How to Create a Website Mockup — Complete Guide with Examples
Have you considered building a website but don't know where to start? The answer is simple: create a mockup! It is the foundation of your future online space, allowing you to visualize ideas, check the structure, and avoid many mistakes.
In this guide, we'll explain how to make it step by step and make the process exciting and useful.
What is a website mockup, and why is it important?
If you decided to build a house, what would you do first? Would you try to start construction right away, or would you develop a plan? The same goes for websites: before you start developing, it is crucial to create a clear mockup that will help you visualize the future project. So, it helps you:
➤ Visualize the structure.
It allows you to imagine how your pages will look. You can see how the arrangement of blocks, such as the header, menu, text sections, images, and buttons. This provides a clear understanding of the page look as a whole and helps avoid chaotic element placement.
➤ Check if navigation is convenient.
You can test the logic of page transitions and check the accessibility of key features (such as an order form or a "Contact" button). This ensures that users can easily find the information they need and are not confused. This is especially important for large projects such as online stores.
➤ Agree on the design with your team or clients.
It helps avoid misunderstandings between designers, developers, or clients. It allows you to quickly demonstrate your idea, get feedback, and make necessary changes before you start working on the finished design. This simplifies communication for everyone involved in the project.
➤ Save time and money during the development phase.
When the layout is approved, developers and designers work more efficiently because they already have a clear idea of it. This reduces the number of rework that could occur due to overlooked details. In addition, it avoids the cost of making changes to the code or finished design, which is always more difficult and expensive than adjusting the layout.
Create a website mockup: the step-by-step guide
Step 1: Determine the purpose
Before you start creating a layout, it’s important to understand what exactly you need your website for. You need to answer a few key questions clearly. What is the main goal of your website? For example, it could be increasing sales, showcasing creative work, attracting new customers, or building trust in your brand.
The next important question is who is your audience? Studying your target audience will help you understand what features and designs will be most convenient for them. If it is for a young audience, you may want to focus on a modern, bright design with interactive elements. If they are business clients, the website should look professional, with an emphasis on a clear structure and easy navigation.
Imagine that your site is a tool that solves specific tasks. For example, if your goal is to sell products, you should focus on creating a clear catalog with high-quality images, clear product descriptions, and quick access to payment and shipping information. In the case of a portfolio, the emphasis is on ease of perception, convenient search for projects, and the ability to subscribe to updates.
By clearly defining your goal, audience, and key features, you can build a layout that not only looks good but also performs its intended tasks, providing your visitors with the best experience.
Step 2: Research and inspiration
Before you make your layout, look for and analyze successful websites in your niche. This will help you understand which elements work best for your audience and which ones can be improved.
Find a few competitors that are similar to yours in terms of area or target audience. For example, if you need a website for a small business, look at the similar ones. Pay attention to:
➤ Sections they use (services, prices, reviews, contact information).
➤ How they arrange key elements such as buttons, forms, and images.
➤ What feels convenient, and what feels uncomfortable to use?
Write down your impressions: what you like and what you would like to avoid in your project.
Don’t limit yourself to your competitors. Look at examples from other industries that look professional and attractive. This can help you find fresh ideas that you can adapt for your project. Draftium is a helpful source of inspiration. This platform offers many ready-made templates that show what modern websites look like.
After analyzing and reviewing the examples, make a list of ideas that you want to use in your layout. For example:
➤ Use a large banner with a call to action button.
➤ Add a carousel of customer reviews.
➤ Create a section with interactive icons for key services.
Research allows you to avoid random decisions and make a layout based on proven approaches.
Step 3: Choose a tool to create a layout
Draftium is the perfect choice for those who want to quickly and affordably make a prototype of their website without complex technical skills. This tool is designed specifically for building visual mockups that can be easily edited, demonstrated to clients, or used as a basis for further development.
Main advantages of Draftium:
➤ Ease of use
Even if you have never worked with mockups before, Draftium is intuitive. You can simply add, edit, and remove blocks to the page's structure. No code is needed, and everything is as clear and accessible as possible.
➤ Fast creation
Draftium offers more than 250 ready-made templates for different types, such as online stores, corporate sites, landing pages, and blogs. This allows you to start working with an already-formed base and adapt it to your needs in just a few hours.
➤ Realistic appearance
Draftium prototypes are built with modern approaches. You can use accurate text, images, and even interactive elements to show your clients or team what your future site will look like.
➤ Collaborative
Draftium allows you to collaborate with other team members or clients. You can send a link to your layout and receive comments directly on the platform, which significantly simplifies the process of agreeing on and making changes.
Getting started with Draftium and working on mockup free website is really easy. Just register on the platform and choose a template that matches your purpose, or start from scratch!
Step 4: Create a wireframe
Now, make a basic black-and-white layout that shows the structure of the pages and the main blocks without decorative elements. It will act as a skeleton for future design, helping you focus on functionality and interaction logic.
Display the main areas: a header (with a logo and menu), text content, buttons, images, and a footer. The header can contain navigation, and the footer can contain contact information and social media links.
Thanks to the simple approach, you can easily understand whether all the elements are logically arranged and whether the user will be able to find the information they need.
You can also think about where the key interaction elements will be located: feedback forms, search fields, and call-to-action buttons (such as "Buy" or "Contact"). This helps ensure that users can easily interact with your site.
Step 5: Add style
Once you’ve approved the wireframe, you can liven up your layout by adding style and visuals.
