2/4/2025
Below is a comprehensive, in-depth guide on how to create a website, examining both the no-code/low-code approaches (like WordPress, Wix, Squarespace) and building a custom website from scratch—specifically highlighting a modern stack such as Next.js. We’ll cover everything from foundational concepts to deployment and maintenance, while exploring the pros and cons of each strategy along the way. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which path is best for your needs, with an emphasis on why creating your site from scratch (especially with a framework like Next.js) can often be more scalable, better optimized, and friendlier to search engine optimization (SEO).
A website is a collection of web pages and related content that is identified by a common domain name and published on at least one web server. Websites come in all shapes and sizes—ranging from personal blogs and portfolios to complex e-commerce platforms and social media sites. In essence, a website acts as a digital storefront for your brand, business, or personal presence on the internet.
Domain Name: The website’s address that users type into a browser (e.g., yourwebsite.com).
Web Hosting: The service where your website’s files are stored and served to users.
Content Management System (CMS) or Web Framework: The tool or framework used to build and manage the website.
Design: The layout, color scheme, typography, and overall appearance of the site.
Content: The text, images, videos, and other media that communicate your message or product offering.
Before you choose a tool or method to build your website, define your goals:
Purpose: Is it a personal blog, business site, e-commerce platform, or a web app with custom functionalities?
Technical Expertise: Are you a developer or comfortable with coding? Are you new to web development?
Budget: Do you have the resources (time, money, or staff) to invest in a fully custom solution, or is a templated solution more financially viable?
Scalability: Do you anticipate substantial growth in traffic or complexity in site features over time?
Having clarity on these elements makes the subsequent decisions much easier.
Low-code/no-code platforms reduce or eliminate the need for traditional coding. They often offer drag-and-drop interfaces, pre-built templates, and user-friendly dashboards. Below we examine some popular options: WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace.
WordPress is one of the most popular Content Management Systems in the world, powering over 40% of the internet’s websites. Its ecosystem includes a vast library of themes and plugins that can extend functionality to cover almost any requirement—from e-commerce shops (WooCommerce) to membership sites.
Ease of Use: Despite requiring initial setup, once installed, WordPress’s interface allows you to create, edit, and manage content with minimal technical knowledge.
Large Community: Because WordPress is so popular, you can easily find solutions to common problems. Plugins, tutorials, and communities abound, offering support and resources.
Customizability: Thousands of themes and plugins help you adapt your site to nearly any need: from SEO optimization to security and e-commerce solutions.
Cost-Effective: WordPress itself is open-source and free to use. Most costs come from purchasing premium themes/plugins or specialized hosting.
Security Vulnerabilities: Being so popular also makes WordPress a frequent target for hackers. Poorly maintained plugins or outdated themes can open up security holes.
Performance Challenges: While WordPress can be optimized, a large plugin stack, bloated themes, or shared hosting can lead to performance bottlenecks.
Maintenance Overhead: Keeping plugins, themes, and the WordPress core up to date is crucial. Failure to do so can break site functionality or introduce security issues.
Less Control Over Code: While you can edit WordPress PHP files, the structure and design revolve around core WordPress logic, which can be limiting.
Wix is a fully hosted platform offering an intuitive drag-and-drop editor for quick design. Its user-friendly approach targets beginners, entrepreneurs, and small businesses that want to get online fast.
Drag-and-Drop Editor: Wix offers an entirely visual interface. You can move elements around easily without any coding.
All-in-One Hosting and Domain: Wix handles hosting and domain integration, reducing complexities.
Template Library: Pre-designed templates help get your website up and running in no time.
App Market: Add functionalities (forms, live chats, booking systems, etc.) quickly.
Less Flexibility: Moving away from Wix to another platform is cumbersome because the system is proprietary. Your design and data can be “locked in.”
Limited Scalability: While Wix can handle moderate traffic, very large or complex sites can run into performance and customization limits.
SEO Limitations: Though Wix has improved its SEO features over the years, it still doesn’t offer the same level of control as a fully custom or advanced platform.
