A website builder is a software program that allows you to create a website without any coding experience. There are many website builders available in the market – but some are better than others (and some are downright bad). In this article, I will discuss the best website builder for small businesses.
What is a Website Builder?
A website builder is a software application that helps businesses create and manage their own websites.
These applications allow you to create a website on your computer in minutes, without any coding or design experience. Once your website is created, you can add content, customize it with themes and plugins, and share it with the world.
Website builders are perfect for small businesses who don’t have time or resources to create or code their own websites from scratch.
Why Use a Website Builder?
There are numerous reasons why businesses should use a website builder.
I started building websites long ago before website builders were a thing. Not long after that, I started building with WordPress – a content management system and website builder – and enjoyed the ease with which I could build a functional website.
SO much easier than writing all of that code from scratch!
Believe me, you don’t want to have to build a website entirely from scratch using html, php, javascript, or any other code language. It takes a long time. It’s very involved. And it’s just unnecessary for most small businesses.
Website builders help you with:
-Speed and Efficiency: Website builders allow businesses to create custom websites in a matter of minutes, which can save a lot of time and money.
-Customization and Control: With website builders, businesses have the ability to customize their websites exactly how they want them, which gives them more control over the look and feel of their site.
-Extensibility: Website builders are often very extensible, meaning that businesses can add new features or functionality easily without having to code or learn new coding languages.
How to Choose the Best Website Builder?
Choosing the right website builder for your small business can be a daunting task. There are so many options available, and it can be hard to know which one is best for you.
My Recommendation
100% I always recommend self-hosted WordPress, and there are numerous reasons why. Beyond only a website builder, WordPress is a CMS (content management system) and makes working with your website a breeze.
WordPress is the most popular website builder on the planet, and for good reason. It’s simple to use, free to download and use, and comes with an abundance of features to help you build your dream website.
Here are just a few of the reasons why I always recommend WordPress:
- WordPress is incredibly user-friendly – even beginners can build a website without any trouble.
- It’s free to download and use – there are no hidden fees or subscription charges.
- It comes with an abundance of features – WordPress has everything you need to build a professional website, including templates, plugins, and themes.
- It’s highly customizable – you can control the look and feel of your website to perfection.
- It’s very extendable – from ecommerce to events to appointments to almost anything you can imagine, there’s likely a plugin that has been built that will extend the functionality of your website beyond what you may have thought possible.
- It’s reliable – WordPress has been used by millions and millions of businesses around the world, and it’s always been one of the most stable website builders on the market.
The primary reason I always recommend WordPress is that, since it is open source (free), and you add it to your website hosting, that means that you are avoiding one of the biggest drawbacks of website hosting with an integrated website builder – which is the fact that someone else owns both the platform and the hosting.
I’ve had numerous prospective clients come to me after they have had a bad problem with one of the other well-known platforms that is hosting and builder all in one, and in most cases these entrepreneurs have almost lost their entire business as soon as something goes wrong.
In the case with these other platforms, they own the hosting and the website builder. With WordPress, you will own your own hosting, and since the builder is open source, you have control of it as well. Our clients prefer BlueHost for their hosting, which provides important features (email addresses and SSL certificate), affordable hosting plans ($5/mo) and solid tech support, without too many extra bells and whistles that they don’t need and become confusing.
Here are a few tips on how to choose the best website builder for you:
1. Consider Your Needs
The first step is to consider what your needs are. Do you want a simple website that you can manage yourself, or do you need more features and flexibility? If you want more features, then a more complex website builder may be better suited for you. However, if simplicity is key, then a simpler option may be better.
2. Consider Your Budget
Another important factor to consider is your budget. Do you have enough money to invest in a more complex website builder? Or, can you afford to use a free platform like WordPress?
3. Consider Your Time Commitment
Another important factor to consider is your time commitment. Do you want to spend hours building your website yourself, or do you want to use a platform that offers drag and drop functionality?
4. Consider Your Technical Skills
One last consideration is your technical skills. Do you have experience coding and designing websites? If so, then a more complex platform may be better for you. However, if you are not experienced in coding or designing, then using a simpler platform may be better for you.
The Best Website Builders for Small Businesses
When it comes to website building, there are many options available for small businesses. However, not all of these options are ideal for every business. The following list contains the best website builders for small businesses based on a number of factors, including price, features, and ease of use.
These platforms below include both your hosting and website builder, which I recommend that you avoid when possible. Yet I also realize some entrepreneurs are set on this type of option, especially if it’s an initial site that they are doing on their own to save money, so here is a short list:
- WebsiteBuilder.net
- Wix.com
- Weebly.com
- Squarespace.com
- GoDaddy.com
- Shopify.com
- Etsy.com
A website builder is a great way to build your business website without any coding experience. It is easy to use and has many features that can help you grow your business online.
