How to Use Wix to Build a Website for Your Small Business

Learn how to use Wix to build a business website in just a few steps. First, set up an account and start with an artificial intelligence (AI) generated template or choose from over 800 free templates. Then use the intuitive Wix website builder to customize your site with absolutely no coding knowledge. Lastly, review and double-check your site’s menus, pages, and content, choose a plan, and publish your site.

1. Create an Account to Use the Wix Website Builder

Click on the blue “Get Started” button to create a Wix account for free

The first step in how to make a Wix website for small businesses is to head over to Wix and click on “Get Started” on the homepage. From there, you will be prompted to log in or to create a new account. You can use the Wix website builder to create a basic business website for free, but for advanced features like ecommerce or to get a free custom domain for your site, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid account.

Wix pricing includes plans starting from $16 with hosting, a free domain, and SSL certificate or full, robust ecommerce for online stores, restaurants, hospitality businesses, and more from $27 per month. For a full list of Wix’s prices, read our comprehensive Wix review.

To get started, log in and choose the option to create a Wix website. You can make an unlimited number of websites, but keep in mind that you’ll need to purchase a plan for each one individually if you upgrade to a premium plan.

2. Decide Which Wix Website Editor to Use

Answer the prompts Wix provides to add features to your website

After you click the option to create your new website, you’ll be directed to a screen which asks you what type of website you’ll be creating. It isn’t necessary to answer the questions exactly, but giving Wix a general overview of what your site is about will help them determine which features to include on your basic site. These features can be added later, so don’t worry about this part too much.

Choose between the ADI and the Editor

The next step in how to build a Wix website for your business is to decide whether to use the Wix artificial design intelligence (ADI) option or the standard Wix website Editor. With the ADI option, you will be asked a few questions about your industry and the features you want present on your website (like bookings or forums). The ADI will use your responses to generate a template for you.

If you select the option to create a website using Wix’s standard Editor, you will start by browsing and selecting a template from over 800 options. This offers the most design choices and you can still build your site quickly as Wix templates come with prebuilt pages and premade section blocks, often with multiple variations.

Not sure which editor to use? Here are the best use cases for either Wix website editor:

• Wix ADI: Best for web design beginners and businesses that need a website up quickly. Note that since the ADI generates a template for you, you will have less ability to customize your site’s design than if you use the standard editor.
• Wix Editor: This is the full-feature drag-and-drop that Wix users know and love, offering almost unlimited design customization. As a downside, it can be easy to go overboard if you don’t know how to design a website. It’s best for those who want a more unique, custom-looking website and users who are confident in their design skills.

You won’t get the option to select a template on the ADI from among Wix’s 800 category and industry-specific templates. You can, however, switch from ADI to the Editor anytime you wish. Unfortunately, you can’t switch from the Editor to ADI, though you can find your site’s history and restore a backup.

3. Select a Template & Customize Your Business Website

No matter which editor you choose, the process of how to use Wix to build a website will be fast, code-free, and easy. But the editing process will differ depending on which you choose. Wix ADI is a section-based editor, meaning you select, delete, and edit sections to build pages for out your site.

The standard Wix Editor is a true drag-and-drop editor, where you can drag elements around your website and drop them to where you want them to go. There are also premade content blocks you can point and click to add to your site, and many have multiple variations, so you can choose exactly the design style you want. Also, take note that by picking the Wix ADI, you won’t get the option to choose which template to use.

Both editors give you great tools to work with. However, to create a custom website suited to your business’ needs, you’ll need to make a few tweaks. The main things to change are your website’s structure (by adding or removing pages), your header and footer, the content on your pages, and your small business website’s features through native and third-party applications.

How to Use Wix to Create a Website From Templates With the Editor vs ADI

With the Wix Editor

Browse through Wix’s library of over 800 templates for different industries

Access the template library by clicking on “Edit a Template” under the option for the Wix Editor. Based on your business’ industry, Wix narrows down the selection for you—very helpful, as Wix has over 800 templates to choose from. Still, you can choose from the rest of the templates using the drop-down menu located at the top of the page.

If a template catches your eye, hover over it to bring up the “Edit” or “View” options. The second option will open up a new page with a template preview. You can close the page to go back to the full library, or click on “Edit This Site” at the top right corner to head straight to the Editor.

With Wix ADI

Create your basic website through Wix ADI

On the other hand, if you select “Start Now” under Wix ADI, you’ll be directed to a screen with even more prompts to answer. First, enter the name of your business or store (you can also change it later). Then, choose whether to import content from an existing website or your Google Business Profile. Finally, review and edit your personal information.

