How to Make a Website Without a Website Builder

adminMarch 9, 2023

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The Global Web has evolved into a vast digital environment with over 200 million websites operating online. Regular users like you started most of these websites without any deep coding or coding knowledge. For many years, the process was a matter of endless trial and error, experimentation and failure, until website builders made their revolutionary debut in the digital arena.

New website building tools have turned the tables, especially for newbies . They seemed like a simple tool to create a ready-to-use website and get online with ease. While traditional website building tactics required some technical background and at least a bare minimum of web design experience, not to mention other essential issues like managing hosting, registering a domain, etc., website builders offer an out-of-the-box all- in-one solution. In other words, you don’t have to worry about technical issues, security or updates, just focus on the content, promotion and marketing.

Reading: How to create a website without wix

Of course, website builders can’t be seen as the ultimate become solution for building and promoting websites. However, they make the process easier so that you can focus on the main goals while technical issues are handled by the platform. Despite the efficiency and productivity, some users are still looking for a way to create a website without a website builder. In this guide, we describe all the steps and pitfalls along the way to deployment.

Why you may need to create a website without a website builder

Despite all the benefits offered by website Creators, some users avoid them to take advantage of some crucial issues that they believe would work. However, their quest for advantages seems to be nothing more than steeplechase. When people choose CMS platforms and open source tools over website builders, what they typically crave is:

Independence. The ability to switch between platforms to switch, change website specs, move to cheaper hosting, etc. Of course, sticking to one piece of software can seem like a trap. On the other hand, if the trap has everything you need to build, run and market your website, then is there really a need to change it? Website builders can be limited in terms of templates or look like hit migration features, but if you’re building a long-lived website, these are useless.
Backend control. This factor is certainly of great importance for users to create a real one unique side. They can access HTML/CSS systems and implement their PHP knowledge to bring any web design idea to life. But is it really necessary to acquire all those skills and knowledge while website builders create ready-made templates that are easy to customize? Additionally, each and every change can affect the way your website runs runs on mobile devices, while ready-to-use layouts are optimized for mobile users, no matter what type of device they use. Of course, website builders don’t offer as much creative freedom as you might need. On the other hand, this freedom requires in-depth technical knowledge that most users lack.
Advanced flexibility. Thousands of free and paid plugins, add-ons and apps ensure unlimited customization possibilities. You can use any widget you need. However, you are the only person responsible for their operation, compatibility or updates.
Affordability. Some users still think that using a website builder is more expensive. Well, you should consider hosting costs, domain registration, paid themes and plugins. All of this can make your project cost a lot more compared to websites built with the help of website building software.

The main problem of building a website without Website builder is the fact you have to handle every single step from setting up a website to plugin updates. In this case we shouldn’t value the all-in-one convenience over website builders underestimate. If that doesn’t sound convincing. Let’s take a look at the steps you need to take when creating a website all by yourself without the help of website builders.

Getting started without a website builder

The Choosing between website builders and traditional CMS platforms mainly relies on the user’s skills, budget and goals. Almost half of all websites are built without a website builder, at least for now. But before you dive deep into the world of HTTP files, website settings, domain registries, and hosting providers, let’s clear up a few basic questions.

If you’re running a website without a website builder , you are responsible for creating and organizing the digital content, security, and operations. It’s not an all-in-one solution like most website builders. In other words, you’re treating domain registration and hosting separately unless you decide to purchase a package that includes both hosting and domain name. The process is actually not as difficult as you might think.On the other hand, it requires some time, so you feel a bit uncomfortable with separate technologies that you have to switch between from time to time.

As for the steps, here’s what you need to do.

Step #1 – Choose Platform

Deciding on the platform is a phase that determines the success of the project. It depends on your website goals and objectives. Should it be an online shop, a blog or a small business website? Although CMS platforms offer a lot of independence as well as unlimited customization options, they also serve different purposes.

Some focus on simple websites, while changes and modifications require good programming skills to turn a simple template into a digital store. Most systems provide an empty web design environment where you need to do some coding to get a finished website that meets your initial needs.

To find out exactly what website builders and CMS can offer you , it makes sense to review some of them now.

WordPress – The Best CMS

WordPress – is the world’s most popular content management system (CMS), which allows all kinds of Content to launch simple and complex websites. The open source software is flexible and feature rich enough to start and manage personal and business web projects. It takes some time to get used to and master the platform, although the service does not require deep programming skills.

