How long does it take to build a website using a website builder?

Roll up, roll up – the internet awaits the arrival of your business and its brand new website! A central online hub that will empower you to build your credibility and reputation – and a vital touchpoint that your customers can interact with, and potentially buy from.

So, how do you take that first step to building your own website from scratch? What if you don’t have technical expertise or experience? What if you can’t afford to hire a website developer?

If these questions are keeping you up at night, you’re not alone. But it’s time you got some shut-eye – safe in the knowledge that website builders exist for people exactly like you.

These nifty little programs give you power like you’ve never wielded before – a bit like if Frodo was a small business owner, and his ring gave him the power to create one killer website to rule them all (protection from the fires of Mount Doom not guaranteed).

Now, we’re sure you’ve got questions, like ‘how much will it cost?’, and more importantly, ‘how long will it take?’. Well, unlike Gandalf we won’t be keeping these secrets...

Website builder 101

These digital tools let you create your own website without any code or development skills needed – in fact, no developer needed full stop.

Bring your new website to life with a user-friendly program that largely entails dragging, dropping, stretching and generally moulding your pages to look and perform exactly how you want them to.

More than 20 million websites worldwide are built this way, with over 1 million of these originating in the UK. It begs the question, how many of your favourite sites were self-built with no expertise at all? These aren’t the only advantages to gain here.

Here are a few of the key factors to consider when deciding if a website builder is the right move for you:

Pros

• Using a DIY website builder is much cheaper than hiring a web developer – many are only a few pounds per month, and you can also take advantage of free or low-cost trials.
• You can build a website quickly with templates and plugins, and on-screen guidance.
• You retain full control over all your data and designs – no need to share them with freelancers or web development agencies.

Cons

• You'll need to devote your own time to creating the website.
• You won't be able to take advantage of as many customisation options, as you'll be relying on templates rather than coding the site yourself.
• You'll need to handle ongoing website maintenance.

Your 6-step timeline to success

Whether you’re chasing a go-live deadline or simply chomping at the bit to get online, it’s super important to give your website the time and attention it needs to take proper shape. Website builders have the potential to help you create an end product that looks and performs just as good as a manually developed site – but not if it’s slap dash!

A rushed and disjointed website can drive customers away within just a few seconds (about 8 to be exact). The more you respect the process now, the less time you’ll need to spend down the line fixing where you went wrong...

And now for the golden question – how long does it take!? There’s no fixed answer here because it all depends on size, style and how much time you’re able to put in. So bear that in mind when you read the rest of this blog. Depending on the website builder you use, you could have a basic website up and running in a matter of minutes. But if you want to do some serious work and planning, that will of course take a bit longer!

With that in mind, here’s a 6-step timeline with some rough guides to set your expectations.

1. Initial planning (1 week)

Come up with a clear concept and purpose for your planned website. Sometimes, in the midst of the creative process, humans have a habit of straying away from the fundamentals.

By laying these firm foundations, you create a reference point to constantly check back in with to make sure you don’t go off-track.

For example, will you create an online store, a blog, a business website or an online portfolio? This, along with your specific sector and target audience, will influence the type of pages you’ll need, the design you choose and general functionality of your site. Let your creative spirit flourish, but keep it lined up with the overall plan.

2. Choosing the right builder (1 week)

Make sure to choose a website builder that fits your customisation needs and skill level. For example, some builders contain drag-and-drop editors for ease, while others offer more flexible design templates and custom code capabilities. Some (like ours) now even come with AI tools to make the whole process simple. These tools can include content creation, image generation and even pre-built themes and plugins to get you started.

Other features to look out for include instant setup wizards, free stock images, free domains, SEO tools, mobile responsiveness and integrations with hundreds of apps!

Talking of free domains, this stage of the process is an ideal time to secure your web hosting and domain registration – using considerations from the planning process to guide your decision here.

3. Content creation (2-6 weeks)

Again, remember this all depends on how long you'd like to take creating your website, and what builder you choose. If your chosen builder comes with tons of tools, like AI-powered generation, you can get your content done in a lot less time. But if you'd prefer to do things yourself, editing and writing your own text and images, then it'll take a bit longer.

