Tips for DIY Website Building
Let’s start from the top…
What website builder/CMS platform should you use?
There are a lot out there, so let me just list them real quick:
Joomla
WordPress
Drupal
Magento
Squarespace
Weebly
Ghost
Concrete5
TYPO3
Umbraco
MODX
Wix
DotNetNuke
PrestaShop
OpenCart
BigCommerce
Webflow
WooCommerce
ExpressionEngine
Sitecore
Episerver
Craft CMS
Godaddy
SilverStripe
Liferay
Shopify
Plone
Grav
Bolt CMS
Kirby CMS
ProcessWire
Statamic
“Ay, whoa, ay what are you doin’ with all ya names and the stuff?!” Thats you, probably reading this, sitting there with your shoes and ya shirt.
Okay, I’m just saying that there’s a lot out there, so let me cut through the malarky and show you where the real juice is squeezed…
Hey, remember when I said “malarky” and “where the real juiced is squeezed”? I’m not ashamed, Now listen up!
Also side note, I don’t know what 40% of these platforms are, like what the heck is a Joomla? Sounds like a bunch of hoopla to me (google autocorrected Joomla to hoopla so I thought that would be a fun word to use).
Let’s narrow this down to just 6 Web Builders for the DIY squad.
Webflow: A web design tool that also provides hosting and CMS features. It has a more powerful design tool and a steeper learning curve compared to other builders.
Squarespace: A drag-and-drop website builder that emphasizes design and has e-commerce features. It has a wide range of templates, but the customization options are a little more limited compared to Webflow.
Wix: A cloud-based website builder with a focus on ease of use. It has a large library of templates and a simple drag-and-drop interface. However, its design capabilities and performance can be limited compared to other builders.
GoDaddy: A domain registrar and web hosting company that also offers website building tools. Its website builder is more basic compared to others and is geared towards small business owners and individuals who don’t have technical skills.
Shopify: An e-commerce platform that allows users to create online stores. It offers a wide range of e-commerce features, such as inventory management, payment processing, and shipping.
Weebly: A website builder that offers a range of features, including e-commerce. Works with a simple drag-and-drop interface and offers a variety of templates, but its customization options can be more limited compared to other builders.
These are the best ones for the beginner builder to use. The big differential between these sites will entirely rely on YOU and your GOALS. Based on what you need to build your website and what your website needs to do for your business.
Let’s explore some basic strengths and weaknesses of each platform.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the top Website Builders
Wix
Strengths:
Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor
Wide selection of templates and designs
Excellent customer support
Affordable pricing plans
Weaknesses:
Limited design flexibility
Some features require paid plans
SEO optimization can be challenging
E-commerce limitations
Squarespace
Strengths:
High-quality templates and designs
Excellent e-commerce features
User-friendly interface
High-quality SEO optimization
Domain and web hosting
Weaknesses:
Limited third-party integration
Limited customization options
More expensive than other website builders
Weebly
Strengths:
Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
Good e-commerce features
Affordable pricing plans
Solid app integration
Weaknesses:
Limited design customization options
Limited blogging features
Some advanced features require coding knowledge
Limited scaleability for growing businesses
Shopify
Strengths:
The best e-commerce features
High-quality templates
User-friendly interface
Wide selection of app integrations
Weaknesses:
Limited design customization options
Expensive pricing plans
Transaction fees for some payment gateways
Limited SEO capabilities
GoDaddy
Strengths:
Affordable pricing plans
Easy to use
Good customer support
Offers a wide range of services beyond website building, such as domain registration and web hosting.
Weaknesses:
Limited design customization compared to other website builders
Lacks advanced features compared to other website builders
Can be slow in loading times
Webflow
Strengths:
Advanced design capabilities
Offers custom code and CMS features
Responsive and fast-loading sites
High level of control and customization
Weaknesses:
Steep learning curve for beginners
May require coding knowledge
More expensive than other website builders
So there you have it. A basic breakdown of some of the more well known and (In my opinion) better resources for DIY website building. Whether you are a seasoned veteran with some knowledge of coding or a complete beginner with grandpa level computer skills, this list should help you figure out where to begin.
Click on the titles of each platform to view their pricing and go explore!
Part two coming soon - Key tips for finding the design you want.
