What is a website builder, and how does it work?

Discover everything you need to know about website builders.

A website builder is a tool that helps you create your own website without having to code. It typically provides starter templates, drag-and-drop tools, and/or AI features to make it as easy as possible to build a website. 

In the past, building a website required a lot of coding, time and effort. Now there are much more efficient solutions. For example, by using a website builder you can have your website up and running within minutes. Whether you’re a freelancer, blogger or small business owner, a website builder makes it so you can create your website from the comfort of your home without needing to hire external help. 

In this article, we will discuss what a website builder is and how it works. That way, you will understand how to get your website live and ready in no time. 

What is a website builder? 

Before you can understand how it works, you’ll need to know what a website builder actually is. A website builder is a program or tool that allows you to design and create websites without having to edit any code. You can do everything by yourself, without needing a designer or developer. With drag-and-drop tools, templates, or AI features, you can easily create a site that aligns with your brand vision. 

What is an AI website builder? 

An AI website builder, such as one.com's Aida AI Website Builder, shares the general purpose of a regular website builder, but with one important distinction: the AI does the heavy lifting. While a manual website builder can be easy enough for most people to achieve a successful website, an AI-powered website builder truly takes it to the next level. You’ll build the entire website through a friendly chat with the AI, describing your needs, target audiences, products and brand. Sit back, grab a cup of coffee and watch while your website materialises. Make adjustments, generate text and create images with just a simple message in the AI chat. 

Why should I use an AI website builder? 

AI website builders make it easy for you to build and maintain your website. If you want your website to be a success, regular maintenance is a must. It is important that all your content is up to date and engaging. With an AI website builder, any update is little more than a chat message away.  

If you need more reasons to use an AI website builder, here are seven: 

• It’s user-friendly. 
• It’s cost-effective. 
• Modifying your website is easy. 
• No coding knowledge is required. 
• You can set up an online shop or booking system in minutes. 
• It requires little time and effort. 
• You still get professional level results. 

To summarise, if you want to create a website, an AI website builder is often a great option because of its ease of use and ability to launch a website quickly. website builder is often a great option because of its ease of use and ability to launch a website quickly. 

Tip: Check out our recorded webinar where we walk you through how easy it is to set up your website and online business with Aida AI Website Builder: 

How to use an AI website builder 

Let’s imagine we’re building a website for an online clothing store. Enter the AI website builder and start creating. If you want some visual help, you can follow this in-depth tutorial. 

1. We’ll start with some basics. When communicating with an AI, we use prompts as a means to request what we want it to do. Using clear, descriptive and unambiguous prompts will get the best results. You can ask the AI to base the design on an existing site or create a new one from scratch. If you have an old website with elements you want to keep, you can request a redesign of the old website by entering the URL.  
2. The next step is to describe the purpose of your website. This is where you’ll define the main functions you need. In our case, we’re making an e-commerce website for our online clothing shop. Other types of pages include blogs, booking websites or portfolios. 
3. Let’s describe the general style. The AI will make some suggestions you can choose from, or you can give it your own description. Remember, you can always revisit the style later if you want to make more adjustments. Common descriptions include minimalist, colorful, playful, formal or feminine. Just tell the AI what you want, and it will make a new design just for you. 
4. Now, it’s time to provide the AI with some practical information. It needs your location, language and business name to provide practical information regarding shipping, local regulations, contact information and currency. 
5. It’s time to grab a cup of coffee and watch the website come to life! Fill in the remaining bits of information for your products and let them shine in your new online store.  
6. Hit Publish when you’re ready and welcome your first visitors. Want to make adjustments? No problem. Just describe what you want to change to the AI and let it do the work for you. You can make the adjustments yourself too, via user-friendly manual editing. You will never need code or any technical expertise to get the website just right. 

That’s it! Now you understand what a website builder is and how it works with the added functionality of an AI. You’re halfway there. All that’s left is to get started.