Cameron SoojianSuppose that you want to build a new website, but you don’t know whether to hire a web designer or try to design the site yourself using an online site builder like weebly.com or wix.com. Do yourself a favor and contact a professional web designer!
For many reasons that I will go into greater detail about below, using a site builder is a shortcut and a bad idea that can have a negative impact on your business and your business’ public image. If you think of your website as a digital store front, then using a Wix or Weebly site is like asking customers not to take your store seriously. Here are some of the biggest reasons why your business should never build a website using an online site builder.
FLASH
Most site builder websites are created with Flash. The problem with this is that Flash is not search engine friendly. In the eyes of the engine, a Wix or Weebly website is seen as just one page that uses Flash to imitate several pages, according to an article on davidodonnell.com. Google struggles to read and index Flash-based websites
REDUCED CREDIBILITY
If you are considering using a site builder, you should also consider the people who are going to be visiting your website, because they will notice the unprofessional design instantly. Most free website builders will guarantee you great results, but the truth is that the only thing these websites guarantee is a poor user experience.
A Wix or Weebly site cannot compete with a customized, user-friendly site free of ads and obvious red flags to reduce its credibility. Although site builders offer hundreds of different templates, many of them look amateurish and can’t possibly compete with a custom-designed website.
SPAMMY URLS
Websites built with site builders often have strange URLs like www.username.wix.com/sitename. This URL structure is strikingly similar to Geocities URLs from the ‘90s. Much like Geocities, site builder URLs are unprofessional looking, are likely to reduce your credibility as a business and ward off visitors.
ADS AND ANNOYING BANNERS
If you choose to create a Wix or Weebly site, your site will be plastered with ads that say “I created my website with Wix.com. Click here to create yours!” If you’re trying to run a legitimate business and an ads like these are all over your website, visitors are not likely to take your business seriously or trust you. When you design your website, user experience should be your top priority. If your website leaves users feeling annoyed, confused, or lost, you might want to consider adjusting the design to improve their experience.
HIGH COST OVER TIME
While hiring a web developer might cost you a lot initially, you only have to pay a one off fee. With site builders, you have to pay a monthly subscription costs forever. What’s more, site builder companies often offer plans that start off free, but do not stay that way. After the discount period is over, the monthly subscription cost shoots up by a substantial margin, leaving you overpaying for an extremely mediocre website.
SITE BUILDERS DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS
Those who operate and make these website builders do not care about your business or value its success. On the other hand, if you go with a professional web design freelancer or agency, they will try hard to ensure the success of your website. They will also work with you and tailor your website design to your needs and your business.
Site builders are quick and easy to use, but they do not create websites that are very visually appealing or functional for the user. Therefore, if you are looking to develop a website for your business, it is best advised to stay as far away from site builders like Wix and Weebly as you can.
Don’t fall for their promising rhetoric because it is more than likely that you’ll end up disappointed with their product. The best thing you can do is bite the bullet and hire a real web designer to make your business shine online. Instead, opt for a responsive and custom-designed website.
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