How to Build a Website with Wix: Easy Tutorial for Beginners

Key Concepts

Wix, website builder, AI website design, templates, drag-and-drop editor, customization, apps, pages, domain, mobile optimization, SEO, blog, e-commerce, premium plans.

Building a Website from Scratch Using Wix

Introduction

The video provides a comprehensive tutorial on building a website from scratch using Wix, emphasizing its beginner-friendly interface and powerful features. It covers everything from initial setup to customization, app integration, and mobile optimization. A link in the description provides access to a free Wix trial.

Getting Started and Using AI Features

1. Accessing Wix: Clicking the provided link grants access to the free Wix plan.
2. Account Creation: The process begins with entering an email address and creating a password.
3. AI-Powered Setup: Wix offers an AI feature to streamline website creation.
   • The AI chat asks about the website's purpose (e.g., "personal blog").
   • It requests the name of the blog (e.g., "Charlie").
   • It asks about desired functionalities (e.g., "Blog, about me page, and FAQ").
   • Based on the responses, the AI prepares the website foundation.
4. Dashboard Overview: The dashboard is the central hub for building and managing the website. It allows users to edit the site, add apps, and build pages.

Customizing the Website

1. Template Selection: Users can choose to customize a template or generate a design using AI. The video focuses on customizing a template to showcase Wix's professional designs.
2. Template Library: Wix offers hundreds of templates for various business types (e.g., business, e-commerce, creative).
3. Website Editor: The drag-and-drop editor is a key advantage of Wix, allowing users to build without coding.
4. Element Addition: Users can add elements like buttons and text.
5. Section Addition: Pre-built sections can be added to the homepage, such as an "about" section.
6. Image and Text Editing: Double-clicking on text allows users to change font size, font type, and spacing. Images can be changed by clicking on them and selecting "change background." Users can upload their own media or use stock footage.
7. Social Media Integration: Social media feeds, such as Instagram, can be integrated into the website.

Adding Pages and Functionality

1. Page Management: The "Pages and Menu" section allows users to add new pages to the website.
2. Adding New Pages: Clicking "Add Page" allows users to select the type of page (e.g., pricing plan).
3. Wix Bookings: The video demonstrates adding Wix Bookings, an app that enables appointment booking through the website.
4. Site Design: The "Site Design" section allows users to change the color theme, fonts, page background, and page transitions. However, the video advises caution when making changes to the design, as the templates are professionally designed.

Wix App Market

1. Accessing the App Market: The Wix App Market provides access to numerous apps that add functionality to the website.
2. App Categories: Apps are categorized (e.g., marketing, social) to help users find relevant tools.
3. App Examples: The video mentions apps for adding a TikTok feed, running ads, and using analytics tools.
4. App Ratings: User ratings help in deciding which apps to install.

Managing a Blog

1. Accessing the Blog Section: The "My Blog" section takes users to the main blog feed.
2. Managing Posts: Clicking "Manage Posts" allows users to create new blog posts.
3. Creating New Posts: Users can use AI tools or write content manually.
4. Blog Post Settings: Settings include featured image, publish date, and writer.
5. SEO Optimization: Wix has a built-in SEO system.
6. Monetization: Users can create a paywall for their posts.

Mobile Optimization and Publishing

1. Mobile View: It's crucial to ensure the website looks good on mobile devices.
2. Mobile Editor: The mobile editor allows users to make changes that don't affect the desktop view.
3. Hiding Elements: Elements can be hidden on mobile if needed.
4. Publishing: Once the website looks good on both desktop and mobile, users can connect their domain and click "Publish."

Upgrading to a Premium Plan

1. Benefits of Upgrading: Upgrading to a paid plan is recommended for a custom domain and additional features.
2. Custom Domain: A custom domain (e.g., "yourwebsite.com") looks more professional than a Wix subdomain (e.g., "yourwebsite.wixsite.com").
3. Plan Options: Plans like "Light," "Core," or "Business" offer different features, including storage space and marketing suites.
4. Free Domain: Many plans include a free domain for one year.
5. E-commerce Functionality: The "Core" or "Business" plan is required for e-commerce functionality.

Conclusion

Wix is presented as a strong platform for building professional-looking websites quickly, especially for beginners. The AI tools and extensive app market are highlighted as key advantages. While other more affordable website builders exist, Wix is a solid choice. The video encourages viewers to build websites to enhance their career prospects and online presence.