Building a Simple Website with Next.js: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Looking to build a fast, modern website with minimal hassle? Meet Next.js—the powerful React framework that's taking the web development world by storm. Whether you're creating a portfolio, launching a blog, or developing a full-scale e-commerce platform, Next.js offers the perfect combination of speed, scalability, and simplicity.

Gone are the days when you needed to configure everything from scratch just to get a React app off the ground. With features like server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and built-in API routes, Next.js makes it easy to create production-ready websites with minimal setup.

In this guide, we’ll walk through creating your first simple website using Next.js, from installation all the way to deployment. No matter your experience level, this step-by-step tutorial is designed to get you up and running in no time!

1. Why Choose Next.js?

Before diving into the practical steps, let's cover why so many developers choose Next.js:

✅ Server-side rendering (SSR) – Serve fully rendered HTML to the browser for better performance and improved SEO.

✅ Static site generation (SSG) – Build static files at compile time for lightning-fast page loads.

✅ Dynamic routing – Create pages just by adding files in your pages/ directory.

✅ API routes – Build serverless backend endpoints without a separate backend.

✅ Zero configuration – Next.js comes with sensible defaults, meaning you can focus on writing features rather than setting up the build system.

These benefits make Next.js the ideal framework if you’re looking to build modern, high-performing websites with a smooth development experience.

2. Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure your development environment is ready. You’ll need:

Node.js (version 14 or higher)
npm (comes bundled with Node.js) or Yarn

To check if you have Node.js installed, run:

node -v

If you see a version number, you’re good to go!

3. Setting Up Your Next.js Project

Step 1: Create Your Next.js App

In your terminal, run:

npx create-next-app my-simple-nextjs-site

Or with Yarn:

yarn create next-app my-simple-nextjs-site

This command sets up a new project called my-simple-nextjs-site with all the necessary files.

Step 2: Start the Development Server

Next, navigate into your project folder and start the development server:

cd my-simple-nextjs-site
npm run dev

Now open your browser and visit http://localhost:3000. You’ll see the default Next.js welcome page.

4. Understanding the Project Structure

A basic Next.js project looks like this:

my-simple-nextjs-site
├── pages
│   ├── api
│   │   └── hello.js
│   └── index.js
├── public
├── styles
│   └── globals.css
├── .gitignore
├── package.json
├── README.md
└── next.config.js

Key Folders and Files:

pages/ – Where your routes (pages) live.
api/ – Where you define backend functions (serverless API routes).
public/ – Static files like images and fonts.
styles/ – Your CSS files.
package.json – Keeps track of your project’s dependencies and scripts.

5. Creating Your First Page

Next.js uses file-based routing, which means the file name becomes the route.

Open pages/index.js and replace its content with:

import Head from 'next/head';
import styles from '../styles/Home.module.css';

export default function Home() {
  return (
    <div className={styles.container}>
      <Head>
        <title>My Simple Next.js Site</title>
        <meta name="description" content="A quick and simple Next.js website" />
      </Head>

      <main className={styles.main}>
        <h1>Hello, Next.js World!</h1>
        <p>This is a simple homepage built with Next.js.</p>
      </main>
    </div>
  );
}

Refresh http://localhost:3000, and you'll see your new homepage!

6. Adding More Pages

To add a new page, just add a new file in the pages/ folder.

Create pages/about.js with the following:

import Head from 'next/head';
import Link from 'next/link';

export default function About() {
  return (
    <div>
      <Head>
        <title>About My Site</title>
        <meta name="description" content="Learn more about my Next.js website" />
      </Head>
      <main>
        <h1>About This Website</h1>
        <p>This page provides information about the site.</p>
        <Link href="/">
          <a>Go back to Home</a>
        </Link>
      </main>
    </div>
  );
}

Now, visit http://localhost:3000/about to see your new page.

7. Global Styling

Global styles live in styles/globals.css. Open the file and add:

body {
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
  font-family: sans-serif;
  background-color: #fafafa;
}

This styling will apply across your entire website automatically.

8. Using API Routes

Want a simple backend without spinning up a separate server? Next.js API routes have you covered.

Create pages/api/greeting.js with:

export default function handler(req, res) {
  res.status(200).json({ message: 'Hello from Next.js API Route!' });
}

Visit http://localhost:3000/api/greeting and you’ll see:

{ "message": "Hello from Next.js API Route!" }

9. Optimizing Images

Place an image (like banner.jpg) in the public/ folder.

Then, use the Image component:

import Image from 'next/image';

<Image 
  src="/banner.jpg" 
  alt="Banner" 
  width={600} 
  height={300} 
/>

This provides automatic image optimization, including resizing, lazy loading, and improved performance.

10. Deploying Your Site

Deploying with Vercel (the creators of Next.js):

Install the Vercel CLI:
```
npm install -g vercel
```
Log in:
```
vercel login
```
Deploy:
```
vercel
```

Follow the prompts, and within minutes, your site will be live with a shareable URL.

Other hosting options include Netlify, Heroku, and AWS Amplify—all offering excellent Next.js support.

11. What’s Next?

Now that your simple Next.js website is live, here are some ideas to level up your project:

🚀 Add dynamic routes to build pages programmatically.
📰 Connect a CMS (like Sanity or Contentful) to manage content.
🎨 Style your site with Tailwind CSS, Chakra UI, or Material-UI.
⚡ Try Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR) for real-time updates.

Final Thoughts

Next.js makes building modern websites approachable for developers of all levels. With built-in optimizations, API routes, and scalability, it’s no wonder so many developers are turning to Next.js to create powerful, production-ready applications.

Whether you're creating a blog, a portfolio, or the next big e-commerce site, Next.js has the tools you need to make it happen.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive in and build something amazing!

Einfach Digital Solutions

Thursday, February 27, 2025