# Website in Minutes

> **Version 1.0.0 · Last updated 2026-10-22 · Difficulty: Beginner · Setup time: 5–15 minutes**

Describe your website in plain English. Your clone builds it with the **Clone_Code** skill and gives you a live preview link and a zip of the project files, usually in a few minutes.

---

## 1. Overview and value

You don't need a designer, a developer or a site-builder subscription to get a first version live. Tell the clone about your business, who it's for, how it should look, and which sections you want. It builds a real, working, mobile-friendly site.

| What you get | Details |
|---|---|
| Live preview link | Valid for about 30 days |
| Project files (zip) | Download and keep; publish anywhere |
| Change requests | Keep asking for changes on the same project for about 7 days |
| Cost | Often well under a few dollars in credits for a simple site; larger builds cost more |

> No CRM, email or calendar connection is needed.

---

## 2. Who it's for

- **Marketing:** landing pages, campaign and event pages.
- **Ops:** simple internal or local-business sites, menus, info pages.
- **Leadership:** a quick consultant or company site to test an idea.

## 3. How it works

```
 You: plain-English description (use the template)
   │   "Use Clone_Code to build..."
   ▼
 Clone + Clone_Code skill
   │  builds the site (HTML/CSS/JS), optional logo via Image_Operator
   ▼
 Live preview link (about 30 days)  +  Zip of project files
   │
   ▼
 You review on desktop and phone  ──►  "Change the main color to..."
   │                                    (same project, about 7 days)
   ▼
 Download zip  ──►  Publish yourself (GitHub Pages / Netlify / Vercel / host)
                    ──►  Optional custom domain via DNS
```

## 4. What the clone does (and never does)

**Does:** builds the site from your description; gives a preview link and zip; makes the changes you ask for; can wire a simple form option; can make a simple logo or hero image with Image_Operator.

**Never:** invents prices, reviews or testimonials as if they were real (it uses clearly marked placeholders); publishes to your domain or hosting for you; asks for your passwords or hosting logins.

## 5. Setup walkthrough

**Step 1:** Open REQUIREMENTS.md and confirm Clone_Code is available to your clone.
**Step 2:** Give CLONE-INSTRUCTIONS.md to your clone and say: *"Please set up this use case. Show me a plan first."* It checks for Clone_Code and optionally saves the small Website Builder skill.
**Step 3:** Fill in the prompt template (below) and send it, starting with "Use Clone_Code".
**Step 4:** Open the preview link, check desktop and phone.
**Step 5:** Ask for changes.
**Step 6:** Download the zip, then publish.

### Prompt template

```
Use Clone_Code to build a website.

Business name: {BUSINESS_NAME}
Location: {LOCATION}
Who it's for: {AUDIENCE}
Style and colors: {STYLE_AND_COLORS}
Sections: hero (headline and button), services or menu with prices, opening hours, gallery, reviews, contact form, footer
Contact details: {PHONE_EMAIL_ADDRESS}
Logo or images: {IMAGE_LINKS} (or create a simple logo)
Must be mobile-friendly. Use placeholder text and images where I haven't given any, and tell me which they are.
```

### Example prompts

**1. Local business**
```
Use Clone_Code to build a website for "Maple Street Bakery", a family bakery in Portland. Audience: neighbors and office workers looking for breakfast and custom cakes. Warm, friendly style, cream and terracotta colors. Sections: hero with "Order a cake" button, menu with prices (bread $6, croissant $3.50, custom cake from $45), opening hours (Tue-Sun 7am-3pm), photo gallery, reviews, contact form, map placeholder. Mobile-friendly.
```

**2. Consultant or agency**
```
Use Clone_Code to build a one-page site for "Northlake Advisory", a two-person operations consulting firm serving small manufacturers. Clean, professional style, navy and white with a green accent. Sections: hero with "Book a call" button, three services with short descriptions, about us, client results (placeholders), process in 4 steps, contact form. Mobile-friendly.
```

