Having a website for your small business can help you to increase visibility and sales. With more and more people searching online, it’s expected for a business to have a web prescence these days. That doesn’t mean you need a complicated bespoke website to get started, there are lots of platforms to choose from that offer drag and drop builders which make building a website much much easier.
Here are our top ten options for small business website platforms:
1. WordPress
WordPress, one of the most popular website platforms globally, comes with a plethora of pros and cons. On the positive side, its flexibility and customisability are unmatched. With a vast library of themes and plugins, users can create stunning and functional websites tailored to their specific needs.
Additionally, WordPress is SEO-friendly, aiding in search engine visibility and ranking. Its large user community ensures continuous support and regular updates, adding to its appeal.
However, WordPress does have some drawbacks. As an open-source platform, security can be a concern, requiring regular updates and security measures to prevent vulnerabilities.
Additionally, customisation might be overwhelming for non-tech-savvy users, necessitating some learning curve. Furthermore, if extensive plugins are added, it may impact site speed and performance.
Despite these downsides, WordPress remains a top choice for many due to its versatility and abundant features.
2. Wix
One of Wix’s most significant advantages is its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, allowing users with minimal technical knowledge to create visually stunning websites effortlessly. Wix offers a vast collection of professionally designed templates, catering to various styles, which can serve as an excellent starting point for businesses.
The platform also handles web hosting and security, saving users from the hassle of managing these aspects independently. However, Wix’s extensive customization options may sometimes lead to limitations in advanced design modifications.
Additionally, once you’ve chosen a template, switching to a different one can be challenging, potentially requiring a complete site redesign.
Overall, Wix is a fantastic option for those seeking a straightforward and visually appealing website, but it’s essential to weigh its limitations against your specific business requirements.
3. Squarespace
One of the biggest strengths of Squarespace is its visually stunning and modern templates that can make any website look professional and aesthetically pleasing. The platform’s user-friendly interface allows individuals with little to no coding experience to build and manage their websites effortlessly.
Squarespace also provides excellent customer support, with a vast knowledge base and responsive assistance available. Additionally, the platform handles essential aspects like hosting and security, ensuring users can focus on building their online presence.
However, Squarespace’s customisation options might be less extensive compared to other platforms, which could limit design flexibility for some users with specific needs.
Furthermore, as the platform is all-in-one, migrating your website to another platform can be challenging if you decide to switch in the future. Some users might find the pricing to be on the higher side compared to other website builders.
Despite these drawbacks, Squarespace remains an excellent choice for individuals and small businesses looking for an elegant and easy-to-manage website solution.
4. Shopify
If you have an ecommerce business then building a website requires shop functionality, one of the simplest to set up is Shopify.
On the positive side, Shopify excels in creating online stores with its user-friendly interface and extensive collection of attractive and responsive themes. It offers a secure and reliable hosting solution, eliminating the need for users to handle technical aspects independently.
Additionally, Shopify provides a wide range of built-in tools and apps for marketing, inventory management, and order processing, making it an all-in-one e-commerce solution. However, one potential drawback is the transaction fees for using external payment gateways, which can impact profitability, especially for smaller businesses.
While Shopify offers customisation options, deeper modifications might require technical expertise or additional expenses. Despite these considerations, Shopify remains a top choice for e-commerce entrepreneurs due to its feature-rich platform and robust support for online businesses.
5. Weebly:
Weebly, a popular website platform, comes with a variety of pros and cons. One of its major advantages is its simplicity and user-friendly interface, making it ideal for beginners to create websites quickly.
Weebly offers a drag-and-drop builder with a range of pre-designed templates that allow users to build visually appealing sites without any coding knowledge. It also provides reliable hosting, security features, and regular updates, ensuring a hassle-free website management experience.
On the downside, some users might find Weebly’s customization options limited compared to other platforms, restricting advanced design modifications. Additionally, as the platform is primarily focused on smaller websites, it may not be the best fit for large or complex businesses with extensive needs.
Despite these limitations, Weebly remains an excellent choice for individuals and small businesses seeking a straightforward and easy-to-use website builder.
Whichever platform you choose, make sure that it’s chosen with longevity in mind. If you have big plans for your business then you might want to invest a little more up front. The cost of rebuilding your website in a year because it doesn’t service your needs any more will be much greater than investing a little more in the first place.
Contact us today to ask about our small business website packages.