Build Your Community Website with Wix: The Ultimate Guide to Growing, Bonding & Thriving Together
- Hooda AbdulShakoor
- Jun 3
- 6 min read
In today’s fast-paced digital world, real communities often lose touch with the very essence of what made them special: togetherness. But what if we could bring it all back—virtually and in person? Imagine a place where all your neighbors, friends, and local families connect, collaborate, organize events, support each other, and grow as one. That place is your community website.
And no—it’s not as hard or as expensive as you might think. In fact, with platforms like Wix, you don’t need to be a tech wizard or hire a full-blown agency. You can build it yourself, with this blog as your full-fledged, no-nonsense, easy-to-follow guide.
Let’s start this journey together.
🚀 WHY YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS A WEBSITE (And Why It’s More Powerful Than a WhatsApp Group)
A community website isn’t just a digital noticeboard. It’s a gathering space, a planning hub, a news channel, and a celebration of your people—all rolled into one.
Here’s why having a community website matters:
1. Centralized Communication
Instead of scattered messages, Facebook posts, or missing a flyer taped on a lamp post, a website acts as your one-stop shop for all updates. From birthday announcements to emergency alerts—everything lives here.
2. Event Planning & RSVPs Made Easy
You can create dedicated event pages for BBQ nights, family day-outs, movie nights, or sports tournaments. Add RSVP buttons, track attendance, and even collect participation fees or donations right from the site.
3. Build Real Connections
Whether it’s welcoming new families or celebrating community heroes, your website becomes the face of your people. You can include member directories, forums, live chats, and photo galleries to keep the spirit alive.
4. Fundraising & Volunteering
Have a cause? Need to raise money for a playground or community garden? Want to gather volunteers for a clean-up day? Your website is your platform to mobilize people and resources—fast and professionally.
5. A Legacy for Future Generations
Think big. Your website is a living memory bank. Archive photos, testimonials, milestones, and more. Years later, new members will know where they came from because you created the platform to keep history alive.
💡 WHAT YOU CAN INCLUDE ON YOUR WEBSITE TO MAKE IT AWESOME
Here’s a list of must-have (and fun-to-have) features to make your website irresistible:
✅ Welcome Page with a warm introduction to your community.
✅ Events Calendar with RSVP and reminders.
✅ Photo & Video Galleries of past meetups and events.
✅ Forums or Message Boards for open discussion.
✅ “Meet the Members” page.
✅ A Blog or Updates Section for news.
✅ Volunteer Signup & Donation Buttons.
✅ Live Chat or Community Chatbox.
✅ Polls & Feedback Forms to hear from your members.
✅ Embedded Google Maps for event locations.
Optional but engaging:
🎮 Online game links for trivia nights.
📺 Embedded Netflix party instructions for movie nights.
🔥 Live streaming feature for virtual meetups or hybrid events.
💰 COST BREAKDOWN: WHAT WILL THIS COST YOU?
Creating a website on Wix can be very affordable, and you can scale up only when you need to.
Item | Cost Range (USD) | Notes |
Wix Website Plan (Basic) | $16/month | Good for small community websites |
Wix Website Plan (Business) | $27–$32/month | For collecting donations, memberships, and payments |
Custom Domain Name | $10–$20/year | e.g., www.ourlocalfamily.org |
Premium Wix Template (Optional) | Free – $30 (one-time) | Optional; many great free ones exist |
Additional Apps (Forums, RSVP) | Free – $5/month per app (some are free) | Wix App Market |
Total First-Year Cost Estimate | $200 – $400 | Based on medium usage with a custom domain |
💡 Tip: Wix often has 50% off promotions—watch for them!
🛠️ HOW TO BUILD YOUR COMMUNITY WEBSITE WITH WIX – STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
Step 1: Sign Up & Pick Your Plan
Head to Wix.com and create a free account.
Choose your pricing plan based on your needs (refer to the table above).
Pick your domain name: something simple, friendly, and easy to remember.
Step 2: Choose a Template
Use one of the three best community templates I’ll recommend at the end of this blog—or browse Wix’s categories under “Community” or “Events.” (Recommended Templates)
Step 3: Customize Your Website
Edit Text & Images to reflect your neighborhood vibe.
Add your logo or create one using Wix’s free logo maker.
Set up your menu bar: Home, Events, Members, Blog, Gallery, Contact.
