When building an online presence for your small business, the choice of website builder is crucial. We’ve gathered sixteen insights from CEOs, founders, and other digital experts, ranging from e-commerce feature prioritization to the value of a simple, feature-rich site builder, to guide you in making an informed decision. Here are tips of choosing the right website builder for small business success:
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- E-Commerce Feature Prioritization
- SEO Tools for Online Visibility
- Cost-Effective Builder Selection
- Growth-Ready Website Builder
- Third-Party Integration Importance
- User-Friendly Interface Value
- Design Style Compatibility
- 24/7 Customer Support Assurance
- Intuitive Platform Necessity
- Adaptable Website Builder Need
- Prioritize High Loading Speed
- Balancing Cost and Customization
- Streamlined Interface for Efficiency
- Multimedia Integration for Engagement
- WordPress for Scalable Solutions
- Simple, Feature-Rich Site Builder
E-Commerce Feature Prioritization
E-commerce capabilities are a specific factor I consider for businesses with online sales. I seek website builders that offer robust e-commerce features, including inventory management, secure payment processing, and seamless product listings. This factor empowers us to run a successful online store and deliver a seamless shopping experience to our customers.
Michael Nemeroff, CEO and Co-Founder, Rush Order Tees
SEO Tools for Online Visibility
Our focus is on its SEO capabilities. SEO is crucial in making a website more visible on search engines, key for drawing in organic traffic and prospective customers.
We look for builders that provide strong SEO tools, such as meta-tag optimization, keyword-rich URLs, and efficient content management.
These features greatly enhance a website’s online presence and success. Our approach ensures the website is not just visually appealing but also effectively reaches the intended audience.
Marco Genaro Palma, Content Marketing Manager, PRLab
Cost-Effective Builder Selection
When selecting a website builder for my small business, I consider the pricing structure of the platform. I may opt for a free or open-source web builder if available; while these can offer few customization options and require additional time to learn, they are an effective way to minimize costs.
Furthermore, having a strong understanding of how to use code on the back end may increase user engagement and site performance without the need to spend large amounts on software licenses or site maintenance.
Michael Alexis, CEO, Virtual Team Building
Growth-Ready Website Builder
One specific factor is customizability and scalability. When I first started, I needed a website builder that was user-friendly and could let my creative ideas flow with no coding degree. I also wanted a platform that could grow with my business.
For example, when I launched my online store, I began with basic features. As the business grew, I needed more advanced tools—like enhanced e-commerce functionalities, better SEO capabilities, and integration with marketing tools. A website builder that offers both simplicity for beginners and advanced options for growth is perfect. It means you won’t have to migrate to a different platform as your business evolves.
Zephyr Chan, Founder and Growth Marketer, Better Marketer
Third-Party Integration Importance
Integration options with third-party tools and services are essential for streamlining our operations. I consider this factor to assess how well the website builder can connect with our preferred marketing, analytics, and e-commerce tools, making our workflow more efficient and data-driven.
Tom Golubovich, Head of Marketing, Ninja Transfers
User-Friendly Interface Value
I prioritize user-friendly interfaces when choosing a website builder. A simple, intuitive platform ensures efficient navigation and ease of use, enabling quick updates and modifications without the need for extensive technical knowledge. This factor streamlines the website management process, allowing me to focus on content and business growth rather than grappling with complex tools.
Additionally, user-friendly interfaces enhance collaboration among team members, fostering a smoother workflow for website maintenance. Ultimately, prioritizing a straightforward website builder empowers small businesses to establish a professional online presence while optimizing time and resources.
Divya Ghughatyal, Digital Marketing Specialist, Gleantap
Design Style Compatibility
One specific factor I consider when selecting, or helping small businesses select, a website builder is whether their design style is a good fit for the business.
Choosing a website builder whose design style aligns with your business is important for several reasons. First, a website serves as a digital storefront, representing your brand. Consistency in design aesthetics ensures that your website reflects your brand’s identity.
User experience is another consideration because it plays a big role in engagement and conversion.
At the end of the day, selecting a website builder with a design style that suits your business ensures that your online presence accurately represents your brand, enhances user experience, and contributes to building an accurate and strong image in the eyes of your target audience.
Stefan Campbell, Owner, The Small Business Blog
24/7 Customer Support Assurance
I specifically search for excellent customer support and check online reviews. Even though we anticipate that website builder software should have an easy-to-use interface, it’s important for us to have access to 24/7 customer support.
This is crucial because, at times, technical issues or queries can arise outside of regular business hours. Having round-the-clock support ensures that any problems can be resolved quickly, preventing prolonged downtime. Good customer support also indicates that the website builder values its users and is committed to providing a positive experience.
For this purpose, I believe that reading online reviews gives us insight into real users’ experiences with the support team, helping us gauge reliability. It’s a safety net that gives us confidence in the tool we’re using for our web presence.
