Building My First Website Was Not What I Had Hoped
Like most of us, I was feeling inspired, so building my first website was something I always wanted to try. I was totally convinced I could do it myself.
I didn’t have the budget to hire a pro. I had bills. Rent. I was Googling things like “best free website builder”, “free web design templates” and crossing my fingers that sites like Squarespace or Wix ( yes, I tried both :/ ) would somehow turn me into a designer overnight.
Spoiler: it didn’t.
The site looked… okay, but definitely not professional. But it didn’t bring in leads. It didn’t show up on Google. And worst of all, I felt like I had wasted time I didn’t have. Time I could’ve spent getting clients, building real momentum.
That’s when I learned the truth: your website isn’t just a page online, it’s your storefront, your sales rep, and your first impression.
If my website isn’t pulling its weight and bringing in leads, it’s not helping, it’s hurting.
It All Started With a Dream (and a Free Trial)
I had just launched a tiny side hustle which was selling handmade jewelry. I wanted a cute website where people could browse my creations and, you know, actually buy them.
Enter: The Free Website Builder.
Big bold promises like:
“Anyone can build a beautiful website in minutes!”
“Build your website in minutes!”
“No experience needed!”
“Just drag and drop!”
Minutes?
Ha. Cute.
What They Don’t Tell You...
Here’s what really happened when building my first website:
I spent hours picking a template (they all looked the same).
I tried to change one font… and broke the whole layout.
My mobile site looked like a ransom note.
And every “extra feature” I wanted magically cost $9.99/month.
Then came the hidden fees. Oh, you want to connect your own domain? That’ll be $12/month.
Want to remove our logo from the bottom of your site? Another $7/month.
Need e-commerce? Get ready to cry.)
The Breaking Point?
The contact form.
I sent myself a test message…
It never arrived.
I checked my spam folder, my settings, even created a second email to test it again.
Nothing.
I swear I could hear the little website builder saying:
“Listen, Jess… we just want your money, not your success.”
After spending so much precious time, this was just another hurdle I faced when building my first website.
Did The Contact Form Work?
Oh, it worked alright…
After three hours.
Two support tickets.
And one emotional breakdown.
At first, I thought I messed something up (classic rookie move).
But nope, the contact form just didn’t work out of the box.
Apparently, when building my first website, I needed to:
Verify my email address
Add some DNS records (whatever those were)
And click through a settings menu buried 7 clicks deep under “Advanced Options I’ll Never Find On My Own.”
What I Learned (The Hard Way)
I didn’t build a website that day.
I built patience.
And learned that time is money and I was spending both fixing things I didn’t know I’d have to fix.
And That’s Why I Love What We Do at Rocket Web Designer
We meet with real business owners (like you), listen to your goals, and build a website that actually works, no hidden fees, no generic templates, no mystery settings buried in a maze of upsells.
You get:
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Custom design built around you
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A real human you can talk to (not a chatbot)
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A site that looks good, runs fast, and helps your business grow
Final Thoughts
If you’re feeling stuck with your DIY website or maybe you’re whispering at your laptop right now like I once did, I get it. At first, after building my first website, it felt like a badge of honor… until you realize it’s not bringing in leads, showing up on Google, or making your business any easier to run.
Here’s the truth no one tells you: you don’t have to do this alone.
You shouldn’t have to learn to code or waste hours wrestling with templates just to grow your business online.
If your website isn’t working as hard as you are, it’s time to change that.
Let’s talk about what your site could be doing and how to make it happen.
I’ll bring the coffee. You bring your goals. We’ll build something better, together.
Further Reading
Now before you go Google “building my first website” and fall into a black hole of blog posts -> start with these actually helpful ones instead:
Optimum7 – The Truth About DIY Website Builders: What They Don’t Tell You
Website Planet – Why Free Website Builders Aren’t Really Free
Forge and Smith – 7 Reasons to Avoid Website Builders for Your Business
Ready to skip the stress and finally get a website that actually works?
Let us handle the heavy lifting. You focus on your business, we’ll build the online presence it deserves.
Have any questions?
We are to help answer any questions you might have regarding web design & marketing.
