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What is a Website Builder?

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What is a Website Builder?

Publish Date : Feb 15, 2021

Whether you’re just starting a business or want to move your existing brick and mortar business online, you’ll need to locate a website builder to get you and your brand online.

Website builders come with a variety of options, so it is important to find one that fits you and your website.

So what is a website builder exactly?

A website builder is software that allows you to create a website online. The software will reside on a web server at a hosting company or be part of a hosted SaaS (software as a service) platform.

Or in other words, you do not use your local computer (desktop or laptop) to hold software that will build the website. Instead you’ll build the website online via software designed specifically for website creation.

Top small business website builders are:

  • WordPress
  • Wix
  • SquareSpace
  • Weebly

What’s the difference between “hosted” solution or “self hosted” software?

  • In a hostedsolution you pay a monthly fee to have the software housed and managed by a third party company. You don’t have to worry about finding a hosting company or software updates.
  • Website builders that are self hostedwill require you to purchase a hosting plan from a third party company, install the web builder software from another company, and you’ll need perform software updates. Don’t let that last comment scare you. There are many hosting companies that will manage software updates for you and you don’t have to touch a thing.

Top Considerations for Picking a Website Builder

  • Custom Domain and Branding– Your website deserves a unique domain. A domain is simply the address of your website. Think of a domain like house number used by the post office to locate you. You want your domain (aka URL) to be unique and memorable. Make sure your website builder allows for this and doesn’t make you use an extension of their URL.
  • Content Ownership– You need to own your content. That may seem simple, but some platforms control your data. Similar to you using Facebook and Facebook having ultimate control of what resides on your profile or page. A website is your window into the world, so make sure the content you add is owned and controlled by you!
  • Available Design Templates– Some website builders will offer beautiful templates that are modern in both appearance and functionality. Some others look like they were created a decade ago, or worse yet, were coded by a developer and without the aid for a graphic artist. Make sure your chosen builder has a plentiful supply of templates for you to pick from and try out.
  • Functionality Options– Think about the purpose of the website before you hit that buy button. Do you need e-commerce, podcast support, video integration, forum management, or lead generation? Make sure your chosen website builder supports the functionality you need and possibly want down the road. While some software options – like WordPress.org – allow you to add plugins and extensions, not all do. So make sure you select a platform that supports your current and future needs.
  • Ease of Use– Websites should be kept fresh and serve as living documents. For this to be the case, they have to be easy to use and provide a WYSIWYG style editor. WYSIWYG stands for what you see is what you get. Solid website builders will make adding and editing content as easy as working in a Word file. Make sure you review your preferred builder’s content options and make sure it provides a tool you’re comfortable with using.
  • Lead Generation Opportunities– A good website will produce positive results for it’s owners. In many cases, this means lead generation. Not all website builders will make this easy, so consider the software and it’s ability to quickly add, edit, or customize intake forms.
  • Customization Availability– In many cases, the off-the-shelf templates won’t be a perfect fit for your website. You might need to customize the colors or layout slightly. Review your website software’s options and make sure you have the ability to edit the design and layout as needed.
  • Multimedia Support– We live in a multimedia world. People expect written content, videos, images, and audio files. A quality software package will offer all of these and allow you to add such files effortlessly.
  • Search Engine Optimization– If you build it they will come. Well not exactly. You need some quality SEO for your website to rank and bring in search traffic. Make sure your software has really strong SEO features as part of the core software or allows you to add on features via an extension. You should be able to create SEO friendly URLs, headers, meta titles, meta descriptions, alt text, XML sitemaps, and have appropriate robot.txt file options.
  • Mobile Responsiveness– In 2017 Google is moving to a mobile first index and it is doing so because it sees more searches on mobile devices than on desktop computers. You need to make sure your website is ready for this new world of mobile and voice based search. Not all website builders will do this well, so check out your preferred software on your phone before you start building.
  • Speed and Performance– Because mobile is a much have feature, speed and performance will be too. Your website has to load fast and not chew through a ton of mobile data.
  • Cost– The cost of website builders and hosted website software will vary from $5 per month to $100 per month. Know your full cost structure by looking at all the options carefully. The “free” builders are not really free when you consider the fact that you have to upgrade to have basic features like a unique domain.
  • Technical Support– At some point you will need technical support. It is software after all and software can be picky at times. Check out the software and/or hosting company’s technical support options and make sure someone has your back should you need them.
  • Analytics and Visitor Tracking– Data is an important part of marketing. A quality website builder will allow you to add Google Analytics code to your website. Don’t accept any software that lacks this option. Google Analytics is free and should be used by every website owner.
  • Import and Export Options– Relationships ebb and flow and this includes website software and hosting. Make sure your builder allows you to export your content if needed. This will make breaking up and upgrading much easier.

Regardless of whether you’re simply beginning a business or need to move your current physical business on the web, you’ll need to find a website developer to get you and your image on the web.

Website manufacturers accompany an assortment of choices, so it is essential to discover one that fits you and your website.

So what is a website developer precisely?

