There’s no doubt that you really don’t need to break the bank to create a great, impressive and high-performing website that does everything your small business needs. Of course, those needs vary. For some small businesses, your website is your business; for others, it’s more of a signpost. But whatever you do, a good website is a must.
Finding a good website builder is a challenge though – not because it’s hard to find a good option, but because there are so many. So, we’ve put together a list of some of the best website builders, giving you a simple guide to the most affordable, well-rounded and well-reviewed options on the market.
Wix
Wix is a fantastic all-rounder & one of the best website builders when it comes to building a great website.
It’s very affordable, with prices from £6.50 a month. And it’s always praised for its ease of use, despite the hundreds of different templates it offers and the slick designs and user experiences. Better still, unlike some big competitors, its eCommerce functionality is fantastic – even on lower pricing plans.
Wix is hard to beat for anyone that doesn’t want to compromise on quality despite working to a relatively low budget.
Squarespace
Squarespace is a little more expensive (though still very affordable), but it’s the ideal next step for anyone looking for more creative and flexible designs.
It’s perfectly suited to small businesses, with easy-to-use features and the ability to build entire sites or new pages rapidly. It’s also well-reviewed – especially by web designers and experts who know web design.
If you already have a website but are looking to scale, Squarespace is your best bet.
Zyro
If you’re looking for something simple and affordable, Zyro is another great option.
Its plans are extremely cheap (you can get the basic plan for just £2 a month – various codes are available for discounts), and with that, you can still produce a decent, responsive site. It is also your best option if you just want something up and running as quickly as possible. Rather than providing numerous templates, it asks a variety of questions – and based on your answers, offers a design to suit your needs.
As a result, you don’t get the same level of design flexibility and added features as many other options. But for anyone looking to build something quickly with minimal expense, Zyro is ideal.
Weebly
Weebly is another renowned website builder, known for intuitive design processes, a great range of features and brilliant templates. But the reason it’s made our list is the fact that its free plan offers most of what you’ll need.
Many of the options mentioned already, like Squarespace, do have free plans – but they tend to be very limited. That isn’t the case with Weebly.
Most of the templates and features are still accessible, and if your needs are relatively simple, a free Weebly plan works brilliantly.
Strikingly
Strikingly is probably the easiest website builder to use on this list.
Its process of clicking on any aspect of a template and then editing it is as easy and fast as anything on the market. And according to many reviews, customers have often built decent websites in under an hour.
It looks a fantastic option for anyone with very simple requirements, but will probably be too basic for some. However, its eCommerce functionality is also simple and well-received, so if yours is a business that needs to sell online, Strikingly can support it too.
A few tips before you make a decision
The website builders we mention here are all excellent, reliable options for small businesses. But the key to making the right decision is understanding your needs. That will ensure you don’t overspend or underestimate the kind of set-up you require.
For starters, consider:
- Whether you already have a domain name or need one. Many builders – including those mentioned above – include domain registrations and management within a monthly package. However, not all do and it will affect pricing
- Whether you need to sell online – and the volume of sales you expect to transact – are vital considerations. A basic and cheap eCommerce set up won’t cut it for high-volume sales to a growing business
- The goal and purpose of your site. For some businesses, a website is somewhere to store useful information, and not central to scaling the company. For others, the website is pivotal to business growth. In the latter case, investing in a powerful, customisable builder is essential
- The level of traffic you expect. No frills websites aren’t always great and handling heavy loads – and lots of traffic could become a problem
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