{"id":39281,"date":"2025-10-20T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=39281"},"modified":"2026-08-26T11:43:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T18:43:45","slug":"beginners-website-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/beginners-website-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Make a Website: A Complete Beginner\u2019s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TL;DR:<\/strong> You don\u2019t need to be a developer to make a website. Pick one of four paths \u2014 an AI website builder like Remixer, a drag-and-drop website builder, WordPress on managed hosting, or hand-coded. The detailed seven-step walkthrough below covers the WordPress-on-managed-hosting path; if you choose an AI builder, drag-and-drop builder, or custom code, adapt the setup and design steps to that platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make a website, you follow 7 steps: define its purpose, register a domain name, choose a web host, install WordPress (or open your builder), pick a theme, add your content, and test before you publish. The sample weekend checklist below can help you organize a WordPress build, but launch time varies with your site\u2019s scope, content, and your experience. Below, we walk you through each step, plus a weekend launch checklist and a 30-day growth plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So you\u2019ve been thinking about building a website. Maybe it\u2019s for your side hustle, maybe it\u2019s for your main<\/em> hustle (like a digital service or a rapidly scaling e-commerce business<\/a>), or maybe you just want a digital home for your cat\u2019s ever-growing photo collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, the same thought keeps tripping you up: \u201cIsn\u2019t this going to be complicated? Don\u2019t I need to know how to code?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actually, the hardest part of building a website isn\u2019t HTML, or hosting, or figuring out what CMS even stands for (content management system, by the way).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hardest part is choosing the right path to get started. And once you pick a path, the rest is just following a series of steps \u2014 kind of like assembling IKEA furniture, but without the missing screws and confusing diagrams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Seven-step<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, we\u2019re walking you through the options to help you pick the one that fits your goals, then laying out a beginner-friendly roadmap you can actually follow. By the end, you\u2019ll know exactly how to go from \u201csomeday I\u2019ll build a site\u201d to \u201clook at my live website\u201d \u2014 and you\u2019ll actually own the foundation (but more on that in a minute).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, and one more thing: if you\u2019d rather skip the DIY parts altogether, DreamHost will build you a custom, four-page website for free<\/a> when you sign up for web hosting (Yes, really. We\u2019ll explain how below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/linearGradient>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/linearGradient>\n\n\n\n<\/linearGradient>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/linearGradient>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg>\n\n\t\t\tMeet Remixer\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
You describe it. Remixer builds it.<\/div>\n\t\t

The AI website builder that turns conversation into designer-level sites. Free with hosting.<\/p>\n\t\t \n Start Free Trial <\/a>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t

\"DreamHost<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What Are the 4 Ways To Make a Website?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The four main ways to make a website are an AI website builder, a drag-and-drop website builder, a CMS like WordPress on managed hosting, or custom code. The best choice depends on how fast you need the site and how much control you want later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a glance, here are your four main options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. AI website builders: <\/strong>A fast option for getting started. You describe your site in plain words, and the builder creates it. Remixer<\/a>, DreamHost\u2019s AI website and app builder, generates a complete site in 2 to 3 minutes on average, and you can try it free for 30 days with no credit card.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Website builders<\/strong><\/a>: <\/strong>Think \u201cplug and play.\u201d They\u2019re fast and easy, with pre-made templates and drag-and-drop editors. Perfect if you just want something simple without the tech learning curve.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Managed hosting + CMS (like WordPress): <\/strong>The best balance of ease, flexibility, and ownership. You get a flexible site that can expand through themes, plugins, and an appropriately scaled hosting plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. DIY\/custom code: <\/strong>Maximum control, but also maximum effort. AI coding assistants like Anthropic\u2019s Claude and OpenAI\u2019s ChatGPT can speed up the work, but you still handle hosting, security, and maintenance yourself. Great if you\u2019re technical, but probably overkill for most beginners.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Want a website but don\u2019t want to build it yourself? <\/strong>We\u2019ll build you a custom, four-page website for free when you sign up for web hosting<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    AI Builders vs. Website Builders vs. Managed WordPress vs. DIY<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Feature<\/strong><\/td>AI Website Builder<\/strong><\/td>Website Builder<\/strong><\/td>Managed WordPress<\/strong><\/td>DIY<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Setup speed<\/strong><\/td>Fastest (a complete site in minutes)<\/td>Fast (hours with a template)<\/td>Quick (one-click installs)<\/td>Slow (weeks or months)<\/td><\/tr>
    Ease of use<\/strong><\/td>Easiest (describe it in plain words)<\/td>Beginner-friendly, drag-and-drop<\/td>Moderate learning curve, but lots of help docs<\/td>High technical expertise required<\/td><\/tr>
    Design flexibility<\/strong><\/td>Generates websites and web apps from a plain-English description<\/td>Limited templates<\/td>Thousands of themes and full control to customize<\/td>Unlimited (if you can code it)<\/td><\/tr>
    Scalability<\/strong><\/td>Grows from a site into a web app on one plan<\/td>Can hit walls quickly<\/td>Scales with hosting plan<\/td>Fully scalable, but all on you<\/td><\/tr>
    Data ownership<\/strong><\/td>Hosted on the Remixer plan; connect your own domain<\/td>Export and portability options vary by platform<\/td>WordPress content and files are generally portable; dependencies may vary<\/td>Control depends on the hosting and third-party services used.<\/td><\/tr>
    Cost predictability<\/strong><\/td>One flat plan, hosting included<\/td>Low upfront, often with pricey add-ons later<\/td>Typically transparent, with scalable hosting costs<\/td>Varies (hosting + dev time)<\/td><\/tr>
    Best for<\/strong><\/td>Business owners who want a done-for-you site fast<\/td>Quick personal sites, portfolios<\/td>Small businesses, blogs, and online stores<\/td>Developers, custom projects<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Choose Your Approach (Quick Decision Guide)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Still not sure which path to take? Here\u2019s a quick guide to help you decide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. How fast do you need it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n