KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Choosing a website builder starts with understanding the primary purpose of your site. Determine your needs, such as eCommerce capabilities or portfolio showcases, to identify the features that best support your vision.
- Critical factors like ease of use, design flexibility, cost, scalability, and available support are crucial when selecting a builder. These elements ensure your site aligns with your brand and can grow over time.
- The DIY route offers control and cost savings, while professional services provide expert design, advanced features, and ongoing support. Make your choice based on your time, budget, and technical needs.
Choosing the right website builder can be daunting because it plays a crucial role in shaping your brand’s online presence. With only 50 milliseconds for users to form an opinion about your site, it’s essential to design it in a way that makes an instant, lasting impression.
In this article, we’ll cover a few guidelines that will teach you how to choose a website builder that meets your specific needs. You’ll determine your website’s objectives and explore essential factors when picking your site builder. In addition, you’ll learn about necessary features for different kinds of websites and find out which approach best suits your website-building preferences.
Define your goals and priorities
The best place to start in finding the right website builder for you is to understand your goals and priorities. Determine the main purpose of your site so you can find the features that best support your vision.
Here are some helpful questions to get started:
What kind of website am I creating?
Each website is built to serve unique purposes that require distinctive features. For instance, if you’re starting an eCommerce website, an online store builder is likely the best choice. These builders often come with integrated payment options, inventory tracking, and order management tools that make it easy to manage sales.
Meanwhile, if you’re an artist or a freelancer, a simpler website builder that showcases your portfolio might be all you need. This allows you to focus on visual design and layout rather than complex sales features.
What is my budget for a website builder tool, and what add-ons are essential?
Your budget will affect which features and add-ons you can include. Some builders offer basic plans with essential features like a free domain and aesthetic design templates.
However, if you want features like email marketing, SEO tools, or additional storage, you may need to consider higher-tier plans. Take the time to map out what’s essential for your site so you can compare these options accurately.
How important is customization and design control?
If you want full control over your site’s appearance and layout, consider builders that offer flexible design options and a wide variety of templates. Some builders provide drag-and-drop editors, while others have built-in design restrictions. Knowing how much creative control you need will help narrow down your options.
5 crucial factors to consider when choosing a website builder
Once you’ve defined your website’s ultimate objective, you can look into five essential factors that will help you determine the best website builder tool for your business.
Ease of use
If your number one priority is developing your brand or business and not the technical aspect, a user-friendly website builder is the best fit for you. Look for a website builder with AI tools that suggest layouts, designs, or color schemes based on your input. These tools allow you to achieve a professional look for your website with the least amount of effort. In addition, go for a builder that has a drag-and-drop feature so you can easily arrange elements on your pages without coding skills.
Design flexibility
Did you know that 75% of visitors base a brand’s credibility on its website design? Making a good first impression is key to attracting new visitors and enticing old ones to keep coming back. So, find a site builder that lets you create an aesthetic and functional website. Many builders offer a variety of templates you can fully customize to match your preferences, whether it involves adjusting layouts, fonts, and colors.
Additionally, choose a site builder that provides mobile responsiveness, which allows your website to automatically adapt to different screen sizes. This feature gives visitors a seamless user experience and helps you gain repeat visits.
Cost and value
Website builder pricing can differ widely, so it’s essential to understand what each plan includes. Basic plans usually cover a custom domain, hosting, and access to templates, but other features might be limited. Premium plans often offer more advanced options, such as SEO tools, email marketing integration, and larger storage capacities.
You also need to consider hidden costs that might apply. These can include fees for connecting a domain, SSL certificates, or necessary add-ons. Some builders require low upfront rates; however, adding features like eCommerce and premium plugins can increase the overall cost. It’s best to choose a website builder with transparent pricing so you can make sure you stay within budget.
Scalability and additional features
If you anticipate your website growing over time, it’s critical to select a builder with scalable features that can support your needs as they evolve. Features like SEO tools improve search engine visibility, while email marketing and social media integration can help expand your reach.
If you plan to add a blog, look for a builder that includes blogging functionalities. Many platforms offer flexible, growth-oriented options that make it easy to add on features or integrate with third-party tools as your needs expand.
Support and resources
Reliable support eases frustration if you run into roadblocks during the website-building process. Find a website builder that offers 24/7 customer support, ideally through multiple channels like chat, phone, or email. It’s also helpful if you can have access to tutorials and documentation you can use to learn and troubleshoot on your own. Some platforms even provide expert assistance for users who need hands-on help with setting up their sites.
Essential features to look for in website builders based on different needs
To help you get a clearer picture of which website builder to choose, we’ve listed different types of websites below and the features needed to meet each of their specific goals.
Small business websites
For small business owners, a professional look and seamless customer experience are fundamental. To give users a memorable impression, you’ll need customizable templates that let you easily align your site with your brand’s colors, logos, and design style.
Your site builder should also include business-specific features like contact forms, live chat, and customer reviews to improve customer engagement and trust. Your website will need effective SEO tools to drive traffic towards your business.
Online stores
If you’re starting an online store, you’ll need efficient eCommerce tools to ensure smooth operations and a positive shopping experience. First, you’ll want a payment integration feature that enables customers to pay through different channels. This will help you make the checkout process flexible and seamless.
