Table of Contents
- Why Use Notion as Your Website's Foundation?
- The Power of a Notion-First Workflow
- An Ecosystem Built on Community Demand
- Popular Notion Website Builders at a Glance
- Building Your Content Hierarchy
- Formatting Content for How People Actually Read Online
- Publishing Your Notion Site With Sotion
- From Notion Page to Live Website
- Launching Your Temporary Site
- Making Your Notion Website Look the Part
- Dialing in the Design to Match Your Brand
- Adding New Powers With Custom Code
- Mastering SEO and Performance for Your Notion Site
- Optimizing Your On-Page SEO
- Fine-Tuning SEO Inside Notion Itself
- Common Questions About Building Websites With Notion
- Can a Notion Website Truly Look Professional?
- What Are the Limitations?
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how-to-build-a-website-on-notion
Excerpt
Learn how to build a website on Notion using third-party tools. This guide shows you how to turn Notion pages into a fast, professional, and SEO-friendly site.
Building a website powered by Notion really just comes down to three things: your organized Notion pages, a good third-party website builder like Sotion, and a custom domain name. This whole no-code approach lets you use Notion's amazing editor as a full-blown Content Management System (CMS), keeping all your site's content neatly in one spot.
Why Use Notion as Your Website's Foundation?
The idea of running a website straight from your note-taking app might sound a little out there at first. But honestly, it’s a huge leap forward from the clunky, old-school website builders we've all wrestled with.
Think about it. Instead of logging into a confusing backend like WordPress just to update a blog post or swap out a team photo, you simply edit a Notion page. That's it. The changes appear on your live site instantly.
This simplicity is exactly why so many creators and businesses are jumping on board. It completely removes the technical headaches and lets you focus on what actually matters: your content. The whole process feels more like writing a doc than coding a website, which is a massive win for productivity.

The Power of a Notion-First Workflow
Basing your website on Notion gives you some serious advantages over traditional platforms. It's not just about being easy to use; it’s about building a smart, centralized system for your entire digital presence.
Here’s what I mean:
- Effortless Content Updates: When your website is a Notion document, updating it is as natural as typing. There’s no "publish" button or complicated interface to fight with.
- Significant Cost Savings: You can slash expenses for separate CMS platforms, web hosting services, and those notoriously pricey plugins or themes.
- A Single Source of Truth: Your internal project plans, rough drafts, and final published content can all live together in the same ecosystem. Now that’s a streamlined workflow.
- Flexibility and Versatility: This approach works for almost anything. We've seen tons of inspiring Notion website examples, from slick portfolios and blogs to detailed knowledge bases and startup landing pages.
An Ecosystem Built on Community Demand
Notion’s growth has been nothing short of explosive. As it blew past the 100 million user mark, a huge wave of users started asking for a way to turn their private notes into public-facing websites.
This demand kickstarted a whole ecosystem of third-party tools built specifically for this job.
To help you get a lay of the land, here’s a quick rundown of some of the most popular options out there.
Popular Notion Website Builders at a Glance
Builder | Key Feature | Best For |
Sotion | All-in-one platform with themes, analytics, and memberships. | Creators and businesses who want a powerful, feature-rich site without the complexity. |
Super.so | Highly focused on aesthetics and fast performance. | Designers and individuals who prioritize a beautiful, custom-looking site. |
Simple.ink | The fastest and simplest setup process. | Anyone needing to get a basic site online in just a couple of minutes. |
Each tool has its own strengths, but they all solve the same core problem: they bridge the gap between your Notion workspace and a professional, public-facing website.
And it doesn't stop with just building a static site. Notion’s power as a content hub opens the door to some cool integrations. For example, you can extend your workflow by learning How to Schedule LinkedIn Posts From Notion, making it a true command center for your brand online.
This modern stack transforms a simple page into a dynamic, professional website—all without touching a single line of code.
Right, before you even think about connecting your Notion workspace to a tool like Sotion, you need to put on a web designer’s hat for a minute. Your Notion setup is no longer just a bunch of notes; it's the very foundation of your future website. A clean, logical structure here means a clean, easy-to-use site later.
First things first: create one main, top-level Notion page. This page is your website's home base. It’s the only page you’ll eventually need to share to build your site. Think of it as the central hub where everything else connects.
From there, every other page—like your "About," "Services," or "Blog"—should be created as a sub-page inside that main page. This simple hierarchy is the secret sauce. Sotion (and other tools like it) will automatically scan this structure and build your website's navigation menu from the titles of these nested pages.
Building Your Content Hierarchy
The trick is to keep things simple and intuitive. You don't want to bury your most important content three or four levels deep. For most personal sites, portfolios, or small business pages, a flat, one-level hierarchy works best. It's what visitors expect.
Let's say you're a freelance photographer. Your Notion setup should probably look something like this:
- Home Page (Your main, top-level page)
- Portfolio (Sub-page)
- Services & Pricing (Sub-page)
- About Me (Sub-page)
- Contact (Sub-page)
When you publish this, your website's navigation bar will neatly display links for "Portfolio," "Services," "About Me," and "Contact." It just works.