Cost Structure: Premium plans can become expensive for advanced features, and e-commerce plans have higher monthly fees.
Squarespace is another user-friendly, all-in-one website builder noted for its visually stunning and modern templates.
Professional Design Templates: Squarespace’s templates are known for being polished, modern, and particularly suited for creative professionals.
Ease of Use: Its interface is designed to be straightforward, making management of content and images quite simple.
Built-In Features: E-commerce, analytics, and blogging come integrated, reducing the need for external plugins.
Hosting and Security: Like Wix, Squarespace manages hosting and security, making it hands-off for the user.
Limited Customization: Although you can add custom CSS and scripts, you can’t dive deep into the backend the same way you can with a self-hosted solution.
Template Lock-In: Switching templates can sometimes require extensive reformatting of content, which can be time-consuming.
Cost: Monthly fees can be higher than some WordPress-based hosting solutions, especially for e-commerce functionality.
Scalability Concerns: For very large sites or advanced features, you might hit limitations similar to other site builders.
While no-code/low-code solutions let you launch quickly with minimal effort, they may not meet all your needs if:
You Value Complete Control: Owning your entire codebase, architecture, and design ensures you can change anything you want, when you want.
Future Scalability: Custom-built sites using modern frameworks like Next.js can handle increased traffic or features more efficiently.
Enhanced SEO and Performance: You can meticulously optimize your site’s loading times, meta tags, and other SEO factors at a granular level.
Security: With your own code, security is in your hands. You reduce the risk of vulnerabilities introduced by third-party plugins or code.
When we say “building from scratch,” it often refers to using modern web frameworks and tools. Gone are the days where you’d hand-code every HTML file and style sheet for all but the simplest sites. Now, developers rely on frameworks to streamline development.
Next.js stands out as one of the most popular React-based frameworks. It offers features like server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and a robust ecosystem that significantly improves both developer and user experience.
Server-Side Rendering (SSR): Renders pages on the server before sending them to the client, improving performance and SEO by ensuring search engines can easily read fully rendered pages.
Static Site Generation (SSG): Generates static HTML at build time, serving lightning-fast pages for content that doesn’t frequently change.
Automatic Code Splitting: Next.js splits your code so that each page only loads what’s necessary, improving load times.
API Routes: Build your own backend API routes within the same project, avoiding the need for an external server.
Built-In Image Optimization: Next.js offers image optimization tools right out of the box, saving you from manually handling resizing or compression.
Performance Optimization: The SSR and SSG approaches can drastically enhance page speed and user experience.
SEO-Friendly: Since the HTML is fully rendered before reaching the browser, search engine bots can index your pages more effectively.
Scalability: Next.js is built with enterprise-level scalability in mind. You can power complex frontends using the same framework as for smaller sites.
Flexibility: It’s essentially React under the hood, so you can integrate the vast React ecosystem (packages, libraries, etc.).
Community and Support: Next.js, maintained by Vercel, has a growing community of users, extensive documentation, and plenty of third-party tutorials.
Learning Curve: Requires knowledge of React and fundamentals of modern JavaScript. If you’re new to web development, the initial investment of time is significant.
Infrastructure Management: You need to manage hosting (although services like Vercel simplify this). Unlike a platform solution, you have more moving parts—domain setup, SSL, environment variables, etc.
Maintenance: You or your team must handle updates to dependencies (Node.js, React, Next.js versions, etc.). Although not overly complex, it’s another ongoing responsibility.
Upfront Development Time: Building a fully custom site from scratch takes longer than selecting a template on WordPress or Wix.
Below is a detailed process for setting up a custom website. While you can adapt these steps to other frameworks or languages, we’ll focus on Next.js as our primary example.
Install Node.js: Download and install Node.js (v14 or later recommended for Next.js 13+).
Node.js Official Website for the installer or commands.
Code Editor: Use a robust editor like Visual Studio Code, which has excellent support for JavaScript/TypeScript and React.
Package Manager: npm (comes with Node.js) or Yarn. Either works fine with Next.js.
