Some websites are beautiful. Some have flashy 3D graphics, smooth animations, and hyper-polished branding. Others use cutting-edge user experience design and interactive features that feel more like a video game than a webpage.
But you know what? None of that matters if the site doesn’t actually work.
Take Craigslist. One of the most-used websites in the world. It’s been rocking the same plain design since the early 2000s. No fancy fonts. No slick animations. Just pure function. Ebay? Same deal. Their layout hasn’t changed much in over a decade, and they still pull in millions of users every month.
The point is: you don’t need perfection, you need utility. A website that works for your goals. A site that gets visited. A site that gets used. That’s what counts.
Perfection Is a Trap. Practicality Is Power
You’ve probably heard that quote, *“Perfect is the enemy of done.”* That’s real. The idea that everything has to be beautiful, flawless, and cutting-edge before it goes live? That’s how people stay stuck. That’s how ideas stay ideas instead of becoming reality.
The truth is, perfection doesn’t exist. Except maybe your beautiful kids (I’ll give you that one). But in tech, perfection is just a dressed-up excuse for procrastination. You’ve seen it, websites that look stunning but don’t actually *do* anything. No clear purpose. No real function.
Meanwhile, some of the most visited sites on the internet are basic. Even boring. But they solve a problem. They give people what they came for. And that’s why people keep coming back.
Don’t get caught in the cycle of tweaking fonts, colors, or layouts endlessly while never actually launching. That energy is better spent solving problems and meeting needs. If your website works and helps people do what they came to do, you’re already ahead of most.
What Does “Working” Even Mean?
When I say you need a working website, I mean a site that “serves a clear purpose” and actually fulfills it. Ask yourself:
– What do I need my website to do?
– Who is it for?
– What should they be able to do when they get there?
A site that works could mean:
– Collecting email sign-ups for your newsletter or brand.
– Getting feedback from your group or organization.
– Letting people know where you’ll be performing next Friday.
– Booking appointments for your service business.
– Accepting payments for your new side hustle.
It doesn’t have to do *everything* it just needs to do *something* that matters to you and your audience.
Whatever your goal is, write it down. Keep it in focus. Your design decisions, platform choice, and even content should support that main objective. If something doesn’t help you move toward that goal, you don’t need it at least not yet.
Start With an M.V.P. (Minimum Viable Product)
You might’ve heard this term before in the startup world, but let me break it down: “An MVP is the smallest, most basic version of your website that still gets the job done.“
You don’t need to launch with five pages, custom fonts, a login system, and animations. You need:
– A homepage.
– A contact form.
– A clear message.
– One or two action steps.
That’s it.
Starting small lets you launch faster, make mistakes, learn, and adjust based on real feedback. You’ll get way more value from 10 people actually using your site than from 6 months of building something nobody sees.
And don’t worry about impressing everyone from the jump. The goal is not to win design awards it’s to meet needs, build consistency, and create something that grows with you over time.
You Don’t Need a Designer Yet
A lot of people think, “Well, I’m not a designer. I don’t know how to make something look good.” And that’s fine! You don’t have to be. You don’t need a whole team. You just need a plan.
When you focus on purpose and performance over polish, you can build your website using tools already out there free ones, easy ones, ones you can learn in a weekend. Platforms like WordPress, Carrd, Notion, or even a free site builder from your hosting provider can help you go live without stress.
Eventually, yeah, hire a designer if your business scales. But first? Prove the concept. Get traction. Collect results.
And here’s a little secret some of the most impactful sites are the simplest ones. A plain design with a clear call-to-action will beat a flashy but confusing site every single time. Simple works. Consistent works. Done works.
Define Success “Your Way!”
Let me be clear none of this means design doesn’t matter at all. It does. Visuals help with trust and credibility. A clean design makes things easier to use.
But design should serve “function”. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to impress people with fancy aesthetics and end up with a site that confuses your visitors or takes forever to load.
A successful website:
– Loads fast.
– Is easy to use.
– Delivers what people came for.
– Helps you achieve your goals.
If you’ve got that, then congrats, you’ve got a website that works.
Final Word
Don’t wait until everything’s perfect. You’re not building a museum piece, you’re building a tool. A tool that helps you connect, grow, create, and serve.
Start with a single goal. Build around that. Stay flexible. Let your site grow with you. Don’t let perfection slow you down because a working website will always beat a pretty one that never launches.
And when you’re ready to make it real, I’ll be right here to help.
✌🏾Your local neighborhood software engineer, Christin