What is a Website Builder, and How does it Work?

You'll need to choose a website builder to get you and your brand online, whether you're just starting a business or want to bring your existing physical and mortar firm online.

There are many different website builders to choose from, so it's crucial to select one that works for you and your website.

So, what exactly is a website builder?

A website builder is a piece of software that allows you to make a website on the internet. The software will be hosted on a hosting company's web server or as part of a SaaS (software as a service) platform.

To put it another way, you don't utilize your local computer (desktop or laptop) to host the website-building software. Instead, you'll create the website using software created expressly for that purpose.

The following are the best website builders for small businesses:

• WordPress
• Wix
• SquareSpace
• Weebly

What is the difference between a "hosted" solution and “self hosted” software?

• You pay a monthly fee to have the software hosted and handled by a third-party company with a hosted solution. You won't have to look for a hosting firm or keep up with software updates.
• Self-hosted website builders will require you to acquire a hosting package from a third-party firm, install the web builder software from a third-party company, and execute software upgrades. Don't be alarmed by that last remark. Many hosting firms will handle software updates for you, and you won't have to do anything yourself.

Top Things to Think About When Choosing a Website Builder

• Custom Domain and Branding – Your website is deserving of its own domain. A domain is simply your website's address. Consider a domain as a house number that the post office uses to find you. You want your domain (also known as a URL) to be one-of-a-kind and memorable. Make sure your website builder supports this and doesn't force you to use a URL extension.
• Content Ownership – You must be the owner of your material. Although this may appear to be a straightforward task, some platforms have complete control over your data. Similar to how you use Facebook and how Facebook has complete control over your profile or page. Because a website is your window to the world, make sure the stuff you add is yours to own and control!
• Available Design Templates – Some website builders will provide stunning themes that are both visually and functionally current. Others appear to have been designed a decade ago, or worse, were coded by a developer without the assistance of a visual artist. Make sure your selected builder offers a large selection of templates for you to choose from and experiment with.
• Functionality Options – Before you click the buy button, consider the website's aim. Are you looking for help with e-commerce, podcasting, video integration, forum management, or lead generation? Make sure the website builder you choose supports the functionality you require now and in the future. Not all software alternatives, such as WordPress.org, allow you to add plugins and extensions. As a result, make sure you choose a platform that will meet your current and future requirements.
• Ease of Use – Websites should be updated on a regular basis and should act as living documents. To do this, they must be simple to use and include a WYSIWYG style editor. What you see is what you get, or WYSIWYG. Using a solid website builder is as simple as working with a Word document when it comes to adding and changing material. Make sure you look over your selected builder's content selections and that it offers a tool that you're comfortable with.
• Lead Generation Opportunities – A excellent website will give its owners positive outcomes. In many circumstances, this entails generating leads. Because not all website builders make this simple, think about the software's capacity to easily create, amend, and customize intake forms.
• Customization Availability – Off-the-shelf layouts will not always be a perfect fit for your website. It's possible that the colors or layout will need to be tweaked somewhat. Examine the settings in your website software to ensure you have the opportunity to change the design and layout as needed.
• Multimedia Support – In today's world, we live in a multi-media environment. Written content, movies, photos, and audio files are all expected. All of them will be included in a good software package, and you will be able to add such files with ease.
• Search Engine Optimization – They will come if you build it. Well, not quite. For your website to rank and attract search traffic, you'll need some good SEO. Make sure your programme includes powerful SEO tools as standard or allows you to bring on additional functions via an extension. You should be able to create SEO-friendly URLs, headers, meta titles, meta descriptions, alt text, XML sitemaps, and robot.txt file options, among other things.
• Mobile Responsiveness – Google is transitioning to a mobile-first index in 2017, owing to the fact that smartphone searches outnumber desktop searches. You must ensure that your website is compatible with the new world of mobile and voice search. Not all website builders are capable of this, so test your desired programme on your phone before getting started.
• Speed and Performance – Because mobile is a must-have feature, so will speed and performance. Your website must load quickly and not eat up a lot of mobile data.
• Cost – Website builders and hosted website software will cost anywhere from $5 to $100 per month. Examine all of your options carefully to gain a complete understanding of your total cost structure. When you consider that you have to upgrade to get fundamental features like a unique name, the "free" builders aren't really free.
• Technical Support – You will require technical assistance at some point. After all, it is software, and software may be finicky at times. Examine the technical support options provided by the software and/or hosting firm to ensure that someone will be there for you if you need it.
• Analytics and Visitor Tracking – Data is a crucial component of marketing. Google Analytics code can be added to your website using a good website builder. Accept no programme that does not provide this feature. Google Analytics is a free tool that every website owner should take use of.
• Import and Export Options – Relationships ebb and flow, and website software and hosting are no exception. Check to see if your builder allows you to export your content. Breaking apart and upgrading will be considerably easier as a result of this.