You want to create a website for your small business. What should you know about website builders?

Creating a website for your small business is a critical step in establishing an online presence. Website builders are popular tools for this purpose, offering a balance between ease of use and flexibility. Here's what you should know about website builders, informed by AI insights and the LinkedIn community: Many website builders offer drag-and-drop interfaces, making it easy for those without coding knowledge to create and manage a website. They are generally less expensive than hiring a web developer, with many offering free plans or affordable subscriptions. You can have a website up and running in a matter of hours, which is crucial for businesses looking to establish an online presence quickly.

What should you know about website builders? Very little. That's the entire point. What you should know about using a website to bring in more clients or customers? that's a different story. Website buildings are extremely user-friendly and any of the big names on the market are most likely going to serve your needs. It's more important that you consider what role your website will play in your marketing strategy as a whole and what you need to include on it to move your potential customers or clients further down their buying journey with you.

We have our website running on Carrd. Created it in a matter of hours using just drag-and-drop and point-and-click. If you already have a domain - you can just point it to that - costs something like $19 a year for the basic version. Basically a complete no-brainer! Back when I created my own first website in early 2002 - you had to understand HTML as a minimum - but now there is absolutely no excuse for your business not to have a very professional-looking website. Honestly - you don't need anything more complicated than this. If you don't think you can do it - just ask anyone under the age of 25 and they will easily be able to do it for you!!

These tools provide user-friendly interfaces and customizable templates, ensuring your site aligns with your brand. They're budget-friendly and scalable, allowing your website to grow with your business. Plus, the convenience of updating your site from anywhere is a significant advantage. We use Squarespace

When choosing a website builder, remember that you have the power to create a digital space that represents your unique brand. Consider the many factors available to you, such as ease of use, customization options, and scalability, to create a digital presence that grows with your business. Take the time to review your options and find a website builder that aligns with your vision and values, and empowers you to share your message with the world.

Limited Customization: While they offer ease of use, website builders can sometimes limit how much you can customize your site, which might be a constraint for more complex or unique design requirements. Performance Issues: Websites created with builders might not be as optimized for speed or SEO as those developed professionally. Scalability: As your business grows, you might find that your website builder doesn't support the advanced features or scalability you need.

Their limited customization and basic functionality can restrict your site's distinctiveness and performance. Also, relying on the builder for security and updates means less control. Additionally, using popular templates may result in a less distinctive site, and the presence of builder ads or branding could detract from your site's professionalism.

What is your why for wanting a website? Ask yourself that first. If you are not clear, the website will not be clear. If you are B2B -- first do your LinkedIn profile. It's a lot more straightforward. You have the advantage of being able to get visitors far more easily. Finally, what are you going to give your visitors? Have a reason for them to connect with you. Share value from the start. Your goal is to generate interest, engagement, and conversations. LinkedIn provides many ways to learn more about your potential customers. Finally, becoming a web developer is not a good use of an owner's time. You need to build your business by learning about your potential customers and what you can offer that they are willing to pay for.

It can be a massive time waster and pit of despair. Once you choose a theme and start editing there are always problems with formatting that come up and it can distract you from what really matters - your product and customer.

Website builders, while user-friendly, pose limitations such as restricted customization and functionality, which may affect your site's uniqueness and capabilities. SEO limitations could also impact your online visibility. Dependency on the builder for security, updates, and performance means less control over these crucial aspects. The use of common templates risks your site blending in with others, diminishing its distinctiveness. Moreover, the presence of ads and builder branding can detract from your site's professionalism and user experience.

All-Purpose Builders: Platforms like Wix or Squarespace, designed for a wide range of websites, from portfolios to e-commerce sites. E-commerce Focused: Builders like Shopify or BigCommerce, which offer specialized tools for online stores. Content Management Systems (CMS): WordPress and Joomla are examples that offer more flexibility and are suited for content-heavy sites, though they might require a steeper learning curve.

Hosted platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify simplify the process by handling both creation and hosting. They're user-friendly but may limit customization and come with higher fees. On the other hand, self-hosted builders like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal offer more control and customization. They need to be installed on your hosting service, demanding more technical skills and upkeep, but they grant you greater freedom in designing and managing your site.