WordPress’ main features include:

Setup and Installation. As a CMS, WordPress requires a preliminary setup and installation to get the most out of it. The process is free and easy for everyone. It only takes a few minutes, while further exploration may require more effort and time.
Powerful integrations. The system allows the integration of third-party plugins (free and paid) to increase the performance of the site. You may find numerous plugins that fit your website niche and goals. It is desirable to give preference to paid extensions or to check the trustworthiness of free add-ons to ensure that their integration does not endanger your project security.
Versatile themes. There are several templates developed for WordPress available on the web. Designed for versatile business/personal web projects, they are available for free and paid.
Blogging Engine. The platform was originally developed as blogging software, hence it allows you to launch powerful blogs for more effective user attraction. The service has built-in tools and features that can contribute to the performance and design of your blog.
Hosting/Domain Choice. The CMS allows you to create a project for free, but get ready to choose a hosting provider and domain name to go live with your website. Fortunately, there are many trustworthy hosts that offer suitable terms and subscriptions.

The CMS is absolutely free to download and install. To gain access to advanced features, you need to invest in plugins/themes integration as well as hosting/domain names. The cheapest and most feature-rich hosting provider is Bluehost – the official CMS recommended one. The cheapest fee for its services is currently $2.95/month.

Drupal – The most feature-rich open source CMS

Drupal – is the most feature-rich open source CMS CMS in the niche of modern web design. The system has attracted users’ attention due to its powerful integrations, availability of third-party themes and add-ons, impressive flexibility, improved security, and high-end customizability. This makes it possible to set up, customize, update and then promote personal and small/medium business projects.

The main advantages of Drupal are as follows:

Module based software. Drupal comes with a rich collection of built-in modules, but there are also several downloadable extensions available on the web. They are free and paid so you can choose the best option for your goals and budget.
Multi domain manager. The CMS allows you to connect and manage multiple domains in terms of the number of projects you own and want to manage.
Preinstalled tools for personal accounts. The platform offers a fairly minimalist toolset for flexible project management. However, some of the pre-installed tools are specifically designed for efficient management of personal user accounts. They are indispensable when it comes to launching large social media portals and forums for better user interaction.
Software Installation Packages. The system offers the possibility to choose from several installation packages based on the type of project you want to set up. The most common packages include Open Atrium, Driggs, Drupal Commons, OpenStore, etc.
Plugin Combinations.Unlike WordPress with its plugins designed to do a specific job, Drupal implies the need to install combinations of modules to achieve the same goal.

Drupal allows the Demo version of the platform to test for free. Once you are ready to continue using the software, you need to download and install it. But no worry. The system is still free to use unless you need to install premium modules and themes. Also, get ready to invest in domain names and hosting. The prices differ in terms of included terms and special features.

Joomla – world-renowned open source CMS

Joomla – is quite a popular content management system that has a rich user community around the world. In fact, it ranks second only to WordPress in terms of flexibility and popularity. The platform requires a preliminary download and installation and is a worthy solution for developing professional personal and business projects. As a CMS, it is not easy for laypeople to master due to the need for code editing.

The most outstanding Joomla professionals include:

Multipurpose application. The system can be used to launch different types of web projects based on user requirements. Whether you need a personal or business project, you will find plenty of tools and features to set up the project you need.
Integrations. The CMS is known for its impressive plugin/template integration options available online and offline. Joomla extensions are free and paid based on the resource you use to browse them. Note that most plugins require manual installation, which can cause problems with code embedding.
Advanced functionality. The system comes with a set of built-in themes, widgets and applications used to increase project performance. It also includes multiple theme customization tools, reliable support, and high-end features to create any type of project.
User-friendly template collection. Users have the ability to select and customize multiple themes available both in the built-in gallery and on the web.
The need for regular updates. Joomla is more complicated than WordPress. Many enhancements to the software are implemented regularly. Therefore, the system must be constantly updated.

OpenCart – open source CMS for e-commerce

OpenCart – is an open source CMS fully focused on the development and customization of Ecommerce sites focused. The system comes with a set of niche specific tools, features and settings ready to use. They can be used to launch all types of digital businesses – from small web shops to large web-based hypermarkets. The system allows to integrate a shopping cart, add/update a product catalog, customize a checkout page, add shipping/statistics tracking/promotional tools, etc.

