How to Design a Website: 6 Steps for an Effective Site Design

Posted on February 2nd, 2025

A well-designed website can really help it succeed. A nice-looking and easy-to-use site can attract visitors, making them want to explore your content and engage with your brand.

While many website owners think about hiring professional designers, this can be costly. Luckily, today’s website builders and design tools are more accessible and affordable, making it easier for you to create a great website on your own.

This guide will show you how to design a website even if you don’t have technical skills. Whether you want to sell products online or showcase your work, we’ll cover easy steps, important web design ideas, and examples to inspire you.

Step 1: Plan Your Website

Before you start, think about why you want to create a website. This will help you make sure that all your design choices align with your goals.

For an online store, the website should show your brand and make it easy for customers to find products and make purchases.

If you’re building a portfolio site, you’ll want a design that highlights your work.

To help clarify your website’s purpose, consider these questions:

• Who do you want to visit your site?
• What do you want to achieve with your content? Are you looking to share information, sell something, or entertain?
• What do you want visitors to do when they get to your site? This might include looking at products, buying something, reading posts, or signing up for newsletters.
• What kind of tone do you want to have? Should it be formal, friendly, or somewhere in the middle?

Keep these notes handy as you create your website.

After you have your goals set, look for web design examples that inspire you. Also, follow best practices like branding and easy navigation.

A great site for inspiration is Awwwards, which features many award-winning designs. You can use filters to find what you need.

Checking out competitor websites can also give you ideas about what visitors expect from a site like yours. If you’re unsure who your competitors are, tools like SimilarWeb can help.

Lastly, check out the newest web design trends. Using some modern features can give your site a fresh look, but make sure they match your overall idea.

Step 2: Choose the Right Website Platform

To begin, pick a platform for building your site. Look for one that matches your skills, budget, and goals.

A popular choice is WordPress, a content management system (CMS). WordPress works well for all kinds of websites, from personal resumes and online directories to larger eCommerce sites. Its strong blogging features also make it a favorite for content creators.

Using WordPress means you’ll need to buy a web hosting service. Basic web hosting is usually enough for personal or small business websites. If you have a simple site, you might consider our most affordable web hosting plan.

At InterServer, all hosting plans come with a 99.9% uptime guarantee, a free lifetime SSL certificate, and regular backups to keep your files secure.

If you need assistance choosing the right hosting plan or setting up your account, our customer service is here to help you via live chat, available 24/7.

Here are some great benefits of using WordPress:

• Easy to Use: WordPress has a simple menu system that’s easy for anyone to navigate, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer.
• Flexible: With a wide range of plugins, you can add many custom features. For example, Divi is both a theme and a page builder that helps you create unique websites using an easy visual tool.
• Scalable: You have full control over your hosting, so you can upgrade your plan anytime if you need more resources for your WordPress site.
• Cost-effective: Besides hosting, WordPress is free, and many plugins and themes are also available at no cost.

However, WordPress can have a steep learning curve. It’s helpful to know some basic coding, like HTML and CSS, to improve your site’s design.

Also, be sure to learn about hosting maintenance. This will keep your WordPress site secure and performing well.

If you want a simpler option, try a site builder like InterServer’s Website Builder. This tool has an easy drag-and-drop setup, so you can edit and customize your site right on the page.

While it may be simpler than using a CMS, it limits you to one type of website. You can easily create a business site, online store, blog, or portfolio.

Step 3: Customise the Web Design

Now it’s time to start designing your site. Before you decide on its overall look, review your answers from the first step to help shape your site’s visual identity.

Also, think about building your brand. This includes:

• Choosing a web design template or theme
• Picking a color scheme for your site
• Creating a logo

A theme is a file that includes a ready-made layout and visual elements created by a designer. This makes it easier for people without technical skills to design their website, so they don’t have to start from scratch.

If you’re using WordPress, you can find thousands of free themes in the official directory. Go to Dashboard → Appearance → Customize to start making changes.

Keep in mind that how much you can customize your site depends on the theme you choose.

For example, WordPress’s Twenty Twenty-One theme lets you change the background color and image, but doesn’t have built-in options for changing the font. You can add custom CSS code if you want to change the font style.

In contrast, the Astra premium theme allows you to adjust colors, fonts, button styles, and layouts.

Next, let’s talk about choosing a color scheme. Start by picking a main color that reflects your personal or business identity.

A helpful way to choose a dominant color is by using color psychology, which looks at what different colors mean and how they affect people’s feelings.

