How To Build A Website for a Client: A Step-by-Step Guide

Building websites for clients is more than just design — it’s about understanding goals, solving problems, and delivering value. Whether you’re a freelancer, an agency, or a developer, your ability to create websites for clients that drive results is what sets you apart. This guide walks you through every essential step to build a successful website for any type of client or project.

The demand for web development services is inevitable. Web development is continually evolving to meet the needs of users online. 

Step 1 – Decide On A Niche

If you’re already thinking about building websites for clients, coming up with a specific niche is a great way to start. A Niche is a specialty that you choose to focus on out of a large market. 

Niche down to build a client site is a strategic way to win a certain group of clients. It gives you a better advantage over your competitors who are targeting the bigger market.

Finding a Niche might be quite hard for a beginner, though with little experience, you will be able to make an informed decision. Choosing a Niche means creating websites for a specific sector, like health, restaurants, online schools, creative marketing firms, etc. For example, you might specialize as a healthcare UX design company, focusing on user-friendly digital experiences for medical and wellness clients.

Finding Clients

Having chosen a Niche, you need to know how to find clients. Sometimes, clients will reach out to you for your web design services. However, you need to put in extra effort to look for clients by yourself. You can reach potential clients through word-of-mouth, though you won’t have to talk to everyone you meet. Nevertheless, an appropriate way to reach clients is through the following outreach strategies;

• Google Ads
• Social media Ads on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc
• Your Platforms are like a Personal website
• Freelance Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. etc

Step 2 – Understanding Client Needs

Before you start the process to build a client website, you need to understand that every client you get comes with his/her own website needs. You must understand your client’s goals beforehand process. Know exactly what the client wants to achieve and advise them appropriately.

Here is how you can do this.

2.1 Interview Your Clients

Besides understanding your client’s needs, you need to do an interview session with your client. You may meet a client who doesn’t know what they want. Always ensure to ask your clients a few questions that could give you insights into what they want to achieve. Here are a few questions to ask your prospective clients.

1. What does your business do?
2. What is your ideal target market?
3. What makes you unique from your competitors?
4. How do you currently get new customers/clients?
5. What is the desired action you would like your website visitor to take?
6. When do you expect the project to be completed?
7. Is there anything else you would love me to know about?

2.2 Set Objectives and Expectations

Now that you have gathered some information from interviewing the client, set the objectives and expectations.

For example, for an e-commerce website, your client’s objectives could be

• To increase sales
• To collect customer reviews on your goods or services
• To reach out to new clients

Write down what your client wants to achieve. Tell the clients what they should expect. For example, how long will it take you to build the website? 

2.3 Find Target Audience

A Target audience is a group of customers who are most likely to purchase certain goods or services. These are your Client’s potential customers. The target audience could be people located in a particular area, people of the same age, gender, etc. For instance, if your client wants a kids’ online store, the target audience could be parents with kids. 

A target audience analysis involves researching demographic information, which includes age, race, gender, education, etc. This data will help you make informed decisions regarding your target audience. A few questions that a target audience analysis will help you answer include;

1. Who are the customers?
2. What products or services do they want?
3. How can customers benefit from the products and services?
4. Who are your competitors?
5. How can you reach your potential customers?
6. How can you personalize your user experience?

2.4 Identify Competitors

Competitors are businesses offering the same product or service that your client is offering to the same target audience.

Identifying your Clients’ Competitors is the first step to understanding the competition. This will help you realize loopholes and provide a more specific solution that will help the business stay ahead of the competition.

2.4.1 Types of Competitors

• Direct competitors

These are businesses or brands that offer the same products or services to the same target audience and satisfy the same customer needs.

Indirect Competitors, on the other hand, provide different products and services but satisfy the same customer needs. For example, a fast food restaurant and a local food restaurant offer different types of food but still satisfy the same customer needs.

• Replacement Competitors.

These are businesses that can completely replace existing businesses by offering completely new products or services that better satisfy customer needs. You can tell if the business is a Replacement competitor if it offers an already existing product or service in a new and innovative way. For example, when Uber came in to replace normal taxi transportation means.

There are several ways of identifying your competitors.

• Industry Research: Start by doing research in your industry and identifying its key players. It could be reading business reports or attending related events like trade shows.

