How to Build a Website With AI: A Practical Guide From My Own Rebuild

Can You Build a Website With AI?

Yes, you can build a business website with AI without manually writing code.

What times we live in!

I did it for my website, and I’m going to share the process I followed.

If you follow along, the quality of your site will depend on:

  • How much accurate business context you give your AI tools
  • Being invested in the process to make human decisions
  • Careful testing

This isn’t a “build a website in 5 minutes with AI” - it’s WAY more valuable than that.

I used this process to replace the WordPress website I had relied on for ten years.

My new website is now live (you’re on it!), and I can update it by describing what I want changed through the AI desktop apps connected to my Business Brain OS.

My AI website setup at a glance

Part of the process Tool or system What it did
Business context Business Brain OS Holds my brand, offers, audience information, SEO strategy and existing website files
Messaging Claude desktop app Helped refine the positioning, page structure and copy
Design and build Codex desktop app Created the visual pages and implemented changes
Local source Website files on my computer Kept the working website under my control
File storage and history GitHub Stored the website files and their revision history
Preview and hosting Vercel Created a staging site for testing and hosted the finished website
Going live DNS settings Pointed my existing domain from the old host to the Vercel site

Note: this was a custom AI-assisted build, not a site generated inside Wix, Squarespace or another all-in-one AI website builder.

Why Did I Replace WordPress With an AI-Built Website?

I was a website designer for ages - at least 5 years (and I have picked up the odd project here and there since I stopped it being my ‘main’ thing) - and always used Wordpress.

After doing it that long:

  • wrestling with page builders
  • plugin updates
  • the stress of sites going down if there’s a plugin conflict
  • the increasing bloat and workarounds to get sites to do what my clients wanted

I kinda got sick of it all.

Copywriting services (that I moved into) was a much easier route. Just me, my brain and a Google doc. Sweet relief!

Since then, I’ve been neglecting my website. Every time something needed doing, I just had a massive freeze response around it.

Want to write a blog? Sure! It’s written…but now I’ve got to

  • Upload and format the article
  • Find and prepare an image
  • Check the page-builder layout
  • Add links and SEO information
  • Troubleshoot anything that behaved unexpectedly Too hard basket!

Got a new offer to sell? Ugh! Just share it on a Google doc (works surprisingly well BTW with the right market!).

I started using a funnel builder for my sales pages and freebies etc - and little by little my main website just got ignored.

And you know what? In spite of neglecting it, it still gets some Google traffic and brings in enquiries.

So I decided it’s time to bring it back to life - with regular blog content, a coherent place for my offers, and an experiment in using AI to help with all of this.

What Does “Building a Website With AI” Actually Mean?

Building a website with AI can mean several different things.

You might use an AI website builder that generates a website inside its own platform.

You can use AI features within WordPress or another page builder.

Or you can use AI coding tools to create and edit website files that you host separately.

I used the third approach.

  • Claude and Codex worked with website files stored on my computer
  • GitHub holds an online copy of those files
  • Vercel turns them into a staging site I could review before making the new website live
  • And now it’s live - Vercel hosts the site…for free. Nuts!

This approach involved more initial setup than using an all-in-one website builder, but the website now forms part of my wider Business Brain OS.

It works from the same messaging, offers, audience information, SEO strategy and content plans as everything else in the business.

That means my Business Brain can help me

The website is one connected part of an AI operating system that can support work across the entire business, rather than a separate tool that only comes into play when I need to edit a page.

Want me to build a Business Brain OSTM for your business? Here’s how we can work together.

Which AI Tools Are Best for Website Messaging and Design?

In my experience, Claude was better for my website messaging, while Codex was better for the design elements and implementation.

Using both works because the desktop apps can connect to the same folder - which is where the Business Brain OS lives.

Task Tool I preferred Why
Positioning exploration Claude It was stronger at developing and refining the language
Page copy Claude It handled tone, nuance and messaging decisions well
Visual concepts Codex It translated instructions into page designs more effectively
Building the pages Codex It was better suited to changing the local website files
Shared context Business Brain OS Both tools could use the same organised business information

It’s not about finding one AI tool that does everything, or relying on a mix of paid subscriptions that you have to cobble together.

This system allows different tools to work from the same reliable context, then using each where it was strongest.

That shared context also made the experience feel surprisingly close to mind-reading.

Sure - these tools can’t actually read my mind, but they can see the decisions, preferences and business information I have developed, and then act accordingly.

What Information Does AI Need Before Building a Website?

AI needs accurate business context before it can produce a website that is exactly what your business needs.

You wouldn’t give a website designer a ‘perfect prompt’ and then expect them to create something that looks and sounds exactly like you want?

Would you?? (Hint: the answer is no!)