Start with choosing fonts. They should be readable, stylish, and match the overall mood. Use a combination of fonts: one for headings and another for body text. This will help structure the information and make it easier to perceive. Overly experimental fonts can be confusing to the user, so strike a balance between creativity and functionality.
Then, add imagery. Use high-quality, relevant photos or illustrations that highlight your content. They attract attention, tell your brand’s story, and give a professional look. If you don’t have your photos, use the Draftium’s library. It’s essential to stick to a single image style so that the design looks harmonious. All images you upload will automatically become black and white so as not to distract from the main purpose of this prototype with pictures.
Building responsive versions of your website layout for different devices is a critical step in modern web design. After all, your website should look equally good on a computer, tablet, or smartphone to ensure a comfortable experience for all visitors. However, with Draftium, this process becomes much easier: all templates are mobile-friendly. You don’t need to adjust every detail for different screen sizes manually — the platform preserves its aesthetics and functionality.
Step 6: Check your layout
It’s crucial to test the mockup to make sure it meets all your requirements and is user-friendly. This step will help you identify and fix any issues, saving you time and resources.
Start by sharing it with friends, colleagues, or potential users. Ask them to review it and give you their feedback. Ask them if the page structure is clear, if the information you need is easy to find, and if the buttons and navigation seem convenient. A fresh perspective helps you spot details you might have missed, as it can be challenging to be objective after working on a layout for a long time.
Next, check the usability. Imagine yourself as a customer: Are all the elements logically arranged, and are they easy to navigate between sections? Try out different scenarios that your visitors will likely encounter, such as finding contact information or adding an item to their cart. If an action takes longer than expected, it might be time to review the structure or rearrange the elements.
It’s also essential to ensure that the layout looks precise, even without additional explanation. If anything is unclear or needs further explanation, it’s best to fix it upfront. The simpler and more intuitive it is, the more likely users will want to return to it.
Reviewing your layout is the final step, ensuring that you’ve considered all the details before you start development. Your goal is to build a layout that will serve as the foundation for a user-friendly, logical, and effective site that meets the needs of both your customers and your business.
What to do after creating a mockup?
When everything is ready and tested, it's time to launch a website to mockup. At this stage, it's convenient to use the Weblium builder. This tool allows you to turn it into a fully functional website without programming knowledge.
Weblium offers an intuitive interface that simplifies the creation. You can literally bring to life your mockup by adding colors and functionality. Thanks to its convenient editor, you can quickly transfer the mockup.
The platform supports features such as feedback forms, built-in SEO, CRM systems, analytics integration, and ecommerce. Thus, depending on your business goals, you can easily add functionality.
Thanks to this tool, you can quickly go from idea to implementation, launching a site that looks appealing, works flawlessly, and meets the needs of your audience.
Mockup examples
Here are some ideas you can find on the mockup website builder Draftium:
Small business: clear structure, focus on services.
A corporate website is an essential part of a business's online presence, from start-ups to schools. It allows you to provide potential customers with information about the company, its services or products, history, mission, and contacts. A clear structure and a focus on conversions attract customers to take further action — whether it's a purchase, subscribing to a newsletter, or contacting. The pages usually have the following main sections: home page, about the company, services, cases or successful projects, blogs or news, and forms.
It should be intuitive and well-organized, with straightforward navigation so that the visitor can quickly find the information they need. Particular attention is paid to the design, which should correspond to the brand and create an impression of reliability. An important part is the section with descriptions of services or products so that the potential customer can understand what exactly the company offers. An essential element is also CTAs (calls to action) and the ability to quickly contact the company via email, chat, or social media.
Online store: category pages, filters, buy buttons.
An online store is focused on selling goods. It includes several critical functional elements, such as category pages, easy searching for goods, etc. The store also has buttons for adding goods to the cart and purchasing. In addition, special attention should be paid to the process of placing an order and purchasing, which should be simple and safe for the user.
The design of an online store should be responsive since buyers often make purchases from mobile devices. One of the key features is the presence of filters, which allows visitors to quickly find the desired product by color, size, price, and other parameters. In order to facilitate the purchase process, each product should have a "Buy" button, as well as the ability to view detailed photos and descriptions. A section for user reviews is essential, which allows you to build trust in the product and the store.
The checkout process should be as convenient as possible, including the ability to choose a shipping and payment method. All of this functionality allows you to increase orders and user convenience.
Portfolio: gallery of works, project descriptions, contact form.
A portfolio showcases work or projects. It is an ideal solution for freelancers, designers, photographers, artists, constructors, and other professionals who want to show their work to potential clients. The structure of a portfolio usually includes a gallery of works, where each project is presented in the form of images or videos with a short description.
One of the main aspects is the convenience of viewing works. The site should have the ability to browse different projects and classify them by category easily. It is vital to describe each project, which includes the purpose of the task, the work process, and the result. Visitors should be able to contact the author quickly, so contact forms or contact buttons are an essential part.
A portfolio should also include a section with customer reviews or recommendations, which will increase trust and allow potential clients to understand the level of expertise. The design is just as important as the content, as the portfolio should be stylish and reflect the owner's personality or brand.
Creating a website page mockup is an important step that will ensure its future success. Start by defining the purpose, conducting thorough research, and finding inspiration from similar resources. Then, make a free website mockup on Draftium, where you can visualize the structure and polish its functional elements.
Once the layout is approved, you will be ready to add style and images to make the aesthetically appealing. Finally, with Weblium, you can bring your layout to life by adding the necessary features, such as forms and integrations.
Your site will definitely attract the attention of visitors, providing them with not only helpful content but also a pleasant interaction experience.