What are Some of the Best Website Builders for Small Businesses?
It doesn’t matter if you own a start-up or a multi-million-dollar firm; without a site, your brand’s existence is next to none. Besides, 97% of internet users rely on search engines to locate a local business, it only makes sense that you design a website for your business sooner rather than later.
But first, you will need to find a good website builder. Yes, you have waited so long that now there are many options available! However, the best thing about these options is that they don’t require coding skills. You may not require hiring expensive developers either. Sounds good, right? But wait, there is another catch. You see, website builders now have a wide range of features and specialities. Choosing one is not that simple.
Although we have gathered a list of a few of the best ones, these are chosen based on their key features and the benefits they offer. So, before we dive deep into the options available, let us get familiar with what features to look for and what makes website builders so important.
Key features of a good website builder
A well-designed, user-friendly site has more than just vibrant templates and beautiful aesthetics. It features key elements that not only the users appreciate but also search engines find attractive. Hence, be sure to prioritize the features listed below when choosing a good website builder –
1- Responsive design
This feature of a website builder ensures you create a device-friendly website. Your site will end up appearing cohesive and appealing regardless of the device on which it is accessed.
2- E-commerce capabilities
With this feature handy, you will be able to set up digital stores. You can even manage your products effectively, add payment gateways for your customers and let them track their orders properly.
3- SEO tools
You want to improve the visibility and ranking of your site, right? SEO tools will come in handy in optimizing the site for search engines.
4- Analytics and reporting
Wish to know how your brand is being perceived? Or, where your brand stands in the market? Analytics can help. This feature makes it simple to gain insights into user behaviour, website traffic and other key metrics.
5- Customer support
If you choose to create your website without developers at your aid, having assistance from the site builder’s end can prove useful. You can troubleshoot issues you face through live chat. Even phone calls, emails, etc., can prove handy.
6- Templates
The last thing you want to do is design a boring website. For that reason, prioritizing templates is critical. The more pre-designed layouts you have, the better your chance of customizing your website to fit your unique business needs.
7- Drag-and-drop interface
This feature is an excellent addition for those with limited to no coding knowledge. The drag-and-drop interface allows you to select, place or even arrange elements on your site easily.
8- Customization options
Lastly, you need to check if the builder offers tools to adjust fonts, images, colour and other design elements to suit your firm’s branding requirements.
What makes website builders so crucial for small businesses?
1- In-budget solution
The best thing about website builders is that they provide various pricing plans. This sometimes also includes free-version or low-cost subscriptions. So, even with a limited budget, you are good! Also, there is no need to hire costly developers or designers.
2- Time efficiency
The simple backend of website builders reduces the time required for designing or launching a website. Also, adding new pages, updating content or making design changes is easy, thanks to features like drag-and-drop.
3- Better customer engagement
The website presents you with a varied range of avenues, including blogs, contact forms, chat widgets, etc., to promptly interact with customers and build lasting relationships. Also, easy content management allows you to polish and manage content with just some clicks.
Top website builders that are a perfect match for small businesses
1- Wix
This hard-to-beat website builder gives you the freedom to produce highly customized websites. No matter what type of business you own, Wix has endless features to help you create an impactful digital presence.
Pros
– Availability of free plan.
– Wix’s drag-and-drop features provide maximum design freedom.
– It features an AI writing assistant and a website generator.
– It features an all-inclusive SEO and ecommerce feature.
– Wix also has a large app marketplace.
Cons
– There is no SEO on the free plan, and it only has 500 MB of storage.
– Too many options overwhelm the builder.
Pricing
– Free – build and test your site with limited features (Subdomain, Wix branding).
– Light: $17/month – Connect your domain, basic marketing and 2GB storage.
– Core: $29/month – 50GB storage, marketing tools, basic ecommerce (25 products).
– Business: $36/month – 100GB storage, advanced marketing, full ecommerce with reviews.
– Business Elite: $159/month – Unlimited storage, advanced marketing and ecommerce
2- Weebly
This incredible website builder comes with a wide range of templates. It includes everything from normal ecommerce functionality to SEO tools and a wide range of apps to streamline website development.
Pros
– Weebly has ecommerce features with unlimited products even on its free plan
– Its ad-free plan starts at just $12/month.
– It assists with digital reservations and ordering.
– It features a huge third-party app marketplace.
Cons
– Has fewer features than other builders.
– To access a third-party app, a paid plan is mandatory.
Pricing
– Free – Basic store on subdomain, ads, unlimited products, basic features.
– Personal: $10/year – Custom domain, unlimited products, digital goods, shipping.
– Professional: $12/year – No ads, unlimited storage, advanced analytics, gated content.
– Performance: $26/year – Everything offered in professional + item review, abandoned cart recovery.
3- Zyro
Compared to others on the list, this website builder is relatively new. But that doesn’t stop it. It offers an intuitive interface with AI-driven tools so you can create a website quickly. Zyro is both affordable and comes with basic ecommerce features.
Pros
– Pricing plans are extremely affordable.
– Comes with easy-to-use AI tools.
– Highly reliable and better performance-wise.
– The website creation process is faster with Zyro.
Cons
– Customization options are very limited.
– Compared to known builders, Zyro has fewer features.