Here’s how to give your Business Brain the relevant context

  • Current offers and services
  • Audience research and client language
  • Brand voice and language rules
  • Existing website pages and blog content
  • Positioning and messaging work
  • SEO keywords and current search priorities
  • Design preferences and visual references
  • Proof, testimonials and examples I use all of that information to create a Brand Voice Guide - so it writes like you.

And also to create Brand Guidelines - so it knows what your business design looks like.

With my website rebuild - I got BBOS to do an audit of all the pages (SO many old and irrelevant pages - my poor, poor website).

We moved across what’s relevant, archived the old stuff.

I have squirrel tendencies, so they’re all saved down in the unlikely event I’ll ever need them again (you should see my loft and garage - don’t judge me!)

This Brain at the heart of the process is the engine driving everything.

It also means Claude and Codex can use the same source of truth even though I used them for different parts of the project.

How Do You Build a Website With AI?

Building a business website with AI involves seven main steps:

  1. Gather your business context. Give the AI accurate information about your offers, audience, brand, existing content and website goals.
  2. Review your existing website. Decide what should be retained, rewritten, redirected or removed rather than automatically copying everything.
  3. Refine the messaging. Work out what each page needs to communicate before judging the visual design.
  4. Create the first design. Turn the messaging into working pages so you can see how the words and layout affect each other.
  5. Refine the words and design together. Review each version and keep improving both until the visual hierarchy supports the message.
  6. Test the website on a staging site. Check navigation, mobile layouts, forms, links, metadata and redirects before replacing the live website.
  7. Connect the domain and monitor it. Point the domain to the new host, then check indexing, search performance and website functionality after launch.

The technical route for my site was straightforward:

Local website files → GitHub → Vercel staging site → live domain

GitHub defines a repository as a place to store project files and their revision history.

Vercel provides local, preview and production environments, which meant I could test the new site before it affected visitors to my existing domain.

It now hosts my live site - for exactly zero dollars a month.

Should You Write the Copy or Design the Website First?

The eternal website chicken-egg conundrum.

Start with the messaging, then use the design to test and improve it.

Website messaging and design work best as an iterative process rather than two completely separate stages.

My process looked like this:

  1. Claude helped me refine the message for a page.
  2. Codex turned that content into a visual mockup or working page.
  3. I reviewed the words in their real design context.
  4. I identified what felt unclear, too long or visually overemphasised.
  5. I refined the messaging, design or both.
  6. I reviewed the new version and repeated the process where necessary.

Did it take 5 minutes?

Of course not.

It took me about 2 weeks (around client projects) - mainly because I find it impossible to make decisions and kept flip-flopping about EVERYTHING.

And considering I probably would have never gotten around to this under my own steam? 2 weeks is more than reasonable.

Here are some reasons for my flip-flopping:

  • Seeing the copy in context changed my decisions.
  • A paragraph that sounded fine in a document could feel far too long on a page.
  • A section I thought was important sometimes received more visual emphasis than it deserved.
  • A design could also expose a missing piece of the explanation. As the business owner, you STILL have to make decisions, and that can be a bit of a process.

But AI generates options so quickly, that you can cycle through your ideas really quickly, which really does help with the decision-making process.

I’ve still got some interesting ideas that it created, they’re parked for now, but they may resurface in the future.

How Do You Test an AI-Built Website Before Launch?

Always build on a test server.

Vercel makes this super easy - so you’ve got a ‘live’ version of the site you can build on, change and update, and none of it goes onto the internet for others to see until you’re ready.

This means you can review the pages as a visitor would experience them, and check both content and functionality.

The pre-launch checks included:

  • Navigation and page flow
  • Desktop and mobile layouts
  • Buttons and internal links
  • Contact forms and other interactive elements
  • Page titles and descriptions
  • Image display and alternative text
  • Old web addresses and required redirects
  • Analytics and tracking
  • Accessibility and readability Once the site is ready, change your DNS settings with your host or domain provider.

It flips a switch, and your website goes live.

This same process is what happens when you make updates in the future.

  1. Get AI and your Business Brain to make the changes
  2. Adjust, edit, refine
  3. When you’re happy - push to the live website

How Do You Protect SEO When Replacing WordPress?

Protect existing SEO by preserving valuable URLs, redirecting changed pages and monitoring the new site after launch.

The method used to build the new website does not remove the normal requirements of a website migration.

Some of my existing pages and posts already received search traffic. The migration therefore needed to account for:

  • Pages and posts currently attracting visitors
  • URLs that could remain unchanged
  • Permanent redirects for changed or removed URLs
  • Existing titles, descriptions and headings
  • Internal links between pages
  • Broken links or missing files
  • Sitemap and indexing checks
  • Search performance after the switch

Google’s site-move guidance recommends mapping old URLs to their new destinations and using permanent server-side redirects when addresses change.

You also monitor your website through Search Console (which is your ongoing BFF for keeping an eye on traffic).

My SEO strategy also lives inside Business Brain OS alongside the website content.

