Introduction
You've decided you need a website. It's hard to choose the right website builder. There are dozens of website builders to choose from, and picking the wrong one can be challenging. Whether you own a local business or your business is online. We will go over twelve things you should consider when looking for a website builder for your business.
What is a website builder?
A website builder is a platform that allows you to create a website without having to code or design it yourself. Website builders have everything you need to create a website, including templates, drag-and-drop editors, and hosting. You can usually get started with a website builder for free, but you'll have to pay if you want to use your domain name or remove the builder's ads.
1. Ease of use
The best website builders are easy to use, even if you've never created a website before. Look for a builder with a drag-and-drop editor that makes it easy to add content, images, and other elements to your website. You should also be able to customize your website's look and feel without touching your website’s code. The website builder should be as easy as sending an email. You shouldn’t have to take a class or watch hours of videos to get your website up and running.
2. Customization Options
While you want a website builder that's easy to use, you also want one that allows you to customize your website to make it unique. Look for a website builder with options to change the color scheme, add custom fonts, and upload your images. After customizing your website with your business's colors and styles, your website should have the look and feel of your brand. You should be able to achieve this with the customization options. Pro tip - Also, look for a website with version history, so if you accidentally mess up your website, you can always go back to the previous version.
3. Lots of Templates
A website builder with a variety of templates to choose from is ideal since you'll be able to find a design that's perfect for your small business. Make sure the website builder you choose has plenty of options to choose from, so you can find the right look for your website.
Your website template should be flexible and easy to update as your business grows. Look for a website builder that allows you to add new pages, remove unused ones, and make other changes without starting from scratch.
Image taken from Strikingly website
4. Responsive Options
In today's world, it's crucial to have a website that looks good on all devices, especially mobile. Look for a website builder that offers responsive templates, so your website will look great on phones, tablets, and laptops. You should also be able to preview how your website will look on different devices before you publish it. Having the ability to preview your website on other devices inside the website builder is a must and will help get your website launched quicker and without mistakes.
5. SEO Features
If you want people to be able to find your website, you need to make sure it's optimized for search engines. Look for a website builder that offers SEO features like keyword-rich titles and descriptions, sitemaps, and social media integration. Having a website builder built on sound SEO principles is what is required for your business to be successful. Whether you are a local business with a Google Business Profile or an eCommerce brand, you are going to want a website builder that has good SEO capabilities.
6. E-Commerce Capabilities
If you want to sell products or services on your website, you'll need a website builder with e-commerce capabilities. Look for features like shopping carts, payment processing, and shipping integration. You want to make sure your website can easily integrate with major payment gateways like Stripe and Paypal. You also want to make sure that your website builder can integrate with buy now & pay later platforms like Klarna and Afterpay. These types of platforms are essential to running an e-commerce business. You should also make sure the website builder you choose doesn't charge any transaction fees. If the website builder you select has transaction fees, this will hurt your bottom line.
7. Membership Websites
If you want to build membership for your business, you'll need a website builder that offers membership features. Look for features that let you create content for members only. Having this membership feature built into your website will save you money because most website builders don’t have this feature. Make sure the one you choose has this if this is a feature you want for your business. Remember, not all website builders will have a membership feature, and if you choose a website builder without this feature, you will end up paying more money with other software.
Image taken from Strikingly website
8. Image library
A website builder with a library of high-quality images is ideal since you won't have to worry about finding or paying for photos for your website. Make sure the website builder you choose has a good selection of stock images that you can use on your website. Also, having an image library integrated with your website builder will save you hours when creating your website because all the images are right there at your fingertips. This will save you time for editing and resizing images.
9. Analytics
It is so important to be able to track your website’s traffic and performance from the beginning. Analytics can give you valuable insights into what your visitors are doing on your site. Analytics can show you where your visitors are coming from as well as what devices they are using to land on your website. Analytics can also break precisely where your customers are in the world. Choosing a website builder that has built-in analytics in their platform as well as the ability to add Google Analytics to your site is crucial for any website to be successful. You have to be able to track your numbers.
Image taken from Strikingly website
10. Mobile App
Having a mobile app might not seem like a big deal but having the ability to make changes to your website from your phone and tablet is a game-changer and you will love it. If the website builder you choose doesn’t have an app where you can make changes to your website I would recommend not going with that builder. Having an app proves how easy the website builder is to make changes. If the website builder doesn’t have an app to make simple changes on your site then the builder itself can’t be that easy either to learn and make changes.
11. Hosting
You'll need to choose a website builder that offers hosting services so you can get your website online quickly. Look for a website builder that offers unlimited hosting so you don't have to worry about your website going offline. Choosing a website builder with hosting offered will also speed up your time to get your website created because your hosting will already be configured. Also going with the website builder’s hosting is better because they are using a more expensive reliable hosting than you would have probably bought. This helps your website have less downtime.
12. Good Customer Support
Even the best website builder can have glitches from time to time. Look for a website builder with good customer support, so you can get help when you need it. A builder with a live chat feature is ideal, so you can get answers to your questions in real-time. Having a real live chat option is great when you have a burning question that you need an answer to right away to continue building your website. Having to submit a support ticket will slow down your progress in building a website.
Image taken from Strikingly website
Bonus Tip: Pricing
Pricing is essential when choosing a website builder. We suggest you find a website builder that lets you build a website for free with most of its features. If you like the website builder, you can upgrade to one of their paid plans. You can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to 50 dollars a month for a website builder. Having the ability to set up an account and try the software without paying first is the best way to experience the website builder. It also shows that the company believes in its website builder and knows that you will more than likely upgrade to a paid account if you try it out.
Conclusion
Choosing the right website builder is essential if you want to create a website that's easy to use, looks good, and is responsive on all devices. Make sure to look for a website builder with plenty of templates, e-commerce capabilities, SEO features, and good customer support. We believe Strikingly checks all these boxes so look no further if you are looking for a website builder with all the features above and more.
