What Is A Website Builder? Everything You Need To Know

From understanding the basics of how website builders work to exploring their key features, benefits, and the various types available, this article aims to equip you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about choosing the right website builder for your needs.

What Is A Website Builder (Also Known As A Website Platform)?

A website builder is a user-friendly tool or platform that enables users to create a website without requiring specialized expertise. Website builders often offer ready-to-use templates and simple drag-and-drop features, making website design easy. These platforms also provide various design options, hosting services, and built-in features, ensuring hassle-free website setup and maintenance.

How Do Website Builders Work?

Website builders translate the actions of dragging and dropping elements into coding language automatically. Here’s how they typically work:

• Template Selection: Users start by choosing a pre-designed template, which is often categorized by industry or purpose, like business, personal blogs, or e-commerce.
• Customization: Users can customize the template using a drag-and-drop interface. Elements like text, images, buttons, and other features can easily be added, moved, or removed.
• Content Addition: Users then add their content, such as text, images, videos, and logos, to personalize the website. Website builders usually offer tools to help with this process, like text editors and image uploaders.
• Functionalities and Features: Many website builders have built-in features like contact forms, social media links, or e-commerce features. Users can typically add these with just a few clicks.
• Preview and Testing: Users can preview their website in real time. Most website builders offer the ability to view the site in different formats, such as on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
• Publishing: Once the website is complete and the user is satisfied, it can be published with a single click. The website builder handles technical aspects like web hosting and domain registration.
• Maintenance and Updates: After publishing, users can return to the website builder at any time to make updates or changes to their site.

Website Builders’ Benefits

Website builders prove particularly advantageous for small businesses, freelancers, and individuals aiming to establish a strong online presence:

• Economical Solution: Website builders are generally more affordable than hiring a professional web designer. Many of today’s leading website builders provide free plans, free trials, hosting, and fundamental features, saving money for individuals and small businesses.
• Time-Saving: With pre-designed templates and simple tools, website builders allow for quick website creation, saving valuable time compared to hiring a designer, or developer, or building a site from scratch.
• Ease of Use: The user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop functionality make it easy to design and modify web pages.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Most builders ensure that the websites work well on various devices and screen sizes.
• Integrated SEO and E-commerce Tools: Many website builders integrate potent social media, SEO, marketing, and e-commerce tools. This enhances customer engagement, boosts sales and traffic.

Types of Website Builders

There are several types of website builders, each catering to different needs and preferences:

Drag-and-Drop Builders

These are the most user-friendly website builders. They allow users to build a website by simply dragging and dropping elements (like text boxes, images, and buttons) onto a page. Examples include Wix and Squarespace. They’re ideal for beginners and those looking for a quick and easy way to create a professional-looking website.

CMS-Based Builders: 

Content Management System (CMS) builders are slightly more advanced and offer more flexibility. They are not exclusively drag-and-drop but often include this feature. WordPress is the most popular CMS, known for its versatility and a vast array of plugins and themes. These builders are great for those who want more control over their website’s functionality and design.

E-commerce Website Builders: 

These are specialized website builders designed for creating online stores. They include specific features for e-commerce, such as product listings, shopping carts, and secure payment processing. Shopify and BigCommerce are popular examples. They are ideal for businesses focused on online sales, providing the tools needed to build a comprehensive online store.

Each type of website builder serves different needs, from simple, no-frills websites to complex e-commerce platforms. Your choice depends on your website goals, technical expertise, and the level of customization you need.

5 Website Builder Examples

Shopify

Shopify stands out as a robust e-commerce platform, providing diverse tools designed to empower both your online and in-person business ventures.

Some Highlight Website Building Features

• User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
• Over 150 customizable themes on its Shopify theme store
• Secure payment gateway integration, including its in-house Shopify Payments
• Efficient ecommerce specific features like product management (adding products, creating collections), inventory tracking, and setting up different payment and shipping options.
• Built-in SEO features and marketing tools for email campaigns, social media integration, and more.
• Access to the Shopify App Store with over 8,500 apps to enhance your store’s functionality.
• Robust analytics tools
• Scalability
• 24/7 customer support

Price

• Start from $39 to $2,000+/month.
• 3-day free trial
• Special deal: $1/month for the first 3 months

Shopify Is Best For

• Businesses looking to sell products online, from small startups to large enterprises.
• Physical stores looking to establish or expand their online presence
• Dropshipping businesses

Wix

Short Introduction 

Wix is a popular website-building platform that empowers users to create stunning websites with ease. 

