Wix is one of the most beginner-friendly website builders available, and you can go from a blank screen to a published website in under two hours without touching a line of code. The platform gives you two paths to start: the Wix AI Site Builder, which creates a site based on your answers to a few questions, and the Wix Editor, where you build from a template with full drag-and-drop control. Most beginners start with one of these and switch as their needs grow.
Below is a complete step-by-step guide on how to use Wix, covering everything from creating your account to publishing and optimizing your site.
Before You Start: Which Wix Editor Should You Use?
Before working through the steps below, pick your starting point. Wix gives you two main options:
- Wix AI Site Builder: Answer a few questions about your business or project, and Wix generates a complete site with pages, text, and images pre-populated. Best for users who want something live quickly and are happy to edit from a working foundation.
- Wix Editor (Classic): Choose a template and customize it from scratch using drag-and-drop tools. Best for users who want full visual control over every element from day one.
If you are completely new to website builders, start with the AI Site Builder - it produces a usable site in minutes and you can keep editing after. If you have specific design requirements or prefer working from a blank canvas, the Wix Editor gives you more precision.
How To Use Wix: A Step-By-Step Guide
Step 1 – Sign Up For A Wix Account
Go to Wix.com and click "Get Started." You can sign up with your email address, Google account, or Facebook account. Creating an account is free and takes under two minutes.
Once signed in, you land in the Wix Dashboard - the central hub where you manage your sites, domains, billing, and account settings. If you plan to build multiple sites, each one gets its own dashboard panel and separate URL.
There are numerous Wix pricing plans that you can choose from. There's also a free plan that you're able to sign up for. Be sure that you use a plan that is suitable for your needs. If you need to take payments online, make sure that you sign up for a plan that can take payments.
Step 2 – Pick A Template
From your dashboard, click "Create New Site." You will be asked whether to use the AI Site Builder or start with a template. If you choose a template, Wix shows you categories - business, portfolio, online store, blog, restaurant, and more.
Wix has over 900 templates, all free to use. You can preview any template before selecting it. One important rule: you cannot change your template the traditional way after your site is published. If you need a different look, see our guide on how to change your Wix template - there are three tested workarounds. Take your time at this stage - click through a few options to see the layouts, sections, and overall style before committing. Switching later means rebuilding from scratch.
Step 3 – Update Text and Images
Once you open your template in the Wix Editor, you will see your site's pages on the left and a live preview in the centre. Click directly on any text block to edit it - just type to replace the placeholder text with your own content.
To master all the text element types Wix offers - from collapsible text to text masks and global font settings - see our dedicated guide on how to add and edit text on Wix.
To replace an image, click on it and select "Change Image." You can upload your own photos, use images from Wix's free stock library (Wix Media), or connect to Shutterstock. For logos, use the Wix Logo Maker or upload a PNG with a transparent background. For a full walkthrough, see our Wix Logo Maker guide covering the step-by-step process, file formats, and troubleshooting.
Work through every page of your site - homepage, About, Contact, Services, and any additional pages your template includes. Leaving any placeholder text on a live page looks unprofessional and can hurt your SEO.
Step 4 – Personalize Background
Click on the "Background" option in the left-hand Wix Editor menu to change the background of any page. You can set it to a solid color, gradient, image, or video. For a professional result, use a single brand color or a high-quality image that matches your industry.
Wix also lets you set different backgrounds per page. Your homepage might have a bold hero image background, while your contact page might use a clean white background for easier form reading. You can also explore Wix animations to add entrance effects, hover interactions, and scroll-triggered motion to any element. If you want to go deeper into the visual side of your site, our full guide on how to design a website with Wix covers layouts, color schemes, fonts, and more.
Step 5 – Add Pages
In the Wix Editor, click "Pages" in the left sidebar to manage your site structure. You can add new pages (About, FAQ, Blog, Portfolio, etc.), rename existing ones, set page visibility, and reorder them in the navigation menu.
Every page you add should have a clear purpose. Avoid creating pages that duplicate content from other pages or that have fewer than 300 words - thin pages drag down your overall SEO. For most small business websites, five to eight pages is a solid foundation: Home, About, Services, Portfolio or Gallery, Blog, and Contact.
Step 6 – Add Apps
The Wix App Market gives you access to 300+ apps that extend what your site can do - from booking systems and live chat to social feeds and email opt-in forms. To access it, click "Add Apps" in the Wix Editor sidebar, or visit the App Market from your dashboard.
To understand what Wix apps are and how they work before installing, see our guide on what a Wix app is - it covers the App Market categories, popular apps, and how to manage your installed apps.
You can also add popup overlays - known as Wix lightboxes - directly from the Add Elements panel without any app installation.
For nonprofits and charities, the Buttons section in the editor also includes a PayPal Donate option. Our step-by-step guide explains exactly how to add a donate button on Wix, including alternative apps for recurring donations and Stripe support.
