In this raging digital era, having a solid online presence is mandatory despite which industry that you are in. A website is the first step to building credibility online, and the quality of your website directly impacts the impression that you make on your potential customers.
However, if you are a small business or you merely need a portfolio website to showcase your work, the cost of hiring a professional web designer can be a little too much. This is when online website builders come for your help.
What is an online website builder?
Online Website builders are tools which help you build a website without having to manually code. They may not be able to drastically customize your website, however, there are many advanced and quality website builders that even the beginners can use to create a quality, clean and professional website. A website builder is different to a web hosting service, although both services are usually offered together.
What information should you know before selecting a website builder?
Type of the website
Before looking at the features of the website builder that you are going to pick, it is important that you have a clear and thorough knowledge of the kind of website that you need. Just like any basic service for beginners, online website builders may have their limitations especially when it comes to detailing. Therefore, if your need is for an advanced website with delicate and detailed features, an online website builder may not be for you.
Website Content
The content that you offer your visitors through your website is the most important aspect of it. If you are hoping to run a blog which provides valuable text and image content, online website builders usually offer extremely attractive blog templates. However, if you want to sell your products or turn your website into an e-commerce website eventually, there might be limitations if you choose to use a website builder.
Your Budget
Budget is one of the key factors in opting for a website builder over hiring a professional web designer. However, even if you are financially capable of hiring a web designer, but your website is simple enough to put together through a website builder, it is always good to opt for the more affordable options. Later on, you can truly invest on a professional website, perhaps after you start making some revenue through your online presence.
Hosting your website
Once you design on putting your own effort to build a website with the help of a website builder, it is important that you are aware of properly hosting your website on a server. You can usually get the hosting from a shared service, and the best website builders out there usually offer hosting services themselves. When you get a hosting plan, pay attention to how your website will grow eventually, in 2, 3 4 or 5 years. If you are planning on a website that will post many visual contents like videos and a constant stream of traffic, make sure you get your storage and bandwidth accordingly.