Using Create Next App: Run npx create-next-app my-website in your terminal.
This generates a boilerplate Next.js project called “my-website” with a basic structure.
Directory Structure:
pages/: Holds your page components. In Next.js, each file in pages/ maps to a route (e.g., pages/index.js is “/”).
public/: Houses static files like images.
styles/: Default location for CSS or SCSS files.
components/: A common place to store shared UI components.
Homepage: Typically found in pages/index.js.
Additional Pages: Each page gets its own file or folder in pages/.
Reusable Components: For elements like navigation bars, footers, or complex UI widgets, create React components in a components/ folder for easy reusability.
Layout: Next.js supports custom app layout structures. You might create a _app.js file to define global site structure or a layout component to wrap individual pages.
Home Page (index.js):
Import React and any components you plan to use (e.g., <HeroSection>, <FeatureList>, etc.).
Write a functional component that returns your main homepage content.
Style your components using CSS modules, styled-components, or Sass if you prefer advanced styling.
About Page (about.js):
Provide details on your business, brand, or personal background.
Keep it consistent with your site’s general styling.
Contact Page (contact.js):
Implement a contact form or instructions on how to reach you.
For form submissions, Next.js can handle basic serverless API routes for emailing or storing data.
Meta Tags: Next.js provides a <Head> component in each page for setting <title>, <meta> tags, and more.
Social Sharing: Use <meta property="og:title" content="..."> and related tags to optimize link previews on social media.
URL Structure: Human-readable URLs (e.g., /about, /services/seo, /blog/how-to-create-a-website) help search engines and users alike.
Site Speed:
Static Site Generation (SSG): Use Next.js’s getStaticProps and getStaticPaths for content that doesn’t change often, improving load times.
Image Optimization: The built-in <Image> component in Next.js automatically serves optimized images.
Code Splitting: Bundles are automatically split to reduce load times.
Data Fetching: Next.js gives you multiple methods:
getStaticProps and getStaticPaths for static generation.
getServerSideProps for server-side rendering.
useEffect (client-side) or API routes for dynamic, client-based data fetching.
APIs and Backend Integration: If you need user authentication, payment systems, or a CMS:
Create custom API routes in the pages/api/ folder, or connect to third-party APIs (like Stripe for payments).
Alternatively, integrate headless CMS solutions (e.g., Contentful, Sanity, or Strapi) for content management while preserving your custom front end.
Linting and Formatting: Tools like ESLint and Prettier help maintain consistent, high-quality code.
Unit Testing: Frameworks such as Jest and React Testing Library can test individual components and functionalities.
Integration/End-to-End Testing: Tools like Cypress or Playwright test complete user workflows.
Accessibility Audit: Use tools like axe-core or Lighthouse to ensure your site meets accessibility standards.
Once your site is ready, you need to host it. With Next.js, you have several options:
Vercel (Created by the team behind Next.js):
Simplifies deployments: You can connect your GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket repo and deploy automatically on every push.
Provides free SSL, custom domain support, and serverless functions.
Netlify:
Another popular service for static and serverless deployments, with quick setup and a generous free tier.
AWS, Google Cloud, or DigitalOcean:
Offers full control over infrastructure. This is more complex, though you gain maximum customization.
Self-Hosting:
You can run a Node.js server on your own machine or VPS. This requires the most technical expertise, but you retain complete control.
Security Patches: Keep dependencies up to date (Next.js, React, Node, etc.).
Content Updates: If it’s a blog, regularly add new posts. If it’s an e-commerce store, update products and pricing frequently.
Performance Monitoring: Use tools like Google Lighthouse, GTmetrix, or Pingdom to monitor site speed and performance.
Analytics and User Feedback: Set up Google Analytics or a similar service to track user behavior. Gather feedback to refine your site.
Below is a point-by-point comparison between no-code/low-code platforms (like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace) and building a custom site from scratch (for example, with Next.js). This is a textual version, so no tables are used:
Ease of Setup
No-Code/Low-Code Platforms: Very simple to begin. Most platforms offer quick installation or sign-up and come with ready-made templates you can customize.