The main OpenCart highlights are Listed below:

Product Catalogues. The system allows creating/updating product catalogs with toolset available in stock. You can use the product filtering system and special settings to set up complex catalog structures with unlimited categories and products for sale.
Powerful e-commerce engine. As far as OpenCart focuses on web store building, it has a powerful ecommerce engine. Along with tools for creating product catalogues, users can enjoy extensive statistics/purchase tracking options, design customization settings, multiple online payment/shipping options, easy customer registration, system of discounts/promotional codes/promotional offers, etc.
Personal customer accounts . The software allows the creation of separate custom accounts with information related to orders and a wealth of order/sales management tools.
Integration with trading platforms. If you want to increase the performance of your web store, you can integrate your OpenCart account with popular third-party marketplaces.
Multi-language support. OpenCart allows you to create multiple language versions of your online stores to target international customers and partners.
Module based system. As a module-based software, OpenCart allows its subscribers to choose and integrate external extensions such as Google Analytics tools, “Best Sellers” and “Recent” blocks, product carousels, customer interaction modules, and more. The add-ons are free and paid.

OpenCart is a free ecommerce CMS. However, to get access to additional features and increase the performance of your web store, you need to integrate external plugins, choose additional themes, hosting and domain.The final cost of your project depends on the number of modules you choose, the hosting plan and other mandatory expenses.

Step #2 – Register a domain name

A another crucial phase serves different purposes:

Awareness of users – a domain name is the representation of the project and the first thing that can make a good impression. The idea is to make it as memorable and unique as possible.
SEO Impact – a domain name is the main URL of a website. Just like other URL types, it can have a large SE impact. The idea is to use focus keywords in the URL name to make the website more SEO friendly and relevant.
Build a brand – a domain name helps you build a Build your brand and stand out from thousands of competitors. An attractive and exclusive domain will surely increase the recognition of your website.

There are several ways to choose and register a domain name. Usually, you have to handle the process separately with dedicated services that allow you to choose between brandable or generic names provided by domain generators. It is best to opt for brandable domains or so-called TLDs (Top Level Domains).

Most Popular Top Level Domain Zones

Popular TLDs Data provided by Statista.

First you need to select depending on your website type select an extension. Digital Content or Location. Then you need to check availability and finally buy it with another yearly renewal.

Step #3 – Choose Hosting

So you have already registered a platform and a domain name. Now you need to think of a place to host your website with all its files. Choosing a hosting is the same as choosing a fridge. You want all your products to be kept safe, in pristine condition, and to be quickly and easily accessible when needed.

Once again, the choice is entirely up to you. Users need to decide on the hosting type. It doesn’t matter whether it’s shared, dedicated or cloud hosting. How much bandwidth or storage do you need? Does the hosting have good performance and security features? Is it flexible enough to handle seamless integrations? How much does it cost? Those are the questions you need to answer yourself.

Good performance, uptime rates, page load speeds, security measures, and customer support are important aspects to keep in mind. In addition, most platforms are quite difficult to use. It will take you some time to figure out how it works, not to mention the site settings. Good hosting isn’t as cheap as most people think. The price can range from $1 to $20 depending on the platform and features provided.

To choose the hosting provider that best suits your needs and requirements, you might find it helpful to learn more about to experience currently the most functional systems.

Bluehost – The most popular web hosting

Bluehost – is the most popular web hosting in the world, which has gained great popularity among users due to its reliability. Flexibility, reasonable entry-level cost, high-end add-ons and applications, and advanced built-in functionality. The company is officially recommended for hosting WordPress websites, which also gives privileges to the users of other content management systems. Likewise, it offers other types of hosting for personal and business web projects.

Bluehost’s main features currently include:

eCommerce features . The system allows launching a professional digital store rich in niche-specific tools and features. You are offered a special online store Plus plan to get access to unlimited storage, products, SSL certificates and other niche related settings.
Extensive Marketplace. The platform grants access to dozens of apps, scripts, and add-ons available in its built-in marketplace. Here you will find rich WP image galleries, marketing/statistics tracking tools, shopping cart themes, live chat/customer interaction services, etc.
High-end performance. The software has high response time, excellent page loading speed and perfect uptime rate (up to 100%) that ensure smooth website performance.
Free WP Website Migration . Users who already have WP-based websites can seamlessly migrate them to Bluehost for free.
Free Website Migration. If you own a WordPress website hosted on another platform, Bluehost allows porting to their servers for free. The local expert conditions handle the necessary settings to save the available data and traffic.

