TL;DR: Stop Overthinking the Website and Just Launch It
If you think building a website takes months, requires a massive budget, or demands coding skills, Gerry Turner’s story is exactly what you need to read. Gerry, in his mid-70s, went from zero technical skill and multiple failed attempts to launching a fully functional, lead-generating affiliate site in under a week.
Here are the three key takeaways for anyone stuck in website paralysis:
1. Prioritize Function Over Flair: Gerry didn't build a masterpiece; he built a machine that captures leads. Focus on the core business goal (getting the opt-in) and skip the complicated design elements.
2. The Ecosystem Matters: Choose a tool not just for its features, but for the support and the future growth path it offers. Gerry relied heavily on clear tutorials and the promise of scalability.
3. Done is Better Than Perfect: The investment in time and money is only "worthwhile" if you actually launch. A simple site launched in 7 days beats a perfect site launched in 7 months every single time.
If you’re ready to cut through the technical noise and launch your project, keep reading. Gerry shows you exactly how it’s done.
I talk to a lot of people who are trying to launch their first online business, and nearly everyone hits the same wall: the website.
It’s the digital equivalent of trying to build a car before you’ve learned to drive. The sheer number of tools, the technical jargon, and the fear of messing up the code often stop people before they even start. I hear stories of projects dragging on for six months or more, simply because the website build feels too complex.
Here’s the truth: you can have a fully functional, lead-generating website up and running in less than ten days.
That’s exactly what Gerry Turner did.
Gerry, who is in his mid-70s, recently took on the challenge of building his first serious online business. He had tried before, found the technical side too daunting, and gave up. This time, he succeeded. Using Thrive Architect, Gerry built his affiliate marketing site (complete with an opt-in page and a thank you page) in under a week.
His site, gerryturner.com, gets the job done: it clearly states his offer and captures leads. It proves that you don't need a massive budget, a design degree, or months of frustration to launch your idea. You just need the right tools and a clear focus.
I recently sat down with Gerry to understand how he managed to move so quickly and what advice he has for others who feel stuck in the technical weeds.
Why Does Building a Website Feel So Hard?
Before we look closely at Gerry’s success, let’s address the elephant in the room. If you’ve struggled to build a website, you are not alone.
Gerry’s experience perfectly illustrates the common barrier. He told me that his previous attempts failed because, as someone with "very little technical expertise on computers," the exercise was simply too daunting.
It’s easy to forget that modern web building wasn't always accessible.
Gerry mentioned that he completed his formal education long before computers were common — when an electric typewriter was regarded as really high-tech. For people who didn't grow up coding or designing, the learning curve for traditional website platforms can feel vertical.
Gerry's Perspective on Traditional Website Building
"Thrive Architect was recommended by a friend who told me that it has extensive and comprehensive tutorials should you need them.
He also advised me that it is easy to install and that the drag and drop elements are simple to use, but at the same time very extensive, giving numerous options to build simple pages, such as those found on my website, but with options to build much more extensive and complex sites if desired.
As a first time website builder, the advice I was given turned out to be invaluable because I actually managed to succeed where I had previously failed. (For context you should be aware that I completed all my formal education through school and University long before computers were in common use, indeed when I first started work an electric typewriter was regarded as really high tech!)" — Gerry Turner
The good news is that the tools have changed. The goal of a modern page builder isn't to turn you into a developer; it’s to let you focus on your message and your business.
How Did Gerry Choose His Page Builder?
When you’re starting out, the sheer volume of choices in the page builder market (Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, etc.) can be paralyzing. It feels like every tool promises the world, but you just need one that works.
Gerry’s decision came down to two simple things: recommendation and support.
As I mentioned earlier, he chose Thrive Architect because a friend advised him that the tool was easy to install, the drag-and-drop elements were simple to use, and (most importantly) Thrive offered extensive and comprehensive tutorials.
This is a key takeaway for anyone evaluating software: Don’t just look at the features; look at the support ecosystem. You'll want to check that when you inevitably hit a snag, there will be a clear path out, not just a confusing forum thread.
Gerry confirmed that the advice turned out to be invaluable, noting, "I actually managed to succeed where I had previously failed." That kind of success is worth more than any flashy design feature.