Formatting Content for How People Actually Read Online
How you format your text inside Notion is exactly how it will appear on your live website, so don't skip this part. We need to apply some basic web design principles. Walls of text are a user's worst enemy.
Let's be real: nobody reads every single word on a webpage. Studies have shown that only about 16% of people read a page word-for-word. The rest of us? We scan. We look for headings, keywords, and things that stand out.
Use Notion's built-in tools to make your content scannable and guide your reader's eye:
- Headings: Use H1 for your main page title, H2s for the big sections, and H3s for the smaller points within them. This isn't just for looks; it creates a clear visual order and is a big deal for SEO.
- Callout Blocks: I love these for pulling out key takeaways or important notes. The colored background immediately draws attention and breaks up the monotony of black text on a white page.
- Columns: Long lines of text that stretch across a wide screen are hard to read. Use Notion's
/2 columnsor/3 columnscommand to create more dynamic layouts, just like you'd see on any professional blog.
By spending a little time structuring your workspace and formatting your content, you’re doing more than just writing. You’re actively designing the user experience. This groundwork is what separates a confusing, amateur-looking site from a polished, professional one. It's easily the most critical part of the whole process.
Publishing Your Notion Site With Sotion
You've done the hard work of structuring your Notion pages. Now for the fun part: turning that organized content into a live, public website.
This is where a tool like Sotion comes in. It’s the bridge that takes your private Notion workspace and pushes it out to the world, and it does it ridiculously fast.
From Notion Page to Live Website
First things first, you'll need a Sotion account. It’s a quick signup that gets you right into the dashboard without any fuss.
Once you’re in, you’ll need to grant Sotion access to your Notion workspace. This sounds scarier than it is. You’re not handing over the keys to your entire account. Instead, you specifically choose only the main, top-level page you built for your website. This ensures Sotion can only see and publish the content you want to share.
After you authorize the page, Sotion instantly reads the hierarchy you built—the main page and all its nested sub-pages—and mirrors it. This is the "aha!" moment when you see a preview of your site pop up, looking exactly like you planned.
From the Sotion dashboard, you'll just need to tweak a few settings:
- Set Your Homepage: Tell Sotion which page is the front door to your site. This is almost always the main page you started with.
- Check Your Navigation: Sotion automatically creates a navigation menu from your sub-pages. Just give it a quick once-over to make sure the links and page titles are correct.
- Pick a Theme: Apply a pre-built theme to instantly style your site. This simple click standardizes fonts, colors, and spacing across every page, giving you a professional look without any design work.
Honestly, this whole process—from signing up to seeing a styled preview—can take less than two minutes.
The diagram below breaks down how the structure you create in Notion translates directly into a functional website.

It’s a simple concept: a logical hierarchy and clean formatting in Notion lead directly to a well-organized, easy-to-read website. No magic, just good planning.
Launching Your Temporary Site
With the basics confirmed, you’re ready to publish. Sotion immediately deploys your site to a temporary
.sotion.site domain. This link is perfect for reviewing your work or sharing it with your team for feedback before going live with a custom domain.This workflow is a complete game-changer. It removes the technical hurdles, letting you focus entirely on your content. The experience feels less like building a website and more like just organizing your thoughts.
To see what this no-code approach can do, check out the Sotion homepage. It's packed with live examples and details on how it transforms simple Notion pages into full-fledged websites without you having to touch a single line of code.
Making Your Notion Website Look the Part
Getting your site live with a temporary
sotion.site domain is a fantastic first step. Seriously, pop the champagne. But now comes the fun part—transforming that functional page into a professional website that truly represents you or your brand.This is where you add the polish, the small details that build trust and make your site memorable.

The single most impactful move you can make is connecting a custom domain. Shifting from
yourname.sotion.site to yourbrand.com isn't just a technical tweak; it's a huge signal of credibility. It immediately tells visitors you're serious and makes your site a thousand times easier to remember and share.Thankfully, with a tool like Sotion, you don't have to wrestle with complicated server settings. It’s a straightforward setup that cements your brand’s identity online.
Dialing in the Design to Match Your Brand
With your custom domain sorted, it’s time to get the visuals right. A consistent look is non-negotiable for brand recognition. Your website should feel like a seamless extension of everything else you do, not just some generic template.
Inside your Sotion dashboard, you can tweak all the key design elements:
- Fonts: Pick out typefaces that match your brand’s personality. Are you modern and minimalist? Classic and trustworthy? Your font choice says a lot.
- Colors: Swap out the default colors for your own brand palette. This ensures every button, link, and heading feels intentional and on-brand.
- Custom Footer: This is prime real estate. Build out a professional footer with links to your social media, terms of service, or privacy policy.
These might seem like small changes, but their collective impact is massive. It’s the difference between a functional page and a polished, professional brand experience.