Next.js (Scratch-Built): Requires a coding background. You must set up a development environment (Node.js, code editor, etc.), which involves a steeper learning curve.
Design Flexibility
No-Code/Low-Code Platforms: Provide a range of themes, templates, and drag-and-drop tools. You have more constraints because you are working within a predefined system.
Next.js (Scratch-Built): Offers near-unlimited freedom since you control the entire codebase. You can design precisely what you need without being locked into a specific template.
Cost
No-Code/Low-Code Platforms: While WordPress is free to use (you pay for hosting and premium plugins), other hosted solutions like Wix or Squarespace charge monthly fees. Extra features can also increase costs.
Next.js (Scratch-Built): The framework itself is free. However, you might pay more for custom development time, advanced hosting (if needed), and ongoing maintenance if you’re not doing it yourself.
Maintenance
No-Code/Low-Code Platforms: Generally simpler to update; managed platforms handle the core software. However, on WordPress, you still need to update plugins and themes to keep them secure.
Next.js (Scratch-Built): You are responsible for all code updates, dependency upgrades, and bug fixes. You have total control—but also total responsibility.
Performance & SEO
No-Code/Low-Code Platforms: Can be optimized with various plugins or built-in settings. However, many out-of-the-box solutions default to client-side rendering or add extra bloat, which can slow load times if not carefully managed.
Next.js (Scratch-Built): Provides Server-Side Rendering (SSR) and Static Site Generation (SSG) out of the box, which greatly enhances performance and SEO. You can fine-tune everything, from image handling to server responses.
Scalability
No-Code/Low-Code Platforms: Typically suitable for small to medium traffic. As sites or requirements grow, you may face performance issues, compatibility conflicts, or plugin overload.
Next.js (Scratch-Built): Built for scalability. Because it’s a modern, enterprise-ready framework, you can handle large traffic volumes and advanced, custom functionalities without significant rebuilds.
Security
No-Code/Low-Code Platforms: WordPress, for example, is a common target for hackers, and vulnerable plugins can pose risks. Managed solutions like Wix and Squarespace handle security updates automatically.
Next.js (Scratch-Built): Fewer third-party dependencies by default. You control the entire codebase, which can reduce risk if you follow secure coding practices. You do need to stay on top of updates yourself.
Overall, no-code/low-code tools excel if you want a quick, cost-effective start and don’t have very specific or advanced needs. Next.js (scratch-built) is best if you value performance, SEO, scalability, and total control over the final product.
Better SEO and Performance: Server-Side Rendering or Static Site Generation is superior to the default client-side rendering of many no-code solutions. Faster pages and well-structured HTML mean search engines can crawl and index more effectively.
Future-Proof Architecture: With Next.js, you can add or remove features as you please. If your site grows from a blog to a full-fledged web application, you won’t need to rebuild from scratch.
Complete Ownership: No monthly subscription or platform lock-in. You have the source code and can deploy it anywhere, anytime.
Endless Customization: You can integrate with any external service or API, build custom dashboards, or set up advanced user authentication flows without limitations.
If You Need Speed and Simplicity: Go with a no-code/low-code solution like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace. You can launch a functional site in hours, without extensive technical know-how. This is ideal for small personal blogs, landing pages, or small business sites that won’t see huge traffic or require specialized features.
If You Want Control and Future Scalability: Choose a custom approach like Next.js. Though it’s more of an initial investment in terms of time and learning, you’ll benefit from superior performance, extensive customization, and long-term scalability.
Ultimately, the choice hinges on your project’s goals, budget, and technical resources. Low-code/no-code platforms can be a fantastic springboard for those looking to get online quickly. However, if you plan to optimize heavily for SEO, manage high traffic, or build a unique user experience, the customization and power of a scratch-built Next.js site is hard to beat.
Whichever option you pick, keep user experience, security, and performance top of mind. A well-maintained, well-designed site can significantly enhance brand credibility and user trust—key elements in today’s digital-first world. Good luck with your website creation journey!
