This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
Everyone's got a brand to promote these days, even if that brand is just a showcase of blogged thoughts or a portfolio of various talents. And if you've got a business — no matter how big or small — you'll definitely need a strong and compelling website to stand out from the crowd.
So whether you're just launching a business, setting up an online store, or sharing a message to help others, having a website is the easiest way to get it all out to the masses. After all, it's your first introduction to potential customers and clients, so it's vitally important to consider what your online presence is going to look like. Simply put, a website builder is the perfect tool for freelancers, start-ups, and more established companies alike.
That said, some site builder options are more friendly to beginners than others. For example, Squarespace is a popular website builder with lots of awesome templates that you can use to create a beautiful website with professional results (even if you don't know your CSS from your HTML). On the other hand, a web builder like Weebly will give you a lot more freedom to play around with coding. So, though there are a lot of options for website builders out there, you’ll want to take some things into consideration before you can choose the best one for you. Fortunately, we’re here to show you the ropes, so let’s jump into the basics.
Do you need a website?
It's important to consider why you want an online presence before purchasing a website builder plan. Is it just to double-up as a form of online business card? Or, do you need advanced features, like e-commerce tools or a contact form, to keep you linked with consumers? Or, maybe you're not running a business at all, and need to create an aesthetically pleasing portfolio of your work, or a more personal blog to keep people informed. The ultimate goal of your website is something that must be considered before you spend a single dime. You don't want to invest in a website builder that might not be the right fit for your needs, or provides far more than you need when a free or low-cost plan option would suffice.
What should a good site builder cost?
There's a common misconception that developing a website takes hundreds of hours or the work of a team of professionals. Back in the olden days of the internet, it's true that you had to be a little bit of a tech wizard (or dole out the cash to hire one) in order to have your own website. But, today's website builders don't require you to know about HTML, FTP, servers, or even web hosting in order to create a robust home for yourself on the web. They offer plenty of resources to help you create an attention-grabbing site, even if you have zero web design experience. That said, you should expect this convenience to cost you a bit of coin depending on the services you need.
Big companies can dole out thousands of bucks for custom sites, but small businesses or organisations should do just fine with a website builder in the realm of about £10 to £20 per month. If you need some extensive features, like extra storage or bandwidth, or you're running an e-commerce operation, that cost may bump up closer to about £30 per month.
If those prices are not in your budget, however, it's totally possible to find a free website builder that'll get the job done with great results. Just keep in mind that the website building provider's logo and other ads will be prominent on your site, which could make it look a little less impressive. A free website builder is also likely to be limited in bandwidth and storage which could very well limit what you want to do with your site. In these cases, it's best to carefully read the fine print to see just how generous the website builder is with its no-cost plan.
What can you expect a good website builder to provide?
All website builders will give you a web address with their domain, but a custom domain name will cost you extra. Most paid plans will provide this for free for the first year, however. Many will also provide a free SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate to ensure your visitors that your site is safe to browse, and 24/7 customer service to guide you along and make sure your site is up and running at all times.
That said, you'll also want to pay attention to how much storage your site builder plan includes, as you'll need a good amount to host big files, like videos or photos showcasing your products or portfolio. Also, note how much bandwidth a plan offers to make sure it can handle your site's expected traffic.
Most, if not all website builders offer a lot of pre-built website templates to get your site started, and some even designate which templates may best suit different needs, such as e-commerce, portfolios, or even restaurants. Many site builders also utiliae a simple drag-and-drop interface that lets you place everything pretty much where you want it, along with the ability to tweak stuff like colour schemes, fonts, and more to fit your personal brand. Some, but not all site builders will allow for varying levels of HTML or CSS coding on the backend to tweak things even further if that's something you have knowledge of and want to dig into. You should also expect a good website builder to provide stock photos that you can use to make your website look better.
