- Rebecca Tomasis
- Sep 16
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 30
If you’re asking yourself, "what do I need to make a website?", the truth is it’s simpler than you think. It comes down to three things: a plan, the right tools and the essentials to bring your idea online. And since 71% of small businesses already have a website, getting online isn't optional anymore, it's expected.
To start, you’ll want a clear idea of the type of website you want to create. Then you’ll need the essentials: web hosting and a domain name, which together form the backbone of your website infrastructure. Next comes a website builder, the tool that helps you design your pages and add content like text, images, videos and branding. And if you’re building an eCommerce website, you’ll also need features like product pages, a checkout and a payment system.
But that’s just the beginning, there are a few more things you’ll want to get right to make your website truly effective. Let's dive in.
Every great website starts with a great domain name, try a domain name search or use a domain name generator to find the perfect one for your site.
TL;DR: what do I need to make a website?
Short on time? Here’s a quick summary of what it takes to get your website up and running. Start with a plan and figure out what you want your site to do, like sell products, share content or build a community. Then grab a domain name and hosting, pick one of the best website builders, create your pages and add the features your site needs.
Plan your site and define its purpose.
Get a domain name and reliable hosting.
Use a website builder to design and add content.
Build essential pages with text, images and media.
Add features like an online store, booking tools or blogs.
"The most important thing before building a website is good research. Know what you want to do and collect good inspirations that will contribute to your design." - Anna Suntsov, blog and social design team lead at Wix
Want to see some of the best websites for inspiration? Learn how to design a website that looks great, works smoothly and stands out from the crowd.
What do I need to make a website?
01. A plan and website type
To make a website you need to know what is your website for and what type of site you need. If your goal is to sell online, so you'll need to create an eCommerce website. Looking to build a community? Consider a blog website or forum site. The type of website you want to create will impact everything, from the domain name you choose, to the website builder you use, to the number and types of pages and contents, as well as its functionality.
02. Domain name and web hosting aka website infrastructure
Every website needs a domain name and web hosting. What is a domain name? It's your website’s unique URL and hosting is where your website’s files are stored. You need both for your site to be live and accessible online.
If you choose to make a free website, you can start without a customized, paid domain. You can create a website for free and use the provided, often branded, domain name. But if you plan to use your site to build a business and brand, its best to go for a customized domain name. When you opt for a paid website plan from Wix, a free customized domain name is valid for the first year.
Learn more: How to register a domain
If you use a website builder, like Wix, web hosting is included with every site. You don't need to choose or pay for it as an extra. Wix web hosting is enterprise-grade, multi-cloud hosting delivering 99.99% uptime and ultimately peace of mind.
03. Website builder
You'll need something to build and design your website on. For most, a user-friendly website builder is the best option. This is because they provide not only the website infrastructure you need but also the design tools, website templates and features to create a site without code or any technical knowledge.
Using a drag-and-drop editor, like Wix, you can visually design your pages, customize layouts and see exactly how your site will look as you build it. This is far easier than the traditional method of coding a website from scratch.
You also start from a website template, designed and built especially for almost any type of site and all you have to do is choose the right one for your site and customize it, if necessary.
Choose from:
Many website builders now also allow you to create a site with AI. In which case all you really need is a plan and a prompt and you can make a site in minutes with an AI website builder.
Expert tip:
"When it comes to website building, one of the biggest challenges for business owners is the amount of time needed to create one. With AI, everything is much faster and easier. Business owners can now build their own websites, update their content and create or enhance images with minimal effort. AI is revolutionizing the world and the technology is expanding into everything we do." Marine Levy Belder, product marketing manager at Wix
04. Webpages and content
If you're making a website you'll need content. This includes your webpages and everything they contain. This means text, images, video and branding (logo and color scheme).
Before you begin with your website design, you should have a clear idea of your website's purpose, whether it's to sell products, showcase a portfolio or share information.
Plan out the essential pages, such as a homepage, an About page and a Contact page. Then you'll need to plan out the text, images and other media elements for each one. Many website builders now also include AI assistants and tools to help you do this.
Expert tip:
"Now, with the AI text creator, you can generate high-quality, personalized content in just seconds. We're able to achieve this by combining ChatGPT’s capabilities with Wix's expertise in website development. Our content team has enhanced the GPT model to make it more robust and accurate for website content creation." Oz Golan, product team lead (Wix Editor)
05. Functionality elements
Finally, you need to consider the functionality of your site, as this will determine a lot of what it needs, or doesn't. What do you want your website to do? This could be anything from selling products through an online store, allowing clients to book appointments, capturing visitor information with a contact form or publishing articles on a blog. Most website builders, including Wix, offer these features as built-in tools or as apps that you can easily be added to your site to expand its capabilities.
Here is a roundup of some of those functionality features on Wix:
eCommerce
Wix Stores: The core eCommerce engine that lets you create product catalogs, manage inventory and track orders.
Secure payments: Accept credit/debit cards, PayPal and other payment methods securely through Wix Payments.
Abandoned cart recovery: Automatically send reminder emails to customers who leave items in their cart without checking out.
Product subscriptions: Sell products on a recurring basis (e.g., a monthly coffee subscription box).
Dropshipping integrations: Connect your store with dropshipping suppliers to sell products without holding any inventory.
Service-based businesses
Wix Bookings: An all-in-one scheduling system where clients can book appointments, classes, or sessions directly on your site.
Pricing plans: Sell service packages or memberships with recurring payments.
Wix Chat: Add a live chat box so potential clients can ask you questions in real-time.
Custom forms: Create detailed intake forms or lead capture forms to gather information from new clients.
Invoices: Send professional invoices and get paid online for your services.
Restaurants
Wix Restaurants: A full suite of tools that allows you to take online orders for pickup and delivery.
Table reservations: Let customers book a table directly through your website.
Dynamic menus: Create, customize and easily update your food and drink menus online.
Bloggers and other content creators
Wix Blog: A powerful blogging platform with features for categorizing posts, managing comments and adding multiple writers.
Member areas: Create exclusive, members-only content that visitors have to sign up or pay to access.
Email marketing: Build a subscriber list and send out newsletters directly from your Wix dashboard.
Nonprofits and communities
Get Funding App: A simple way to accept donations online.
Wix Forum and Groups: Build an online community where members can start discussions.
What do I need to make a website FAQ
What are the first steps to make a website?
Start by planning your site and deciding its purpose. Knowing what type of website you want, whether it’s an online store, a blog or a community site, will guide all your design and functionality decisions.
Turn your website into a go-to hub, start creating with a free blog maker today.
Do I need a domain name and hosting to create a website?
Yes. A domain name is your site’s address and hosting stores your website’s files. Together, they form the foundation that keeps your website live and accessible online.
What is the easiest way to build a website?
Looking for free website builders is the simplest option. A drag-and-drop website builder, templates and AI tools make designing pages, adding content and customizing layouts easy.
Explore the best website builders:
What content do I need for my website?
You’ll need website content with text, images, videos and branding elements like logos and color schemes. Essential pages often include a homepage, About page, Contact page and any pages specific to your site’s goal.
Learn more:
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