At a time when everyone and their dog seems to spend most of their time browsing the interwebs, you and your business are most likely missing out on a large customer base if you don’t have an online presence. But when you are starting up, you probably may not have the right skills or money to have a custom-built website. So…. what’s the alternative – website builders? Are they worth it for small businesses? Well, let’s take a look at the pros and cons!
Pros
Easy on the wallet
Small businesses usually operate on very tight budgets. And that means engaging a professional web developer or an agency is a no-no for many, but website builders, on the other hand, offer a cost-effective alternative. Most builders feature a range of plans tailored to fit different budgetary constraints, making them an attractive proposition for budding businesses and entrepreneurs.
User-friendly
Most website builders are built for non-developers and thus feature a visual design interface, which means you won’t need technical prowess to navigate through the whole process. With intuitive interfaces and drag-and-drop functionality, crafting a website becomes accessible to all, irrespective of technical expertise. Furthermore, they offer a deluge of pre-designed templates that can be customized to fit your brand identity with a little bit of mix and match. For example, WiO Diet (this website) uses Shopify to build and maintain their beautiful online store that goes in line with their brand identity.
Technical support
Most of the website builders have robust customer support and resources, including extensive documentation and public forums. This could come in handy for small business owners who may encounter technical issues along the way.
Rapid development
One of the main advantages of website builders is their ability to pull off a decent-looking website in no time. Builders, including WordPress and Shopify, offer a plethora of pre-designed templates and a user-friendly interface, enabling small businesses to quickly bootstrap professional-looking websites.
Cons
Limited customizations
While builders offer a good deal of customization options, they may fall short when compared to the freedom a custom-built website provides. And that means this is not an ideal solution for businesses with unique needs or those requiring intricate features.
Scalability
Website requirements may evolve as you grow your business. Unfortunately, website builders may not always scale adequately to accommodate these changes. This could potentially necessitate a transition to a more robust solution down the line.
Uniqueness
While templates can be customized, it is worth noting that they are not exclusive to your business. Simply put, your website might appear strikingly similar to others utilizing the same builder and template. Having a truly distinctive online identity can be a challenge with website builders.
Leading startup incubators like DMZ to highly sought-after brokerage firms like Volpe Financial Solutions (learn more) use popular website builder services like WordPress and Squarespace respectively to meet their digital requirements. In conclusion, website builders can be a viable option for businesses of all sizes looking to simplify the web development process so they can focus on the more important aspects like marketing and content creation.
