If your business is down and you're looking for a way to spice things up, you've come to the right place. A simple business website is an excellent step ahead, and I've extensive experience in this area.
I've kept a close eye on many website builders and gone through multiple evaluations of each. You'll be surprised at how advanced many of them are today. My favorite is Wix since it provides a stunning range of innovative tools and features that can get your website up fast.
The process is painless, and Wix is an all-inclusive service. Let's go through the process step-by-step now.
1. Sign Up for a Wix Account
Wix offers several paid plans. For startups, consider the Combo plan and upgrade as your business grows. However, if you want to start small and slow and don’t mind the Wix branding, you can opt for the cheapest Connect Domain plan.
Wix Plans & Pricing
| Features | Business Basic | Unlimited | Combo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2 GB |
| Storage | 20 GB | 10 GB | 3 GB |
| Free Domain | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wix Ads | Removed | Removed | Removed |
| Customized Favicon | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Site Booster App | Yes | Yes | No |
| Sell on Social Channels | Yes | No | No |
| Secure Online Payments | Yes | No | No |
| Recommended For | Basic online store | Small medium and freelancers | Starter and personal use |
| Price | $17/mo | $12.50/mo | $8.50/mo |
Start Building with Wix Free Plan
You can leverage Wix's free plan for those who do not wish to spend a single cent and don’t mind not having a custom domain (using Wix’s domain name).
For this article, I will show how to create a simple website through Wix’s free plan.
To begin, head to Wix and click ‘Log in’.
2. Create a New Website
3. Use Wix Editor or Wix ADI
Wix offers you two choices when building your website – Wix ADI and Wix Editor. Wix ADI (Wix Artificial Design Intelligence) relies on A.I. to create a website automatically for you based on some basic provided information.
On the other hand, Wix Editor affords you more control when building your website from scratch through a drag-and-drop builder based on a pre-design template.
Wix Editor
Using the Wix Editor to build your website gives you total control over the aesthetics, feel, navigation, features, and everything on your website.
To use Wix Editor, click ‘Begin with a template’.
You’ll see the relevant templates for your business at the Wix Templates library. In this case, they are related to the technology company I chose earlier.
Go through each template carefully. Hover your mouse over each template. You can either ‘Edit’ (start designing your website) or ‘View’ (preview the template before deciding).
Test the template design to see which complements your business best. Look at each page and check how the pages work. Examine the necessary functions.
If you’re still unsatisfied, navigate the tabs at the top or use the handy search option to help you filter for more templates.
Wix ADI
Assuming you have gone through Step 2 as above, you’ll arrive at the same Wix Wizard page asking if you want to begin with a template (Wix Editor) or get a custom-built site (Wix ADI).
Click ‘Get a custom-built site’.
Key in your email, address, and phone, and include any social accounts. Also, upload your company logo here.
Using the Wix ADI does not mean whatever that Wix has churned out for you is final because it isn’t. You can still add more sections/functions to it. Everything from the color scheme to the elements can be altered and redesigned from scratch.
Also, you’ll notice that Wix ADI has automatically added many relevant pages to the technology website, making the whole process much simpler and more convenient. Although Wix ADI may not always be perfect, it's an excellent way to get you started.
4. Customize Your Website So That It's Unique
Whether you started using either Wix Editor or Wix ADI, you’ll ultimately land in the Wix Editor to further customize your website.
Look towards the left panel:
- Add elements – select the webpage elements (images, buttons, text boxes, blog, lists, events, and others).
- Add sections – use premade modules, including about your store, welcome, contact information, promotion, services, and more.
- Pages and menu – add menus, sign-up and login pages, member pages, booking pages, and more.
- Site design – change the theme’s colors, page backgrounds, and transitions.
- Add apps – explore Wix App Market to expand your website’s functions. Add pop-ups, analytics, Wix Chat (communicate with your customers), social media buttons, and more.
- Media – upload images and videos from your desktop, social media, or cloud storage. Wix Photo Studio helps to enhance your images, and Wix Video Maker allows you to create videos.
- Content Manager – Wix Content Manager helps manage your website’s content.
Drag what you need anywhere in the editor. You’ll see the changes in real-time. Click on any element to delete, move, or customize it. These design elements are customizable through a toolbox that appears when you click them. Wix excels in its numerous customization options.
There is an extensive Wix Help section at the top; you can easily refer to the Help within the editor.
5. Add Stuff Like Images and Functions
Add Customer Booking Function
If your website requires a booking function for your customers to schedule an appointment, you can click ‘Add Elements’, scroll down, and click ‘Bookings’. You’ll see a host of booking options to include on your website.
Also, you can use Wix Bookings App but upgrade to a paid plan to use the online booking feature. (Head to the left panel of the Wix Editor and click ‘My Business’).
Add New Service
Click ‘Add New Service’ on your dashboard. You can either start from scratch or use an existing pre-built template. Remember to click ‘Save’.
Add a Blog
If you require a blog, add the Wix Blog app through MyBusiness. Click ‘Add App’. Company blogs, incidentally, are an excellent way to help draw traffic to your website. They provide organic traffic from Google, provided you build the proper content.