I recommend using platforms like Wix, Squarespace as website builders. These platforms offer a user-friendly interface, customizable templates, and various features to help you create a professional-looking website easily. Wix been my favorite so far

I think there are so many AI powered website builders out there. I use Webflow, it's complex but intuitive. Wix and Framer AI are good options. It's worth trying them out for free and see if you use them well intuitively.

First know what is it that you want to highlight, understand your own budget , Google up on what websites will work effectively for you , speak to people and be realistic

Choose one with diverse, customizable templates and simple content editing tools, including multimedia and blog options. Functionality like e-commerce and social media integration is vital. Also, ensure it offers robust SEO tools for editing meta tags and URLs to enhance your online visibility.

Responsive Design: Ensures your website looks good on both desktop and mobile devices. SEO Tools: Features to help optimize your site for search engines, improving visibility. E-commerce Capabilities: For businesses looking to sell online, features like product listings, shopping carts, and payment processing are essential. Analytics and Reporting: Tools to track website performance and user engagement.

I would outsource this task on a portal like Upworks. I would use a Wordpress platform that you could edit personally once it was built. Lots of template design options, lots of useful plug ins. And very costly if you find the right expert to build it for you.

Although there are benefits there are drawbacks such as Platform dependency, SEO limitations, performance can be slow and limited design templates that if you are not careful you can look like everyone else.

Many website builders offer a range of features designed to simplify the website creation process. These include drag-and-drop interfaces, customisable templates, e-commerce functionality, SEO tools, and integrations with third-party applications. Many website builders provide hosting services, security features, and customer support to assist users throughout the design and maintenance of their websites.

The most important knowledge we need in choosing a website builder is what we want to accomplish with our website. Successful businesses have a marketing strategy that moves prospective customers through the following stages: 1. Unaware to Aware 2. Aware to Interested 3. Interested to Convinced 4. Convinced to Committed 5. Committed to Repeat business Depending on your business a website can be helpful in one, more, even all of these steps. A successful website is one that is effective in emphasizing those which it can and your website designer will create a site that does so.

Assess Your Needs: Consider what you need from your website, such as e-commerce functionality, blogging capabilities, or extensive customization. Budget: Look for a builder that offers the best value for your budget, considering both initial and ongoing costs. Ease of Use: Choose a platform that you find intuitive and straightforward to use. Customer Support: Ensure the builder provides reliable customer support.

Compare builders on features, cost, ease of use, and user reviews. Pick a plan and domain within your budget. Test builders with free trials to ensure they meet your needs. Lastly, read the terms and conditions carefully for any builder and hosting service you consider.

Selecting the right website builder depends on various factors, including your business objectives, budget, ease of use, and desired level of creative control. It's essential to weigh the pros and cons of each platform and determine whether you prefer to DIY with a website builder or collaborate with a developer/designer for a tailored solution. Consider factors such as available features, customisation options, scalability, and customer support to make an informed decision aligned with your business needs

Make sure you know what you need for your business as website builders are not all the same. Take a look at competitors and take note of what they do wrong and right.

Domain Name and Hosting: Some builders include hosting and allow you to use a custom domain name, while others might require separate arrangements. Long-term Viability: Consider whether the builder is likely to be around for the long haul, ensuring your website can continue to operate smoothly. Community and Resources: A vibrant user community and comprehensive learning resources can be invaluable, especially when you’re starting out. Export Options: Check if you can easily export your site content if you decide to switch to a different platform in the future.

It really depends on your “why” for having a website? If you are simply building a website so that someone you already know, wants to know more about you, or your business, they can visit the site…then perhaps a 1-2 page website is your answer. If your goal is to build and grow your business and you want potential clients to find you…then you want to tell your story, with original quality content about you, the company, the services you offer, etc, on a regular basis. Google makes the rules for being found in an online search. Make sure you can be found.

In my experience, every website absolutely must be set up to have a perfect experience on mobile. Phones are the current extension of most people's thinking and being.

Sometimes your time is worth more than the cost savings of using a website builder. Factor the value of your time when you're comparing the cost to hiring a developer with expertise in your industry.

If you are a solopreneur, a simple landing page may be sufficient. If I were to start all-over again, I would go with a landing page with a singular focus...engage visitors and have them take action.