-looking website. To start with Strikingly, sign up for a free account and choose a template that suits your needs. From there, you can customize the template with text, images, and other content to create a website that showcases your brand or ideas.

1. Sign Up For A Free Strikingly Account

Signing up for a free Strikingly account is easy and quick. You only need an email address or a Facebook or Google account to get started. Go to Strikingly's website and click the "Get Started" button to create your account. After registering, you may begin building your website.

2. Choose A template

There are several pre-designed templates available from Strikingly. Look through the templates and pick the one that most closely matches the style you want for your website. You can preview the templates before choosing one.

3. Customize The Template With Text, Images, And Other Content

After choosing a template; you can begin customizing it with your text, images, and other content. Strikingly's drag-and-drop interface makes adding and editing content on your website easy. Additionally, you can alter the fonts and colors to fit your branding.

4. Add Additional Pages And Features

You may add extra pages to your website with Strikingly, like an About Us page or a blog. You can also add features like an online store or a contact form. Navigate to the Pages section of the Strikingly editor to add new pages and features to your website. Strikingly is an excellent free website builder for beginners who want to build a website effortlessly. With its user-friendly interface and customization options, you can build a professional-looking website without any coding knowledge.

Image taken from Strikingly

5. Optimize Your Website

Here are some ways to optimize your website with Strikingly:

• Choose a mobile-responsive template. Strikingly offers a range of mobile-responsive templates that are optimized for different devices. Choose a template that suits your brand and industry and customize it to make it your own.
  
• Optimize your website for search engines. Strikingly offers built-in SEO optimization tools that help improve your website's visibility on search engines. Use relevant keywords in your website's content, meta descriptions, and titles to improve your search engine ranking.
  
• Use high-quality images and videos. Use high-quality images and videos to make your website more visually appealing and engaging. Ensure the images and videos are optimized for web use, so they don't slow down your website's loading time.
  
• Create engaging content. Create high-quality and engaging content for your website, including blog posts, product descriptions, and landing page copy. Ensure the content is relevant to your target audience and includes relevant keywords.
  
• Use social media integration. Strikingly offers social media integration, allowing you to connect your website to your social media accounts. Use this feature to promote your website and increase your social media following.
  
• Include clear calls to action (CTAs). Include clear and prominent CTAs on your website to guide visitors towards taking a specific action, such as purchasing or filling out a contact form.
  
• Test and optimize your website. Use Strikingly's built-in analytics tools to track your website's performance and identify areas for improvement. Test different elements of your website, such as headlines, CTAs, and images, to see what works best for your audience.
  

Follow these steps to create an engaging, visually appealing, and optimized website for your target audience.

Finally, Launch Your Website

Once you have completed customizing your website using Strikingly's free website builder, previewing it before publishing it online is essential. This step allows you to identify and make necessary changes to the website's design, layout, and content. The preview function on Strikingly lets you see how the website will appear on desktop and mobile devices, ensuring it is prepared for all screen sizes.

Before publishing your website:

1. Preview it to ensure everything appears and works as planned.

2. Purchase a domain name (if you haven't already) and connect it to your website.

3. Hit the publish button to make your website live for the world!

Image taken from Strikingly

1. Preview The Website And Make Any Necessary Changes

Before launching your website, previewing it and making any necessary changes are important. Strikingly allows you to preview your website and make changes in real time.

2. Purchase A Domain Name And Connect It To The Website

After finalizing your website's design and content, the next step is to purchase a domain name that reflects your brand or business. Strikingly offers users the option to purchase domain names directly through their platform, making connecting the website and the domain easier. To make your website live online, you must purchase a domain name and connect it to your website. Strikingly offers the option to purchase a domain name directly through their platform or connect a domain name you already own.

3. Publish The Website To The Internet

Once you've previewed your website and connected your domain name, it's time to publish it online. Strikingly makes this process straightforward. Click the "Publish" button in the Strikingly editor, and your website will be live online. Strikingly also allows users to upgrade to a paid plan for additional features and capabilities.

Strikingly is one of the best free website builders for beginners. Without coding experience, a professional-looking website may be easily created because of its user-friendly interface and customizable templates. Using a free website builder like Strikingly is an excellent option for beginners looking to create a professional-looking website quickly and affordably. Anyone can quickly go from having no website to having one by following the instructions in this guide. You may design and launch your website in no time by following the instructions provided in this article.

Conclusion

A free website builder like Strikingly is a prominent option for anyone looking to create a website quickly and easily. With its drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, and built-in features like domain registration and e-commerce support, Strikingly is one of the best free website builders available. Using a website builder can save you time and money compared to hiring a web developer. You also have complete control over the design and

content of your website, which is important for building a strong online presence.

Additionally, Strikingly's free website builder provides several features that assist users in optimizing search engines and raising their website's online visibility. It includes SEO tools, social media integration, and analytics tracking.

If you're ready to start your website-building journey, sign up for a free account with Strikingly today. With its intuitive interface and helpful support team, you'll have a professional-looking website up and running quickly. Whether you're building a personal blog, an online portfolio, or a business website, Strikingly is the best free website maker to help you achieve your goals.