Here’s a quick overview of what some common colors represent:

• Red: Passion, appetite, or power. Brands like Coca-Cola, Netflix, and Target use this color.
• Orange: This color represents friendliness or caution. Amazon uses it in its logo.
• Yellow: Yellow represents brightness and freshness, which makes it really noticeable. Shell often uses this color in its branding.
• Green: This color is linked to health, money, and nature. Brands like Spotify, Starbucks, and Whole Foods use it.
• Blue: This color symbolizes security and trust. It’s a common choice for tech companies like Facebook and Microsoft.
• Purple: Royalty, wisdom, and beauty. You can find this color in brands like Cadbury and Milka.

Once you’ve chosen your main color, select a few extra colors to go with it.

There’s no strict rule about how many extra colors to use, but two or three is a good range to keep your main color in focus.

It’s also smart to add a neutral color for the background and text, which helps with readability.

A great example of a well-designed color scheme is Ritual’s website.

On Ritual’s homepage, they use just three colors, with yellow as the main color. The white background helps organize the visual elements, while a darker blue is used for text and buttons. This mix creates a design that’s eye-catching but still pleasant.

For a more colorful approach, check out Nippon Television Art’s site.

Their homepage shows off the brand’s creativity while ensuring that the text is easy to read with a dark font.

You can use tools like Coolors or Paletton to find attractive color schemes for any website. Give them a try!

Now, let’s move on to logos.

Let’s discuss typography in web design. Choosing the right font is just as important as picking a color scheme, as it helps represent your brand.

According to Canva, there are three main types of fonts:

• Serif: These fonts, like Times New Roman and Cambria, have decorative ends on the letters. They give a sense of authority and formality, making them popular for financial, government, and legal websites.
• Sans Serif: Fonts like Helvetica and Arial fall into this category. They have even strokes and no decorative ends. Many tech and startup brands use these because they feel modern and clean.
• Script: These fonts look like handwriting or cursive writing. They often show creativity and elegance, which is why they are popular in fashion, food, and drink brands.

Feel free to use two or three fonts on your website. Usually, one font is for headlines to share important messages, and the others are for the main text, captions, and additional details.

Step 4: Set Up the Essential Pages

A website usually needs these main pages:

• Homepage
• About page
• Contact page
• Blog page
• Product or service page

To make a new page on WordPress, go to Pages → Add New in the admin panel. If you’re using the Gutenberg editor, this is what you’ll see.

You can add new blocks to fill your web pages with content.

Homepage

The homepage is usually the first page visitors see. It should clearly explain what the website is about and its purpose. Making a good first impression is important so that visitors want to explore more of the site.

A useful tip for designing the homepage is to highlight what makes your business special. This message can help new companies stand out in a crowded market.

Consider using a big headline at the top and a call-to-action button to grab visitors’ attention right away. Creativity Lab’s website design is a great example of this approach.

If you have an online store, you can show a hero shot. This is a picture or video that highlights how your products or services are used and what benefits they offer. Including this kind of image on your homepage can encourage visitors to check out the rest of the site and learn more about what you provide.

About Page

The About page gives more detailed information about the person or business behind the website. It’s a great spot to share your story, explain your values, show your brand identity, and build a stronger connection with your audience.

For instance, Solidu Cosmetics’ “Our Story” page includes a team photo, the company’s history, its unique selling points, and an introduction video.

Also, adding social proof on the About page can help boost your credibility. For example, PooPrints shows client testimonials on its homepage to build trust.

Contact Page

This page shows visitors how to get in touch with you. It typically includes a business phone number, email address, links to social media, and an interactive map showing where the company is located.

You might also want to add a contact form so visitors can send inquiries without leaving the site. It’s easy to do this by using a WordPress contact form plugin.

Depending on how you set it up, the form can either save all submissions in the website’s database or send them to your business email.

For example, Yummy Gum has a contact form for project inquiries, which asks for your name, email, and project details.

Another good example is Zendesk. Their contact page offers two options, with descriptions to guide visitors on which one to choose.

If you click the “Contact Sales” button, you’ll see a form to connect with a representative about buying a product. The other button leads to the help center, which is better for existing customers.

Here are some tips for creating a contact page:

• Add a FAQ section. This can help address common questions you often get.
• Limit the number of fields on the form. Just ask for key details like first name, email, and a message. If you ask for too much information, it might discourage people from contacting you.
• Provide topic choices. This makes it easier to organize the questions you receive.
• Include simple instructions below each field. This will help users understand how to fill out the form correctly.

Blog Page

This page is mainly for content creators or businesses that use blogging as part of their marketing.

