What Is a Website Builder?
A website builder is a software platform or tool that allows you to create, design, and publish a website without needing to write code or have advanced technical skills. Website builders typically offer a variety of features that simplify the process, making it accessible to individuals and small businesses who may not have the resources to get professional web design help.
4 Benefits of Website Builders
A website that’s built from scratch requires the expertise of various web specialists. This normally carries quite a price tag and can take a couple of months to finalise. The result is most definitely worth it the end, but unfortunately, not every startup, entrepreneur or small business has the budget or the time. A website builder is a great alternative for start-ups to get a professional website online in no time and at an affordable price.
Here’s why:
1. Website builders make it easy and affordable to launch a professional website.
With a range of pricing plans, including free and low-cost options, website builders are accessible to individuals and small businesses with limited budgets. These platforms usually feature user-friendly interfaces with drag-and-drop functionality , allowing even those with no coding skills to easily create and manage a website. Pre-designed templates further simplify the process.
2. You can be online as quickly as you need to be.
One of the standout benefits of using a website builder, is the speed with which you can get online. The setup process is quick, often taking just a few hours or days if your content is already established. Integrated tools for design, content management, and hosting streamline the process further, making it efficient and hassle-free.
These platforms also typically offer integrated hosting and domain registration services, providing an all-in-one solution. For those looking to sell products or services online, some of them include e-commerce capabilities that can help you create an online store when you need to.
4. You can change it any time you want – you are in control.
Scenario: It is Black Friday and you’ve just thought of an exciting promo you want to launch right this second. With a normal website, you’ll have to wait until the developer can load your promo. However, using a website builder gives you full control and independence over your website. You can make updates and changes quickly and easily whenever you want. This level of control allows you to keep your website up to date with your latest information, products and services.
Top 10 Checkpoints To Choose the Best Website Builder in South Africa
Choosing the right website builder can make all the difference in creating a professional and effective website.
Here are the top 10 points to consider when selecting a website builder in South Africa:
1. Value and Price
When choosing a platform, it’s crucial to balance value and price. Look for one that offers a range of essential features that’s affordable. Keep in mind that the cheapest option may not always offer the best value. Consider what you’re getting for your money, including hosting, domain registration, and additional features.
A user-friendly interface is vital, especially if you don’t have extensive technical skills. The best site builders offer drag-and-drop functionality, intuitive dashboards, and comprehensive tutorials to help you get started. Additionally, check for included tools like image editors, form builders, and other value-adds that could help you build a highly functional site.
3. Templates and Ability to Customise Them
You want your website to look unique and professional. Therefore, you need to be able to view samples of the available templates, and in this instance ‘the more the merrier’ applies. Having a variety of striking, professionally designed templates to choose from can help you put together a great design faster. However, the ability to customise these templates to match your brand’s unique style is equally important. Ensure the builder you choose offers a wide range of customisation options, from fonts and colours to layout adjustments.
4. Mobile Responsiveness
With a significant portion of web traffic coming from mobile devices, having a mobile-responsive website is non-negotiable. Do not settle on a solution that does not offer this! A good website builder should automatically optimise your site for mobile devices, ensuring it looks and functions well on all screen sizes.
5. SEO Optimisation
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is critical for driving traffic to your site. Your chosen platform should offer built-in SEO tools that allow you to add meta tags, optimise images, and create SEO-friendly URLs. This can significantly impact your website’s visibility on search engines like Google.
6. The Quality of the Web Hosting
There is no point in having the best site in the world, but it is powered by unreliable and slow hosting. You will lose more than you gain because the hosting of any website is just as important as how it looks.
Reliable web hosting will ensure that your website loads quickly and remains online without interruptions. Check if the provider includes high-quality hosting services, fast server speeds, high uptime guarantees, and sufficient bandwidth to handle your site’s traffic.
7. Security Features
Security is paramount for protecting your website and its visitors. Choose a site builder that offers SSL Certificates, regular backups, and protection against malware and hacking attempts. These features will help to safeguard your data and build trust with your audience.
8. Ongoing Support
Having access to ongoing support can be a lifesaver, especially if you encounter issues or need assistance with your site. Choose a website builder that offers reliable customer support, site builder tips , and video self-help tutorials .
9. Quality Plugins
Plugins can extend the functionality of your website by adding new features and integrations. Ensure your chosen website builder supports a wide range of plugins, including social media integration, contact forms, analytics, and more. This flexibility allows you to tailor your site to your specific requirements.
