Once upon a time, creating a website required the expertise of IT professionals and weeks of coding, often laden with the possibility of human error.
Today, however, a variety of website builders has revolutionized the process, making it accessible to even those with limited experience. And no, it doesn't need to be as complex as the image above. (Honestly, even I'm not sure what's happening there)
In this article, we'll explore four leading platforms catering to various industries and budgets, simplifying website creation like never before.
Let's dive right in!
WIX
Wix, loved by 250 million users, is a user-friendly website builder with over 800 design templates for various needs like blogging and small businesses. You can easily customize your site using its drag-and-drop interface, and integrate over 300 third-party apps for added functionality like scheduling or event booking.
Pros:
Simple drag-and-drop interface, great for beginners.
Offers built-in SEO tools to improve your site's visibility.
Plenty of app integrations available.
Free plan available, though with limitations.
Cons:
Free plan includes Wix ads and lacks Google Analytics.
Storage limits on most plans may require upgrading as your site grows.
Limited customization once you've chosen a template.
E-commerce features start at $27 per month.
Customer support response times can be slow.
Overall, Wix is an easy-to-use platform with lots of templates and features, but consider its limitations before committing.
Pricing
Wix offers three types of plans: basic Website plans, Business and e-commerce plans, and Enterprise plans.
Wix Basic Website Plans:
The free plan has Wix branding on your site's subdomain (like yourwebsitename.wix.com). It includes 500MB of storage and bandwidth.
For a more professional site with better customization and features, you'll need a paid plan. Wix offers four paid basic website plans ranging from $16 to $45 per month. Each plan includes a free custom domain for one year and a free SSL Certificate.
Wix Business and eCommerce Plans:
If you want to sell things online, you'll need one of Wix's Business and eCommerce plans. There are three options, all including secure online payments, recurring payments, customer accounts, and a free custom domain for one year.
Wix Enterprise Plans:
For big websites, there are custom Enterprise plans with personalized pricing. You'll have to talk to a Wix representative to create a plan tailored to your business.
Shopify
Shopify is mainly for building online stores, and all paid plans include features like shopping carts and marketing tools to help you sell products. There are just nine free templates for e-commerce, but if you're willing to pay, there are lots more options, though they're around $100 each on average.
The editor isn't exactly drag-and-drop; it's more point-and-click. It might take a bit to get used to, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty straightforward to use.
Pros:
Easy to use: Shopify's simple interface makes it quick to set up an online store.
Lots of apps: You can add all sorts of features to your store with over 6,000 apps.
Always there to help: They offer 24/7 customer service through email, chat, and phone.
Get those sales back: Shopify reminds customers who didn't finish their purchase to come back and buy.
Save on shipping: You get good deals on shipping with DHL, USPS, and UPS.
Sell anywhere: You can sell stuff online, in person, or both.
Cons:
Pricey plans: Some of their plans are more expensive than other options.
Not many free themes: There aren't a ton of free designs to choose from.
Blogging isn't the best: It's not as good for blogging as other platforms like WordPress.
Transaction fees: You might pay extra fees if you use a different payment provider instead of Shopify's own payment system.
Pricing
Shopify has three main plans, all offering unlimited products, discount codes, and 24/7 support. You can save 25% by paying annually instead of monthly. Start with the plan that fits your needs and upgrade anytime.
Basic:
For $29/month (billed annually), you can create your own online shop with unlimited products. It's great for starters and budget-conscious people.
Shopify:
Costing $79/month (billed annually), this plan offers lower credit card fees and more staff accounts. Good for bigger stores needing extra support.
Advanced:
At $299/month (billed annually), it's for businesses with established clientele. Offers more staff accounts, lower fees, and extra features like advanced reports and shipping discounts.
If you need even more, there's Shopify Plus, starting at $2,000/month for high-volume stores.
GoDaddy
Designing a website with GoDaddy's website builder is super easy - you don't need any technical skills. Just answer a few questions about your site, and you'll get a prebuilt one that you can customize. Or pick a template you like and add your own content using the drag-and-drop editor. While GoDaddy doesn't have as many design choices as others, their templates are clean and professional.