After you’ve filled out the basics, you can select a theme for your site. Wix ADI currently offers around a half dozen basic themes to choose from. Based on the theme you choose, the ADI will create webpage designs that you can also choose from. In the next step, you can add pages to your website. You can always add or delete pages later on, so don’t overthink the choices.

How to Add or Remove Pages

With the Wix Editor

With the Wix Editor

Now that you have your template, look through its pages and add new pages or delete pages you don’t need. To do this, click on “Menus & Pages” found as the second option on the left menu bar, and then click “+ Add Page” at the very bottom (or “+ Add” at the top right corner). Alternatively, delete a specific page by hovering over it on the same menu until the “…” pops up, clicking on it, and hitting “Delete.”

Here are some important page-related features for your website:

• Blank page: A completely blank page that you can build yourself. To add a blank page, click on “+ Add” and then “+ Blank Page” at the very top.
• Blog: Add a Wix Blog to your website with a separate blog page and post pages. To do so, click on “+ Add” and then “Blog.”
• Store: Add a product or store page on your website by clicking on “+ Add” and “Store.” You’ll need to upgrade to at least the Wix Business Basic plan to host an online store.
• Bookings: Take online bookings by adding Wix Bookings to your website. Like the Store, you’ll need the Wix Business Basic plan to accept payment for bookings. First, click on “+ Add,” and then select “Bookings” from the menu.

You can pick from even more prebuilt pages from the menu, like a Service page or a Contact page. You can select different layouts for each page, though you can always edit it afterward in the editor.

With Wix ADI

Add or delete pages on your Wix ADI website

On the ADI, your menu is located at the top of the screen. To add a new page, hover over “Add,” then find and click on “Page” in the drop-down. A menu will appear on the left of your screen with all the prebuilt pages you can choose from. Alternatively, you can select a blank page from the menu and build it yourself using the premade content blocks Wix provides.

To remove a page, hover over the page menu at the top menu bar. This page menu is located to the left of the “Add” button, and it enables you to navigate through your pages in the ADI. By clicking on this page menu, you’ll bring up a “Manage Pages” menu to the left of your screen. Hover over the page you want to delete, click the gear icon that appears beside it, click on delete, and confirm your decision on the pop-up.

Here are some important page-related features for your website:

• Blank page: A completely blank page that you can build yourself. To add a blank page, click on “Add” and select “Blank” from the menu.
• Blog: Add a Wix Blog to your website with a separate blog page and post pages. To do so, click on “Add” and “Blog.” Select a blog layout before adding it to your website.

On the ADI, the Store and Bookings options are under the Apps menu, not under Pages.

How to Rename & Manage Pages

With the Wix Editor

Manage your pages through the Site Pages menu

Rename pages by double-clicking it in the Pages menu. Drag and drop them on the menu to reorganize. This automatically changes your website’s navigation bar. To create subpages, drag the page you want to make into a subpage under and to the right of the main page (again, all this is done through the Pages menu).

With Wix ADI

Drag your pages around to organize them on your website’s navigation bar

Managing pages is similar on the ADI. Head over to the Manage Pages menu and double-click on the page you want to rename to change its name. The Page menu also has a small button at the top (“Edit Menu”)—click on this button to organize your pages.

Like on the Wix Editor, simply drag and drop your pages to organize them and create subpages by dragging the subpage below and to the right of the main page. This automatically changes your site’s navigation bar.

How to Edit Your Header & Footer

Part of learning how to use Wix to build a website for your small business is customizing your site’s header and footer. Also, keep in mind that as with all websites, headers and footers are universal, meaning that any change you make to either will apply to every page on your website. Here are some ideas of what to include:

• Business name and logo, usually in the header and the footer
• Navigation menus (main site navigation in the header)
• Contact information and address, often only in the footer
• Social media widgets, usually in the footer
• Newsletter sign-up form, usually in the footer

With the Wix Editor

Drag, drop, and edit elements right on your editor

Once your pages are set up, customize your site’s header and footer section to align with your branding. The Wix Editor is a true drag-and-drop, so to edit the header, footer, or other content, all you need to do is to click on the element and customize it.

On the header, for example, drag and drop elements to change the layout, type in your business’ name, and upload your logo. To update website’s footer, scroll down to the bottom of your page and change the text.

With Wix ADI

Edit your header and footer through the left-hand menu

To edit your header or footer on the ADI, hover over either and click on “Edit.” The ADI doesn’t let you edit on the actual screen. Instead, you’ll need to add, delete, and edit your sections on the editor to the left of your screen.