How Page Builders Compare for Marketing Focus
Feature Comparison: Thrive Architect vs. Traditional Builders
Feature | Thrive Architect | Traditional Builders (Elementor, Divi) |
|---|---|---|
Interface | True front-end editing (what you see is what you get). Click and edit elements directly. | Often requires switching between front-end view and backend settings, adding friction. |
Learning Curve | Designed for speed and conversion focus. Tutorials are highly specific to marketing goals (e.g., building a funnel). | Can be extensive, often requiring third-party add-ons for core marketing functions (like quizzes or scarcity). |
Core Benefit | Focus on conversion elements (opt-in forms, scarcity timers, calls to action) built-in. | Focus on design flexibility and visual effects, sometimes prioritizing aesthetics over business goals. |
Gerry's Experience | Drag-and-drop simplicity, extensive toolbars that are easy to use. | Might offer too many complex design options that distract from the goal of getting launched. |
What Was the Single Biggest Benefit Gerry Received?
When I asked Gerry what the single biggest benefit of using Thrive Architect was, his answer was direct and refreshing. He didn't talk about the technology; he talked about the result.
"It has to be SUCCESS in building my first website with an Opt-in page and a Thank you page in less than 1 week."
He didn't say "the cool animations" or "the vast template library." (Which we do have) He focused on the only thing that matters: getting the job done quickly.
For a new business owner, speed to launch is everything. Every week spent fiddling with CSS or trying to figure out shortcodes is a week you aren't collecting leads or making sales. Gerry’s site may be "simplistic" compared to some elaborate corporate pages, but it is perfectly suited to his immediate need: establishing his affiliate marketing business and capturing email addresses.
This is a powerful lesson in business priority: Done is better than perfect. A simple, functional site that launches in seven days will always outperform a complicated, beautiful site that launches in seven months.
Practical Steps for a Fast Website Launch
Gerry’s experience is a great blueprint for anyone feeling overwhelmed. He focused on the essentials and relied on the tools to handle the complexity.
1. Don’t Over-Design Your First Page
Gerry found the click-and-drag features and the extensive, easy-to-use toolbars the most useful for his workflow. This is because he wasn't trying to reinvent the wheel.
When you’re building a simple landing page or opt-in funnel, you need clean design, clear copy, and a functioning form. You don't need parallax scrolling or custom animations.
My advice: Use the pre-built landing page templates. They are already mobile-responsive and designed to convert. You literally just need to swap out the text and the image. This is how you cut a 100-hour project down to a 10-hour project. If you find yourself spending more than an hour choosing fonts, step away from the computer.
2. Choose a Platform That Scales With You
Gerry was confident about his future growth, saying, "I am totally confident that I will have all the tools and guidance I could possibly need here on Thrive Architect."
Switching tools later is a massive headache. Choosing a platform that can scale with you (even if you only use 10% of its features today) is a smart strategic decision that saves future pain.
3. Reframe Your Investment
When I asked Gerry if Thrive Architect saved him time or money, he gave a thoughtful answer:
"I can’t say that Thrive Architect necessarily saved me either time or money, but what I can most definitely say is that the investment in both time and money, has been well worthwhile."
I love this answer because it reframes the value proposition. Building a website always requires an investment of time and resources. The goal isn't to eliminate the investment; the goal is to make sure the investment pays off.
For Gerry, the investment was "well worthwhile" because it resulted in a tangible, operational asset (his first website) something he had failed to achieve in previous attempts. That’s the real measure of success. It’s not about saving five dollars; it’s about finally launching the business.
Gerry's Recommendation: Clarity and Guidance
If Gerry were recommending Thrive Architect to a friend, he says he would emphasize the clarity of the process:
"That the tools and the guidance are both very easy to follow and set up and, if, like me, you are new to the whole world of building websites, you will find everything you need to succeed."
This is the core promise of a good page builder. It should remove the mystery and give you a clear path from A (idea) to B (live website).
If you are currently stuck in the analysis paralysis phase, worried that you aren't technical enough, or convinced that building a website requires a degree in computer science, take a page from Gerry's book.
He proved that age, technical background, or past failures don't matter when you have a tool that prioritizes getting you launched. You don't need to be a developer; you just need to be focused on your business goal.
Your website project doesn't have to take months. You can launch your affiliate business, your coaching service, or your lead magnet this week.
It’s time to stop thinking about the website as a technical hurdle and start seeing it as the simple tool it is. Get your opt-in page up, start collecting emails, and then you can worry about the fancy stuff later.
Ready to follow Gerry’s lead and launch your first website fast? You can get all the tools Gerry used, plus the full suite of conversion-focused plugins, with Thrive Suite.
