Introduction
Today, your website is not optional.
It is your studio, your showroom, your portfolio, your shop, your press kit, and often your first impression.
Before someone meets you, they visit you online.
This article introduces the complete ecosystem of building a website and an online presence from scratch. It gives you the global vision before diving into technical modules.
We will explore:
This is your map before building.
Why create a website today
A website gives you:
Unlike social media, your website belongs to you.
Online vs physical presence
Digital presence now influences:
→ See: Building your brand credibility online
Types of websites and their purposes
Before building, you must know what you need.
Common formats:
Portfolio website
→ for designers, artists, students
Brand showcase website
→ present identity and universe
Landing page
→ single-page focus (launch, project, campaign)
E-commerce website
→ selling products online
Blog / content platform
→ storytelling, SEO, authority
Hybrid site
→ combines several functions
Each structure implies different design, UX, legal, and technical needs.
→ See: Choosing the right website structure
The different ways to build a website
There are several approaches:
No-code builders
Easy, fast, accessible.
Examples:
CMS (Content Management Systems)
Flexible and scalable.
Example:
�This course focuses primarily on CMS and no-code solutions because they are ideal for students and independent creators.
Custom development
Full control but requires coding skills.
→ See: Choosing the right platform
Understanding how a website works
Before designing, it helps to understand the basic structure:
Behind the interface:
→ See: Website structure basics
→ See: HTML semantic tags and layout
UX & UI fundamentals (User Experience & Interface)
A beautiful site is not enough.
It must be clear, intuitive, and readable.
Key principles:
Reading patterns
Users often scan pages in:
Structuring content
Use:
→ See: UX & UI fundamentals
→ See: Wireframing and user journeys
Designing before building: wireframes & prototypes
Before building your site, you should sketch it.
Wireframing helps you:
Tools like Figma allow you to:
→ See: Introduction to Figma
→ See: Building wireframes
Visual identity and color psychology on the web
Your website must align with your branding.
Colors influence perception, trust, and readability.
Important considerations:
→ See: Color psychology in web design
→ See: Adapting your brand identity for digital use
Content: what your website should say
Your content defines your clarity and credibility.
Key pages include:
Content must be:
→ See: Writing for the web
SEO fundamentals (visibility on search engines)
A website without visibility is invisible.
SEO includes:
We will explore SEO deeply in a dedicated guide.
→ See: SEO fundamentals
→ See: Semantic structure & headings
Domains, hosting, and infrastructure
To exist online, you need:
Domain name
Your digital address.
Hosting
Where your website lives.
Email domain
Professional communication.
→ See: Choosing a domain name
→ See: Hosting solutions explained
Costs and external actors
Possible costs:
External actors may include:
→ See: Budgeting your website
AI tools
AI tools can help with:
But be cautious about:
→ See: Using AI responsibly in web creation
E-commerce considerations
If you sell online, you must consider:
→ See: Legal requirements for e-commerce
→ See: Web legal compliance
Web ethics & accessibility
A responsible website considers:
→ See: Ethical web design
Maintenance and long-term care
A website is never “finished”.
You must:
→ See: Website maintenance checklist
Local development & advanced workflows (coming later)
Later, we will explore:
Analyzing and improving your website
Once live, you should evaluate:
→ See: Website analysis & optimization
Conclusion
Your website is more than a tool.
It is the digital architecture of your presence.
Built with intention, clarity, and strategy, it becomes a powerful extension of your brand.
Note
This article is an introduction to building a website and online presence.
Each section will be explored in depth through dedicated guides, tools, and practical modules in the Web and Legal categories.
