A while back, a friend texted me in a panic. She needed a website for a freelance project and had no idea where to start. Zero coding experience. No design skills. Just a tight deadline and a vague idea of what she wanted.
We jumped on a call, opened a laptop, and an hour later… she had a clean, working site.
If she can do it, you can too.
Whether you’re setting up something for a side hustle, portfolio, or small business, this guide will show you exactly how to go from blank screen to working site fast.
Step 1: Choose best Platform
If you are just getting started then skip the complex tools. Go with something that’s is built for speed and simplicity.
Here are a few that make it easy:
Carrd: Great for single-page sites or landing pages.
Wix: Drag and drop everything with lots of templates.
Squarespace: Sleek the designs with the built-in tools for blogging or selling.
WordPress: A bit more flexible, still beginner-friendly.
Pick based on what you’re building. Need something simple and visual? Carrd or Wix. Want more long-term flexibility? WordPress or Squarespace might be a better fit.
Step 2: Sign Up and Pick a Template
Once you’re in, most platforms will guide you through setup.
You’ll choose a category like “Portfolio,” “Online Store,” or “Personal Blog” and get a list of templates. Pick one that looks close to what you want. Don’t stress too much about getting it perfect you can tweak it later.
Pro tip: Go for clean layouts. They load faster, look better on mobile, and are easier to edit.
Step 3: Customize the Content
Now it’s time to make it yours.
Swap in your:
Name or brand
A headline that says what you do
A short description or “About” section
One or two strong images
Contact info or a simple form
Keep it simple and clear. If you’re stuck on what to say, just imagine explaining what you do to a friend. That tone usually works best.
Step 4: Connect a Domain (Optional, but Worth It)
If you’re using a free plan, your site will have something like yourname.platform.com. That’s fine for testing. But if this is for real use especially business it’s worth grabbing a custom domain like yourname.com.
You can usually buy one directly through the site builder you chose. Most of them walk you through setup in a couple of clicks.
Step 5: Preview and Publish
Before hitting “publish,” take a minute to:
Check how it looks on your phone
Click all the links
Proofread your text (yes, even if it’s short)
Load it in a different browser just to be safe
Once it looks good, hit the publish button. That’s it you’re live!
Bonus: What to Add Later
If you’ve got more than an hour, here are a few extras you can add when you’re ready:
Testimonials or reviews
A blog or project section
Email signup form
SEO basics (like page titles and meta descriptions)
Social media links or share buttons
None of these are required at launch, but they can help down the road.
Why This Works
The trick to building your first site quickly is not getting stuck in perfection mode. Your first version doesn’t need to be fancy. It needs to work.
Once it’s live, you’ll learn what to change based on feedback, or just your own ideas. That’s how real progress happens.
Whether you’re putting together a page for your resume, your business, or just your latest project getting something live is always better than waiting for “perfect.” You can polish it later.
And hey, you might just realize building websites is a lot less scary than you thought.
