So you think you need a website? You’re right!
The next step is figuring out how to make a website. The good news is that there are really only two ways to build a site:
- Have someone build the site for you
- Leverage online tools that help you build it yourself
Method 1: Hire a Web Designer ????????
Not sure how to build a website yourself? That’s okay. You’re not alone.
When it’s time to purchase a home, most people feel out of their depth until they contact an industry professional. It’s no different when it comes to creating websites.
Benefits of Hiring a Web Pro
The quickest way to get your perfect website up and running is by collaborating with a pro who has been there and done that.
Get the Site of Your Dreams
You’re great at your business (yay you! ????) and you might know exactly what you want your customers to experience on your new website. That’s awesome!
If you know what you’re looking for, then relay your vision to a talented website designer and let them bring the dream to life. That’s literally their job.
Help Me, Help You
One thing I hear all the time from clients is…
“I think I need a website,
–Many small business owners and entrepreneurs
but I don’t know where to start.”
You know your business, but what if you have no idea how that should translate to the internet? Lean on the experience of a website expert who can tell you what’s worked for other businesses like yours.
More Affordable Than You Think
Websites don’t have to cost an arm and a leg and a good website will also pay for itself quickly by bringing in more business.
Let me know if you’d like more information what it looks like to hire a web designer.
Method 2: Website Builders ????
Another common way to make a website is to use an industry-leading website builder. These tools are designed for small business owners and individuals who want to build their own websites themselves without having to learn a single line of code.
Benefits of Online Website Tools
Website builders are one of the easiest and cheapest ways to create a blog or website on the internet (letting a Web Designer build it for you is obviously easier).
Easy to Use
Top companies spend millions of dollars each year refining their products and competing against each other for your business. They know that if their own website and tools are frustrating to use, you’ll go elsewhere. This means that as a consumer, you get a very powerful website building tool.
Affordable
Expect to pay $0-15 per month for access to these tools. In most cases, this price includes the cost of a domain and web hosting so there won’t be any other hidden costs or “gotchas”.
Downsides of Using Website Builders
Website builders are great, but you have to do all the work yourself and there are sometimes limitations to what can be customized.
It Still Takes Time
Building a nice-looking website always takes effort. Even with helpful page-building tools, you’ll still need to do some initial setup, pick a theme, prepare logos and artwork, and then fill the whole site with content.
You Can’t Customize Everything
If your website needs an advanced function or a feature not offered by a particular website builder, it probably isn’t the right fit for your project. For example, some site builders can’t handle any sort of e-commerce or online transactions. Review all the features offered before getting too far in.
The Best Tools Available
There are a few website builders that stand above the rest and offer great features at a good price.
Best Overall: Wix
Powering more than 100 million websites (????), Wix is the “big man on campus” and the clear industry leader. Wix is the easiest platform to use and offers website plans starting from as little as $0 (as in free).
More robust, paid plans start at a very reasonable $13/mo and offer features including:
- Drag-and-drop editor
- SEO tools
- Responsive (mobile-friendly) design
- Free web hosting
- SSL Security
Most Flexible: Squarespace
Feeling creative? Squarespace allows you to customize your website design as much as you want using award-winning designs.
Paid plans are as low as $12/mo, but you can get started for free with a trial (no credit card required). Key features of Squarespace are:
- Flexible and professional designs
- Blogging tools
- Built-in SEO
- Integrations with other apps/tools
- Edit from mobile
Best for Small Business: Weebly
Weebly is built to get your business up and running quickly, with a special focus on selling products online.
Paid plans start at just $8/mo, and they also offer a free tier. Perhaps the most unique feature is called Photo Studio, which allows you to send Weebly your products and they’ll send you high-resolution photos for a small fee.
- Drag-and-drop editor
- E-commerce platform
- Photo Studio
Fastest: GoDaddy
Once known for their edgy marketing campaigns, GoDaddy is the king of domain names. In recent years, they’ve also developed some impressively fast website building tools.
For around $10 a month, you can launch a new website in a hurry and the base plan also includes marketing tools to expand your reach. Other popular features include:
- 24/7 support
- Analytics and insights
- Social media tools
- Book online appointments
Conclusion
There isn’t one right way to build a website. When deciding whether to hire a web designer or build it yourself using a site builder, consider how much work you’re willing to do yourself and what you can budget for the project.
Still have questions? Let’s chat about your project.