With that in mind, every single word, image and video on your website matters, from the homepage down to the contact details. Consider that you have just a few seconds to capture the attention of a visitor, and in that time they're looking for two things – a reason to stay and a reason to leave.

This is where you’ll revert back to the planning process, putting yourself in the shoes of your audience, and picturing what will encourage them to spend more time with your content. And if you have a brand book, or specific brand guidelines you follow, be sure to stick to these throughout your site. An inconsistent website can have customers feeling like they can't trust you, or are confused as to what your business identity is. If you don't have a brand book yet, follow our guidelines in this blog.

Remember that overkill can be as damaging as under selling – focus on short, sharp and impactful visuals and messaging. Preparing these elements in advance will give you a head start when it comes to designing the layout of your site.

4. Layout design (1-3 weeks)

This is where the website builder really shines. Frames, page structures and formatting can be chosen, experimented with and adapted in just a few clicks.

Whether you’re using drag-and-drop functions or something more manual – this is your time to play around. AI tools will also make this step quicker.

Pre-made website templates are also a godsend if you’re a rookie on the technical side, as they give you something to work from rather than having to start from scratch. Also consider whether you want to go for a static website or a dynamic design, as the latter could greatly lengthen project timelines.

5. Customisation and finalisation (2-4 weeks)

Now it’s time to get down and dirty with the details, but not so fast! After creating your layout design, take a day or two to let it rest and cleanse your creative palette, before returning to your creation. This will help you reset and come at the design with a fresh mindset, helping you see mistakes more easily and opportunities more clearly.

Focus on details like your images, colour grading, buttons, menus, navigation tools and scroll effects to ensure that every element of your website is accounted for.

And of course, return to phase one to make sure your branding and tone of voice is quintessentially you – not to mention consistent across your website.

6. Testing (1-2 weeks)

Testing, testing! It’s time to call in some external opinions. Yes, it’s your business and you know best about what needs to be included. But you’ll have been staring at this thing non-stop for a while now – don’t underestimate the value of fresh eyes.

If you can, choose trusted individuals that can look at your site from different angles. For example, someone who knows their copywriting, someone who understands your audience, someone who is familiar with web design, and for brutal honesty – your family and friends!

This is your time to really absorb any criticism you receive. Remember that opinions from external sources are likely to be similar to those of your actual website visitors, so take the time to understand their viewpoints rather than pushing back without proper thought.

Glossary of abbreviations

And there you have it! Your website building quest lies before you. Along the way, however, you’re bound to come across a million and one acronyms that stump you – because that’s just technology for you!

Use this glossary to get familiar with some of the most common ones now, so you know what to pay attention to – and what to ignore – on your journey ahead:

• CMS – Content Management System: a software application that allows users to build and manage a website without having to code it from scratch, or know how to code at all.
• HTML – Hypertext Markup Language: the code that is used to structure a web page and its content.
• CTA – Call To Action: a marketing term used to describe a phrase that encourages consumer action, usually at the end of a piece of content, e.g. visit this website or buy this product.
• FTP – File Transfer Protocol: a standard communication protocol used for the transfer of computer files from a server to a client on a computer network.
• SEO – Search Engine Optimisation: the act of adapting content on your website to rank higher on search engines and drive more traffic.
• API – Application Programming Interface: a way for two or more computer programs or components to communicate with each other.
• GUI – Graphical User Interface: a computer program that enables a person to communicate with a computer through the use of symbols, visual metaphors, and pointing devices.
• IaaS – Infrastructure as a Service: a type of cloud computing service that offers essential computer, storage, and networking resources on demand, on a pay-as you-go basis.

Get online quick with us

Now you're ready to find a website builder that makes starting simple and customising a piece of cake, with packages and pricing to suit your needs.

Enter: Fasthosts Website Builder!

Our Website Builder comes with all the essentials you need, as well as a bunch of extra perks that help soften the edges and guide you along smoothly with minimal stress. We’re talking AI tools, free SSL, email and domain, free stock photos, website stats and expert 24/7 support – so you’re never alone on your quest.

If you need a hand with any of our products and services, give us a call on 0333 0142 700 or message us via live chat.