How to Make a Website Using AI: The Ultimate Workflow That Actually Works

Published: 8/22/2025

Hey there! As someone who's been building websites for years and have been using AI development in client projects, I get this question ALL the time. So let me walk you through the exact workflow I use to build websites with AI tools – and more importantly, how to avoid the common pitfalls that'll cost you big time and money later.

DISCLAIMER: This workflow is designed for developers who understand code. If you can't read HTML, CSS, or JavaScript, please use this process ONLY to create prototypes, then hand them off to a real developer. I've seen too many people get excited about "no-code" AI solutions, skip the review steps, and end up with a mess that costs 3-5x more to fix than building properly from scratch. Agencies charge premium rates for "vibe code cleanup" – trust me on this one.

My Go-To Workflow (The One That Actually Works)

Step 1: Create a Detailed UX Document

Before touching any AI tool, I spend serious time on this. Here's what I document:

Visual Design Specs:

• Typography: Primary font (usually a Google Font like Inter or Roboto), secondary font for headings, font weights (400, 500, 600, 700), line heights, letter spacing
• Color Palette: Primary brand color with hex codes, secondary colors, neutral grays, success/error/warning colors, background variations
• Spacing System: Consistent padding/margin scale (usually 4px, 8px, 16px, 24px, 32px, 48px, 64px)

Content Architecture:

• Pages: Homepage, About, Services/Products, Contact, Blog (if needed)
• Sections per page: Hero, features, testimonials, CTA blocks, footer
• Content hierarchy: H1, H2, H3 structure for each page
• Copy: Actual written content, not lorem ipsum

Functional Requirements:

• Navigation behavior (sticky header, mobile menu style)
• Form validations and submissions
• Responsive breakpoints (mobile: 320px, tablet: 768px, desktop: 1024px+)
• Loading states and micro-interactions

I use a detailed Google Doc for this. The more specific you are here, the better your AI-generated code will be.

Step 2: Generate Your Prototype (The Fun Part)

Now I fire up one of these AI code generators. My current favorites:

• Lovable.dev - Great for React components and modern styling
• v0.dev (by Vercel) - Excellent for Next.js projects with clean code
• Bolt.new - Good for quick prototypes with multiple frameworks
• Replit Agent - Solid for full-stack applications

I feed them my UX document details. Instead of saying "make me a website," I'll say something like:

"Create a React website based on the UX document."

The key is being SPECIFIC. The more details you provide, the closer the output will be to what you actually want.

Step 3: Download and Review (The Critical Step Most People Skip)

Once I'm happy with the prototype, I download the zip file. But here's where most people mess up, they immediately jump to making changes without understanding what they got.

I spend 30-60 minutes reviewing:

• File structure: Are components organized logically?
• Code quality: Is it readable? Are there obvious red flags?
• Dependencies: What packages are being used? Any security concerns?
• Styling approach: Tailwind classes, CSS modules, styled-components?
• Performance: Any obvious bottlenecks or heavy libraries?

This review step is NON-NEGOTIABLE. Skip it and you'll regret it later.

Step 4: Enhance with Cursor AI Agent Mode

Now I open the project in Cursor AI. Agent mode is powerful, but you need to use it right:

Be Specific About Classes and Components: Instead of: "Make the button bigger" I say: "Update the primary button component to use px-8 py-4 instead of px-6 py-3, and change text-base to text-lg"

Target Specific Files: "In components/Hero.jsx, update the h1 element to use text-5xl md:text-6xl instead of text-4xl"

Provide Context: "I want to add a testimonials section after the features section on the homepage. Use the same container max-width and spacing as other sections. Include name, role, company, and photo for each testimonial."

Step 5: Always Review Agent Output (Alwaysss)

After every agent change, I review what happened:

• Did it change only what I asked for?
• Are there any unintended side effects?
• Does the code still follow best practices?
• Are there any new dependencies or breaking changes?

I've seen agents accidentally remove important functionality while making simple styling changes. ALWAYS review before moving to the next change.

Why This Workflow Maximizes Productivity

This approach works because:

1. You stay in control - You understand every change being made
2. Quality remains high - The review steps catch issues early
3. Debugging is manageable - You know exactly what changed when
4. Handoffs are smooth - Your code is readable and well-structured

The Alternative (And Why You Should Avoid It)

I've seen people try to skip steps:

• No UX planning → Generic, templated output
• No code review → Hidden technical debt
• No agent output review → Mysterious bugs and broken functionality

The cleanup cost for these shortcuts? I've seen quotes ranging from $5,000-$15,000 just to untangle AI-generated spaghetti code.

My Final Thoughts

AI tools for web development are incredible when used properly. They can cut development time by 60-80% for experienced developers. But they're not magic, they're powerful tools that require skill and understanding to use effectively.

If you're a developer, this workflow will change how you build websites. If you're not a developer, use these tools to create impressive prototypes, then find a good developer to implement them properly.

The future is definitely AI-assisted development, but the human review and decision-making steps aren't going anywhere. Use AI to amplify your skills, not replace your brain.