Mila Joshua Yona
The 24-Hour Challenge
You wake up with an idea. A brand. A product. A cause.
You’ve told yourself for months you’ll build a website “soon.” But “soon” keeps slipping away. Now, you’ve decided — it’s today or never.
The clock is ticking. By this time tomorrow, your site will be live for the world to see.
This is how you make it happen.
Hour 0 – Setting the Scene
Before the timer starts, you need:
- A laptop
- Internet connection
- A notebook (or digital notes app)
- Caffeine (optional but recommended)
The mindset: Done is better than perfect. You can polish later. Today, the mission is launched.
Hour 1 – Define Your “Why”
Before touching a keyboard:
- Who is your website for?
- What problem does it solve?
- What action do you want visitors to take?
This is your North Star. Every decision today will point to it.
Example:
“I’m building a personal portfolio to get freelance design clients. Goal: Visitors should contact me for work.”
Hour 2 – Choose Your Platform
We’re on a 24-hour clock, so forget reinventing the wheel:
- For absolute beginners: WordPress.com, Wix, Squarespace.
- For intermediate users: WordPress.org (self-hosted) or Webflow.
- For developers: HTML/CSS/JS + hosting (if you can code fast).
Pick one and stick with it — indecision will kill your time.
Hour 3 – Grab Your Domain
- Use Namecheap, GoDaddy, or your platform’s domain purchase option.
- Keep it short, memorable, and relevant.
- Pro tip: If your brand name isn’t available, add a keyword (e.g., MilaDesigns.com → MilaDesignsStudio.com).
Hour 4 – Choose Hosting
If you picked WordPress.org or custom code:
- Fast, beginner-friendly hosting: Milahosting.cloud, SiteGround, Hostinger, Bluehost.
- Buy hosting + connect your domain immediately.
If you picked a website builder, hosting is built in — skip ahead.
Hour 5 – Pick a Template
Don’t start from scratch — templates save hours.
- Browse templates built for your niche (portfolio, e-commerce, blog, etc.).
- Choose one that’s 80% right. You’ll adjust colors and images later.
Hour 6 – Create Your Brand Look
- Choose two main colors and one accent.
- Pick two fonts: one for headings, one for body text.
- Free tools: Coolors.co, Google Fonts.
Hour 7 – Write Your Home Page Headline
Your homepage headline is the first thing people read. Make it clear and benefit-driven:
“I help small businesses grow with bold, strategic design.”
Avoid vague intros like “Welcome to my website.”
Hour 8 – Add Your Core Pages
At minimum:
- Home – Who you are, what you offer, why it matters.
- About – Your story, mission, and values.
- Services/Products – Clear descriptions + pricing or CTA.
- Contact – Email form, social links, phone (if relevant).
Hour 9 – Gather Your Images
- Use high-quality stock photos if you don’t have originals: Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay.
- Compress them with TinyPNG to keep your site fast.
Hour 10 – Customize Your Template
- Swap out placeholder text/images.
- Apply your brand colors and fonts.
- Keep sections clean — don’t overcrowd.
Hour 11 – Add a Call-to-Action
Every page should tell visitors exactly what to do:
- “Book a Call”
- “Shop Now”
- “Subscribe”
Hour 12 – Lunch Break & Reflection
You’ve built the skeleton. Now breathe. Check what’s working and what’s missing.
Hour 13 – Mobile Optimization
Most visitors are on phones:
- Preview on mobile view.
- Resize images, adjust text for small screens.
Hour 14 – Install Must-Have Tools
If on WordPress:
- Yoast SEO – for search optimization.
- WPForms – for contact forms.
- LiteSpeed Cache – for faster load times.
If on a builder, enable built-in SEO and analytics.
Hour 15 – Write Your About Page Like a Story
Make it human:
- Why did you start?
- What drives you?
- How do you help your audience?
Hour 16 – Add Testimonials or Social Proof
- Ask 2–3 people for quick reviews.
- If you’re new, showcase work samples or mock projects.
Hour 17 – Check Your Links
Broken links kill trust. Click through every page and test buttons.
Hour 18 – Do a Quick SEO Pass
- Add meta descriptions.
- Use headings (H1, H2) correctly.
- Add alt text to images.
Hour 19 – Set Up Analytics
- Install Google Analytics 4.
- If on a builder, enable native analytics.
Hour 20 – Security Check
- Enable HTTPS (SSL).
- Add a simple security plugin if on WordPress.
Hour 21 – Final Design Tweaks
- Adjust spacing, margins, and font sizes.
- Remove any “lorem ipsum” filler text.
Hour 22 – Test with Friends
Ask 2–3 friends to visit the site and give feedback on clarity and ease of navigation.
Hour 23 – Fix & Polish
Apply quick fixes from feedback:
- Clarify confusing sections.
- Improve CTA visibility.
Hour 24 – Go Live
Hit publish. Share it with the world:
- Post on social media.
- Email your contacts.
- Celebrate — you just built a website in a single day.
Why This Works
Building in 24 hours forces you to focus on essentials, not perfection.
You now have a working site you can improve over time — and that’s infinitely better than a “coming soon” page that sits for months.
If you need a fully built professional website, feel free to reach out via WhatsApp.
