Skip to content 
Most beginners ask themselves: How do I create a website in 2025 that is both technically functional and highly visible on the internet? This step-by-step guide shows you how to create your website - from planning to successful online launch, including SEO, legal and hosting.
Key points
- Website type choose: Blog, store or portfolio?
- Creation method decide: Construction kit, CMS or programming
- Hosting & Domain: Select a provider and secure a suitable address
- Design & contents: Mobile-capable, clearly structured, target group-oriented
- SEO & Publication: Visibility through structure, loading time & content
Step 1: Determine the right website type
Before I start with the technology, I think about: What is the goal of my website? The most common types are Company pagespersonal blogs, online stores or portfolio websites. A simple web business card is often enough for the self-employed. Those who want to sell products, on the other hand, need an e-commerce solution such as Shopify. You can find tips on setting up a store in this article: Create a Shopify online store.
Step 2: The right method for website creation
Depending on your level of knowledge and budget, there are five main ways to develop a website. The quickest way to get started is with a Homepage construction kitwhich works via drag-and-drop. For more flexibility, I use a content management system like WordPress. If you want full control over the structure and code, you can program it yourself or hire an agency.
It's worth comparing the different options, especially at the beginning. A modular system scores points with its simplicity and ready-made templates. However, the design and functions are often limited here, so you will quickly reach your limits later on if you want to integrate complex booking or payment systems, for example. A CMS such as WordPress is more flexible, but can become confusing if you choose the wrong or too many plugins. In-house programming, on the other hand, means maximum individuality, but is more time-consuming and usually requires in-depth knowledge of HTML, CSS and JavaScript. It is therefore advisable to weigh up exactly how much technical understanding you have or whether you would prefer to outsource the development.
Step 3: Set up domain and hosting
Every website needs its own address on the Internet. I choose one memorable domain namesthat matches the offer. I then set up a hosting package. For WordPress, I recommend hosting with a fast SSD and SSL certificate. If you want to save money, you can find out more here: Create your own website at low cost.
Choosing the right hosting provider is also crucial for the performance and availability of the website. In addition to high reliability (uptime), a good hosting package also offers a fast server location, sufficient storage space and competent support. Also look out for possible additional services such as an integrated caching tool or an easy-to-use backend with which you can easily manage email accounts, subdomains and backups.
Step 4: Install WordPress (for CMS selection)
I choose WordPress because it is flexible and easy to use. The installation is done via the hoster's auto-installer. I then choose a lightweight theme such as Astra or OceanWP. I also install plugins for SEO, security and contact forms.
During installation, you should make sure to assign a secure password for the admin account. It is also advisable to change the default user name "admin" to better protect yourself against potential hacker attacks. Once WordPress has been set up, the next step is to set up the theme: it is advisable to create a child theme first so that subsequent updates do not overwrite the design. You should also adjust the defined permalinks in advance so that later content appears in a clean URL structure (e.g. "my-page.com/post-title").
Step 5: Structure and design the website
The main navigation usually includes home page, about me page, services, contact - depending on the destination. I pay attention to Clear menu navigation and choose a structure that also works on the smartphone. In WordPress, I create static pages and sort them under "menus" for navigation.
Visual aspects such as colors and typography should not be underestimated. A harmonious color palette should run through all subpages in order to leave a professional impression. The same applies to legibility: small, squiggly fonts make reading difficult and quickly appear confusing on enlarged screens. Also consider mobile user-friendliness right from the start. As more and more visitors are accessing websites via smartphones and tablets, a responsive design is essential these days. Make sure that important buttons and links are large enough so that they can be easily clicked with a finger.
Step 6: Create content - clear, targeted, readable
A good website lives from its content. I rely on targeted textsappealing images and, if necessary, videos. User guidance and readability are also important. I avoid technical jargon and structure the content with subheadings and lists.