If your site acts as an online shop, make sure you choose a website builder or an advanced plan that is equipped with the e-commerce services and features you need to operate properly. Think cart and checkout pages, credit card processing, and services like email marketing, inventory, and shipping tools to make your business better and your life easier. If your site is primarily blog-based, on the other hand, consider a website builder that caters to easy WordPress integration.
Some site builders will optimise the way your website looks on mobile devices, but a few are much better at this than others. Also keep in mind that no matter which website builder you choose, it will likely be quite difficult to switch to another website builder or web host in the future. So it's pretty crucial to make the right pick from the start, while carefully considering your website or business' potential growth over several year's time.
What's the difference between a web host and a website builder?
A web host provides its customers with space on a server to store their data and website information, essentially giving it the means to reach the public. Think of it as purchasing a plot of land, and your website is the house that will be built there for everyone to visit. Simply put, you must have a piece of this "land" on the web to have a functional website, and your domain name is the address you share to help people find your "house."
A website builder, on the other hand, is a software tool that helps a user design and actually create their website from a visual standpoint. In the homebuilding metaphor, this can be equated to the array of construction materials needed to build a house, like wood and nails. Of course, you could build your home on the web with just your bare hands if you know your way around coding. However, it's much easier to design your own website when you get a leg up from a construction crew in the form of pre-made website templates and easy drag-and-drop functions. You can think of them kind of like contractors: you get a say in how you want things to look and where you want them to go, but you don't need to get your hands too dirty with all the confusing coding language on the backend.
When choosing the right website builder for you, your options can seem a little confusing because the line between web host and site builder gets a little muddied. Many web hosting services offer an integrated site builder to make it easier to get all your website-building tasks done in one place. And most, if not all, website builders will simply host your site on their servers as part of their whole package (even if you never encounter the words "web host" in the process — it's sort of an unspoken thing).
How can you use a site builder to create a website fit for your visitors?
Remember to put yourself into the shoes of someone who knows nothing about what your company does. Your site should be less about what you are and more about how you can help someone get what they need.
A good website builder should offer you plenty of templates catered to your site's needs. If you're creating an online store, go with a template that shows your products up front. They're the star of the show, after all, so potential customers shouldn't have to dig to find them. If you offer a service, on the other hand, make sure your template has space to put customer testimonials on view to encourage trust and community. Furthermore, you may just need a minimalist landing page to act as a virtual business card for your company. A simple website builder template is ideal here for displaying your contact info, business hours, and other personal details front and center.
A great website should also be easy to navigate, with text distilled down to its most basic and direct form. When communicating on the web, shorter is definitely better.
We're also a highly visual species, so the value of good photos and art cannot be overstated. If your budget doesn't allow you to hire a photographer and shoot custom photos for your site, then don't fret!. A great website builder will include a database of royalty-free stock photos that you can use to spice up your site and make it incredibly appealing to visitors.
What about SEO and landing high in web searches?
Having a website is one thing. Making sure people can find it across various search engines is another thing.
It’s no secret that Google basically runs the show in the land of search engines, so do some work to find out how people are searching for the type of content or services you offer. Then make sure those keywords show up prominently on your site and are also built into your site's metadata. Mastering a few key search engine optimisation tips will take you surprisingly far when it comes to driving up your site’s viewership, and many website builders include some built-in SEO tools to give you a leg up.
It's also a good idea to create service-oriented content that speaks to your expertise. If you're a dog walker looking to use your site to find new clients, for example, consider adding a blog section to your site to offer dog training tips and advice. This fosters a greater connection between you and your customers, and offers them greater service. When it comes down to it, this is all about creating opportunities to showcase that you are the ideal person for the job, and your website makes the very first impression in that process.
What is the best website builder?
We've narrowed down the best website builders for many different situations. Website builders that are great if you're on a budget, looking for stylish mobile content, a minimalist approach, an ecommerce focused site, or simply a more hands-on way of doing things, have all been considered in our roundup. There's sure to be the perfect website builder plan for your needs.
These are the best website builders in 2024.
