Choosing a website builder is a critical part of creating a website that truly works for your business. The platform your site is built on will determine how it functions, how easy it is for you to update, and a host of other factors related to the success of your project.
The problem? There are so many website builders to choose from.
Some of the more popular options include WordPress, Squarespace, GoDaddy, and Wix (my personal favorite—but more about that in just a bit).
In many cases, business owners simply don’t know what they should be looking for when choosing a website builder, leaving them to rely on their best guess. And while, short-term, this may not have an immediate impact, over time it can become apparent that the website platform they’ve chosen doesn’t meet their expectations.
If you are looking to create a new website or invest in a complete redesign, it’s important to closely analyze your options and select a platform that can meet both your current and future requirements.
Here Are My Top Tips for Choosing a Website Builder:
1. Put Flexibility First
If a platform limits design flexibility, it leaves you with your hands tied from the very beginning of your project. This is particularly restricting for businesses or brands that want their site to have unique features like custom animations, product videos, or dynamic scrolling—but some platforms limit even the most commonplace design functions.
To find the best website builder for you, it is important to consider exactly how much design control and flexibility you need. For some businesses, a generic template site will suffice just fine, but for most, the ability to personalize a site and create something that is both visually and functionally remarkable remains a top priority.
2. Prioritize Responsiveness
Your website should appear seamlessly no matter what type of device your visitor is viewing it from, and this is made possible by responsive design. Without it, you will almost certainly see your bounce rates go up and your overall website traffic decrease.
When choosing a website builder, you want to ensure that it will also display the optimal design format to your visitors and that all images, fonts, and other elements will be properly scaled to the dimensions of their screen. This is achieved through a fluid grid system, as well as strategic design choices.
Remember, however, that your platform does not support responsive design as well as it should, your website designer (no matter how talented) will be restricted in terms of how responsive they can make your site.
3. Consider Ease of Use
Before choosing a website builder, you’ll want to identify who will be using it and what their level of experience is. If a tech-savvy web developer will be managing updates and tweaks to your site, a more robust platform may make sense for you. But if you don’t have a web expert on your team, you’ll likely want to consider a more user-friendly option.
A website builder with drag-and-drop design functionality, for instance, is ideal for business owners who aren’t familiar with coding or who would prefer to hire a professional web developer each time they want to revamp their site.
Wix: My Preferred Platform as an Edmonton Website Designer
I have been designing Wix websites for more than 12 years, and I continue to be impressed with the platform and its various capabilities. I confidently recommend this platform to my clients, as I believe it is the best website builder based on the criteria mentioned above.
Other benefits of Wix websites include:
Best-in-class website performance (quick loading speeds, fast TTFB, etc.)
Access to the Wix app market (more than 250 app integrations)
Built-in SEO management
800+ FREE designer-made templates to choose from
Monthly plans started as low as $5.00
Why Choose Me as Your Wix Website Designer?
I am a certified Wix expert with more than 70 successful website projects under my belt. My clients trust me to design them a website that is both modern and memorable, ensuring it not only catches the eye but also functions the way it should.
If you’re unsure about choosing a website builder, and you’re ready to partner with an Edmonton web design agency that can provide you with solid, knowledgeable advice, I encourage you to reach out. I’m confident I can provide you with a well-built site that’s remarkable by design.