How Do I Build My Own Website? - And Why Most DIY Sites Miss the Mark

Building a website today is easier than it’s ever been. No coding? No problem. With a drag, a drop, and a few clicks, you can have something live by the end of the day.

But here’s the kicker: looking live isn’t the same as being ready to grow.
And while DIY platforms make it look simple on the surface, they rarely set you up for the next step — tracking performance, ranking on Google, or converting visitors into leads.

That’s where most DIY websites fall short.
They look fine. But they’re functionally undercooked. A lot of the DIY websites we pick up to optimise often feel like a house of cards that crumbles under a slight breeze. It will stay up as long as it remains frozen in time, but how can growth ever happen without change?

Let’s unpack what it actually takes to build a site — and what often gets missed in the process.

Step 1: Define the Purpose – Beyond “I Just Need a Website”

Before anything else, you need to be brutally honest about why you’re building a site.
Is it just to have a digital placeholder? Or do you want traffic, leads, conversions, growth?

That clarity will shape everything: layout, features, copy, user journeys, and whether or not you’ll need marketing built in from day one.

DIY platforms let you make something that looks great.
But if no one can find it? What’s the point?

Step 2: Domain and Hosting – The Easy Bit

This bit is relatively straightforward.
Your domain is your address. Your hosting is the land it sits on.
Most DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify) bundle both together, which is handy in some sense, but ultimately kind of locks you into their platform in many ways.

The problem isn’t the setup. It’s what happens after the setup.

Step 3: Pick Your Building Method – But Think Long-Term

Option A: Website Builders (Wix, Squarespace, Weebly)

No-code platforms are fine for quick setups. You pick a template, drop in content, and publish.

But here’s the reality:

They often lock you into rigid systems.
SEO control is limited or hidden behind paywalls.
Analytics setup (Google Tag Manager, GA4, Meta tracking) isn’t baked in.
You can’t scale or customise easily.

These tools are brilliant for “getting something live” but not for “getting found” or “driving ROI.”

We’ve explored why page builders often fall short on SEO in more detail over on the blog — it’s worth a read if you’re weighing up the pros and cons.

For a closer look at what these platforms offer (and where they fall short), take a look at the Wix Help Centre or the Squarespace features page.

Option B: Templated WordPress – More Power, More Responsibility

WordPress.org is the world’s most-used CMS for a reason. It balances freedom with ease.
You can install plugins, customise layouts, and add functionality without knowing how to code.

But here’s the catch:
You still need to know what to install and why.
It’s like being handed a fully-stocked kitchen and a recipe book… but no chef.

Unless you’re experienced, you’ll probably set it up, skip key SEO and speed plugins, and miss out on tracking altogether. And we all know

Option C: Custom Build – If You Know Exactly What You Need

Custom builds are for brands that want total control, performance, and something tailored to the pixel.

At Candy, this is our sweet spot: Maybe not a fully bespoke site, but our own code built to fit your needs within a format that makes sense for you, built not just to look good, but to sell, rank, and scale. We explain more about the different types of website development we offer and which type of project is right for which.

We build websites that launch with tracking in place, schema embedded, SEO baked in, and technical performance already tuned — not as an afterthought, but as a foundation.

Step 4: Build the Pages – The Bit Most People Focus On

Everyone jumps to the visual stuff: homepages, about pages, image galleries.
DIY platforms make this easy. But most people often take the approach of ‘more is more’ – when the reality is that this approach could be hurting your newborn website.

**So, what usually gets missed?**

Conversion strategy — are calls-to-action placed with purpose?
Accessibility checks — is it usable for everyone?
Performance optimisations — does it load fast on mobile?
Content hierarchy — does it tell a story or just fill space?

This is where Candy’s web development team works differently.
Every element we build serves a purpose. And it’s all rooted in how people actually use your site — not just what looks good on a desktop.

Step 5: Add Features – With a Focus on Marketing Readiness

Contact forms. Maps. Social feeds. E-commerce tools.
Easy to add, yes. But are they tracking conversions? Are they GDPR-compliant? Are they slowing down your site?

This is where the real gap between DIY and professional builds starts.
At Candy, we don’t just add features. We integrate solutions:

Event tracking set up and tested.
Cookie banners that work and are law-compliant.
SEO schemas for products, blogs, and services.
Pixels are firing correctly from launch.

If you want to get your tracking right from day one, Google’s GA4 setup guide gives a sense of what’s required behind the scenes.

DIY sites can look finished.
But Candy sites perform from day one.

Step 6: Test, Launch, Track – And Don’t Miss This Part

Most DIY builders will get you live. But they won’t tell you:

If search engines are indexing your pages
If your meta titles are working with your targeted keywords
If your CTAs are converting
If your users are bouncing after 5 seconds

Launching without data is like flying blind.
It’s why Candy builds marketing readiness into every site — from heatmaps and funnels to Google Search Console integration.

So… Should You Build It Yourself?

A DIY builder might be fine if you need something basic, quick, and short-term.
But if you want your site to grow with your business, you need a different approach.

Because a website that can’t scale, track, or convert is just a prettier version of a business card.
And you’re probably here because you want more than that. And let’s be honest, your time is probably much better spent managing your business than worrying about the intricacies of website development.

The Candy Approach: Full Stack Marketing from Day One

At Candy, your website isn’t a standalone project.
It’s the foundation of your entire marketing strategy.

That’s why we don’t just hand you a nice-looking site and say “good luck.”

You get:

Most agencies bolt marketing on later.
We build it in from the start.

Want to see how that looks in practice?
Take a look at some of our latest web development projects and see what’s possible when marketing and development are fully aligned.

Ready to Level Up?

If you’re looking for a site that just sits online, DIY might do the job.
But if you want one that drives leads, sales, and long-term growth?

Talk to Candy — and let’s build something built for performance, not just presence.

Joshua Lines

Josh Lines is a Marketing Executive at the Ina4 Group, blending technical SEO expertise with creative storytelling. With a background spanning digital strategy, brand development, and content production, Josh thrives at the intersection of data and design. Outside of the 9–5, he’s a passionate gig photographer, capturing raw moments in grassroots music scenes across the North West. Whether he’s behind a camera or a keyword report, Josh brings heart, humour, and a hopeless love for ramen to everything he does.