Usually, this type of page features highlighted blog posts and snippets in reverse order, showing the newest posts first. Climbing Van’s blog page is a great example of this layout.

On the blog post page, the article appears on the left, while the blogger’s profile and some call-to-action buttons are on the right. It also includes a table of contents to help readers navigate easily.

Many blog sites, like Amor Pela Comida, use a grid or gallery layout to display article snippets as clickable cards.

This format is great for blogs with lots of posts. It lets readers see several articles at once and pick what they like, instead of scrolling through each one one by one.

Finally, including images and videos can help break up the text. These add-ons make the page look better and also keep readers more interested in your blog posts.

Product or Service Page

This page is important for anyone running an eCommerce or business website. There are two main types of pages in this category:

• Catalog page: This is used by businesses that sell many products or services and shows a list of what you offer.
• Single item page: This page provides detailed information about each individual product or service.

The design of these pages should reflect your specific products and services, so it’s a good idea to check out what your competitors are doing for inspiration.

Here are some general tips to consider:

• If you have many items, include a filtering and sorting system. This makes it easier for visitors to find what they want quickly.
• Show multiple photos for each item. Since 75% of online shoppers rely on images, providing various pictures from different angles can help build trust and encourage sales.
• Think about using a video. High-quality videos can give potential customers a full view of your products.
• Write a strong product or service description. Highlight how it can solve your customers’ problems to make it more persuasive.
• Include some social proof. This not only builds credibility but also sets positive expectations for buyers about the product or service.

For reference on product pages, Kvietkos is a great example. Their Catalog page has a filtering and sorting system that lets users narrow down items by style and price.

For service-based businesses, check out Ester’s website. Their Services page features real-life examples, which helps make the company look trustworthy and reliable.

Ester’s page for individual branding design services includes a clear project workflow, giving potential clients a good idea of what to expect when working with them.

Additionally, a well-designed call-to-action (CTA) can really boost the website’s conversion rate.

A CTA is a prompt that encourages visitors to take specific actions that align with the site’s goals, like signing up for a newsletter, making a purchase, sharing content on social media, or starting a free trial.

CTAs often appear as buttons or links with clear, action-oriented text. They are important for guiding users through their experience on the website.

A great example of a CTA can be found on Axiology’s website.

Instead of just saying “Take the Quiz,” the vegan lipstick brand uses “Take the 1 Minute Quiz.” This provides clear direction and helps lessen any decision fatigue.

By using well-designed CTAs, websites can effectively engage visitors, drive conversions, and reach their goals.

Step 5: Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

Having a mobile-friendly website design is very important since half of all internet traffic comes from mobile devices. If you don’t focus on this, you could miss out on many potential visitors.

Also, Google looks at mobile-friendliness as a key factor when ranking websites in search results.

If you’re using responsive web design, you’re headed in the right direction. Here are some more tips to make your website more mobile-friendly:

• Use a hamburger menu for viewing on smartphones and tablets. This design hides all the links under a three-line button, usually found at the top left of the page, saving space on the screen.
• Make CTAs easy to tap. Buttons should be large enough for fingers to tap easily, and there should be enough space between buttons to avoid mistakes.
• Optimize for scrolling. Include features like a sticky navigation bar, a back-to-top button, or effects that activate when scrolling.

Step 6: Test Your Website and Launch It

Before you launch your website, be sure to check for any design problems that could impact how users interact with it. We recommend doing some usability testing.

One easy way to do this is to ask family, friends, or coworkers for their opinions. You can arrange a video call where they share their screen and give feedback on the design and how the site works as they explore it.

Another option is to try A/B testing. This method involves creating two versions of your website and showing each version to different groups of users. Afterward, you can compare which version performs better.

This approach gives you more data on what works and what doesn’t. Just make sure to test one design element at a time so you can easily identify what’s affecting the results.

Using a heatmap is also a smart choice. This tool analyzes your website and shows which areas or elements attract the most attention from users. It can help you place content more effectively to boost conversions.

Conclusion

A great website design should be user-friendly, with a simple layout that’s easy to read. It should have a consistent look and load quickly. These features are key for a website to grow and succeed.

Here’s a simple guide to designing a website:

• Plan your website. Decide what you want to achieve and what kind of design you prefer.
• Choose the right platform. Consider options like content management systems or site builders. If you’re new to this, a site builder might be the easiest choice.
• Make your website responsive. This not only improves the experience for mobile users but is also an important factor for Google rankings.
• Test and launch your website. Check that everything looks good and works properly before you go live.

We hope you found this article helpful! If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.