This traffic strategy is a far more cost-effective long-term solution compared to advertising. The latter can quickly become a bottomless pit on your finances.
Examples of Company Blogs
Check out some of these excellent company blogs to see what I mean:
- IKEA Ideas
- Home Depot DIY Projects and Ideas
- 1912 PIKE (A Starbux Blog)
Wix automatically adds a blog page to your website. The blog’s sidebar is customizable. Click ‘Settings’ at the top to alter the layout, display, and more. Wix has already included dummy posts within the blog page. Hence, updating them with your content is super easy.
6. Marketing and SEO
Remember what I said earlier about a company blog? The blog is content that draws traffic, and SEO is how the magic happens. It makes no difference if you’re online, but people cannot find you. Wix has a dedicated ‘Marketing & SEO’ section to help increase your website’s visibility.
Head to ‘My Business’ on the left panel of the Wix Editor and click it.
Click ‘>’ (next to ‘Go to Dashboard’) and then click ‘Marketing & SEO’. You’ll find recommended tools to help drive traffic to your website. Also, check the performance of your recent campaigns here. Easily create and schedule marketing activities for your services too.
7. Connect Your Website’s Domain Name
If you’re serious about your business, invest in a unique domain specific to your business and subscribe to Wix’s paid plan. Sporting your specific domain projects a professional image that bodes well for your company. However, if you do not want to spend a single cent, stick with Wix’s free domain.
Within the editor, click ‘Connect Your Domain’ at the top, next to Wix’s free domain.
Select to either purchase a new domain name or connect to one you already own. Follow through the steps until complete; updating domains may take up to 48 hours to take effect.
8. Preview and Publish Your Website
You are ready to launch your website. However, take some time to preview everything before you decide to publish your website.
Check the Desktop View of Your Website
Within the editor, click ‘Preview’ on the top right and check everything under the desktop view.
Check the Mobile View of Your Website
Click ‘Switch to mobile’ at the top to view your website on a mobile device.
Once you’re satisfied with everything, take a deep breath and hit the blue ‘Publish’ button at the top right corner. Your Wix website is officially live!
You may want to check out your brand-new website by looking around. After all, you want to be sure that everything runs like clockwork.
Wix is a Smart Choice for Building a Simple Business Website
You should now know that making a website with Wix is straightforward. I’d say that Wix is a powerful website builder for newbies to kick-start their online business. There is also that vast capability for your business website to grow.
The Wix app store has the essential tools to help expand your website’s functions and optimize it for a higher chance of success. With Wix, you can easily craft an impressive online presence specific to your needs.
Upgrading to Wix Paid Plans
Wix Website Plans
| Features | Free | Connect Domain | Combo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Price/month | $0 | $4.50/mo | $8.50/mo |
| Storage (SSD) | Up to 500 MB | 500 MB | 3 GB |
| Bandwidth | Up to 500 MB | 1 GB | 2 GB |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remove Wix Ads | Wix ads on every page; Wix favicon in URL | No | Yes |
Once you are ready to move out of your Wix Free plan, I'd recommend starting with the Wix Combo – which removes Wix branding on your website and connect to your own domain.
Wix eCommerce Plans
| Features | Business Basic | Business Unlimited | Business VIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Price/month | $17/mo | $25/mo | $35/mo |
| Storage (SSD) | 20 GB | 35 GB | 50 GB |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Showcase Video Hours | 5 hours | 10 hours | Unlimited |
| eCommerce Features | Yes | Yes | Yes |
For businesses who wish to sell online – go with the Business Basic plan. It allows you to set up an online store and accept payment directly from your website. A Wix premium plan (Unlimited and VIP) is only recommended if you are hosting a large online store or wish to how long hours of video content.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wix
Wix prices range from $4.50 to $24.50 per month depending on the plan you choose. The entry plan starts at $4.50 and lets you connect a custom domain name to your site. The Combo plan costs $8.50 per month, is ad-free, and includes a free domain name for 1 year. The $12.50 per month Unlimited plan is suitable for medium to large sites. If you are going to sell products on your site you need to ensure that you opt for one of their “Business & eCommerce” plans which start at $17 per month.
Follow these 5 simple steps to create your first Wix website: 1. Sign up for a Wix account > 2. Select Wix ADI or Wix Editor > 3. Choose a pre-built template > 4. Add site elements and functions > 5. Publish. Click here to begin.
A simple site can be pieced together on Wix in a matter of minutes (depending on how fussy you are). If you want a more highly customized site then more time will be necessary. I would expect to spend an average of between 2 to 3 hours on a reasonably well-customized site with basic features.
For newbies, we recommend starting with the Wix Combo plan which costs only $8.50 per month. You can upgrade as your site grows. For business owners, it's better to go with eCommerce plan as it allows you to set up an online store.
You can create as many Wix sites as you want under a single account. Keep in mind though that each site you publish needs to have its own premium plan attached.
Both Wix and WordPress have their pros and cons but in general, Wix is easier to use compared to WordPress.
Wix allows non tech-savvy users to quickly build and deploy sites with its’ drag-and-drop editor. WordPress, on the other hand, offers greater potential with better customizability and control over your site. That comes at a cost of a slightly steeper learning curve.
