Website Builders for SMALL BUSINESSES
Top 5 web builders: PROS & CONS
If you’re a creative small business owner, there will come a point when you know a website is necessary for the growth of your business.
No matter where you are in business, having a website just makes sense. Especially if you’re a one-woman show wearing multiple hats. If any of the following would be helpful to you, then it may be time to look at building a website for your business:
A home base that you can point to in the DM’s to eliminate crazy back & forth
To boost your legitimacy and easily sell beyond your family and friends
A platform where Google can connect searchers to your offerings.
Basically, a virtual assistant that can sell products and intake leads while you sleep.
But if having a website is still in the Pinterest “need to figure out” folder, you may not even know where to start. You don’t know what you don’t know, and you may not have the budget to hire someone to take the reigns on this.
^^^ That's why I’m going to cover the ins and outs of the most popular website builders (Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, GoDaddy, and Showit), so you can find the perfect platform to showcase your unique talents and passions.
Sound good? Let's dive in.
SQUARESPACE
Best Suited For:
Creative professionals and small businesses seeking a visually stunning website without the need for extensive technical knowledge.
Squarespace excels in providing beautifully designed templates and a user-friendly interface, making it ideal for individuals and businesses looking to showcase their work or products with minimal hassle.
Pros:
User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality
Beautifully designed templates suitable for various industries
All-in-one platform with hosting included
Responsive designs for mobile optimization
Integrated e-commerce features for online stores
Cons:
Limited customization options compared to other platforms
Higher pricing tiers may be expensive for some users
Less flexibility for advanced customization and coding
Transaction fees for e-commerce transactions on lower-tier plans
Limited third-party integrations compared to other platforms
MADE IN PARADISE RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WIX
Best Suited For:
Beginners and small businesses looking for a versatile and budget-friendly website builder with a wide range of customization options.
Wix offers an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and a vast selection of templates, making it easy for users to create and customize their websites. With its affordable pricing plans and extensive app market, Wix is suitable for a variety of businesses and industries.
Pros:
Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor for building websites
Large selection of templates for different industries and purposes
Affordable pricing plans with a free option available
App market for integrating additional features and functionalities
Built-in SEO tools to help improve website visibility
Cons:
Limited flexibility for changing templates once chosen
Advertisements displayed on the free plan
Less control over SEO settings compared to other platforms
Difficulty in migrating websites to other platforms in the future
Some advanced features may require technical knowledge to implement
MADE IN PARADISE RATING: ⭐️⭐️
WORDPRESS
Best Suited For:
Entrepreneurs and businesses seeking ultimate flexibility and scalability for their website, with the ability to customize every aspect of their online presence.
WordPress is an open-source platform with thousands of themes and plugins, allowing users to create virtually any type of website imaginable. Its robust community and extensive support make it an ideal choice for those willing to invest time in learning and customizing their website.
Pros:
Highly customizable with thousands of themes and plugins available
Open-source platform with a large community of developers and support
Flexible for creating various types of websites, from blogs to e-commerce stores
Complete control over website files and hosting options
SEO-friendly with extensive customization options for optimization
Cons:
Requires more technical knowledge to set up and customize compared to other platforms
Hosting and domain registration required separately
Vulnerable to security threats if not properly maintained and updated
Plugins and themes may not always be compatible or well-supported
Higher ongoing maintenance requirements compared to all-in-one platforms
MADE IN PARADISE RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
GODADDY
Best Suited For:
Small businesses and individuals looking for a straightforward and affordable solution to build and manage their online presence.
GoDaddy's website builder offers simplicity and ease of use, making it perfect for those with minimal technical knowledge. With integrated hosting services and domain registration, GoDaddy provides a convenient all-in-one solution for getting online quickly.
Pros:
Easy-to-use website builder with customizable templates
Affordable pricing plans with domain registration included
Integrated hosting services for easy management
Suitable for beginners with minimal technical knowledge
24/7 customer support available for assistance
Cons:
Limited design flexibility compared to other platforms
Less variety in template selection compared to competitors
Additional fees for certain features and services
Limited scalability for growing businesses or complex websites
Lower SEO capabilities compared to other platforms
MADE IN PARADISE RATING: ⭐️
SHOWIT
Best Suited For:
Creative professionals, photographers, and artists looking to showcase their portfolio or create a visually stunning website with full creative control.
Showit offers unparalleled design flexibility with a drag-and-drop editor that allows users to freely customize their website's layout and design. It's ideal for those who prioritize creativity and want a website that truly reflects their unique style and brand.
Pros:
Drag-and-drop editor for easy customization without coding
Responsive designs for seamless viewing on all devices
Integrated blogging platform for content creation and engagement
Seamless integration with WordPress for added functionality
Dedicated support and community resources for assistance and inspiration
Cons:
Higher pricing compared to some other website builders
Learning curve for mastering the advanced customization features
Limited e-commerce capabilities compared to dedicated e-commerce platforms
Requires separate hosting for WordPress integration
Limited selection of pre-designed templates compared to other platforms
MADE IN PARADISE RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SHOPIFY
(Shopify is really for my e-commerce friends— if you aren’t selling online, you can skip this section)
Best Suited For:
E-commerce entrepreneurs and businesses looking for a comprehensive platform to build, launch, and grow their online store.
Shopify is designed specifically for e-commerce, offering powerful features such as product management, order processing, and secure payments. With its user-friendly interface and extensive app store, Shopify pro
Pros:
Specialized platform for e-commerce websites with built-in features
Easy-to-use interface for managing products, orders, and payments
Professional-looking templates designed for online stores
Extensive app store for adding additional functionalities
Reliable hosting and security features for online transactions
Cons:
Higher pricing compared to general website builders
Transaction fees for using third-party payment gateways
Limited customization options compared to other platforms
Less suitable for non-e-commerce websites or content-based sites
Ongoing subscription fees for using the platform
MADE IN PARADISE RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Final thoughts from Paradise
I was going to keep this post completely unbiased until I realized that … I’VE BUILT IN ALL THESE PLATFORMS 😄
As a web designer, sometimes I am asked to do work websites that are already built, or someone needs help moving from one to the other. Once you dig in and get your hands dirty, the differences between what each can and cannot do are staggering.
Winner?
So while all of these will do you what you want, my hands-down favorites and what I recommend are Squarespace or Showit. Here’s why:
Fun to build on,
You can do quite a bit without code
There’s pretty much zero maintenance
It’s easy to update if you want to get in there and tweak something yourself.
I want to note that I started with WordPress for myself and have VERY strong feelings about it… In a nutshell, don’t use this if maintaining your own site is important to you. I think this might warrant its own blog post.
And there you have it – a jumping-off point to launching your very own website!
Whether you're a mompreneur looking to escape the corporate grind or an aspiring entrepreneur ready to make your mark, building your own website is the first step towards living life on your own terms.
Deciding which builder to go with now matters less than taking this leap. If no one else has told you lately, I’m proud of you for doing this!
Need more help?
>>> Launching your site soon? Grab this free web site checklist
>>> Check out my web design service packages by clicking here
>>> Want to get another set of eyeballs on your site? Sign up for a web audit right here
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Use the code PARADISE for 30% off your first year or month when your trial is over!