A website manufacturer is programming that permits you to make a website on the web. The product will dwell on a web worker at a facilitating organization or be important for a facilitated SaaS (programming as a help) stage.

Or on the other hand all in all, you don’t utilize your neighborhood PC (work area or PC) to hold programming that will fabricate the website. Rather you’ll construct the website online by means of programming planned explicitly for website creation.

Top small business website builders are:

  • WordPress
  • Wix
  • SquareSpace
  • Weebly

 

What’s simply the distinction between “facilitated” arrangement or “facilitated” programming?

  • In a facilitated arrangement you pay a month to month charge to have the product housed and overseen by an outsider organization. You don’t need to stress over finding a facilitating organization or programming refreshes.
  • Website manufacturers that are self facilitated will expect you to buy a facilitating plan from a third get-together organization, introduce the website designer programming from another organization, and you’ll require perform programming refreshes. Try not to allow that last remark to terrify you. There are many facilitating organizations that will oversee programming refreshes for you and you don’t need to contact a thing.

 

Top Considerations for Picking a Website Builder

  • Custom Domain and Branding – Your website merits an extraordinary space. An area is just the location of your website. Think about an area like house number utilized by the mail center to find you. You need your area (otherwise known as URL) to be exceptional and important. Ensure your website manufacturer takes into consideration this and doesn’t make you utilize an augmentation of their URL.
  • Content Ownership – You need to possess your substance. That may appear to be straightforward, yet a few stages control your information. Like you utilizing Facebook and Facebook having extreme control of what dwells on your profile or page. A website is your window into the world, so ensure the substance you add is claimed and constrained by you!
  • Available Design Templates – Some website manufacturers will offer excellent formats that are current in both appearance and usefulness. Some others seem as though they were made 10 years prior, or more terrible yet, were coded by an engineer and without the guide for a visual craftsman. Ensure your picked manufacturer has an ample stockpile of layouts for you to select from and attempt.
  • Functionality Options – Think about the reason for the website before you hit that purchase button. Do you need internet business, digital broadcast uphold, video reconciliation, discussion the board, or lead age? Ensure your picked website developer bolsters the usefulness you need and potentially need as it were. While some product alternatives – like WordPress.org – permit you to add modules and expansions, not all do. So ensure you select a stage that underpins your current and future requirements.
  • Ease of Use – Websites ought to be kept new and fill in as living records. For this to be the situation, they must be not difficult to utilize and give a WYSIWYG style editorial manager. WYSIWYG represents what you see is the thing that you get. Strong website manufacturers will make adding and altering content as simple as working in a Word record. Ensure you survey your favored manufacturer’s substance alternatives and ensure it furnishes an apparatus you’re alright with utilizing.
  • Lead Generation Opportunities – A decent website will create positive outcomes for it’s proprietors. By and large, this implies lead age. Not all website manufacturers will make this simple, so think about the product and it’s capacity to rapidly add, alter, or modify admission structures.
  • Customization Availability – In numerous cases, the off-the-rack layouts won’t be an ideal fit for your website. You may have to alter the tones or format somewhat. Survey your website programming’s alternatives and ensure you can alter the plan and format varying.
  • Multimedia Support – We live in a media world. Individuals anticipate composed substance, recordings, pictures, and sound documents. A quality programming bundle will offer these and permit you to add such records easily.
  • Search Engine Optimization – If you construct it they will come. Well not actually. You need some quality SEO for your website to rank and acquire search traffic. Ensure your product has truly solid SEO highlights as a component of the center programming or permits you to add on highlights by means of an augmentation. You ought to have the option to make SEO well disposed URLs, headers, meta titles, meta portrayals, alt text, XML sitemaps, and have fitting robot.txt document choices.
  • Mobile Responsiveness – In 2017 Google is moving to a portable first record and it is doing so in light of the fact that it sees a greater number of searches on cell phones than on work stations. You need to ensure your website is prepared for this new universe of portable and voice based search. Not all website manufacturers will do this well, so look at your favored programming on your telephone before you begin building.
  • Speed and Performance – Because versatile is a much have highlight, speed and execution will be as well. Your website needs to stack quick and not bite through a huge load of portable information.
  • Cost – The expense of website developers and facilitated website programming will fluctuate from $5 every month to $100 every month. Know your full expense structure by taking a gander at all the choices cautiously. The “free” developers are not actually free when you consider the way that you need to move up to have fundamental highlights like a one of a kind area.
  • Technical Support – eventually you will require specialized help. It is programming all things considered and programming can be exacting on occasion. Look at the product as well as facilitating organization’s specialized help alternatives and ensure somebody has your back should you need them.
  • Analytics and Visitor Tracking – Data is a significant piece of promoting. A quality website developer will permit you to add Google Analytics code to your website. Try not to acknowledge any product that comes up short on this choice. Google Analytics is free and ought to be utilized by each website proprietor.
  • Import and Export Options – Relationships back and forth movement and this incorporates website programming and facilitating. Ensure your manufacturer permits you to trade your substance if necessary. This will make separating and overhauling a lot simpler.