How to Build and Publish Websites Using Google Gemini + Netlify

5 3 minutes read

This tutorial walks you through creating a simple website using Google’s Gemini AI to generate the code, then deploying it for free on Netlify.

No prior coding experience is required, as Gemini handles the heavy lifting.

This approach is ideal for static sites like portfolios, landing pages, or basic apps. We’ll use a beginner-friendly method based on recent workflows.

Prerequisites

A Google account (free) to access Gemini.
A Netlify account (free tier suffices for most projects).
A text editor like Notepad, VS Code, or any basic one on your computer.
Optional: GitHub account if you prefer Git-based deployment over drag-and-drop.

Step 1: Set Up Your Accounts

Google Gemini/AI Studio: Go to gemini.google.com or aistudio.google.com. Sign in with your Google account. If you’re new, it’s free to start. Choose the latest model like Gemini 3.0 Pro for better results, if available.
Netlify: Head to app.netlify.com and sign up for free using GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or email. No credit card needed.

Step 2: Generate Website Code with Gemini

Gemini can create full HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code from natural language prompts. Use Gemini Canvas for an interactive experience where you can edit and preview in real-time.

Open Gemini and start a new chat or canvas.

Enter a detailed prompt. For example:

Generate a complete, responsive single-page website for a freelance photographer's portfolio. Include:
- A hero section with a background image placeholder and tagline.
- An about section with bio text.
- A gallery grid with 6 image placeholders.
- A contact form.
- Footer with social links.
Use modern HTML5, CSS (no frameworks), and minimal JS for interactivity. Make it mobile-friendly. Output as separate files: index.html, styles.css, script.js.

Adjust the prompt for your needs—add features like APIs (e.g., news feeds) or themes.

Gemini will output the code. Review it; if needed, refine with follow-up prompts like “Make the gallery responsive for mobile” or “Add dark mode toggle.”
For complex sites, use Google AI Studio’s advanced features, which support up to 1 million tokens for detailed projects.

Example output might look like this (simplified):

index.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Photographer Portfolio</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
</head>
<body>
    <!-- Hero section -->
    <header class="hero">
        <h1>Welcome to My Portfolio</h1>
    </header>
    <!-- More sections here -->
    <script src="script.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Copy each file’s content separately.

Step 3: Prepare Your Website Files Locally

Create a new folder on your computer, e.g., my-portfolio-site.
Inside it, create files matching Gemini’s output:
- index.html (main page).
- styles.css (styling).
- script.js (JavaScript, if any).
Paste the corresponding code into each file using your text editor.
Add assets like images if mentioned (e.g., download placeholders and place them in an images subfolder).
Test locally: Open index.html in a browser to preview.

Step 4: Deploy to Netlify

Netlify makes deployment effortless with drag-and-drop for static sites.

Log in to Netlify and click “Add new site” > “Deploy manually.”
Drag your site folder (e.g., my-portfolio-site) into the dropzone. Ensure index.html is in the root.
Netlify uploads and deploys automatically. It assigns a URL like https://random-name.netlify.app.
Alternatively, for version control:
- Push your folder to a GitHub repo.
- In Netlify, choose “Import from Git” and connect the repo. Netlify auto-deploys on pushes.

Your site is now live! Access it via the provided URL.

Step 5: Customize and Publish Further

Custom Domain: In Netlify’s dashboard, go to Domain settings and add a domain (free subdomains or connect your own for ~$10/year).
Updates: Regenerate code in Gemini, update files, and redeploy.
Advanced Features: Integrate APIs (e.g., GNews for dynamic content) in your prompts, or use Netlify Functions for serverless backends.
Monetization Tip: Build sites for clients and charge $500–$2,000, as this workflow is fast and free.

This process takes minutes once you’re familiar. Experiment with prompts for unique designs! If issues arise, check Gemini’s output for errors or Netlify’s docs for deployment tips.

aibuilder 4 hours ago

5 3 minutes read