GoDaddy is not just a website builder; it's also where you register your domain and host your site. It includes tools for marketing and SEO. If you want to sell products online, it's easy to upgrade, starting at $20.99/month with a long-term contract.
Pros:
Accept payments easily with various processors like PayPal and Apple Pay.
Includes blogging features for managing categories and comments.
All paid plans offer email marketing directly from the dashboard.
Free appointment scheduling app included with all plans.
Access to 24/7 customer support via chat, phone, and online Help Center.
Ability to sell both physical and digital products on the Commerce plan.
Additional digital marketing tools available for a fee.
Unlimited storage and bandwidth for your website.
Option for custom website design services and hardware for in-person payments.
Cons:
Limited design customization compared to other platforms.
Cannot transfer websites built with the GoDaddy website builder to other hosting providers.
Fewer app integrations available compared to other website builders.
SEO capabilities are limited, with the SEO Wizard offering basic optimization guidance.
Pricing
GoDaddy's Basic plan is $9.99/month.
The Commerce plan for e-commerce is $20.99/month.
Features:
Both plans include free appointment scheduling and limited email marketing.
Squarespace
Squarespace is a really popular website builder because it offers a wide range of features you can use. You can create various types of websites like online stores, blogs, portfolios, or even membership sites. The editor is pretty easy to use, but it might take a bit to figure out where everything is - it's kind of like a mix between drag-and-drop and point-and-click.
One of the best things about Squarespace is its templates. They've won awards for how good they look! They're clean, modern, and made by professionals. Plus, they work great on phones too, so you don't have to make a separate site for mobile users.
Pros:
Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor for customizing templates without coding.
Includes hosting, custom domain, and email, making it a one-stop solution for website creation.
E-commerce features are integrated into most plans, with options for additional features like abandoned cart recovery.
Cons:
No phone support, only 24/7 chat and email support.
Personal plan limits customization with CSS and JavaScript.
No free plan, but offers a 14-day free trial.
Video storage limitations on all plans.
Lower Trustpilot rating compared to competitors.
Limits you to one sub-navigation menu, which could be restrictive for large sites.
Drag-and-drop editor may not be as intuitive for true beginners, but detailed instructions are available in the Help Center.
Pricing
Squarespace offers four plans, priced from $16 to $65 per month, depending on the features you need and whether you pay monthly or annually. There's no free plan, but you can try it free for 14 days.
Personal Plan: $16/month (paid annually) or $23/month (monthly) including unlimited bandwidth, SEO, access to templates, and 24/7 support. Allows up to two contributors.
Business Plan: $23/month (paid annually) or $33/month (monthly) includes everything in the Personal plan plus professional email, advanced analytics, and customization options.
Basic Commerce Plan: $27/month (paid annually) or $36/month (monthly) includes all Business plan features plus e-commerce functionality with no transaction fees.
Advanced Commerce Plan: $49/month (paid annually) or $65/month (monthly) includes everything in the Basic Commerce plan plus advanced features like abandoned cart recovery and subscription selling.
Final Words
In conclusion, when choosing a website builder, it's essential to find one that suits your specific needs and budget. Each platform—Wix, Shopify, GoDaddy, and Squarespace—offers its own set of features and pricing plans.
For beginners or those with limited technical skills, Wix and GoDaddy are excellent options. Wix provides an easy drag-and-drop interface and a wide range of templates, while GoDaddy offers simplicity and convenience with its all-in-one solution.
If you're primarily focused on e-commerce, Shopify is the go-to platform. It offers comprehensive features tailored for online stores, though it may come at a higher price point.
For those who prioritize design and aesthetics, Squarespace stands out with its award-winning templates and sleek interface, making it ideal for creatives and professionals.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your industry, goals, and budget. Take the time to explore each platform's features and pricing plans to find the one that aligns with your needs and helps you achieve your online goals.
SO, WHERE DO YOU FIND THIS PARTNER?
Well, aren’t we glad you asked! We at DigiCom are obsessive data-driven marketers pulling from multi-disciplinary strategies to unlock scale. We buy media across all platforms and placements and provide creative solutions alongside content creation, and conversion rate optimizations. We pride ourselves on your successes and will stop at nothing to help you grow.
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