Pricing
– Website plan: $2.59/month – Free domain, web hosting, custom email, CRM, templates, AI, 24/7 support, SSL, embedded code, unlimited bandwidth/storage.
– Business plan: $3.59/month – All website plan + 500 product limit, payment gateways, automated status email, appointment booking, order management, inventory tracking.
4- WordPress (With Elementor)
This is a highly scalable and customizable platform. It comes with hundreds, if not thousands, of themes and plugins. In combination with Elementor – a page builder, it provides diverse design selection and drag-and-drop functionality.
Pros
– There is no limit to flexibility and customization.
– Wide range of themes and plugins.
– Easily scalable, making it best for large or complex websites.
– Delivers robust SEO capabilities.
Cons
– A huge learning curve.
– Needs to be maintained and updated frequently.
Pricing
– Lite: $2.99/month – 5GB storage, standard peak optimization, SFTP access, 24/7 support for hosting.
– Basic: $9.99/month – 10 GB storage, 30 GB/month bandwidth, dynamic content, 89 widgets, 24/7 premium support for all services.
– Business: $19.99/month – 20 GB storage, 118 widgets, form & popup builder, custom code & CSS, 24/7 premium support for all services (2 members).
– Grow: $22.99/month – 25 GB storage, responsive designs, site cloning, staging environment, 24/7 priority support for all services (4 members).
5- Squarespace
This well-known site designer comes with elegant and professional-looking templates. Also, its user-friendly interface streamlines website design and development. Squarespace also has built-in SEO features.
Pros
– 100+ visually striking templates.
– Drag-and-drop editor for seamless customization.
– Has a free custom domain for a year.
Cons
– No free plan available.
– Subscriptions are available only for the highest plan.
Pricing
– Personal plan: $16/month – Custom domain, drag-and-drop builder, digital membership/products.
– Business plan: $23/month – Sell physical products (3% fee), checkout, invoices, analytics.
– Commerce basic plan: $28/month – 0% transaction fee, advanced ecommerce tools.
– Commerce advanced: $52/month – Advanced shipping, discounting, subscription.
6- Shopify
This leading ecommerce platform offers a wide set of tools so you can create your online store effortlessly. The features also include payment processing, marketing tools, inventory tracking and product management.
Pros
– Extensive e-commerce proficiency.
– A huge selection is available on the app store.
– Multichannel selling made easy due to satisfying support.
– Excellent customer support.
Cons
– Add-ons result in higher costs.
– Without coding, there is only so much customization you can do.
Pricing
– Basic: Rs. 1,499/month – 10 inventory locations, 24/7 chat support, POS lite, localized global setting.
– Shopify: Rs. 5,599/month – Everything in basic + 5 additional staff accounts.
– Advanced: Rs. 22,680/month – Custom reports and analytics, 10x checkout capacity, enhanced 24/7 chat, add markets for USD 59/month.
– Plus: Rs. 1,75,000/month – 200 inventory locations, unlimited staff account, fully customizable checkouts, priority 24/7 phone support, sell wholesale/B2B.
Tips for choosing a reliable website builder for your small business
Is the list still overwhelming to choose from? Let us help you out. Listed below are the tips that will aid you to choose one reliable website builder for your business.
1- Determine your business needs
First things first, determine what you wish to use your website for. Will you be using it for e-commerce, blogging or as a simple informational platform for your users? Once you identify the same, you can choose a website builder that best suits your aim.
Also, be sure to list down all the features you need on the website. These can be anything from blogs to booking systems, an online store or a gallery.
2- Evaluate your technical capability
With an expert at aid, you will not have to stress about the technicalities involved. But, if you are taking the lead, you may have to choose a website builder that fits your skills. If you aren’t tech-savvy, stick to a builder with drag-and-drop functionalities. Also, prioritise a user-friendly interface.
Also, choose a builder that provides robust customer support, such as live chat, tutorials and phone support.
3- What is your budget?
If you are on a tight budget, it is best to compare the pricing plans of all the website builders you have at aid. Also, focus on any free plans or free trials offered. It is critical to factor in the costs of plugins, premium features and even domain registration. This way, you can identify the long-term costs associated.
Lastly, assess whether the features provided justify the cost as per your business’s requirements.
4- SEO and marketing tools
Digital marketing is a necessity. For that reason, select a website builder that comes with tools for optimizing the site for search engines. These include alt text, customizable meta tags and clean URLs.
Also, don’t forget to check for marketing integration prospects. You should be able to integrate social media platforms, email marketing services and so on with your website, too.
5- Mobile responsiveness
In the Q4 of 2023, mobile phones were responsible for 54% of all website traffic. It only makes sense to verify if the builder’s templates are device-friendly. Also, they must appear good, irrespective of the device your user uses.
If possible, go for a site builder that allows you to edit and preview your website on mobile devices, too.
Final thought
Having a website is no longer an option. It is a necessity. Besides boosting your brand’s digital visibility and credibility, it works as the sole cost-effective platform for sales and marketing. Investing in a website is a strategic move. It is key to maintaining your business competitive in the market.
It is time you use your newly gained knowledge to make an informed choice regarding choosing a website builder. Trust us; irrespective of the option you choose, stay assured of creating a professional and effective digital presence for your brand!
