Building a website in 2024 is way easier than you think. In fact, you don’t need to code anymore.
Yes, coming from someone with a software engineering background, you might be expecting me to drop some Python, React, or whatever the young developers are using these days. But no, WordPress is the real hero of this story.
Why You Need a Website That Actually Works
Let’s get real: a website isn’t just something you build because your competitor has one. It’s your online HQ, your digital handshake, and your best chance to tell the world, “Hey, we exist, we can help you with X, Y and Z and we’re awesome, we did it for a lot of people, and we can do it for you too (Perceived Likelihood Of Achievement)!” But if your website is slow, confusing, or ugly, it’s more of a liability than an asset.
Lucky for you, building a website in 2024 can be as easy as binge-watching your favorite series. And trust me, it doesn’t involve lines of confusing code or sleepless nights debugging.
WordPress + Themes + Templates = Your New Best Friends
Now, coming from a software engineering background, I know how strange this might sound. You’d think I’d be knee-deep in code, right? Wrong. Because, honestly, WordPress does it all—no coding required. You heard it here first: no more messing with HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.
Here’s why WordPress is my go-to:
- It’s easy to update: Perfect if you’re running a small business and don’t want to hire someone to update your site every time you change your hours or run a sale.
- It’s flexible: Whether you’re running a blog, eCommerce store, or service-based business, WordPress has plugins for everything. Need to add a booking system? Done. Want an email capture form? No problem.
- It’s affordable: When paired with a managed hosting service like Namecheap, you’re good to go without breaking the bank.
What You Get When You Ditch the Code
I know what you’re thinking: “But Sammy, isn’t coding more efficient?” Maybe, but hear me out—I don’t care! Seriously. What matters is that the website works, loads fast, and gets found by Google. And guess what? WordPress does all of that. And that’s what you need to get clients. Your business is not an art project, therefore your website must bring you clients and revenue. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to tell you, build an ugly website, but make sure design doesn’t confuse your prospects. Remember that a confused prospect doesn’t buy.
Here’s what you’ll get:
- Lightning-fast loading speeds: When paired with good hosting (I use Namecheap Managed WordPress Hosting because it’s cheap and fast), your site can load quickly, keeping visitors (and Google) happy.
- SEO goodness baked in: You don’t need to hire an SEO specialist to get started. With plugins like Yoast or RankMath, WordPress has all the tools to make sure your website is optimized for search engines. Just a few clicks, and you’re on your way to ranking higher.
- Lead generation on autopilot: From pop-ups to contact forms, integrating tools to generate leads is a easy. No more missed opportunities because your website is clunky or outdated.
In short, WordPress gets the job done—and that’s all that matters.
Here’s How I Built the Website You’re On Right Now
Okay, you’ve made it this far. You’re sold. So, how exactly do you build a website in 2024 without going bankrupt or pulling your hair out? Here’s my easy, no-nonsense, 5-step guide to getting started:
- Buy a domain and managed WordPress hosting from Namecheap. It’s affordable and takes the hassle out of hosting.
- Install WordPress (don’t worry, Namecheap does this automatically for you!).
- Choose a theme: Use Divi or Elementor to start designing. These page builders make it as simple as dragging and dropping elements into place.
- Customize your pages: Focus on key pages like Home, About, and Services. Remember, good content + clean design = more visitors.
- Set up lead-capture tools: Install plugins to gather emails, schedule appointments, or sell products.
And boom! You’ve got yourself a professional website ready to drive leads and make sales—no coding required.
The Past and Future of Websites (Hint: It’s still WordPress )
Let me leave you with this: we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Coming from a software engineering background, sure, I could code you a custom website from scratch, but would it do anything WordPress can’t? Probably not. And that’s the beauty of it.
So, if you’re looking to build a website in 2024 (and not lose your mind in the process), just remember this: whatever gets the job done, gets the job done. And WordPress? It gets the job done really well.