This left-side menu also allows you to change the design of your header and footer. Wix ADI has a bunch of layouts for both that you can choose from, plus the option to change the color palette. Simply click on “Section Design” at the top of either the header or footer menu to bring up the options.

How to Edit Page Design & Content

With the Wix Editor

Editing with Wix’s drag-and-drop interface

Heavy customization is possible with the Wix Editor. Head over to the page you want to edit using the drop-down menu at the upper left corner, click on the element you need to change, and edit it. Drag the element around the page and drop it where you want it placed. Double-click on text elements to change what’s already written.

You can also add more elements onto the page by clicking on the “+” button on the menu to the left of the screen. Delete an unwanted element by left-clicking on it and hitting “Delete.”

With Wix ADI

Editing with Wix’s ADI

On the ADI, all the editing is done through the top and left-hand menus. Just select the page that you need to edit through the Page menu on the top right, click on the section, and hit “Edit” at the very top. Like the header and footer, ADI editing requires you to type on the sidebar editor to change your content.

Don’t forget to add a few sections to your chosen page by clicking on “Add” and then “Section to Page.” These buttons are found on the top menu bar. To delete a section, simply hover over what you want to be removed, hover over the vertical ellipsis, and click “Delete.” Change your section’s layout by clicking on “Design” and picking a premade layout from the list, and then customize it by clicking on “Customize Section Design” in the same menu.

How to Add Third-party Apps

With the Wix Editor

Browse through hundreds of apps to add functionality to your Wix website

Wix has a robust third-party app system, enabling you to instantly customize your website’s functionality without knowing any sort of code. To navigate to the hundreds of apps available, click on the fourth icon on the left-side icon menu. Apps ranging from marketing to dropshipping can all be found on the Market.

Here are some popular apps you can integrate with your Wix business website:

• 123 Form Builder: A drag-and-drop form builder to create custom forms for contact information, applications, bookings, surveys, and much more
• Social Media Stream: Allows you to add your social media feeds to your website
• Mailmunch: Helps you grow your mailing list and increase conversions via email
• QuickBooks: Accounting software that automatically syncs with your Wix Store to create invoices and billings, efficiently managing your sales data
• Importify: A dropshipping app that integrates different wholesalers (e.g., Amazon, AliExpress) with your Wix Store

Wix has over 300 web apps that you can integrate, increasing the functionality of your website even further. Some are completely free, while others have paid plans or require a subscription to a paid Wix plan.

With Wix ADI

Add basic apps to your Wix website

To add apps on the ADI, hover over “Manage” at the very top and click on “All Apps” to select the features that you want. Unfortunately, the large Wix App Market is only available when using the standard Wix Editor. The apps on the Wix ADI are very basic (e.g., Instagram feed integration or a booking system for restaurants).

To access more apps, switch to the standard Editor by scrolling down to the very bottom of your App menu. Keep in mind that you’ll have to keep using the standard editor going forward as the apps you add or changes you make using the standard editor won’t be reflected on your ADI website.

4. Review Your Site & Optimize It for Search

Once you’re happy with how your site looks and functions, go over everything again to see if you’ve missed anything. You can use our website basics checklist to ensure you’ve set your small business website up for success. Some of the important things to double-check are:

• Website header and footer: Change the header content to include everything your site visitor should know upon landing on your website (e.g., branding, navigation menu, cart). Change the footer to be a secondary menu with contact information, social media widgets, and small search bar.
• Page navigation: Ensure that all pages are in the correct order on your website’s navigation bar. Don’t forget to create subpages (for example, by placing Contact Information as a subpage of About Us). This keeps your website uncluttered and easier to navigate, improving the site visitor experience and further enhancing search engine optimization.
• Google Analytics: Google Analytics gives you insights into how site visitors interact with your website. It’s completely free to use and can give you valuable information to hone and improve your marketing strategy. To add Google Analytics to your website, head back to your website’s dashboard. Under the “Marketing & SEO” menu to the left, click on “Get Found on Google.” Follow the steps to connect your Analytics account to your Wix site.
• Website preview: Preview exactly how your website will look before publishing it. Click on “Preview” beside “Publish” at the top left corner of the screen. View how your site will look on desktop vs mobile devices by clicking on the mobile icon in the same spot ( ADI), or clicking on the mobile view icon at the top left corner (standard Editor).
• Add or update SEO settings on every page: On both the ADI and the Editor, click on the Page menu to the left of your screen, scroll to the page you want to optimize, and hit the gear icon (ADI) or ellipsis (standard Editor) to access the search engine optimization (SEO) tools available. The ADI has a very simple Page SEO function to help you fill in your keywords, descriptions, and URLs. On the other hand, the standard Editor has advanced SEO, allowing you add structured data and meta tags.