• Google search: Use search engines like Google to search for products and services that are similar to yours using related keywords. Take note of the first businesses listed at the top of the search results page. Do further research about those businesses.

• Social media: Check Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc., to see who is advertising products and services similar to yours. Look at the feedback from customers about the products offered by your competitors. Ensure to note down the customer’s opinions.

• Talk to Customers: Ask your target customers where they get similar products or services to yours. This will provide you with insights into your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. Leverage their weaknesses to offer a better product to your customers.

2.5 Agree On Design Preferences

Having done enough research, discuss the design with your client. Ask your client what their preferences are. Before you ponder how to design websites for clients, always ask if they have a design that inspires them. They can also sketch out what they can imagine. This will help you know what kind of design they are interested in.

You can show them design templates and see what catches their eye. That way, you will know their choice of colors, graphics, and so on. 

2.6 Decide on a Platform for Building Websites 

Choosing a platform for building websites for clients depends on several factors, which include your technical skills, the website features, and mainly the purpose of the website. Here are some steps to help you decide on which platform to use for building websites for clients.

• Determine your Technical skills.

Firstly, determine your technical knowledge. If you know how to code, you can write code for the entire website. However, using low-code tools, often referred to as Content Management Systems(CMS), is a better and quicker option. You won’t have to write long lines of code, but instead, work with already-designed templates.

• Your website’s purpose.

If you’re building an online store, you will need a Platform that offers payment and shipping options. On the other hand, if you’re building a blog website, you need a platform that offers easy content creation and customization options.

• Your budget

Consider your budget when choosing a Platform for building websites. Some platforms, such as WordPress and Joomla, are free, while others, like Wix and Squarespace, require you to pay a subscription fee. 

We would recommend using WordPress or Shopify.

Choosing the Right CMS for Your Client’s Website

Choosing the right platform is foundational in how to build a website for a client. It affects performance, SEO, design flexibility, and ongoing maintenance.

CMS	Best For	Skill Level	Notes
WordPress	Blogs, business sites	Beginner to pro	Most flexible, plugin ecosystem
Shopify	eCommerce	Beginner	Hosted, simple setup
Webflow	Design-focused sites	Intermediate	Visual builder, clean code
Wix	Personal/small biz	Beginner	Drag-and-drop, limited scale

.

2.6.1 WordPress

The most commonly used CMS is currently WordPress. It powers over 40% of the websites on the internet. We recommend WordPress as it’s a multipurpose CMS that is quite easy to work with. If you can code, you will be able to write code to enhance some functionalities of your website. These are called plugins. Meanwhile, there are already existing plugins that you can use in the WordPress Plugin Repository. WordPress offers several design templates called Themes. You can choose a theme depending on your website goals.

If you’re building an online store, WordPress has a special multipurpose  Plugin for that called WooCommerce. Install the plugin on your website to help you quickly set up an online shop for a client.

2.6.2 Shopify

Another CMS is Shopify, which is mainly for building E-Commerce Platforms. If you’re planning to website an online store for a client, Shopify could be your go-to option

With both WooCommerce and Shopify, you can easily set up an online store demo website for a client.

2.7 Create Project Scope and Proposal

Project scope is part of the Project plan that outlines the project goals, requirements, deliverables, and project timelines. It ensures that you have a clear understanding of what is expected in the project. The project scope can be reviewed and updated as requirements may change or new requirements may come in.

A Project Proposal is a document that shows that you understand the project and the business needs and that you can find a solution for them. It includes; 

1. A Cover Page
2. Project Overview
3. Quote Options
4. Terms of Agreement

2.8 Plan for SEO-Ready Content Strategy

Content drives traffic, conversions, and search visibility. Help clients plan for:

• Keyword research (use Google Keyword Planner)
• Meta titles/descriptions
• SEO plugins (Yoast, Rank Math)
• Pillar content pages (Services, About, Contact, etc.)
• Blog topics aligned with customer intent

A solid SEO plan is key to building a successful website that delivers ROI.

Step 3 – Creating The Website

Now begins the website development process, which further includes multiple steps.

3.1 Create Wireframes

A wireframe is a skeletal plan of a website. It represents the basic layout, structure, and functionality of the website. It helps designers visualize the overall layout and flow of the website elements, such as the navigation menu, buttons, images, and site content. It is a low-fidelity basic outline or blueprint of the website interface.

