How Do I Create a Custom Website? Top 5 Custom Website Development Best Practices

How Do I Create a Custom Website? Top 5 Custom Website Development Best Practices

If you’re planning to build a custom website and don’t have a tech background, the process can feel overwhelming. What platform should you use? What’s most important to get right? And how do you make sure your site is doing what it’s supposed to—like attracting visitors or helping them take action?

Custom websites give you full control over design and functionality, which is great—but they also come with decisions. Lots of them. Whether you’re working with a custom website company or starting on your own, this guide walks through five straightforward best practices to help anyone—tech-savvy or not—get started with confidence.

1. Know Your Purpose

ALWAYS start with the why. What is the primary goal of your website?

• Sell products online?
• Share information?
• Let people book appointments?
• Generate leads?

When your purpose is clear, it’s easier to make decisions about design, layout, and content. You don’t need ten buttons or a dozen pages—just a clear path for your visitor.

Tip: Jot down your top 3 website goals. Revisit them often to make sure your site stays on track.

2. Keep It Simple for the User

Think about the last time you landed on a confusing website. Did you stay? Probably not. A good custom web development project results in a site that is intuitive and user-friendly.

Some key principles:

• Menus should be short and clear.
• Key information (like contact info or pricing) should be easy to find.
• The site should work well on phone, tablet, and desktop.

Tip: Ask a few friends to try your site before launch. Watch how they interact. If they’re lost, simplify.

3. Build on Secure and Flexible Technology

There are lots of ways to build a website—some quick and easy, others more custom and powerful. Choosing custom web design services means your site can grow alongside your business—that’s called scalability.

With the right setup, you won’t have to rebuild your site every time you want to add a new feature, page, or tool. Whether you need to add online booking, accept payments, or integrate with other systems you use, a custom build gives you room to expand.

Also important: make sure your site is secure. This means it should have basic protections like an SSL certificate (so your site starts with “https”), and it should be built in a way that allows for regular updates and security patches.

Tip: Ask your developer if your website will be easy to update or expand in the future—and what that process would look like.

4. Write Clear, Helpful Content

You don’t need to be a professional writer to communicate well. The goal is clarity.

Think less like a brochure and more like a helpful guide. What does your visitor need to know, and what action should they take?

• Use everyday language.
• Make it about them, not you.
• Be concise.

Tip: Read your homepage out loud. If it feels awkward or too complicated, rewrite it in plainer language.

5. Test Before You Launch

Before a website goes live, it should be tested—on phones, laptops, different browsers, and screen sizes. You’re looking for broken links, weird formatting, or slow load times.

Here’s a basic checklist:

• Do all buttons and forms work?
• Does it look good on a mobile phone?
• Is the site fast?
• Can you find it in Google search?

Tip: Use a free tool like PageSpeed Insights to check performance and mobile friendliness.

Final Thought

Building a custom website doesn’t require a computer science degree—but it does take thoughtful planning. Whether you’re managing the project yourself or partnering with a custom website company, sticking to the basics will set you up for success: know your goals, keep things simple, choose the right tools, communicate clearly, and test thoroughly.

If you ever need support or guidance, NCN Technology has helped businesses and organizations of all sizes bring their visions to life through custom web development and custom web design services. We’re happy to help when you’re ready.