Wix also has SEO tools available under “Marketing & SEO” on your dashboard. Click through these to optimize your website. Focus on the URL Redirect Manager (in the “SEO Tools” menu) if you already have an existing website that you’re migrating to Wix.

5. Launch Your Wix Business Website (& Opt for a Paid Plan)

Publish your Wix website

The last step is to hit the “Publish” button on the top right corner of the screen. However, on the free plan, your site will display Wix ads, and your domain name will use a subdomain and look like yourname.wix.com—not professional enough for a business. To connect an existing custom domain or get a free domain name for a year, opt to invest in a paid plan.

Wix Pricing & Plan Features

*With annual billing; monthly billing is also available at a higher cost

What to Do After Building a Wix Website

Now that you’ve successfully created a small business website using Wix, it’s time to start building your online presence. Website marketing can be done in several ways, including:

• Work on search engine marketing, which encompasses search engine optimization (SEO) and paid digital ads.
• Speaking of SEO, target the right keywords and insert them into your content using the best keyword research tools, including software you can use for free.
• Increase your online and local brand presence by placing your business on online directories, starting with the most important one of all, your Google Business Profile (GBP).
• Market your business on social media—like search engine marketing, this includes organic and paid tactics such as social media advertising.
• Get expert help building your brand’s online presence from a top digital marketing agency like Hibu or a professional freelancer from Fiverr.
• Create an email marketing campaign to disseminate information and update your contacts about your latest offers and promotions.
• Get affordable business cards that include your business’ website.
• Write a press release about your business, new products or services, or anything newsworthy about your company.

Why Use Wix for a Business Website & Who Wix Is Best For

Still undecided on building a Wix website for your small business? There are numerous reasons why Wix is one of the best website builders around:

• Cost: Starting at just $16 per month (or $27 per month for full ecommerce), Wix is budget-friendly—especially for small businesses without a lot of money to spare.
• Website design: Wix has over 800 templates and a powerful drag-and-drop editor for the most design freedom of any drag-and-drop website builder. Plus, the Wix Editor has an app marketplace with over 300 third-party integrations. Wix is the best way to get a unique website in both design and functionality without learning how to code.
• Ease of use: Both of Wix’s editors (the standard editor and its artificial design intelligence, or ADI editor) are beginner-friendly. Though the standard editor is more complicated to use, either enable you to get a professional website up and running in just a few hours.
• Online brand presence: Wix walks you through optimizing your website for online search with Wix SEO Wiz, the SEO feature located in your site’s dashboard. This ensures your content can be found in online searches to improve your lead generation and sales. Find out more about why Wix made our list of the best website builders for SEO.

For these reasons and more, Wix is a top choice for building a small business website. It’s best for beginners who want to build a professional business website that looks custom-designed without having to learn WordPress or more complex coding. Find out more about how to use Wix to build a business website in our expert Wix review.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How easy is it to make a Wix website?

Building a business website using Wix shouldn’t take more than a few hours. Admittedly, Wix ADI (section-based) is somewhat more beginner-friendly than the standard Wix Editor (drag-and-drop). However, the standard Editor allows for more design and feature customization, and both editors rate highly in intuitiveness and ease of use. In fact, it only takes five steps to create a Wix website, from selecting your template to publishing it.

Is Wix a good website builder?

Wix is one of the best website builders for small businesses. It’s well-known for its powerful drag-and-drop site editing (with the Wix Editor). With the Wix website builder, you can create a beautiful and completely unique website without any coding knowledge. The best part is that all this functionality starts at just $16 per month in paid plans that include web hosting and a free domain and SSL certificate.

What are the best Wix website builder alternatives?

Wix offers one of the easiest, most customizable website builders around. However, Wix isn’t the only beginner-friendly website builder out there. Our top Wix website builder alternatives are Squarespace for its SEO features, Weebly for an easy way to set up your online shop, and GoDaddy for easy website design and cheaper starting plans.

Bottom Line

Now you know how to use Wix to make a website for your small business in just five simple steps with a starting cost as low as $16 per month. If you’re looking to publish a website as quickly as possible, the Wix ADI is perfect for you. For the best customization in the market, use the standard drag-and-drop Wix Editor. Both will give you a professional-looking website full of valuable features through Wix’s native tools and third-party apps.

Try Wix for Free

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• Building a site from scratch? See our step-by-step guide to creating a business website.