Adding New Powers With Custom Code
Ready to unlock the real potential? The ability to inject custom code snippets is your secret weapon. This is how you connect your Notion site to the rest of the web and add interactive features that Notion can't handle on its own.
Just think about what you need your site to do.
Want to capture leads? Schedule meetings? Get feedback? No problem.
- Build an Email List: Embed a simple form from Mailchimp or ConvertKit and start growing your audience right from your site.
- Get Client Inquiries: Integrate a form from Tally or Jotform so potential clients have an easy way to reach out.
- Book Appointments: Drop in a Calendly embed and let visitors schedule a call with you directly from any page.
This is what elevates a Notion site from a simple document to a dynamic business tool. With just a few lines of code, you can build a site that not only looks professional but actively works for you. It’s the final piece of the puzzle for creating a truly unique home on the web.
Mastering SEO and Performance for Your Notion Site
Building a great-looking website is one thing, but getting people to actually find it is a whole different ballgame. This is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in, and the good news is you don't need to be a technical guru to get it right, even with a site built on Notion.
A huge piece of the Google ranking puzzle is site speed. Let's face it, we're all impatient online; a slow site is as good as invisible. This is precisely why using a platform like Sotion, which has a global Content Delivery Network (CDN) built-in, makes such a difference. A CDN basically keeps copies of your site in data centers all over the world, so it loads lightning-fast for visitors whether they're in London or Los Angeles.
Optimizing Your On-Page SEO
Speed is critical, but you also have direct control over other key SEO factors right from your Sotion dashboard. Sotion puts the most important on-page SEO tools at your fingertips for every single page.
Think of these as the signposts you're giving Google to help it understand what your content is all about:
- Page Titles: These need to be unique and descriptive, and you should always try to include your main keywords. It's the first thing people see in the search results.
- Meta Descriptions: Write a snappy, compelling summary (keep it around 155 characters) that makes someone want to click on your link over all the others.
- Social Sharing Images (OG Images): Don't leave this to chance. Set a specific image that will show up whenever your link is shared on social media.
Fine-Tuning SEO Inside Notion Itself
Your SEO efforts don't end with the Sotion settings. You need to carry that strategy over into how you structure your content directly within your Notion pages. This is all about creating high-quality, organized content that both search engines and your human readers will appreciate.
A great place to start is with your headings. Make sure you're using a single H1 heading for your main page title, then use H2s for the major sections, and H3s for any sub-points within those sections. This creates a clear, logical hierarchy that Google can easily understand.
And don't forget about your images! Every single image you upload needs descriptive alt text. This isn't just for accessibility (though that's a huge reason to do it); it also gives search engines more context about the visuals on your page.
Once you've nailed these fundamentals, the next step to really boost your site's authority is to focus on effective SEO link building strategies. Combining strong on-page SEO with a quality backlink profile is a powerful one-two punch for climbing the search rankings. And of course, a professional presence starts with the basics, which you can learn about in our guide on how to connect a custom domain to your Notion website.
Common Questions About Building Websites With Notion
Diving into a new way of building websites always brings up a few questions. It's smart to wonder about the professional polish, SEO performance, and potential roadblocks before you jump in. Let's clear up some of the most common concerns I hear about using Notion as the backbone for a real-world website.
Can a Notion Website Truly Look Professional?
Absolutely. I get this question a lot, and the answer is a resounding yes. The key is to understand that a tool like Sotion isn't just making your Notion page public—it's transforming it into a full-featured website with all the professional trimmings.
Think of it this way: Notion is your brilliant, easy-to-use content editor. Sotion is the powerful publishing engine that adds the critical layers that signal credibility and quality to your visitors:
- Custom Domains: You get
yourbrand.cominstead of a clunky, shared Notion URL.
- Optimized Performance: Your site will load lightning-fast for visitors anywhere in the world, thanks to a global CDN.
- Advanced SEO Controls: You get full command over page titles, meta descriptions, and social sharing images.
- Custom Code: Need to embed a contact form, add analytics, or plug in other tools? No problem.
For portfolios, blogs, landing pages, and small business sites, the final product is a professional-grade website that's just ridiculously simple to manage on the back end.
What Are the Limitations?
Let's be real—no single tool is perfect for every job. The main limitations crop up when you need complex, server-side functions. Notion-powered sites aren't the right fit for a full-blown e-commerce store with a native shopping cart or a membership site that needs complex user logins and databases.
They absolutely excel at content-driven websites.
The data backs this up. While over 50% of Fortune 500 companies use Notion for internal docs and workflows, the most successful public-facing sites built on it are personal portfolios, product documentation, knowledge bases, and small business brochure sites. These are all use cases where managing content easily is far more important than heavy backend logic. You can actually discover more insights on Notion's usage statistics if you're curious.
This modern approach is all about clarity and speed. It removes the technical hurdles so you can focus purely on what you want to share with the world.
Ready to turn your Notion pages into a polished, professional website? With Sotion, you can launch a fast, SEO-friendly site with a custom domain in just a few clicks. Stop wrestling with complicated builders and start publishing effortlessly.
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