Inventory management tools enable you to track available stock, update product availability in real time, and set automatic alerts when items are running low. This way, you can avoid overselling or stockouts that could harm your customer experience. Lastly, it’s essential to find an eCommerce website builder that comes with SSL security. This feature encrypts buyers’ information to protect their data from hackers and helps build customer confidence.
Freelance and service-based websites
Freelancers and service providers need a site that highlights their best work and makes it easy for clients to connect. You’ll need portfolio templates that allow you to display projects, case studies, and client testimonials to help potential clients understand your expertise.
Online appointment scheduling tools are also vital for those offering one-on-one consultations or coaching, which enables clients to book appointments directly from the site. Your website builder should also offer blogging capabilities so you can publish articles and share your insights or industry knowledge. Blogs help you connect with readers and showcase your expertise.
Nonprofit and community websites
Nonprofits and community organizations often rely on their website to gather support and keep members informed. Donation integrations are crucial, as they make it simple for supporters to contribute financially. Event management features also help promote upcoming fundraisers or volunteer opportunities where visitors can easily RSVP or sign up. Moreover, newsletter sign-up forms and social media integration allow you to keep supporters updated and engaged with your cause.
Educational websites and online courses
Websites focused on education, or online learning require tools that facilitate course delivery and student engagement. Course management systems let you organize lessons, track progress, and conduct assessments. Apart from that, membership portals also add value to your site by restricting access to certain content for enrolled students, which creates a dedicated learning environment.
Professional portfolios for job seekers
Job seekers and professionals can use a website as a digital resume to present their work experience and qualifications. Resume templates give off a professional look, while portfolio sections highlight relevant projects or accomplishments. LinkedIn integration can also be useful by providing easy access to your professional network and strengthening your online presence.
Websites for artists and creatives
For those focused on building an art website, design flexibility and aesthetics are essential. Find a website builder that provides beautiful, customizable templates that are perfect for visual displays. It also helps if the builder offers a drag-and-drop tool that helps you create a visually engaging site without advanced technical skills.
Additionally, you can further elevate your website’s impact with several other tools. These can include lightbox galleries for displaying images, video embedding for dynamic presentations, and slideshow capabilities for organized displays. Some site builders also offer client-proofing galleries where clients can view and select images or provide feedback directly.
Websites for bloggers and content creators
If your goal is to publish content regularly, you’ll need a site builder with strong blogging features. Some platforms offer WordPress hosting, which provides built-in blogging tools, SEO features, and the ability to organize posts by category. For writers or content creators, a builder with user-friendly editing tools and SEO optimization will be particularly valuable.
Website design: DIY approach vs professional services
DIY option
The DIY route gives you complete control as you build your own website. Most website builders today are equipped with user-friendly tools and intuitive interfaces that make it easy for beginners to create a polished website. Apart from that, there are other advantages you can get with the DIY approach:
- Creative control. Building your website yourself allows you to customize its look and feel to align with your vision. With customizable templates and drag-and-drop editors, you can experiment with different layouts, colors, and content elements without waiting on a designer.
- Cost savings. The DIY option is usually more affordable since you can avoid professional design and setup fees. Some website builders offer budget-friendly choices that come with essential features so you can get started without large upfront costs.
- Update anytime. A DIY site gives you the freedom to make changes whenever you want. Whether it’s adding new products, posting updates, or refreshing the design, you can do it yourself without relying on a third party. This is particularly useful for businesses or blogs with frequent updates.
- Learning opportunity. Building your own website can help you learn new skills, such as basic design principles and SEO techniques. This knowledge can be valuable, especially if you plan to manage the site long-term or create additional websites in the future.
- Quick setup and launch. For smaller or simpler websites, DIY platforms allow you to launch quickly. You don’t need to wait on a designer’s timeline because you can put together your site as soon as you have your content ready.
Professional services
Choosing professional website design services offers you a streamlined website creation process. With this option, you employ the valuable skills and years of experience of expert web designers and developers. Additionally, you get to see many benefits when you hire specialists to create your site:
- Expert design and customization. With pro services, your website is crafted by experts who understand both design principles and technical details. They can build unique layouts, custom graphics, and personalized features that might not be achievable with standard templates. This gives your site a unique look that aligns with your brand.
- Time savings. Hiring experts saves you valuable time, especially if building a website from scratch feels overwhelming or time-consuming. Web designers and developers handle the setup, design, and functionality so you can focus on other areas of your business.
- Advanced features and integrations. Some businesses need professional developers to ensure their complex websites run smoothly. Skilled specialists can configure your site’s special functions to meet your particular needs. They can also manage other technical aspects, such as eCommerce features, booking systems, or business tool integrations.
- Ongoing support and maintenance. Expert services often come with ongoing support, including overseeing security updates and troubleshooting issues, to ensure your website stays optimized for performance.
- Strategic guidance. Working with professionals means you have access to strategic advice tailored to your website’s goals. They can suggest features and designs that can help you get the best return on your investment.
Kickstart your online journey with the best website builder for you
With so many website builders available, there’s no doubt you’d need help choosing one. In this article, you’ve learned that you can define your website’s overall goal by determining what kind of website you’re creating and the budget you set. It’s also crucial to consider user-friendly site builders that provide design flexibility and reliable customer support. Whether you go for the DIY option for a hands-on experience or hire expert services, you can start building your website however you want.
Start your free trial with Web.com today and experience firsthand the powerful AI tools that make building your online presence easy and effective. Check out this separate article to learn more: Web.com free trial starter guide.