Ahmed Mir, Founder, Nature and Bloom
Intuitive Platform Necessity
When choosing a website builder for a small business, user-friendliness takes precedence. A platform that is intuitive and easy to navigate is crucial for efficiency and ensures that a small business owner can manage and update their website without technical hurdles. This factor is pivotal as it allows them to focus on the core aspects of their business rather than grappling with a complex website-building process.
Additionally, a user-friendly interface often leads to a more polished and professional-looking website, which is essential for creating a positive first impression on potential customers.
Beth Patton, Website Designer and Developer, Manatee Digital Media
Adaptable Website Builder Need
One specific factor I have considered when selecting a website builder for my small business is scalability and flexibility. Because it is essential to consider these two factors if you want to grow your business, the website builder must be capable enough to fulfill your business needs.
Significantly, website builders should have the flexibility to create new sections, add pages, and incorporate more essential features into your site. Thus, after considering all these factors, I picked the best website builder for my small business and achieved the expected results.
Darren Graham, Company Director, 408 Media Group
Prioritize High Loading Speed
If the loading speed is not fast, it is not going to work. When you search for any blog on the internet, thousands of results will show up. The competition is getting more hectic day by day. With tons of options, users are also losing their patience and prefer websites that load within a second and do not take half a minute. That is the reason why loading speed was considered when choosing the website builder—to make it more effective.
This is one factor that, if ignored, no matter how creative your website is, can ruin your customer game. Whereas, if your website speed is high, the audience rate will automatically increase.
Julia Lozanov, Chief Editor, Verpex
Balancing Cost and Customization
The first thing I look at when choosing a website builder is the cost. Having a website is important for any business, but it can get expensive. There are many different types of website builders out there, and each one has its advantages and disadvantages. The key to finding the right one for your business is finding one that fits your needs and budget. Three factors contribute to it.
How much does this company charge? How does it compare to other companies in its industry? Do they offer discounts for multiple websites?
Do they offer templates or themes that will allow you to easily build your site? What type of tools are available for customizing elements? Is it easy to change things on the fly?
How long does it take them to respond to emails and questions? Are there live chat options available for customers who need help during business hours?
Vitaliy Kharitonov, Founder, Shirtzilla
Streamlined Interface for Efficiency
Streamlined user interfaces facilitate swift navigation through the website creation process, ensuring that even those without extensive technical expertise can effortlessly construct and customize their online presence.
A user-friendly website builder simplifies the complexities of design, coding, and content integration, enabling seamless development. This simplicity in operation translates into time and resource savings, as businesses can efficiently establish and update their digital platforms with no specialized skills. Such accessibility fosters adaptability, allowing small businesses to promptly respond to evolving market demands and trends.
In essence, a website builder that prioritizes ease of use empowers businesses to harness the full potential of the digital landscape, fostering agility and responsiveness in an ever-changing online environment.
Kate Cherven, Marketing Specialist, United Site Services
Multimedia Integration for Engagement
I find the versatility of a website builder to exhibit our wide portfolio of environmental projects critical. For effectively communicating the essence of our work, a website builder that allows for the seamless integration of high-quality photographs and interactive multimedia elements is essential. Given the visual nature of our profession, being able to establish an engaging and visually appealing online presence is a must.
A website builder that prioritizes a user-friendly interface for uploading and organizing multimedia content ensures that we can clearly and effectively exhibit our ecological projects. This feature not only improves the visual appearance of our website but also plays an important part in demonstrating our knowledge and dedication to environmental conservation to potential clients and partners.
Robert Oates, Managing Director, Arbtech
WordPress for Scalable Solutions
When selecting a website builder for our clients’ small businesses, we prioritize the scalability offered by WordPress. This choice stems from early on in my career when I built a website for a client on another platform, and their business rapidly expanded, outgrowing the capabilities. We transitioned them to WordPress, accommodating their growing needs and offering extensive customization options through plugins and themes.
This adaptability is crucial when growing businesses require a website platform that seamlessly adapts and scales. WordPress’s vast ecosystem of plugins and themes allows us to tailor websites precisely to the clients’ needs, ensuring long-term viability and effectiveness.
Daniel Bunn, Founder and Director, DB IT
Simple, Feature-Rich Site Builder
When looking for a website builder for my small business, I always think about the ease of use.
I know that there are a lot of things that go into creating a website, and depending on what kind of site you want to make, it can be incredibly complicated. But I also know that most small businesses don’t have the time or resources to hire someone to build their site for them. That’s why having an easy-to-use platform is so important!
I also look at what kinds of features each site builder offers. Some companies offer more than others, and while some offerings might not be important to me personally (say, e-commerce functionality), they might be important to other people who would use their website builders. So it’s important to make sure you’re getting something that will meet your needs as well as the needs of your ideal clients and customers.
Trevor Hamilton, Founder, The Story Web
