How to launch a website from a template in a weekend

Before you start

Collect your logo, brand colours, a few good photos and the text for your main pages. Having content ready is what makes a weekend launch possible: design decisions are much easier when you can see your real words on the page.

Saturday: make it yours

1. Pick the right template

Choose a template built for your type of business, so most sections already fit. Click through the live demo on desktop and phone before you decide.

2. Set your styles

Update the colour and text styles first. Good templates use shared styles, so changing them once updates every page.

3. Swap in your content

Replace the text and images page by page. Delete sections you don’t need instead of filling them with placeholder copy.

Sunday: polish and publish

4. Check every breakpoint

Preview your site on desktop, tablet and phone, and fix any long headings or awkward line breaks.

5. Set up SEO and forms

Add page titles, descriptions and a social image, and connect your contact form to your email.

6. Go live

Publish to the free subdomain or connect your own domain, then share the link. You can keep improving it next week.