When choosing image material, it is advisable to use license-free sources or your own photos so that you are on the safe side legally. In addition, each image should have a suitable file size so that the page loading time does not increase unnecessarily. For blogs and magazines in particular, it can be helpful to create an editorial plan. This ensures that new, exciting content is published regularly.
Step 7: SEO - Visibility through optimization
I optimize my website for search engines so that it can be found. This includes keyword research, e.g. with tools such as Ubersuggest or the Google Keyword Planner. I pay attention to Fast loading timesspeaking URLs, good meta titles and internal links. In this article you will find a detailed overview: Website creation step by step.
To check the success of my optimization efforts, I use tools such as Google Search Console or Google Analytics. The Search Console helps to identify any crawl errors or problems with mobile pages. It is also important that I optimize my website sustainably and not just rely on short-term effects. Natural link building, regular content updates and a logical page hierarchy form the foundation for long-term success. Also consider the user intention: only those who offer visitors real added value will do well in the search results in the long term.
Step 8: Comply with legal requirements
In Germany, a complete imprint mandatory. I also need a privacy policy, ideally GDPR-compliant. For contact forms, I may only store personal data with consent. A cookie banner is also required if third-party providers or analysis tools such as Google Analytics are used.
Create your legal notice and privacy policy with care. There are now generators that provide a solid basis, but you should rely on expert advice or specialized law firms for sensitive topics such as personal data. If you use third-party cookies, for example, cookie notices and consent banners are essential. If data is transferred outside the EU, you should also include corresponding clauses in your privacy policy. A legally compliant website creates trust among visitors, which in turn is good for your image and conversion rate.
Important tools for creating a website
The following table provides an overview of the most useful tools and their purpose:
| Tool | Field of application | Costs |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress | content management | free of charge |
| Elementor | Website design | from 59 €/year |
| Yoast SEO | Search engine optimization | free of charge / Premium from 99 € |
| Pixabay / Pexels | Image material | free of charge |
| Google PageSpeed Insights | Loading time analysis | free of charge |
Test website and go live
Before I publish the homepage, I check the following points: Are all Links and forms? Are images displayed correctly on mobile devices? I check with browsers such as Chrome, Firefox and Safari. The SSL certificate should also be correctly integrated. Only then do I go live and start the application.
Remember to test any redirects before going online if permalinks or page structures have changed during the development phase. A test environment or stage environment helps enormously here. This allows errors to be rectified without visitors seeing them. As soon as the website is online, you can register it in the Google Search Console so that Google indexes it as quickly as possible.
Realistic schedule for website creation
A simple schedule helps me to work in a focused way. This allows me to proceed in a structured way from week to week:
| week | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Planning, domain, hosting, WordPress installation |
| Week 2 | Theme selection, structure, menu |
| Week 3 | Write texts, add images, start SEO |
| Week 4 | Tests, legal pages, publication |
The next step: maintain and optimize your website
After the initial launch, the real work begins. I make sure that the content remains up-to-date, updates are installed regularly and ranking losses are avoided. In the future, the website can be expanded to include new functions such as a newsletter or store. Continuous Maintenance and further development ensure long-term success.
After a few weeks or months, you may notice that certain subpages are performing better than others. Analyze which topics are of particular interest to your readers and expand the corresponding areas. At the same time, it makes sense to revise or delete content that is no longer relevant. This will keep your website lean and up-to-date. You should also use security plugins and carry out regular backups. This is the only way to be on the safe side if a plugin update goes wrong or you lose data in the event of a hacker attack.
Step 9: Maintenance and safety
The security of a website is often underestimated, especially when it is still small. But sooner or later, hackers will try to exploit outdated plugins or themes. You should therefore install updates regularly, preferably via the integrated update function of WordPress, or use a professional maintenance solution from your hoster or an agency.
It is also advisable to use a security plugin such as Wordfence or iThemes Security. These plugins scan your website for malicious code and block suspicious login attempts. It is also important to create automated backups. Many web hosts offer integrated solutions for this, or you can use plugins such as UpdraftPlus. This allows you to save your website data conveniently and regularly in the cloud or locally.