Wireframing can be done using basic tools like pen and paper, a whiteboard, or a wireframing application. Wireframes are the starting point of design for further refinement and iteration.

3.2 Structuring the Website

The design phase of website development involves a lot of planning. Firstly, you have to consider the actions you want your website visitors to perform. These may be subscribing to a newsletter, reading a blog post, or buying a product or service. Once you have listed these actions, they will influence the structure of your website. 

A website structure refers to the way the website content is organized. It shows what pages to include, how to arrange them, and how you want your website to look.

A basic website structure includes the following key elements;

• Home page is the landing page of the website and provides information about the website and its overall purpose of the website. 

• Navigation refers to the menu links that allow users to move around the website and access different pages and sections.

• Content areas are the core sections of the website and contain the main content of the website and its functionalities. For example, product pages and blog posts.

• Footer is the bottom part of the website and contains additional navigation links and contact information.

An effective website structure can help users easily find the content they are looking for. It also helps search engines understand your website and easily rank your website pages. 

A well-organized website structure also makes it easy to maintain and update the website’s content.

3.3 Create a Plan for Content

Before you build a website for a client, it’s important you let them know how to plan for the content. A content plan is a strategic document that outlines the types of content that a business intends to create and promote over a given period of time. 

It includes details of content formats, topics, and channels to be used as well as timelines and metrics for success.

The content on your website contributes greatly to the customer’s user experience, so it should be of good quality, professional, and appealing to the target audience. 

Some key elements to include in a content plan include;

• Audience research. Identify the target audience, needs, interests, and pain points. 
• Content formats. Decide the type of content to be created, whether it is text, image, or video content.
• Content themes. These are the topics and keywords for each piece of content
• Distribution channels. Determine where the content will be promoted, such as social media channels and third-party platforms.
• Content Timelines. This involves mapping the specific tasks for creating, publishing, and promoting each content piece. 

By creating a content plan, you can ensure that your content is consistent and aligned with your business goals.

3.4 Build a Demo Site

With a content plan in place, you can now build a demo site for your client. If you’re a WordPress developer, use cloud WordPress development platforms like InstaWP to build a demo site in seconds.

Create a staging site instantly using InstaWP. It’s the easiest way to create websites for clients without affecting live environments.

• Sign up at InstaWP
• Click Add Site → Choose “From Scratch”, use a pre-built template, use store, or AI

• Launch your sandbox environment in seconds
• Customize with themes, plugins, and client branding

This step allows you to build a successful website and share a working preview with your client.

3.5 Buy A Web Hosting Plan

A website hosting plan is a service provided by website hosting companies that enables individuals or businesses to make their websites accessible on the internet. It is renting server space that allows your website files to be stored and then accessed by the website visitors.

A hosting plan includes different features like disk size, bandwidth, email accounts, databases, number of websites, etc. 

The type of hosting depends on the size, purpose as well and type of content of your website. Recommend a trusted hosting provider based on client needs:

• Shared: Basic small biz sites
• VPS: Growing websites
• Managed: Agencies and higher budgets

InstaWP lets you test your site first and then host it with an affordable managed WordPress hosting.

It Includes:

• Blazing-fast speeds with built-in CDN and edge caching
• Daily file + hourly database backups
• DDoS protection and real-time failover
• One-click staging-to-production deployment
• Developer tools like SSH/SFTP and phpMyAdmin
• Simple flat pricing that scales as you grow

Whether you’re embedding PDFs on a blog or launching a large product site, the managed WordPress hosting of InstaWP lets you host with confidence—after testing your setup properly.

3.6 Create a WordPress Website

After creating a free account on InstaWP, log in to your account and proceed to create a WordPress website. 

You can start with a template, but we recommend you choose the default option.

You can go with the recommended options. Click on the Add New button to add a new configuration, and click on the Save button to save new changes.

Add a logo file if you already have one.

Select different components of your client website from the listed integrations. Your client’s demo site will have all the components ready.

Scroll down to the bottom and click on the Create Site button.

InstaWP will create a client website for you in seconds.

Click on the Magic Login button to access your website’s dashboard.

Now you have access to the WordPress admin dashboard.

Start adding content to your website by creating pages or blog posts.

