Creating My Website from Scratch:
A Journey in Learning and Adaptation
For my first blog article, I want to take you behind the scenes of how I built this website as a complete neophyte. When you study communication, you quickly realise that the environment you evolve in is constantly changing : tools, trends …
As someone who loves learning new things, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to challenge myself and create something useful for my future projects as well as developing my experience.
Why Did I Decide to Create My Website?
While working on summarizing my portfolio I came across 3 websites that I had done in the past using website builders (Wix and Cargo) and decided to challenge myself to build a site from scratch.
I also thought: if I’m going to have a website, why not make it a proper space to showcase my skills, projects, and interests in a way that really reflects who I am?
To get started, I researched how professionals build their websites to get some inspiration. I explored websites like Marine Meudec, EDHREC, and Lost in the Midlands to see how they structured their pages, what content they included, and how they made their sites visually engaging.
After reflecting I realised that a simple portfolio website was not suiting me the best as I also wanted this website to be a place where I share all my interests. this is why i choseto structure my website into two key sections:
- Portfolio: To highlight my experiences and projects.
- Blog: To document my learning process, insights, personal reflections and hobbies
This format gives me flexibility, it allows me to share both structured projects in the portfolio section as well as have a space for more loosely structured content such as learning updates, news or sharing my thoughts on one of my interests or hobbies in the blog. This allows me to showcase both my professional work and personality to my audience.
🕒 My Website Journey – A Quick Timeline
🔎 Rediscovery Phase
Found old portfolio sites on Wix and Squarespace
→ Sparked the idea to build a site from scratch
→ Wanted a more structured and personal online space
🎯 Goal Setting
→ Decided to create a website that reflects both my professional experience and personal interests
→ Challenge: Build it myself to grow my skills and creative freedom
🔍 Research & Inspiration
→ Explored websites like Marine Meudec, EDHREC, and Lost in the Midlands
→ Took notes on layout, tone, content strategy, and design elements
🧠 Reflection & Direction
→ Realised a simple portfolio wouldn’t be enough
→ Wanted more flexibility for sharing updates, hobbies, and insights
🛠️ Structuring the Website
Split the site into two main areas:
Portfolio: Highlight my work and experiences
Blog: Share learning updates, reflections, and passions
🚀 Launch & Growth
→ Website now acts as a hybrid space for both professional storytelling and personal creativity
→ Ongoing updates as I grow, learn, and explore more
Understanding Website Creation from Scratch
While I had previously built websites using website creators, I had never handled technical aspects like hosting, domains, or customisation beyond drag-and-drop interfaces. This was uncharted territory for me.
I needed to figure out:
- Which hosting service to choose
- How to select a domain name
- What platform would best suit my needs
I researched different hosting options and ultimately decided to go with OVH as I wanted to use WordPress and it seemed manageable to install it on it, which offered the balance I needed between customisation and ease of use. It is also a software that people use a lot with a lot of tutorials.
When it came to choosing a theme, I tested out a few options and narrowed it down to OceanWP and Astra. In the end, I chose Astra after reading several articles that highlighted it as one of the best free themes available, especially for beginners. I then added extra plugins depending on what I needed for the site.
Even though I listened to a lot of tutorials there I had to face a lot of problems and I fixed the problem on the way like the security issue, some plugging issues ….
After overcoming the initial learning curve, I successfully set up my site and fit it to reflect my personal style and professional goals. Now, I have a platform that not only shows my work but also grows with me as I continue to learn and evolve.
Challenges Faced & How I Overcame Them
Building a website from scratch wasn’t without problems. Some of the main challenges I faced included:
1. Choosing the right theme :
I wanted something both visually appealing and functional, which led me to test multiple themes before settling on the best fit. I also wanted a broad number of options.
2. Dealing with technical issues on OVH:
I had to face two main issues on OVH :
- I did not buy the hosting with the domain name, then I had to link the domain name to my hosting plan, to solve this issue after watching several tutorials I decided to ask a friends
- Unsecure website (HTTPS added Akismet)
3. Creating a cohesive design:
I wanted to pick a design that reflected me. Blue was my first choice for the main colour, no hesitation there. But choosing a second colour was trickier. I looked into tones that worked well with blue and narrowed it down to three options: beige, coral, and purple.
After trying out a few combinations, I ended up going with purple. It felt like the best match, bold enough to complement the blue and bring the right energy to the website. Beige and coral just didn’t have the same punch.
For the site itself, I used Canva to create the first draft. I knew from the start that I wanted a minimalist design without too many embellishments. No cursive fonts or anything that looked like a signature, just clean, straight lines that matched the vibe I was going for. I created the logo with help from my friend Sarah Lion, head of SOL.
What’s Next? Data-Driven Improvements
This website is just the beginning! Moving forward, I plan to:
📊 Leverage data analytics:
I’ve integrated Google Analytics and Search Console to track user behaviour and refine my content strategy based on performance insights.
🚀Optimise for SEO:
I’m continuously refining metadata, improving page structure, and conducting keyword research to increase discoverability.
📝Expand blog content:
I’ll explore topics like digital communication trends, content strategy, and insights from my experiences in website management.
🎨Enhance UX design:
I want to experiment with interactive elements like micro-animations and embedded multimedia to improve engagement.
Final Thoughts: Digital Adaptability & Continuous Learning
This project reinforced an important belief: adaptability and a data-driven mindset are crucial in today’s digital landscape. By stepping outside my comfort zone, I gained hands-on experience in UX design, SEO, performance optimisation, and technical troubleshooting, all essential skills in the tech and communication industries.
With a foundation in digital strategy and a growing expertise in data analytics, I’m excited to continue refining this platform and applying these skills to future projects. Stay tuned for more insights and experiments! 🚀
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a look around, explore my work and blog, and feel free to contact me !