Also make sure that your SSL certificate is working and that all pages can be accessed via HTTPS. A green lock in the address bar signals security to visitors and is also a ranking factor for Google.
Step 10: Performance optimization and scaling
In addition to continuous content maintenance, a successful website also requires optimization of loading times. Slow websites lead to visitors leaving before they even notice the content. You should therefore regularly test performance, for example with Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix, and implement any suggestions for improvement you find. This may mean compressing images, setting up a caching plugin or removing unnecessary scripts.
Especially when the number of visitors increases, your hosting package should be able to bear the increasing load. If necessary, you can switch to a more powerful server or upgrade your existing host. The Content Delivery Network (CDN) can also help to offer faster loading times worldwide. Static content such as images or CSS files are distributed across various servers and delivered to users from a location near them. This shortens the loading time and reduces the load on your main server.
Step 11: Increase marketing and reach
A visually appealing and technically sound website is a good start, but you need visitors to achieve your goals. In addition to SEO, there are a number of other marketing strategies you can consider. Two particularly effective ones:
- social mediaCreate profiles on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and regularly link to new content. This will help you build a community in the long term and ensure greater visibility.
- Email marketingA newsletter allows you to reach interested readers directly. With tools such as Mailchimp or similar providers, you can advertise targeted offers or new blog articles. However, always ensure a double opt-in procedure and correct data protection information.
In addition, targeted advertising campaigns, for example via Google Ads, can be considered in order to generate more traffic in a short period of time. In the long term, however, an organic strategy that focuses on good content, cooperation with other websites (e.g. guest articles) and an active exchange in forums or suitable online groups pays off.
Step 12: Success and ranking analysis
In order to keep an eye on your progress and make targeted improvements, it is crucial to record key figures. The following points should be analyzed regularly:
- Page viewsHow many visitors does your website have per day, week or month?
- Dwell timeHow long on average do users stay on a particular page?
- Bounce rateHow many visitors leave the page without further interaction?
- Conversion rateHow many orders, contact requests or newsletter subscriptions do you receive?
Weak points or potentials can be quickly derived from this data. A high bounce rate on certain pages can mean that the content there does not meet the expectations of visitors or that there are too many advertising banners. A short dwell time, on the other hand, indicates that you should offer interesting and further information. Include internal links that readers can use to discover further articles, products or information.
Check content and formats again and again
A very useful tip is to observe user behavior with the help of heatmap tools such as Hotjar. This allows you to see where the mouse is moved or when most visitors scroll. This helps to permanently optimize the structure of your website. For example, it is sometimes advisable to place an important registration form further up or to arrange call-to-action buttons more prominently.
Expanding your categories or a new blog article series approach can also be useful to help your readers find their way around. FAQ sections on frequently asked questions are also helpful, as they provide visitors with answers and can appear as rich snippets in the search results if they are cleverly prepared in terms of SEO.
Regular safety and quality checks
In addition to the performance analysis, regular security and quality checks should be carried out. Is your legal notice still up to date if your company address changes? Does the privacy policy still fit when new tools are added? Have you installed new plugins that affect the loading time or possibly cause conflicts with other extensions?
You should not underestimate all these aspects. Going through all relevant areas once a month is a good approach. For example, create a checklist that you work through. This minimizes the risk of errors being overlooked. Friends, colleagues or loyal customers can also provide feedback on user-friendliness at irregular intervals. An outside perspective often helps to avoid operational blindness.
Outlook
Creating a successful website in 2025 means mastering the interplay between technology, design and user orientation. You should set realistic goals, budget and time frames and choose the right tools as early as the planning phase. If you have mastered the basics - from domain selection to simple SEO optimization - you can achieve a lot and grow steadily with continuous maintenance. Whether blog, corporate presence or online store: With commitment, creativity and the right technical foundation, you can lay the foundations for sustainable success on the Internet.
