Add new features to your website with ChatGPT (no web development experience needed!)

There are many reasons that you, as a marketer, would want to add web features to your website: maybe you have a thought leadership microsite and want to add a new component; maybe you work at a startup and you wear many hats including web owner; or maybe you have a side business and simply want to add cool capabilities to your site. Regardless of your reason, being able to play the role of a web developer has its perks. Even without extensive coding knowledge or a large budget for developers, AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can assist you in generating the necessary code to create complex web features. By providing clear instructions and iterating on the AI’s suggestions, you can develop and customize web elements that enhance your site’s functionality and user experience. Here’s how you can leverage ChatGPT to enhance your website's capabilities in just 30 minutes (watch the video above to see it in action).

Step 1: Identify the feature you want to create

Decide on the specific web feature you want to add. For this example, we'll focus on creating an animated hero text that changes words every three seconds.

Step 2: Describe your requirement to ChatGPT

Start a conversation with ChatGPT and clearly describe what you need. For example, "I want to create an animated hero text for my website that changes words every three seconds."

Step 3: Generate the code

ChatGPT will provide you with the necessary HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code. If your platform requires embedding all code in a single block (like Hostinger), ask ChatGPT to combine the code into one piece.

Step 4: Test and adjust the code

Add an embed code placeholder to your website and copy and paste the provided code into this box. Test the feature and observe how it performs. Make iterative adjustments based on the results, such as:

• Font color

• Font size

• Background color

• Text speed

You can do this by providing feedback (including screenshots of how it looks on your site) to ChatGPT and having it refine the code until the feature works perfectly.

Note: Claude Artifacts and Poe Previews provide interactive windows that allow you to see the primary functionality of the code without having to paste it into your site each time. This can save a lot of time going back and forth with AI. However, your final tweaks to the code will need to be after seeing it run live on your site.

Step 5: Customize the content

Once the feature is functional, customize it with your specific content. In my case, I provided the static and changing text elements needed for my site. Provide feedback to allow ChatGPT to adjust the spacing, text weight, and other visual aspects to ensure the feature integrates seamlessly with your site design.

Benefits of using ChatGPT for web development

Building advanced web features for your site typically requires significant coding skills or hiring a developer, both of which can be time-consuming and costly. This makes it a daunting task for many marketers. However, with AI tools like ChatGPT, the process becomes much simpler and more accessible. Additional benefits include:

• Efficiency: Save time on development by generating and refining code quickly on your own, without the time delays that occur with an agency or other professional.

• Cost-Effective: Reduce or eliminate the need for external developers, saving money.

• Improved Performance: Create native web features that load faster and offer a better user experience than alternative options, such as using 3rd-party plugins.

• Empowerment: Gain valuable web development skills, allowing you to execute creative marketing strategies independently.

Adding web development to your skill set doesn't have to be intimidating. With ChatGPT and other AI tools, you can quickly and effectively enhance your website's functionality, making your content more engaging and interactive.