Wix has become one of the most popular website builders because of its drag-and-drop editor and wide range of professional templates. For beginners, Wix templates provide an easy starting point. But if you want your website to truly stand out, you need to go beyond the basics and learn how to customize Wix templates like a pro.
Whether you’re building a personal portfolio, small business site, or online store, customizing your template ensures that your website looks unique, aligns with your brand, and provides a seamless user experience. In this guide, we’ll cover expert tips and strategies to make your Wix template look custom-designed, even if you don’t know how to code.
1. Start with the Right Template
Customizing like a pro begins with choosing the right foundation. Wix offers 800+ templates across industries, so pick one that closely matches your business or project.
Pro Tips:
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Look for a template with the structure you want, not just the design. You can always change colors and fonts later.
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Preview how the template looks on desktop and mobile before selecting.
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Avoid overly complex layouts that will be difficult to edit.
The better the starting point, the less time you’ll spend restructuring later.
2. Define Your Brand Identity First
A professional website reflects a consistent brand identity. Before customizing, decide on your brand colors, fonts, and style.
Pro Tips:
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Create a color palette (usually 2–3 main colors). Use tools like Coolors or Adobe Color for inspiration.
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Choose fonts that are legible and reflect your brand tone (e.g., modern, playful, elegant).
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Keep brand elements (like logos and taglines) ready to integrate into your site.
Wix allows you to set a Site Theme so that your chosen colors and fonts apply consistently across all pages.
3. Customize the Layout and Structure
Most beginners stick to the default template layout, but professionals aren’t afraid to restructure.
Pro Tips:
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Use the drag-and-drop editor to rearrange sections, add new strips, or delete unnecessary blocks.
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Create clear navigation: organize pages logically (Home, About, Services, Contact).
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Add gridlines to align elements consistently and maintain balance across the design.
A clean, well-structured layout is one of the hallmarks of a professionally customized site.
4. Use High-Quality Visuals
Images make a huge difference in how polished your website looks. Avoid stock photos that feel generic.
Pro Tips:
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Use professional images of your products, team, or services whenever possible.
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If using stock photos, customize them with filters, overlays, or branding.
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Keep image sizes optimized so they load quickly on both desktop and mobile.
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Maintain consistency—avoid mixing mismatched styles.
You can also explore Wix’s built-in Media Manager and free stock library for resources.
5. Personalize with Custom Content
Your content is where your website starts to feel unique. Replace placeholder text and images immediately.
Pro Tips:
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Write original copy that speaks directly to your target audience.
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Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and clear headings for easy reading.
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Add personal touches like testimonials, client stories, or case studies.
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Create unique call-to-action buttons that stand out (e.g., “Book a Free Consultation” instead of “Submit”).
Custom content ensures your site isn’t just another cookie-cutter Wix template.
6. Enhance User Experience (UX)
A pro-level site isn’t just beautiful—it’s functional and user-friendly.
Pro Tips:
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Use white space strategically to avoid clutter.
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Ensure buttons and links are large enough for easy tapping on mobile.
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Keep your navigation menu simple—don’t overwhelm visitors with too many options.
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Add anchor links for smooth scrolling on long pages.
Think about how users will move through your site, and make their journey as effortless as possible.
7. Add Wix Apps for Extra Functionality
Templates give you design, but apps add power. The Wix App Market has tools to extend your site’s capabilities.
Popular Options:
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Wix Stores for eCommerce.
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Wix Bookings for appointment scheduling.
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Wix Blog for content marketing.
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Wix Chat for real-time support.
Integrating the right apps will make your website not just look professional but also work like one.
8. Customize for Mobile
Even the best desktop design can fail on mobile if not adjusted. Wix lets you edit mobile view separately.
Pro Tips:
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Simplify layouts—stack elements vertically for easier scrolling.
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Hide elements that aren’t necessary for mobile visitors.
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Increase font sizes and button sizes for mobile readability.
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Test your site on different screen sizes to ensure responsiveness.
With mobile traffic now dominating the web, this step is non-negotiable.
9. Use Advanced Design Features
Wix offers advanced design tools to take customization up a notch.
Features to Try:
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Animations: Add subtle fade-ins or slide-ins for text and images.
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Video backgrounds: Use short branded videos for a dynamic look.
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Parallax scrolling: Create a modern, layered visual effect.
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Custom strips and galleries: Showcase content in unique ways.
When used sparingly, these features can make your site feel cutting-edge without overwhelming visitors.
10. Test and Refine Before Publishing
A pro doesn’t just build a site—they refine it.
Pro Tips:
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Preview your site in both desktop and mobile views.
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Test all buttons, links, and forms to ensure they work.
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Check loading speed (fast sites keep visitors longer).
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Ask friends or colleagues for feedback on usability and design.
Once published, keep monitoring visitor behavior with Wix Analytics and make improvements regularly.
Conclusion
Customizing a Wix template like a pro isn’t about reinventing the wheel—it’s about strategically enhancing the design, functionality, and user experience so your website reflects your unique brand and business goals.
By choosing the right template, defining your brand identity, restructuring layouts, using quality visuals, personalizing content, optimizing for mobile, and adding advanced features, you can create a Wix site that looks like it was built by a professional web designer.
Remember: your website is often the first impression customers have of your business. Make it count by turning a standard Wix template into a unique, high-performing digital presence.