Below we\u2019ll explore what a website builder is, how it works, provide a website builder comparison,and finally offer you some advice for choosing the best option for your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat Is a Website Builder?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
At the core, a website builder is a tool that lets you quickly create a website without any previous design or programming experience. Most of these builders will come equipped with drag and drop or point and click functionality that\u2019ll allow you to easily add and remove site elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Website builders are usually equipped with dozens or even hundreds of different starting themes or pre-made templates. These act as the foundation for your new website. Usually, you\u2019ll find themes that cater to different niches or industries, as well as offering eCommerce specific themes. They\u2019ll also be fully responsive, mobile-friendly, and based on the latest web design trends<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the builder you\u2019re using you might also have access to tools that allow you to turn your site into an eCommerce store, including shopping cart capabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll find dozens of different website builders to choose from. Some are purely built for eCommerce, where other\u2019s let you create a myriad of different types of sites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Right here at HostGator, you\u2019ll find a website builder that\u2019s perfect for beginners, that includes the option to add eCommerce functionality to your website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Website builders are incredibly popular, because they make building a website almost too simple. Here are some of the biggest benefits of using a site builder<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Website builders shine in how easy they are to use. Even if this is your first day on the internet, you could figure out how to use a website builder software. If you\u2019re intimidated by things that are technical in nature, then a website builder is perfect for your needs. Not only are website builders created to be very intuitive, but you\u2019ll find a wealth of tutorials that\u2019ll walk you through building your site step-by-step as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Website builders are fast. Fire up the tool, select your theme, drag and drop your site customizations, then hit publish. With website builders, you don\u2019t have to worry about things like domain name propagation, site maintenance, and other technical tasks that might slow you down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you use a CMS like WordPress you\u2019re responsible for all the technical tasks required to get your site online. Plus, things like ongoing maintenance and website updates. When you use a website builder all these things are taken care of for you from your web host. Also, when you\u2019re building out your site, you\u2019ll never have to adjust or code anything yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though website builders are great for a variety of reasons, they\u2019re not a perfect fit for everyone. Here are the most common drawbacks you\u2019ll find when using a site builder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With website building, you\u2019re limited to the features that are included with the builder. Any new features or functionality need to be added and approved by the team who created the tool, so new features will be added at a slower rate. If you need to create a site with extensive features, you might want to consider using something like WordPress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the website builder software you\u2019re using, you might be stuck using that tool for the lifetime of your site. Most website builders aren\u2019t cross-compatible, so if you want to move platform or hosts, then there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll have to rebuild your site from scratch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to build a content heavy site or a massive eCommerce store, then you\u2019ll probably run into the limits of whatever website builder you\u2019re using. Overall, it depends on how well your website builder can scale up to support larger projects. In some cases, you might end up paying a very high monthly fee just to be able to support a larger site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Website builders are generally best suited for specific types of websites. Simple sites that don\u2019t require too many pages or complex functionality are well-suited for website builders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally, this applies to several types of websites you can create<\/a>, like portfolio websites, small business sites, creative sites for musicians and other artists, sites offering your freelance services, and even simple eCommerce shops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re building a site like one of those mentioned above, and want to get your site online as fast as possible, then consider using a website builder. Website builders will help you save time and get rid of any complex tasks standing in the way of getting your site online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Popular website builders often come with web hosting<\/a> included, so you don\u2019t have to worry about finding a host and going through the technical steps of configuring your hosting account to work with your new site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WordPress originally started as a website builder, but in time has morphed into a full-fledged content management system<\/a> (CMS). This makes it perfect for sites that either has a lot of content or are planning to scale up content creation in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The single aspect of WordPress that trips up a lot of beginners is the fact that there are two different versions of WordPress available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first is a self-hosted version of WordPress, where you host a site using the WordPress.com subdomain<\/a>. In this case, your URL will read something like 'catsanddogs.wordpress.com'\u009d. Using this version will give you access to a handful of themes and some basic features. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, taking this route isn\u2019t recommended as your theme customizations and plugin access will be limited. Along with only getting access to a restricted feature set your domain name won\u2019t be the most professional or sharable since you won\u2019t have a branded domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"gator](\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/lsMw4gqx0IV8kVwj64ZesSqy75iYIUwapkxk0CBNzT5MKHmTq8QAo-cOTjclvwKRc-mhnwVakrfvfJDNi01k_84z0kOTS8dOkrBB75TKIPcM7MD8vF0GBrfz1ZJsbjJnpvk-mfcG\")
Advantages of a Website Builder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Very Easy to Use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Speedy Site Creation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. No Technical Skills Needed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Drawbacks of a Site Builder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Limited Site Functionality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Stuck to a Platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Might Run Into Builder Limitations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When Should I Use a Website Builder?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is WordPress?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n