It is often the case in life that it is hard to find the perfect balance, and the world of website building is no different. Ten years ago, if you wanted a website built, you needed to employ a Dan Brown type character, who understood the mysteries of programming and coding, and would charge an arm and a leg for his secret skills and knowledge.
Then along came WordPress and anyone could build a site for free. Except it’s not quite that simple. Open source software is a wonderful thing, but it is not for everyone. If it was, the open source operating systems that are available would have put Apple and Microsoft out of business by now.
If you know a bit about web design and have dedicated some time playing around with WordPress, then it is great. If you don’t and you haven’t, then you will just end up frustrated and with a website that looks like it was created by your five year old, with a little assistance from the dog.
Choosing the best website builder
Website builders have stepped into the marketplace to bridge the great divide between full DIY and employing a consultant to build your site. The way they work is by providing an easy to use and intuitive platform with which you can build your own site, without needing any specialist knowledge. It is a growing market, you should closely evaluate all the options to choose your favorite website builder, as what is right for you depends on the specific needs of your business.
Here, we will take a look at three of the most popular options, just to give you a taste of what is available.
Wix
Probably the most famous of all website builders, and with good reason, Wix is great for beginners. It has millions of users worldwide, and is particularly popular in the clothing and fashion sectors.
There is a completely free option available, but this is severely limited, and you are better off upgrading to at least the first paid level – it equates to the price of a cup of coffee and a sandwich per month and is definitely worth it to get a relevant domain name and greater flexibility.
Weebly
This is another famous name, and seems to be popular across just about every sector. Like Wix, it has a simple drag and drop process for building your site that really could not be easier.
There is also a great choice of templates and designs that work well across all browsers and platforms, meaning the all-important mobile first aspect is taken care of.
Sitebuilder
If it is bangs for bucks you are looking for, Sitebuilder is hard to fault. This is one of the rare occasions when the completely free option is actually something that will make you a respectable website, although again, it is worth upgrading for a few dollars a month to get the full flexibility and functionality.
Even in the completely free version, the email assist and SEO tools are as impressive as anything out there.
About Carson Derrow
