Website Checklist: Important Features for a Website Builder

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Key Takeaways

A good website builder can help you quickly and easily create an online business presence.
Look for one that has customizable templates, eCommerce options and is mobile-friendly.
Our website checklist will help you choose the perfect builder for your particular needs.

As a small business owner, there are never enough hours in the day. In fact, the number one thing small business owners across nationwide say they need more of is time. The clock never stops, and it's hard to find the time to deal with a website while also handling your day-to-day responsibilities. What if you could quickly and cost-effectively build a website for your business and build an online presence and following?

Website builders make this possible by allowing you to use existing web page formats or “templates” to add your business information and create a site of your own. However, there are many website builder options on the market and selecting the right one will help to drive the success of your online marketing program – so choose wisely. How can you determine which website builder is right for you? Here are some important features to consider.

Ease of Use

Your website builder should not require you to be a computer programming expert or web design pro. It should be intuitive and easy to use with no experience required. Look for one that makes it easy to get started. A good website builder allows you to begin constructing your site almost instantly with helpful onscreen guides that direct you through every step of the web design process.

A Variety of Design Templates

Ease of use is one thing, but that won’t matter if you don’t have a great selection of website templates to choose from. These templates should reflect a wide variety of industries and include photos, borders, fonts and design elements that match the style and personality of your brand. All templates should be easy to customize and allow for quick and easy navigation and maneuvering on each web page.

Drag-and-Drop Functionality

This feature makes it fast and easy to move graphic and content elements around on a page and place them exactly where you want with the flick of a touchpad or click of a mouse. Drag-and-drop functionality is a popular, user-friendly element that makes you instantly feel like you are a professional web designer – well, almost. Finding a website builder with this feature gives you a huge head start.

eCommerce Options

Having an online store on your website means that your business is always open and allows customers to make purchases anytime and anywhere. We saw the importance of this feature during the coronavirus pandemic when many businesses were forced to close their storefront locations due to virus concerns. Look for an eCommerce builder option that makes it easy to showcase your products and services and allows you to receive online payments.

Mobile-Friendly Design

From on-the-go shoppers to potential customers who are staying home more and using smartphones and tablets to access the internet, the use of mobile devices has greatly increased. That’s why it is important to find a website builder that makes it easy to design for small screens and allows you to preview your web page designs every step of the way. This ensures your site will be highly legible and appealing for mobile viewing and accessibility.

Blogging Tools

While most website builders offer you an option for creating a blog section, few have ones that are easy to program and use. Ideally, look for a website builder that offers you the ability to include WordPress or other similar blog-specific builders. This will not only make it simple for you to create and maintain a blog section, your blog readers will appreciate the professional look and design that encourages them to spend more time with your brand.

A Package Deal

Your ideal website builder will offer you a bundled package that gives you added value for your investment. For around $20 a month, you can also gain access to a free domain name (your website address) and web hosting (the place where your website files will be stored and accessed). Look for deals that include professional email and eCommerce (online store) options plus security features that protect your website data from cyberattacks.

Reliable Support

While most website builders are a do-it-yourself proposition, everyone can use a little guidance from time to time. A good website builder resource will offer you an easy way to contact a support team of web developers who can answer questions, make suggestions or talk you through any part of the process. Use this to your advantage to get second opinions on your work and to create a website that you will be proud of for years to come. And, once you've built it, you can see how it stacks up using our Website Grader.

Web.com Offers a Great Website Builder for Small Businesses

After helping more than 3 million small businesses get up and running online, we’ve learned a thing or two about what people want from a website builder. We have applied this knowledge to create one of the industry’s best and easiest-to-use web building tools featuring drag-and-drop technology, hundreds of customizable templates, a WordPress website builder for blogs, eCommerce options, business email and an expert team to support you every step of the way.

Check out our website packages that give you access to our website builder, a domain name, website hosting and much more for your investment. Take a closer look and you’ll discover why Web.com is such a great online resource for small businesses.

Follow Our Website Checklist and Build the Site You’ve Always Wanted

The right website builder can make all the difference between just having a website and building a brand that people follow. When you’re ready to create the site you’ve always wanted, take the easy and affordable route with Web.com.