Having a professional website for your small business could mean the difference between a successful business or a stagnant one. Websites not only add more credibility to your business’s online persona, but they can also increase your customer reach. However, not all small businesses are capable of hiring expensive website designers to turn their dreams into a reality. Some factors you should consider when deciding what website platform is right for you include ease of use, mobile optimization, responsiveness, customization, affordability, and SEO features. So here are some of our favorite website design platforms that are easy to use, don’t require any coding knowledge, and can also fit your budget requirements.
Squarespace
Squarespace is an all-in-one content management system (CMS), that allows users to personalize designs based on pre-built website templates. Users can drag-and-drop elements to design and customize web pages for their ideal aesthetic and function. This design platform is by far the easiest to use, with an extremely clean interface and focus on modern design and functionality. Plus, if your business requires more customization than the typical templates allow for, Squarespace has a robust backend system that can be manipulated with custom code, allowing for designers to add their own look or feel to any webpage.
The best part? Squarespace allows you to start your website design process with a 14-day free trial and also has 24/7 customer support. Monthly plans vary from $12 to $40 a month depending on your and your business needs, making it an extremely affordable option.
WordPress
WordPress, similar to Squarespace is also a content management system (CMS), that allows you to build and maintain a website without any knowledge of coding.WordPress began as a small, blog-focused platform, and has grown to support online portfolios, Affiliate websites, E-Commerce stores, and even community hubs. Unlike Squarespace, WordPress has several customizations available to support website updates and integrations. The only con is that these are created by web developers, and are not always maintained, so it's up to you to make sure your website is functioning as intended.
The platform is also SEO-friendly and extremely secure when it comes to remaining safe against malicious attacks, hackers, and malware on your website. Subscriptions vary, but realistically, you should expect a one-off cost of around $200, with a small ongoing monthly charge, around $11 to $40.
Wix
Wix is a cloud-based development platform with millions of users worldwide. With a large collection of visually impressive layouts, Wix is utilized primarily for small businesses, restaurants, online stores, and artists such as musicians and photographers. All of the templates are optimized for mobile devices and can be spiced up with one of the numerous apps available from the Wix App Market. After picking a template, you’ll be able to use Wix’s drag-and-drop editor to customize your site pretty much any way you like, having control over what’s included in your webpages, where it’s placed, and how it looks (similarly to Squarespace, you can customize fonts, colors, styles, interactions, etc).
Wix prices may vary from as little as $14 per month but can increase up to $500 per month across eight pricing plans. Wix also has a free plan, which is a good way to test the waters before you commit.
When choosing the right design platform for your website, the options may seem endless but it all comes down to what you need for your business. Based on factors such as ease of use, customizability, mobile optimization, and SEO feature our best suggestions are:
- Squarespace
- WordPress
- Wix
For more customized help with your website design and optimization, schedule a free consultation with us.
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