With the likes of SquareSpace and Wix offering intuitive, easy-to-use web design platforms, it’s never been easier to build your own website. But are website builders really the best way to build an effective website for your business? In this article, we offer the pros and cons of website builders and examine the alternatives.
What is a Website Builder?
A website builder is a tool that allows the ‘lay user’ to build websites without extensive knowledge of coding or web development. These platforms offer customisable templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and a variety of click-and-place add-ons. Building a website is merely a case of following the on-screen instructions and adding your creative flare.
Popular website builders include Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify, with each catering to different needs, from blogging to eCommerce.
Pros of Using a Website Builder
1. Ease of Use
It may come as no surprise that the main advantage of using a website builder is its ease of use. Website builders are designed to be user-friendly. Their intuitive interfaces and extensive instructive guides allow even beginners to create professional-looking websites.
2. Quick Setup
Traditional web development can take weeks or even months, which comes at an opportunity cost – lost business. With a website builder, businesses can get their website up and running in just a few hours.
3. Cost-Effective
A good web developer can be expensive, which can be prohibitive for businesses with a limited marketing budget. Website builders offer affordable packages that often include hosting, domain registration, and customer support.
4. Built-in Features
Most website builders come with a wide range of plugins and widgets such as contact forms and embedded social media feeds, so you can make your business’s website engaging and collect customer details.
5. Maintenance and Updates
The website-building platform takes care of software updates, security patches, and server maintenance. This relieves businesses tight on time from managing technical aspects..
Cons of Using a Website Builder
1. Limited Customisation
While the templates and designs offered by website builders are numerous, they often lack the flexibility of custom-coded websites. This limits the end functionality. Users may also recognise the templates from one website to another, which can affect credibility.
2. Can Be Expensive in the Long Run
Many platforms operate on a subscription model, requiring continuous payments to maintain access to advanced features. For custom-coded websites, these features may be expensive to build but typically do not require ongoing payments.
3. Performance Issues
The flexibility of website builders can be as much a curse as a blessing. Such functionality often leads to bloated code, while shared hosting environments can slow loading speeds. This can impair user experience and impact search rankings.
4. Limited Scalability
While website builders can be sufficient for small websites, as businesses grow, they may require more complex features that are not supported. Scaling a website beyond the limitations of a website builder can be challenging or even impossible.
5. Dependency on the Platform
Using a website builder ties users to a specific platform. If the website builder discontinues its operations or changes pricing structures, businesses may find it difficult to migrate to another platform.
What Are the Alternatives?
For businesses that require greater customisation, flexibility, or scalability, there are several alternatives to website builders:
1. Custom Web Development
Hiring a professional web developer (or learning how to code yourself) enables users to build fully customised websites featuring the latest in web design. Technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and backend provide limitless design and functionality possibilities.
2. Content Management Systems (CMS)
A step up from website builders, platforms such as WordPress.org, Joomla, and Drupal offer more flexibility than traditional website builders. They also don’t require extensive technical know-how – a tech-savvy marketing director could learn the ropes relatively quickly in comparison to custom coding. CMS platforms allow businesses to install custom ‘themes’ to make the pages more engaging, while plugins can be easily installed to enhance performance and functionality.
3. Static Site Generators
Static site generators like Jekyll, Hugo, and Gatsby create lightweight, fast-loading websites that don’t rely on the complexity of databases. It’s worth noting, however, that these platforms require some technical knowledge so help from a professional may be required. Static sites are also by nature somewhat simplified in comparison to other websites.
4. E-Commerce Platforms
As an alternative to Shopify or Wix, e-commerce platforms like Magento, WooCommerce and OpenCart provide more control and flexibility than website builders like Shopify or Wix. They also, of course, come with added, but not insurmountable, development complexity.
Conclusion
Website builders offer an accessible and convenient solution for businesses looking to create websites without extensive coding knowledge and a limited budget. However, they do come with limitations in terms of customisation, scalability, and performance. CMS platforms or custom web development might be the way to go. Choose the right approach according to your budget, technical know-how, and both short and long-term goals.
