How I Used AI to Build a Website in 1 Day (And You Can Too)

Let’s be real. The idea of building a website used to fill me with dread.

Visions of complex code, expensive developers, and weeks of frustrating work would pop into my head. I’m a writer, not a programmer. I had zero budget and even less technical skill.

But I also had a dream—to launch my own portfolio site to showcase my work.

Then, I fell down the AI rabbit hole. I read the headlines, saw the hype, and decided to put it to the ultimate test: Could I, a complete novice, build a website from scratch in just one day using only AI?

Spoiler alert: Not only did I do it, but the result blew my mind. And I didn’t spend a single dollar.

This is my complete, step-by-step journey of how I used AI to build a website in 1 day. No fluff, just the real process, the tools I used, and the shocking things I learned.

My "Why": The Goal for My One-Day Website

Before I typed a single prompt into an AI, I defined my goal. A vague goal gets vague results, especially with AI.

Purpose: A professional writing portfolio to attract clients.
Pages Needed: Home, About, Services, Portfolio, Contact.
Vibe: Clean, modern, and trustworthy.
Deadline: 9 AM to 5 PM. One single day.

The AI Toolbox: My Digital Workforce for the Day

I didn’t use one single magic button. I used a team of specialized AI tools, all free.

ChatGPT (OpenAI): The Project Manager & Copywriter. This was my brain for planning, writing, and problem-solving.
Midjourney (via a free trial): The Graphic Designer. For creating unique, custom images and a site logo.
Durable AI Website Builder: The Web Developer. This is where the magic happened. I used their free tier to generate a complete website from a single prompt.

The 8-Hour Breakdown: My "Website in a Day" Sprint

Hour 1: Strategy & Prompt Crafting with ChatGPT

I didn’t just say “build me a website.” I started with a conversation.

My Prompt to ChatGPT:

“I am a freelance writer who specializes in tech and sustainability. I need to build a portfolio website. Act as a web strategy consultant. Generate a sitemap for a 5-page website, and for each page, give me a detailed outline of the sections I need. Also, suggest a brand name and a tagline.”

In minutes, ChatGPT gave me a full sitemap (Home, About, My Services, Writing Portfolio, Contact) and outlined the key elements for each page. It also suggested a brand name, “Verde Words,” with the tagline “Clear Writing for a Sustainable Future.” I loved it.

Purpose: A professional writing portfolio to attract clients.
Pages Needed: Home, About, Services, Portfolio, Contact.
Vibe: Clean, modern, and trustworthy.
Deadline: 9 AM to 5 PM. One single day.

Hours 2-3: Content Creation with My AI Copywriter

With my outline ready, I tasked ChatGPT with writing the content.

My Prompt for the “About” Page:

“Using the outline you provided, write a compelling ‘About Me’ section for my website ‘Verde Words.’ I have 5 years of experience, a passion for storytelling, and I’ve worked with 3 major tech blogs. Write in a friendly, professional, and confident tone. Keep it under 300 words.”

I repeated this process for every section of every page. In two hours, I had all the text for my entire website—from service descriptions to my bio and contact form text. I spent time lightly editing to inject more of my own voice, but 80% of the work was done.

Hour 4: Branding & Visuals with AI

Next, I needed a logo and some hero images. I headed to Midjourney.

My Prompt for a Logo:

minimalist logo for "Verde Words", a writing portfolio, incorporating a leaf and a pen, clean, professional, vector logo --no realistic photo

After a few variations, I had a beautiful, simple logo. I then generated a custom background image for the homepage using a prompt for a “clean, modern desk with a laptop and a small plant.”

Hours 5-6: The "Magic Button" – Building with Durable AI

This was the moment of truth. I went to the Durable AI website builder and started their free trial.

I entered my business category (“Freelance Writer”), my location, and the business name “Verde Words.”

And then I clicked “Generate.”

In less than 60 seconds, a complete, live website appeared before my eyes. It had all the pages I needed, filled with relevant placeholder text and images. I was stunned.

My work wasn’t quite done. This is where I became the “creative director.”

Copy-Paste: I replaced all the AI-generated placeholder text on the Durable site with the polished copy I had created with ChatGPT.
Customize: I uploaded my AI-generated logo and hero image.
Tweak & Polish: I used Durable’s incredibly simple drag-and-drop editor to adjust colors (I chose an earthy green palette to match the “sustainability” theme), fonts, and button styles.

Hour 7: The Final Polish (SEO & Mobile)

A beautiful website is useless if no one can find it. I went back to ChatGPT.

My Prompt for SEO:

“Generate 5 meta descriptions and 10 potential blog post ideas for a freelance writing portfolio site focused on tech and sustainability. Also, provide a list of primary and secondary keywords I should target.”

I added the best meta description to my site’s settings. I also used Durable’s built-in tools to check that the site was perfectly responsive on mobile—and it was.

**Hour 8: Launch!

With a deep breath, I connected my custom domain (a small yearly fee, but I used a free Durable subdomain for testing first). My website was officially live on the internet.

The Honest Results: What AI Really Got Right (and Wrong)

What Blown Me Away:

Speed: Going from zero to a live, functional site in one day is revolutionary.
The 80/20 Rule: AI handled 80% of the grunt work—layout, basic copy, and structure. This let me focus on the 20% that matters: strategy and personality.
No-Code is Real: I never saw a line of HTML or CSS. The barrier to entry is now zero.

The Reality Check (The Human Touch is Still Vital):

The “AI Voice”: The initial content from all the tools was good, but generic. My editing pass was crucial to make it sound like me.
Original Images: While Midjourney is powerful, the images can sometimes have a “synthetic” feel. For a top-tier site, I might mix AI images with a few professional photos of myself.
You Are the Conductor: AI is the orchestra, but you are the conductor. Without a clear vision and direction, the result can be messy.

Ready to Build Your Own AI Website?

If my story inspires you, here’s your action plan:

Define Your Goal: What is the one purpose of your site?
Plan with ChatGPT: Use it to brainstorm your sitemap and content outline.
Generate Your Copy: Get your first drafts written in minutes.
Build with a Builder: Try Durable, Hostinger AI, or another AI website builder. Use their free trials.
Edit and Personalize: This is the most important step. Make it yours!
Launch and Iterate: Go live! You can always add more later.

Conclusion: The Future is Accessible

Using AI to build a website in one day wasn’t just a productivity hack; it was an empowerment. It democratized a skill that was once locked behind a wall of technical knowledge.

It’s not about AI replacing humans; it’s about AI empowering humans to create faster and better than ever before. My $0, one-day website now stands as a professional beacon for my career, something I could never have achieved alone.

So, what will you build in a day?