The Software I Used to Build My Website in a Weekend

Let me be straight with you.

When I first decided to build my own website, I had two options:

1. Spend weeks (and a small fortune) on a designer.

2. Roll up my sleeves and do it myself.

I chose option two. And here’s the kicker: with the right tools, I had my website live in a single weekend.

No coding. No tech headaches. No massive budget.

Just smart software choices that gave me speed, simplicity, and control.

Here’s exactly what I used — the good, the bad, and the honest truth for beginners.

Step 1: Buying the Domain – Namecheap

Your domain is your online address. I went with Namecheap, and it really was what it says on the tin: cheap, fast, and simple.

✅ Pros:

• Affordable domains (often cheaper than GoDaddy or Google Domains).

• Free privacy protection (so your details don’t get plastered all over the internet).

• Clean, easy interface for beginners.

❌ Cons:

• Upsells can get a bit annoying if you’re not careful.

👉 Verdict: Quick, painless, and beginner-friendly.

Step 2: Hosting the Website – SiteGround

Next up, hosting. This is where your website “lives” online. I went with SiteGround, and honestly, it’s one of the best decisions I made.

✅ Pros:

• Blazing fast load speeds (Google loves this).

• Excellent customer support (live chat that actually solves problems).

• Free daily backups (a lifesaver when you inevitably break something).

❌ Cons:

• Slightly more expensive than barebones hosts like Bluehost.

• Renewal rates jump after the first year (watch out for that).

👉 Verdict: Worth every penny for the peace of mind and speed.

Step 3: Building the Pages – WordPress + Thrive Themes

Here’s where the magic happens.

I installed WordPress (free, open-source, and still the king of website platforms). But instead of faffing around with clunky default themes, I invested in Thrive Themes as my page builder.

And let me tell you: game-changer.

✅ Pros:

• Drag-and-drop builder (no coding needed).

• Optimised for conversions (landing pages, lead forms, sales pages).

• Packed with pre-built templates — you can launch fast.

• Great for entrepreneurs who want a business-focused site, not just a “pretty” one.

❌ Cons:

• Slight learning curve at first (took me an hour to get comfortable).

• Not as cheap as some free page builders (but worth it).

👉 Verdict: Thrive Themes is perfect for anyone serious about building not just a website… but an online business.

The Weekend Build

Here’s how it went down:

• Friday night: Bought the domain, set up hosting.

• Saturday: Installed WordPress, played with Thrive Themes, and started building my core pages (Home, About, Blog).

• Sunday: Added some finishing touches, tested on mobile, and hit publish.

By Sunday night, I had a website live. Was it perfect? No. But it was done. And that’s what counts.

Final Word

If you’re a beginner who wants to build a website without spending months or thousands of pounds, here’s my recipe:

• Domain: Namecheap

• Hosting: SiteGround

• Platform: WordPress

• Page Builder: Thrive Themes

It’s fast. It’s affordable. And it’s something you can actually do yourself.

Because at the end of the day, your website doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be live.

👉 Want me to share the exact step-by-step process I used (screenshots included) in a free guide? Drop a comment and let me know.