Some Highlight Website Building Features

• User-friendly interface allows for easy website creation and customization 
• Over 900 customizable templates
• An app market for additional functionality
• Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) 
• Mobile responsiveness
• Built-in SEO tools
• E-commerce capabilities
• Media galleries
• Robust set of tools for bloggers, including post scheduling, social media integration, and comment management.

Price

• Start from $16/month to custom price.
• 14-day money-back guarantee

Wix Is Best For

• Beginners and small businesses
• Artists, photographers, musicians, and designers
• Local service providers

Squarespace

Short Introduction 

Squarespace is an easy-to-use platform for building websites. With sleek templates and a drag-and-drop builder, it’s ideal for creating visually appealing sites. 

Some Highlight Website Building Features

• Sleek and modern templates
• Drag-and-drop website builder
• Mobile responsiveness
• Blogging capabilities
• Integrated analytics
• Domain registration and hosting
• 24/7 customer support
• Built-in SEO tools
• Ecommerce integration
• Blogging functionality

Price

• Start from $16/month to $49/month.

Squarespace Is Best For

• Photographers, artists, designers, and musicians looking to showcase their work online.
• Freelancers and independent professionals
• Bloggers
• Restaurants and food businesses

GoDaddy

Short Introduction 

GoDaddy is a popular platform for domains and web hosting. It also offers a website builder known for its simplicity and efficiency, designed to cater to users who may not have extensive technical knowledge.

Some Highlight Website Building Features

• Drag-and-drop interface
• Customizable templates
• Mobile responsiveness
• E-commerce integration
• Blogging capabilities
• SEO tools
• Analytics and reporting

Price

• Start from $9.99/month.

GoDaddy Is Best For

• Small businesses and individuals.
• Individuals or freelancers who want to create a personal blog, portfolio, or a simple website to showcase their work or services.
• Ecommerce businesses
• Those looking to seamlessly integrate their website with a domain name

Hostinger

Short Introduction 

Offering a range of hosting solutions, domain services, and website-building tools, Hostinger caters to individuals and businesses seeking an efficient and cost-effective platform for establishing and managing their online presence.

Some Highlight Website Building Features

• Drag-and-Drop Builder
• Responsive Templates
• E-commerce Integration
• SEO Tools
• Domain Registration and Hosting
• Multilingual Support
• Website Analytics

Price

• Start from $2.49/month.

Who Is Hostinger Best For

• Budget-conscious individuals
• Small to medium-sized businesses
• Bloggers and personal website owners

How To Choose A Website Builder

When choosing a website builder, consider:

• Ease of Use: Opt for user-friendly platforms, especially if you’re a beginner.
• Template Options: Look for a builder with a variety of templates for easy website creation.
• Customization: Choose a builder offering customization to make your site unique.
• Pricing: Stick to your budget; check and compare pricing plans.
• Features: Assess tools like SEO, blogging, and ecommerce capabilities.
• Customer Support: Ensure reliable support for assistance when needed.
• Growth Options: Confirm scalability to meet your website’s future needs.
• User Reviews: Check the experiences of other users with the builder.
• Trial or Guarantee: Utilize trial accounts or money-back guarantees for a test run.

Remember, the right choice depends on your specific needs and goals.

How To Start With A Website Builder

Starting with a website builder is a straightforward process, ideal for anyone looking to create a website quickly and easily. Here are the general steps to get started (we will take Shopify as an example)

Sign up for Shopify:

• Visit the Shopify website and sign up for an account.
• Provide the necessary information, including your store name and details.

Choose a Template:

• Browse through Shopify’s extensive template library.
• Select a template that aligns with your brand and business vision.

Customize Your Design:

• Utilize Shopify’s user-friendly customization tools.
• Adjust colors, fonts, and layout to match your brand identity.

Add Products and Set Up Payment:

• Use Shopify’s product management features to add your offerings.
• Set up payment methods, ensuring a seamless checkout experience for customers.

Launch Your Online Store:

• Review your store’s settings and configurations.
• Once satisfied, hit the “Launch” button to make your online store live.

Final Thoughts

Website builders offer diverse options that cater to different needs. Choose wisely based on your requirements and preferences to enhance your online presence. A suitable website builder will be the best assistant for you in business.