One question I’ve been seeing a lot lately is: “How do you make a website?”
It’s a fair question — and honestly, the number of tools and platforms out there can make the whole process feel overwhelming. Whether you’re starting from scratch or thinking about revamping your current site, this post will give you a clear, practical path forward.
I’ll break things down into two parts: first, the tools you'll need, and second, the step-by-step process I recommend. Toward the end, I’ll also cover where AI can help (and where it still falls short).
The tools you need to build a website
This is the "tech" side of the equation. And getting the tools right up front will save you a ton of time, money, and frustration later.
Hosting
If you want to build a house, you need a piece of land. And if you want to build a website, you need a place for that website to live—this is called hosting. I personally use HostGator and have been happy with them for over a decade. You don’t need anything fancy here; just choose a reliable provider with good support and move on.
The platform
This is what actually powers your site behind the scenes. While tools like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify can be fine for specific needs, I recommend WordPress (the self-hosted version). It’s flexible, powerful, and gives you complete control.
Themes
WordPress by itself is pretty bland. A theme gives your site its visual design and layout. I currently use Thrive Theme Builder, but I also recommend Kadence or Astra—both are fast, flexible, and beginner-friendly.
Plugins
Plugins are like apps for your website. They add functionality—like forms, backups, performance boosts, and more. Some of my go-to plugins include:
Gravity Forms – For powerful, customizable forms
Solid Backups – For automated backups and easy restoration
WP Rocket – For speeding up your site without technical hassle
Stick with name-brand plugins that are actively maintained and have strong reviews.
Page builders
These let you visually design your pages by dragging and dropping elements—no code needed. I use Thrive Architect, but Elementor is another great option.
Graphic design tools
Don’t stress over Photoshop. For most business needs, Canva is more than enough. I use it for everything from YouTube thumbnails to simple web graphics.
Professional email
A domain-branded email address adds credibility. I recommend Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace—both are rock-solid and affordable.
Email marketing
If you want to follow up with visitors who don’t take action right away, you’ll need an email service provider. I use AWeber, but there are others like ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, or Constant Contact that work just fine too.
The process: how to actually build your site
Now that you’ve got the tools, let’s talk about how to put it all together. This process is geared specifically toward service professionals (not e-commerce).
Step 1: Decide what pages you need
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here are the core pages I usually recommend:
Home Page – Think of this as the concierge of your website. It gives visitors a warm welcome and quickly points them in the right direction. The goal here isn’t to explain everything — just to guide people toward their next logical step.
About Us – Once someone sees what you do, their next question is often, “Who’s behind this?” This is where you build trust. A friendly photo, a short backstory, and a few human touches go a long way toward making people feel comfortable.
Contact Page – This is where people go when they’re ready to reach out. It should include your name, address, phone number, and a simple form. If you meet clients in person, I also recommend including a photo of your office or building to help them find you.
Services (or What We Do) – If you only offer one main service, one page is fine. But if you offer several, start with a general Services page and link to dedicated subpages. That way, each service can speak directly to its ideal audience.
Work With Us / Request a Consultation – This is different from a generic contact page. It usually includes a short form with a few qualifying questions to help pre-screen leads and guide serious inquiries to the front of the line.
Portfolio / Case Studies / Before & After – This is where you show what kind of results you’ve delivered. It doesn’t need to be fancy — just something that gives potential clients a realistic idea of what they can expect.
Privacy Policy & Terms of Use – Not exciting, but often legally required — especially if you collect emails or run ads. These can be plain black text on a white background. No need to overthink them.
Blog – Even if you’re not a big writer, a blog helps your website stay fresh and gives search engines something to index. It also lets you share helpful content and show off your expertise without feeling like you're "selling."
Landing Pages – These are focused, standalone pages used for ads or lead magnets. Their job is to convert, not to educate. Clean, simple, and distraction-free is the name of the game here.
Testimonials – You can never have too many. I recommend including a dedicated testimonials page, but also sprinkling them throughout your site — on your homepage, your services page, even your about page — wherever someone might be wondering, “Can I trust these people?”
Step 2: Decide what your site should look like
This doesn’t have to be complicated. People like websites that feel familiar. Navigation at the top, a clear headline, buttons that look like buttons—it all adds up to trust and usability. Create a swipe file of websites you like and borrow ideas from there.
Step 3: Can you use AI to build a website?
Yes and no. I use AI almost every day in my business, and it’s great for things like writing copy, generating ideas, and even creating simple images. But if you think AI can build a polished, professional website for you with the click of a button—yeah, we’re not there yet.
True story: I asked AI to mock up a homepage layout recently. The result? Not good. The tech is powerful, but design still needs a human eye.
Where AI really shines
While AI probably isn’t going to build your entire website from scratch — at least not one you’d feel good about — there are a few key places where it can genuinely help speed things up and improve your results.
Writing website copy – This is the #1 way I personally use AI. It’s fantastic for generating headlines, drafting sections of your homepage or services pages, and helping you break through writer’s block. It won’t be perfect out of the gate, but it gets you a solid rough draft to refine from.
Improving existing copy – If you already have something written, AI tools like ChatGPT can help you clean it up, simplify the language, or adjust the tone.
Planning your site structure – AI can help you outline the pages you might need, suggest calls-to-action, or even organize content ideas into a simple wireframe.
Generating visuals – When you can’t find the right stock photo or need something custom (like a background image, mockup, or simple graphic), AI tools can save the day. I use them regularly when nothing else quite fits.
Bottom line? AI is an excellent assistant — not a replacement. When you use it strategically, it can help you build a better site faster, without burning out or getting stuck in analysis paralysis.
Conclusion
So there you have it—a practical overview of what it takes to build a website for your business. From hosting and platforms to layout and plugins, the key is to avoid overwhelm by sticking with tools that work. And while AI isn’t quite ready to build your site for you, it can definitely help speed things up behind the scenes.
Whether you’re DIYing your website or working with a pro, I hope this post gave you a clearer picture of what goes into building something modern, effective, and trustworthy.