Not every app is free. Many have freemium models where the basic version is included but advanced features require a paid subscription. Before installing an app, check its pricing tier so you understand what you are committing to. Start with the apps most relevant to your site type and add more gradually - too many apps can slow your site's load time.
Step 7 – Add Blog
To add a blog, go to your Wix Editor, click "Add Apps," and install the Wix Blog app. Once added, a Blog page appears in your site navigation automatically. From there you can write and publish posts, organize them into categories, enable comments, and let readers subscribe for updates.
A blog is one of the most effective ways to build organic search traffic over time. Pages that cover specific topics and questions your customers are searching for can drive consistent visitors to your site. Even publishing two to four posts per month builds meaningful SEO momentum over six to twelve months.
Step 8 – Online Store
To sell products through your Wix site, add the Wix Stores app from the App Market. This activates a full eCommerce setup: product pages, shopping cart, payment processing, inventory tracking, and order management - all from your Wix dashboard.
You will need to be on at least the Core plan to take payments through your store. Setting up Wix Payments is the simplest option since it connects directly to your dashboard, but you can also use Stripe, PayPal, or other supported providers. Add your products with clear photos, descriptions, and pricing before going live.
Step 9 - SEO Optimization
Wix has a built-in SEO setup tool called Wix SEO. Go to your dashboard, click "Marketing & SEO," then "Get Found on Google" to start the guided setup. The tool walks you through setting meta titles, meta descriptions, and page URLs for each page.
Beyond the basics, make sure each page has a unique H1 heading, includes relevant keywords naturally in the body text, and links to other pages on your site. Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console after publishing - Wix generates a sitemap at yoursite.com/sitemap.xml automatically.
Step 10 – Mobile Optimization
Wix automatically creates a mobile version of your site, but it needs review. In the Wix Editor, toggle to Mobile view using the phone icon at the top of the editor. Check every page - some elements that look good on desktop may stack awkwardly, overlap, or appear too small on a phone screen.
You can make mobile-specific adjustments without affecting the desktop version. Hide elements that clutter the mobile layout, increase font sizes, and make sure buttons are large enough to tap comfortably. With over half of web traffic coming from mobile devices, this step directly affects both user experience and search rankings.
Step 11 – Domain Name
On the free plan, your site URL follows the format username.wixsite.com/yoursite. To use a custom domain like yourbusiness.com, you need a paid plan.
You can register a new domain through Wix directly from your dashboard (Wix includes a free domain for the first year on paid annual plans), or connect an existing domain you own from another registrar. Either way, domain connection is handled in the dashboard under Settings > Domains. DNS propagation typically takes 24-48 hours after connecting a new domain.
Step 12 – Publish
When you are ready to go live, click the "Publish" button in the top-right corner of the Wix Editor. Your site immediately becomes accessible at your URL. Any changes you make after publishing take effect when you click Publish again - your visitors always see the last published version, not your in-progress edits.
After publishing, submit your URL to Google Search Console so Google knows your site exists. Check your site on both desktop and mobile one final time from a browser (not the editor preview) to confirm everything displays correctly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Wix
Most beginners run into the same issues. Here are the ones worth knowing before you start:
- Choosing a template too quickly. You cannot change your Wix template once your site is published. Spend time previewing several templates before committing. If you decide later that you want a different layout, you have to rebuild from scratch.
- Leaving placeholder text live. Every template comes with sample text. Leaving "Your Name" in a heading or "Lorem ipsum" in a paragraph looks unprofessional and confuses Google about what your page is about.
- Skipping mobile review. Wix's auto-generated mobile layout does not always look good. Always switch to Mobile view in the editor and adjust anything that breaks or overlaps.
- Not connecting a custom domain. A free Wix subdomain (username.wixsite.com/site) makes your site harder to find and remember. Connect a real domain as soon as your site is ready to be taken seriously.
- Publishing without setting meta titles and descriptions. Each page needs a unique meta title and description for search engines. The Wix SEO tool prompts you for these - don't skip this step.
- Skipping a privacy policy. If your site collects email addresses, uses analytics tools, or accepts payments, a privacy policy is legally required in most countries. It also satisfies requirements from Google Analytics, Meta Ads, and other third-party services. See our guide on how to add a privacy policy on Wix.
- Installing too many apps at once. Each additional app can add to your page load time. Install what you actually need, test your site speed after adding apps, and remove anything you are not using.
Conclusion: How to Use Wix
Wix is designed to be usable by anyone, with no technical background required. The 12 steps above take you from a blank account to a published, SEO-ready website. Start with the free plan to explore the editor and choose your template, then upgrade when you need a custom domain, an online store, or a professional email address. The most important steps are the ones most people skip: reviewing mobile layout, writing unique content for every page, and setting up Google Search Console so your site can be found. If you ever need to stop your plan, our guide on how to cancel your Wix subscription covers every scenario including what Wix offers to keep you.
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