Bluehost has no free plans or trials. Instead, it offers different types of subscriptions for shared, dedicated, and VPS hosting options. The cheapest plan is only $2.95/month. If you subscribe to a paid plan, you get a free domain name for 1 year as a bonus. 30-day money-back guarantee gives you a budget refund when you need it.

HostGator – Cloud-based Hosting + Website Builder

HostGator – is a well-known cloud-based hosting provider that differs greatly from its shared server solutions in terms of built-in functionality Differs from competitors, flexibility and site security. By using multiple servers within an ecosystem, the system ensures smooth website performance without overloaded servers and traffic jump. The platform stands out from the crowd with its excellent performance, unchanged speed and high availability rates.

Other advantages of HostGator are:

Website Builder. The built-in Gator website builder allows launching and customizing web projects without requiring any special skills and technical expertise.
WP Hosting. The system is well optimized for hosting optimized WordPress websites, ensuring seamless CMS integration and free website migration.
High-end security guarantee. The platform comes with built-in security tools, including CodeGuard, G Suite, Domain Privacy Tool, and SiteLock.
Quality Performance. HostGator guarantees excellent uptime rates (up to 99.99%), fast loading speed, and top security to ensure smooth and hassle-free website performance.
Free Migration. If you decide to transfer your existing website to HostGator from another host, the team of experts will do it for you and take care of all the nuances for free if the term of your registration has not exceeded 30 days.
Social media integration. The system allows embedding content from social media platforms to boost your business performance. It has social media buttons, live feeds, and built-in image galleries to ensure a convenient online presence.

HostGator offers different pricing options depending on the type of hosting and services provided. The cheapest cloud-based hosting subscription is $2.75/month. All plans include a 1-year paid domain and SSL certificate connection. A 30-day money-back refund is also available here.

Ionos – The oldest web hosting provider

Ionos – is the oldest web hosting provider, founded in 1988 to to meet the needs and requirements of business owners around the world. Since that time, the service has grown into one of the most affordable yet feature-rich hosts on the market. It now offers an impressive variety of plans to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses.

Check out Ionos’ key assets now:

High-end performance. Ionos guarantees unlimited bandwidth, high availability rates (approx. 99.98%) and fast loading times (1.23s) to ensure high-quality performance of all projects hosted with it. The availability of HTTP/2 protocol, RailGun CDN, SSD storage and other tools contribute to the functionality of your website here.
Dedicated SSL Certificate. Each project stored on Ionos servers can get a dedicated SSL certificate to ensure maximum protection against unauthorized access and all kinds of online threats.
Highest Security. The company claims that all of its apps and products are protected the ebay way. Besides the possibility of GeoTrust Dedicated SSL Certificate connection, the service grants free access to tools like SSL Wildcard and Site Scan provided by SiteLock. This guarantees protection against hackers, malware threats and unauthorized access. In addition, while managing their projects, users can enable the SiteLock trustmark to show visitors real-time verification and ensure that the website is completely secure.

Ionos charges comparatively low fees for its hosting packages. There is an introductory offer here that can reduce monthly fees for the first few months of use. The cost depends on the selected plan. Note, however, that you will need to periodically review renewal rates after the introductory period is over (this typically lasts 12 months). All plans include free SSL wildcard and domain features. Shared hosting costs start from just $1/month.

Web.com – A reliable hosting provider with a website builder

Web.com – is a reliable hosting provider Provider with a website Contractor based in the USA. This is also one of the most well-known hosting platforms around the world, mainly catering to businesses of all niches, types and sizes. This is an ideal solution for e-commerce projects, blogs, commercial and non-commercial websites.

Web.com highlights list includes:

SSL support. To ensure maximum security of your project and privacy, the system allows connection of SSL certificate whenever required. Note that the feature is only included in premium plans. The connection with the free SSL certificate is currently unavailable.
Support for programming languages. The company supports several programming languages. This includes PHP, Perl, Ruby, Python and more.
Automatic backups. To save your website data while updating, the software provides an automatic backup option. The feature is free for everyone, but if you want to secure your project with a Secure Socket Layer certificate, it will cost you an additional $24 (or more per year).
Security Features . Along with the SSL certificate connection, Web.com uses CatchGuard to provide fraud protection and email virus detection/removal. This is achieved by using Sender Policy Framework authentication and DomainKeys Identified Main-Tech tools.
Website Builder. The company opens up the possibility of not only hosting projects on its servers, but also building them using a built-in website builder. The platform is simple, intuitive and convenient for everyone. Here you will find multiple responsive themes, useful integrations, blogging/ecommerce engines, and other handy tools to set up a quality website.
High-end performance. Web.com cannot be considered the best performing hosting company. However, the availability rate of the service is 99.7-99.9%, while the page loading speed is also at a high level.