This means future articles and new pages can be considered within the wider site structure instead of being created as isolated pieces.

What Are the Benefits and Limitations of Building a Website With AI?

AI makes it faster to create, review and update a custom website, but it does not make strategic decisions or quality control unnecessary.

Benefits

  • Faster implementation means ideas can become working pages quickly.
  • I can describe the result I want instead of finding the right page-builder setting.
  • Claude and Codex can work from the same brand, offer and audience information.
  • The website exists as files rather than being trapped inside a proprietary page builder.
  • The same system can support new blogs, offers and site improvements.

Limitations

  • AI will confidently work from outdated or unclear material, so you need to make sure the foundations of your Business Brain are solid
  • The output still needs your judgement. It makes the process faster, but things still take time, because YOU need thinking time.
  • Testing remains essential. Links, forms, mobile layouts, accessibility and SEO can still go wrong. Don’t take what AI tells you as gospel - check things yourself as well
  • A custom setup has technical parts - GitHub, hosting and DNS may require support if you have not used them before (hint: AI can walk you through this!)

Can AI Maintain a Website After It Goes Live?

Yes, AI can continue updating a website after launch when it has access to the website files and enough context to make the requested changes accurately.

This is the part of the project that has changed my relationship with my website most.

Before, a small edit could trigger a freeze response because I knew it involved logging into WordPress, opening the page builder and finding the relevant settings. Publishing a blog created a chain of extra jobs after the writing was complete.

Now I can open my Business Brain, describe the change and review the result straight away.

The same system contains:

  • Website messaging
  • Offer information
  • Brand and audience context
  • SEO priorities
  • Blog plans
  • My Content Multiplier system

The website has become part of my working business system rather than a separate platform waiting to be maintained.

Is Building a Website With AI Right for Your Business?

Building a website with AI is a good option when you want faster implementation, can provide clear business context and are prepared to review the work carefully.

An integrated builder may suit a simple site, while a custom workflow offers more control and ownership.

Consider a custom AI-assisted website if:

  • You want the website files under your control.
  • You need more flexibility than a template-based builder offers.
  • You have existing business material the AI can use.
  • You want a “mind-reader” on your team (just joking…kind of)
  • You can handle the technical setup or have help available

Consider a conventional website builder if:

  • You need a simple website online quickly.
  • You prefer one platform to manage hosting and editing.
  • You do not need extensive customisation.
  • You want the lowest possible technical barrier. The deciding question is not whether AI can generate a website. It can.

The question is whether the finished site understands your business, supports your marketing and remains easy enough to use after the launch.

My AI-generated website has me genuinely excited about my marketing, and for the first time in years, I am excited to add content and keep improving it.

If you want an AI operating system that connects your business context, content and implementation in one place, take a look at my Business Growth Intensive

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Build a Website With AI Without Coding?

Yes. An integrated AI website builder can generate and publish a site without requiring you to code.

AI coding tools can also create the website files from plain-language instructions, although a custom setup may require help with GitHub, hosting, DNS or quality assurance.

What Is the Best AI Tool for Building a Website?

The best tool depends on the task and the amount of control you need.

I prefer Claude for messaging and Codex for design and implementation.

A managed AI website builder may be easier if you want a simple site and do not need direct access to the underlying files.

Can Claude Build a Website?

Claude can help plan a website, write the messaging and generate or edit website code.

I used Claude mainly for the language and positioning because that was where it performed best for me. The resulting work still needed reviewing and publishing through a website workflow.

Can Codex Build a Website?

Codex can create and edit website files from natural-language instructions.

I used it for the visual design and implementation because it was stronger at turning my decisions into working pages.

It worked from the same Business Brain folder as Claude.

Can AI Replace WordPress?

AI-assisted development can replace WordPress for many marketing websites, but it won’t be the right choice for every site.

WordPress remains useful when a business depends on its publishing interface, plugin ecosystem or specialist functionality.

I moved because I wanted a lighter workflow with fewer maintenance tasks.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website With AI?

The cost depends on the tools, hosting and level of support involved.

My Vercel hosting is free, and the build used the AI subscription I already pay for.

Other businesses may need paid hosting, a website-builder subscription, premium integrations or technical support.

Can an AI-Built Website Rank on Google?

Yes. Google evaluates the accessibility, usefulness and quality of the finished website rather than the method used to produce its files.

An AI-built site still needs crawlable pages, original content, accurate metadata, internal links, mobile usability and a sound migration plan.

Who Owns an AI-Built Website?

Ownership depends on the platform and terms you choose.

My website exists as local files stored in GitHub and hosted through Vercel, so it is not confined to a proprietary page builder.

Check file access, export options and platform terms before committing to a service.

Can AI Update a Website After Launch?

Yes. AI coding tools can update a live website by editing its source files and sending a new version through the publishing workflow.

I can describe a change through Claude or Codex, review it on the site and keep the website current without editing WordPress pages manually.