Step 4: Add Functional Apps
Wix Events: To manage RSVPs.
Wix Forum: To let people talk and share ideas.
Wix Blog: For updates and stories.
Wix Donations: For fundraising.
Wix Chat: To enable live interactions.
Step 5: Test & Publish
Test every page, button, and link. Ensure RSVP and contact forms work.
Use Wix Mobile View to optimize for smartphones.
Hit Publish and share your new site!
Step 6: Share & Promote
Share the link via WhatsApp groups, local Facebook groups, or printed flyers.
Encourage word of mouth—this is a community project!
Link your site to your neighborhood’s physical notice board (via QR code).
📈 STRATEGIES TO BOOST PARTICIPATION & KEEP THE WEBSITE ACTIVE
Your website shouldn’t be a one-time launch—it should live, breathe, and grow.
Here’s how:
🎯 Run Regular Events
Create recurring BBQs, trivia nights, movie nights, or themed gatherings. Use the site to announce, plan, and track them.
🗣️ Appoint Community Roles
Let members manage different sections—events, photo uploads, or blogs. This spreads the responsibility and makes everyone feel involved.
💬 Gather Feedback
Use forms or surveys to ask what people want—what worked, what didn’t, and what they’d love to see next.
💵 Raise Funds Creatively
Membership Fees: Optional monthly contributions.
Event Tickets: Small fees for BBQ nights or fun days.
Sponsor a Section: Local businesses can pay to place small ads.
Community Shop: Sell merch like T-shirts or mugs.
🎯 THE GOAL: A COMMUNITY THAT LASTS, ONLINE AND OFFLINE
This website is more than code—it’s a mission. You’re not just building a website; you’re building memories, relationships, and a stronger neighborhood. This is about togetherness—and now, you have the digital tools to make it flourish.
So go ahead, build it. Watch how a simple website changes everything.
🧱 THE 5 BEST WIX TEMPLATES FOR COMMUNITY WEBSITES
Ready to kickstart your website without starting from scratch? These Wix templates are handpicked to give your community the right vibe, functionality, and flair to grow together. Here are five powerful templates you can start using today:
Safety meets community. This sleek template is focused on organizing and empowering your neighborhood through information and vigilance.
Why it’s awesome:
Dedicated sections for announcements and safety tips.
Newsletter sign-up and contact forms.
Clean, trustworthy design that builds confidence.
👉 Best for: Communities focused on local safety, news, and real-time updates.
This template turns your website into an interactive forum-style hangout. Let your members post topics, join discussions, and comment in real time.
Why it’s awesome:
Fully integrated Wix Forum app.
Customizable categories and posts.
Encourages ongoing conversations between members.
👉 Best for: Communities who want to stay connected daily with open dialogue.
This is the ultimate story-sharing hub for your neighborhood. Perfect for highlighting member stories, neighborhood news, and event recaps.
Why it’s awesome:
Clean, modern blog layout.
Built-in post categories and search features.
Readers can easily scroll and stay updated on all community happenings.
👉 Best for: Communities that love storytelling, updates, and regular blogs.
This template is vibrant, inviting, and packed with functionality. Designed for real-life community centers, it’s ideal for hosting event details, programs, and resources.
Why it’s awesome:
Includes event calendar and service listings.
Bold images and CTA buttons to guide users.
Informative sections perfect for youth programs, classes, or volunteer drives.
👉 Best for: Active neighborhoods with recurring events and programs.
A modern and dynamic template that’s built for organizing gatherings, game nights, BBQs, or group outings—just like the ones we suggested earlier!
Why it’s awesome:
Homepage features upcoming events with RSVP buttons.
Clean and colorful design to energize your members.
Social media integration to grow your presence.
👉 Best for: Social, fun-loving communities that thrive on events.
Final Tip: All Wix templates are fully customizable, so you can tweak colors, layouts, images, and fonts to reflect your unique community spirit. Start with the one that matches your vision the most, and make it your own.
🏁 FINAL WORD: YOUR COMMUNITY DESERVES THIS
It’s time to stop saying "someone should do it"—and start building something extraordinary.
This blog has handed you the blueprint. From understanding the why, learning the how, planning the what, and using the best tools to get there—you’ve got this.
Your community’s digital home awaits. And it all starts with one click: Wix.com
Now go make magic happen. 🌟
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