**3. Event or landing page**
```
Use Clone_Code to build a landing page for "Spring Product Summit", a one-day online event on March 14. Audience: marketing managers. Bold, modern style, purple and yellow. Sections: hero with date and "Register" button, agenda, speakers (placeholders), FAQ, registration form, footer. Mobile-friendly.
```

## 6. Placeholders to decide

| Placeholder | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| `{BUSINESS_NAME}` | Name shown on the site | "Maple Street Bakery" |
| `{LOCATION}` | City or service area | "Portland, OR" |
| `{AUDIENCE}` | Who visits | "Neighbors, office workers" |
| `{STYLE_AND_COLORS}` | Look and feel | "Warm, cream and terracotta" |
| `{PHONE_EMAIL_ADDRESS}` | Contact details to show | "hello@example.com" |
| `{IMAGE_LINKS}` | Links to your logo or photos | "https://.../logo.png" |
| `{FORM_EMAIL}` | Where form submissions should go | "hello@example.com" |

## 7. What to expect

- A first version usually in a few minutes.
- A preview link (about 30 days) and a zip of files.
- Placeholder text and images you must replace.
- Changes on the same project for about 7 days.
- Cost often well under a few dollars in credits for a simple site; larger builds cost more.

**Iterating:** reply in plain English, for example:
- "Change the main color to dark green."
- "Add an Order Online button in the hero linking to {ORDER_URL}."
- "Add a reviews section with three placeholder reviews."
- "Make the menu prices bigger and add a gallery of 6 images."

**Logo and brand assets:** pass image links in your prompt. Or say "create a simple logo and hero image" and the clone can use Image_Operator.

### Publishing it yourself (your own steps)

Download the zip first and unzip it.

- **Netlify (drag and drop):** sign in to Netlify, go to Sites, drag the unzipped folder onto the deploy area, wait for the link.
- **Vercel:** create a new project from the folder (upload or connect a GitHub repository), then deploy.
- **GitHub Pages:** create a repository, upload the files, open Settings, then Pages, choose the main branch, save, and wait for the link.
- **Your web host:** upload the files to the site's public folder (often `public_html`) with the host's file manager or FTP.
- **Custom domain:** in your host (Netlify, Vercel or GitHub Pages) add your domain, then at your domain registrar add the DNS records the host shows you (usually a CNAME for www and an A record or ALIAS for the root). It can take from minutes to a day to start working.

## 8. Customizing

Add pages (about, pricing, blog), change language, add a booking or order button linking to your own tools, ask for a simpler or bolder design, or request a form option (see gotchas).

## 9. Known gotchas

1. **Say "use Clone_Code" explicitly.** Otherwise the clone may pick another skill.
2. **Forms need a backend or a form service** to actually send submissions. Use a form service or your host's forms feature (for example Netlify Forms). The clone can wire a simple option; tell it which.
3. **Replace placeholder images and text** before launch.
4. **Check on your phone** as well as the desktop.
5. **Download the zip before the preview expires** (about 30 days).
6. **Change requests continue on the same project for about 7 days.** After that, start a new build from the zip or a fresh prompt.
7. **Review accessibility and legal pages** (privacy policy, terms) before launch.
8. **Cost** is not fixed; larger builds use more credits.

## 10. FAQ

**Do I need to know how to code?** No.
**Can I edit the files later?** Yes. They are standard web files in the zip.
**Can the clone publish it for me?** No. Publishing and DNS are your own steps.
**Will the contact form work right away?** Not by itself. See gotcha 2.
**Do I need to connect anything?** No.

## 11. Troubleshooting

| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Clone does something other than build a site | Clone_Code not named | Start with "Use Clone_Code to build..." |
| Preview link doesn't open | Link expired | Re-upload the zip files to a host or ask for a new build |
| Form doesn't send | No form backend | Set up a form service or your host's forms feature |
| Images missing | Image links not public | Use public links or ask for Image_Operator images |
| Changes not applied | Over the ~7 day window | Start a new build using the zip |
| Looks wrong on phone | Layout issue | Ask: "fix the mobile layout, here is what's wrong..." |

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*Website in Minutes · v1.0.0 · 2026-10-22*