If you plan to sell products or services online, e-commerce plugins are essential. Choose a website builder that offers integrated shopping carts, secure payment gateways, inventory management, and the ability to create product pages. Compatibility with popular payment methods in South Africa, such as credit cards and EFT, is also crucial.
About Domains.co.za’s Site Builder
For one of the best online website builders, Domains.co.za’s Site Builder is a solution that can be added to any cPanel Web Hosting package for a very low monthly price. In doing so customers get access to more than 200 professional templates, numerous plugins, and a free Domain Name Registration * and SSL Certificate .
One of the most significant benefits of using our Site Builder as an add-on to our high-quality, super-fast SSD server hosting, is that every customer can load the platform to all the allowed number of websites on their specific hosting package.
Our solution furthermore features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, e-commerce functionality, and templates that are not only mobile-responsive but also allow for extensive customisation, enabling you to tweak colours, fonts, layouts, and more.
Site Builder includes built-in SEO and security tools to help you build a highly optimised and secure site.
Finally, Site Builder is backed by the Domains.co.za-standard of support. Added to this our self-help video tutorials and extensive Knowledgebase articles assist customers further.
Related: Read our article explaining what our Site Builder can do for your small business.
Add Site Builder to your cPanel Web Hosting now.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
– To find the best website builder in South Africa, you need to arm yourself with basic knowledge.
– A website builder is a tool that allows you to create, design, and publish a website without coding.
– Use a site builder tool if you want full control over your website and to set it up as quickly and affordability as possible.
– When selecting a website builder in South Africa, consider value and price, ease of use, included tools, template variety and customisation, mobile responsiveness, and SEO optimisation.
– Also check whether your provider offers great web hosting, security, support, plugins, and e-commerce capabilities.
– Domains.co.za’s Site Builder is an affordable add-on to cPanel Web Hosting, it offers 200+ professionally designed templates, plugins for functionality, free domain* and SSL Certificate, a drag-and-drop interface, e-commerce, SEO tools, and excellent support.
FAQs
What’s the easiest way to build a good site?
Using one of the best website builders, like Domains.co.za’s Site Builder or a CMS like WordPress is the easiest way to build a good site. These tools offer pre-designed templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and intuitive interfaces, making it simple even for those with no prior experience.
What are the steps involved in creating a complete website?
Creating a complete website involves planning, registering a domain, choosing a hosting provider, designing the site, creating content, developing any additional features, testing for usability, launching the site, and maintaining it regularly.
How do website builders work?
Website builders work by providing pre-designed templates and a drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to easily place and arrange elements on their webpages. They also offer built-in features for SEO, e-commerce, and more, often including hosting and domain registration.
What is the process for creating a website?
The process for creating a website includes; planning, registering a domain, selecting a platform (website builder, CMS, or custom development), designing the site, creating content, developing features, testing, launching, and ongoing maintenance.
What is the fastest way to develop a website?
The fastest way to develop a website is by using a website builder with pre-made templates and drag-and-drop functionality, allowing quick customisation without coding knowledge. A CMS like WordPress with pre-built themes and plugins is also a fast option.
Should I use a website builder or not?
Use one of the best website builders if you need a simple, quick, and affordable solution and have minimal technical skills. Consider other options like a CMS or custom development if you have the budget, need extensive customisation, complex features, or have technical expertise.
Can I build a website without experience?
Yes, you can build a website without experience by using a website builder like Domains.co.za’s Site Builder or a CMS like WordPress. These tools offer intuitive interfaces, customisable templates, functionality, and step-by-step guides to help beginners create professional websites.
How to get a website designed, built, and hosted?
To get a website designed, built, and hosted, use a site builder, or hire a designer for the visual aspects, build it using a CMS or use custom coding, and choose a web hosting provider. Many website builders include hosting services in their packages.
Is it difficult to build a website using website builders?
No, it is not difficult to build a website using website builders. These tools are user-friendly and provide templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and step-by-step instructions, making it easy for anyone to create a professional-looking website.
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Chantél Venter is a creative writer, strategic thinker, and a serious gesticulator. She’s passionate about storytelling, small businesses and bringing color to the world – be it through her words or wardrobe.
She holds a four-year degree in Business and Mass Media Communication and Journalism. She’s been a copywriter and editor for the technology, insurance and architecture industries since 2007 and believes anybody can run a small business successfully. She therefore enjoys finding and sharing the best and most practical tips for this purpose.