Web.com does not have a free offer there yet There are three premium ones Plans to choose from if you expect reliable hosting. Prices start at $5.95/month and go all the way up to $9.95/month for the most expensive plan.

Step #4 – Find a Theme

See here some website builders look a bit more limited compared to CMS platforms. If you decide to create a website without a website builder, you’ll get access to an endless selection of themes for all types. This includes free and paid layouts divided into categories. You are free to choose a future digital shop. Online Magazine, Portfolio, etc.

While free themes look almost the same with some minor differences, they are already used by millions of users. In other words, creating a truly unique website can be tedious, especially if you don’t have enough technical background. Paid templates could be a good solution to the problem. They look more stylish and professional. However, they require additional cash. The price can range from $20 to $500. This fact doesn’t make the process as cost-effective from the start as some might think.

Make sure the theme is mobile-friendly. Don’t rush, first one select . Some layouts are usually available in preview mode. See how your future website will look on different mobile devices with different screen dimensions.

Responsive Website

Once you’ve chosen a theme, you can’t edit and customize it right away. Users need to download it and then transfer theme files to their hosting. The editor will be available in the control room or dashboard with all the necessary website settings and tools. There you can change themes at any time and use standard layouts. Sign up and start creating a website.

Step #5 – Create content and pages

Here you need to acquire some skills and understand the difference between static and understand dynamic pages. In other words, each of your website sections, blog posts, or articles is a static page. Each time you want to create a new one, you need a separate page. And each time the editing process is repeated.

Traditional CMS platforms are quite complicated. It’s not just copy and paste your text and go online. While creating new posts might be easy, the situation is different with other sections. Sometimes you need to keep the appearance in mind, add media content or other page elements including shortcodes, scripts, and work with headers and footers create, create menus, tags, categories, etc. You have to handle all these processes manually.

Step #6 – Customize your website with plugins

Your website should be functional enough. Otherwise, visitors would leave it for a more user-friendly alternative. Functionality aside, various plugins and add-ons allow you to achieve previous goals like user acquisition, growing subscriber list, analytics and more. They could work well whenever you need to take your project to a new level.

The plugin consists of pieces of software that help you create more vibrant and up-to-date pages. In general, the plugin installation is very simple. However, you still have to take care of it yourself. You have access to a huge marketplace and you can find the one you need. Some are free while others are paid. You obviously need at least the following to get started:

Social media buttons – for users to share content and get maximum visibility through the content.
Analytics – Plugins are designed to help you track users, traffic channels, audience location, etc.
Media files – Use plugins to create stunning galleries or sliders . Attach videos from major streaming platforms to increase user engagement.
Security – anti-spam systems, DDoS protection, dedicated tools to prevent scamming and fraud.
SEO – special plugins to help you set up your website SEO and make the content more search engine bot friendly.

You can manage all your plugins from the dashboard. At the same time, you are solely responsible for their operation and timely updates. Some plugins may contain virus code or malware. So better go for trusted developers and products.

Step #7 – Go online

The stage is set, the green flag is falling. Now you have your website ready to publish. Just click the publish button and view your website online to make it available to users. You might think it actually is. However, a website requires constant care and maintenance.

Those who choose not to use website builders are literally on their own. If a plugin works with bugs, there are no one to help you. If the theme works poorly on tablets, there is no one to help you. CMS platforms do not have customer support. Prepare to search countless pages and forums looking for users with the same problem. Maintenance and support are your responsibility, as is running the website.

The Bottom Line

Creating a website without a website builder is a long and complicated road to final deployment . You need to prepare yourself for challenges and obstacles on the way to getting online, from finding a suitable hosting and theme to editing and customizing the website. Users have to go through each step on their own without professional help. Because of this, the task can be risky if you don’t have enough technical background. Even with excellent coding and web design skills, the process turns into numerous trials and efforts.

Website builders are designed to simplify the creation process. This is the goal they pursue while providing an all-in-one solution for both novice and experienced website owners. While they don’t reserve as much space for customization and web independence, they offer a simple yet powerful digital environment with literally every feature you could need, regardless of site type and goals.