Essential Tools for DIY Web Designers: A Pro’s Guide to Getting Started

The task of designing your own website can be a bit exhausting at first, but with the right tools in your toolbox, you will be surprised how quickly you can build something truly professional. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your DIY skills, I would love to share a lineup of the best tools out there – from creating beautiful graphics to optimizing for SEO.

Plus, I’ll throw in a few bonus tips to help you get the most out of each tool and not to get lost in the process! Ready to dive in?

1. Canva – For Eye-Catching Visuals and Graphics

Let’s face it: visuals can make or break a website. Canva is a must-have for DIY designers, providing easy-to-use templates for everything from logos to social media posts and website banners. With a drag-and-drop interface, Canva makes graphic design accessible to everyone, even if you’ve never touched design software before.

Why It’s Awesome: Canva has hundreds of free templates you can customize with your brand’s colors, fonts, and photos. The “Magic Resize” tool lets you quickly adjust the size of your graphics for different platforms.

Bonus Tip: Use Canva’s “Brand Kit” feature (available in the Pro version) to save your colors, logos, and fonts. This will keep your visuals consistent across all your graphics, saving you time and effort in the long run.

2. Google Fonts – Choose the Perfect Typography

Fonts can set the tone for your entire website, and Google Fonts gives you access to a vast library of free fonts that you can integrate into your WIX site easily. Whether you're going for a playful vibe, a minimalistic look, or a classic professional feel, Google Fonts has a style to match.

Why It’s Awesome: Google Fonts are free and optimized for the web, so they load faster than most other font sources. Plus, you can pair fonts to create visually appealing text hierarchies on your site.

Bonus Tip: Limit yourself to two fonts – one for headings and another for body text. Too many fonts can make your site look cluttered, while two complementary fonts create a polished, easy-to-read layout.

3. Unsplash & Pexels – Stock Photos with a Professional Touch

Let’s talk images. If you don’t have a personal library of high-quality images, Unsplash and Pexels are lifesavers. They offer free, professional-quality stock photos that add visual interest and credibility to your site without the need for pricey photo shoots.

Why They’re Awesome: Both Unsplash and Pexels offer beautiful images that don’t look like the usual, overly staged stock photos. They’re high-resolution and free for both personal and commercial use, so you can use them anywhere on your site.

Bonus Tip: Try to select photos with a similar tone and lighting to create a cohesive look across your website. Even if they’re not your own images, consistency in visuals will make your site feel well-curated and professional.

4. WIX SEO Wiz – Boost Your Site’s Visibility

If you want people to actually find your website, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is key. The WIX SEO Wiz is an excellent tool for beginners, guiding you step-by-step through the basics of optimizing your site for search engines like Google. It walks you through essentials like adding keywords, creating optimized meta tags, and setting up a site map.

Why It’s Awesome: SEO can feel overwhelming, but WIX breaks it down into manageable tasks. You get personalized tips based on your site’s content, and you can track your SEO progress over time.

Bonus Tip: Start by focusing on just one or two main keywords for each page. As you get more comfortable, expand your keyword strategy. This approach keeps things manageable and ensures you’re targeting the right audience for each page.

5. Grammarly – Flawless Writing, Every Time

Nothing breaks the professional vibe faster than typos or awkward phrasing. Grammarly helps you clean up your writing and catch errors you might have missed, which is especially useful if you’re not a natural writer.

Why It’s Awesome: Grammarly checks for grammar, punctuation, and style in real time, suggesting changes that make your writing clear and polished. It also has a tone detector, so you can ensure your message is coming across the way you want it to.

Bonus Tip: Grammarly’s browser extension works directly in WIX’s text editor, meaning you can edit content as you write it, saving time and catching mistakes before they’re published.

6. Trello – Keep Your Content Organized

Managing a website involves more than just design; there’s also content creation, updates, and ongoing maintenance. Trello is a powerful project management tool that helps you stay on top of tasks, content calendars, and ideas in one organized place.

Why It’s Awesome: With Trello’s board-and-card setup, you can visualize each task’s progress and set due dates, helping you stay organized. It’s especially useful if you’re handling multiple pages or planning content in advance.

Bonus Tip: Set up a board just for your website’s content, with columns for ideas, in progress, and completed tasks. This setup keeps your projects clear and makes it easier to keep track of updates.

7. Google Analytics – Understand Your Audience

Once your site is live, it’s important to understand how visitors interact with it. Google Analytics offers insights into where your visitors come from, which pages they spend the most time on, and where they leave. This tool helps you make informed decisions about how to improve your site’s performance.

Why It’s Awesome: Google Analytics gives you in-depth data to understand visitor behavior and measure the success of any changes you make. Plus, you can set goals and track conversions, which is ideal if you’re running an online store or trying to generate leads.

Bonus Tip: Check the “Behavior Flow” report to see the paths users take through your site. This can reveal where they get stuck or drop off, giving you insights into where to make improvements.

8. Hemingway App – Make Your Content Readable

Readable content is engaging content, and the Hemingway App is fantastic for simplifying your text. It highlights complex sentences, passive voice, and overly technical language, making your writing more accessible and easier to read.

Why It’s Awesome: Hemingway is a straightforward tool that improves the clarity of your content. It’s especially helpful if you’re explaining complicated topics or trying to make your content user-friendly.

Bonus Tip: Aim for a readability score of around grade 8. This keeps your content approachable for a general audience, making it more likely to engage readers.

9. WIX App Market – Add Extra Features with Ease

WIX’s App Market is like an all-you-can-eat buffet for website features. Need a booking tool, a live chat widget, or an email signup form? The App Market has you covered, with a variety of apps to enhance your site’s functionality and user experience.

Why It’s Awesome: The WIX App Market has both free and premium options, and all apps are built to integrate seamlessly with your WIX site. You can add features without any coding or complicated setup.

Bonus Tip: Start with a few key apps – too many can slow your site down. Choose the ones that best support your business goals, like a booking app for consultations or a chat widget for instant support.

Final Thoughts: Mix and Match Tools to Suit Your Style

Every DIY designer’s needs are a little different, so try out these tools and see what fits best with your workflow. Remember, your website is a work in progress, so feel free to experiment with different tools and features as you learn more about design. With these essentials in your toolkit, you’re well-equipped to create a site that’s not only beautiful but also functional, organized, and professional. Happy designing!