5 Quick Questions to Ask Yourself Before Using a Web Builder
In today’s fast-paced online world, owning your own website is akin to owning real estate. If you run a business or are planning on starting one, you will want a site that you have complete control over. It should be a place where consumers can go to research you and your business, as well as purchase your products or services.
If you’re a first-time business owner, the learning curve for creating your own website can be overwhelming! You may find yourself turning to a website builder such as Squarespace or Wix because it’s so much easier to drag and drop. This is one way to get online fast-ish when funds are limited, but before you move forward with one of these options, consider all the factors.
Builder sites may not be a long-term solution for your business, especially if growth is your goal. If you become dependent on the templates, you are beholden to another business and the changes they make, such as their pricing or downtime. (Always retain control and access to your chosen domain name.)
Here are 5 quick questions to ask yourself before making your final decision to use a website builder:
How free is free? There may be a free trial or a free tier, but you need to check what the limitations are. Most free tier offerings are only suitable for personal blogs.
Can I use the copy provided? You’ll need to set yourself apart in your customer, and the search engine’s eyes, so don’t be tempted to use copy that is likely repeated on hundreds of sites across the web.
Can I optimize the site for Search Engines? Most of the time the answer is no, not completely. Even if you pay extra for these services. You may be able to access some items but there will be limitations.
What happens if I decide to move my site somewhere else? If you become unhappy with the service or with price increases, you can only copy and paste your text into a new site. Everything else stays on the platform, including your design and all-important data. You have no ownership of the site itself because you are renting. This is how they keep you once you’ve invested gobs of time in their free trial. Just pack your belongings and get out!
What about speed? Google now evaluates how quickly your website renders on mobile as a factor when determining where it will appear in the search results. You are not able to make changes to increase your speed on website builder sites. It is what it is…. which is typically slow. Test site speeds before finalizing a web builder.
Future consideration: It may be too early in your business to guess what customizations you may need in the coming years, but as your business grows, how you use your website may change. Customizations can add functionality and streamlining to your business processes and client communication, and you won’t be able to increase functionality and set yourself apart from your competitors on builder sites.
If you decide to hire help but want to keep costs as low as possible, request my tips on how to save thousands of dollars when you build your website while getting the exact design you want!
Bio: Pat Williams built her first website in 1999. It’s still online! That one site morphed into a 20-year business model helping business owners get seen online. You can find her work at CyberCletch.com or connect with @pat_cletch on Instagram where she shares business tips along with pictures from her travels as a digital nomad.