If you’re a WordPress beginner, here is a detailed tutorial on how to create a WordPress website from scratch.

Once your demo site is ready, share the link to the live website and share it with your client for review.

3.7 Migrate Demo Site from InstaWP to Hosting

InstaWP enables you to create a demo site within seconds. However, you need your site to be migrated to a server for prolonged access. 

To migrate your site, click on Sites on the Navigation bar.

Choose the website that you want to migrate.

Click on the Go Live icon.

As you do, you will have various options to host.

Host with InstaWP (InstaWP Live): Get managed WordPress hosting with built-in CDN, WAF security, daily backups, and blazing-fast performance—ideal for agencies and growing businesses. Here is how you can host with InstaWP Live.

Choose an External Service: Deploy your site to third-party hosting providers through supported integrations. Here is how you can host with an external service.

Via SSH: Use direct SSH access to push your site into your own hosting panel or server environment.

Migrate via URL: Easily transfer your site to any hosting provider using a simple site URL—compatible with most control panels.

3.8 Publish Content

Once the transfer is done, your website will be live. Continue making edits as required by the client. Ask the client for any information that is necessary for the site for instance, contact details, location details, etc.

3.9 Final Review, Handoff, and Client Training

Before you deliver the finished website to your client, it’s essential to ensure everything looks great, works smoothly, and is easy to maintain. This phase not only helps catch last-minute issues but also reinforces your professionalism.

• Walk through every page and double-check layout consistency, alignment, and branding
• Test all links and buttons—make sure nothing is broken
• Run performance checks (page load times, image optimization, caching)
• Verify mobile responsiveness across devices and screen sizes
• Ensure embedded PDFs, videos, or external assets load smoothly
• Check SEO basics: meta titles, descriptions, headings, alt tags

With InstaWP, you can spin up a staging link or demo site that mirrors the production version. Share this with clients to collect feedback, run user tests, or invite stakeholders to review everything in a risk-free environment.

Next, create a detailed handover doc that includes:

• Admin login credentials
• Theme and plugin list
• Embedded PDF locations and viewer settings
• Style guide (fonts, colors, buttons)
• Video tutorials or Loom walkthroughs
• Maintenance instructions
• Support terms (what’s included, what’s billable)

Pro Tip: With InstaWP templates, you can even clone your final site and store it as a blueprint for future projects—great for recurring client setups or building WordPress-as-a-Service models.

Schedule a live walkthrough or send a recorded session explaining:

• How to update content
• Upload new PDFs or media files
• Monitor site performance or backups
• Add/remove users securely
• Train clients on using block editors, PDF viewers, SEO tools, and staging workflows

By incorporating a well-structured handoff and training, you improve client satisfaction, reduce post-launch support tickets, and build a scalable process that reflects your quality of service.

InstaWP makes this entire process smoother—from feedback collection to secure staging to full site deployment.

Step 4 – Retaining The Client

So you have successfully created a website for a client. Congratulations! But, the job is half done as you’ve to make efforts to retain the clients as well.

4.1 Schedule Regular Calls with Clients

Retaining clients sometimes become challenging for the designers and developers. Firstly, ensure to follow the discussed steps to build websites for clients. 

When your client is satisfied with the work you have done, they will always come back whenever they have similar work for you. They could even recommend you to other people who are interested in your website services.

Reach out to your clients by scheduling regular calls with them. This will help you build a relationship with your clients and make any changes that they would love to see.

4.2 Agree on Maintenance Plans

Once the website is live, discuss an update and maintenance plan with your client.

You can offer this service for free for a given period of time, probably the first two or three months after development, after which an agreed price will be charged for the service.

It’s important to always update the customers about new products and services, new offers, and any other relevant information you would love them to know. 

4.3 Ask For Reviews and Referrals from Existing Clients

To build your Portfolio, always ask for reviews and referrals from your previous clients. This will help you earn the trust of new potential clients.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a solo developer or a growing agency, knowing how to build a website for a client professionally opens up a world of opportunities.

From initial client interviews to launching a polished, high-performing site, every step matters. Use modern tools like InstaWP to test faster, reduce risk, and deliver beautifully designed client websites.

👉 Start building websites for clients the smarter way — with InstaWP, your go-to WordPress sandbox and staging platform.

FAQs