7 Things a Modern Website Builder Should Have

The Future of DIY Websites

December 31, 2020 10:30am Robyn Rivera

Modern website builders aren’t what they used to be. And, that’s a good thing.

What most people think of when they think of a DIY website is a cheesy design template, a clunky editor that barely works and a cookie-cutter website that ends up looking like every other small business website in your industry.

Back in the day, DIY websites were so simple and unimpressive that building your own website was only acceptable if cost prevented you from getting a “real” website built by a designer.

Luckily, that’s no longer the case. Modern website builders, like Websites 360®, have changed the game for DIY websites.

Here are a few things a modern small business website builder should have:

#1. A user-friendly website editor

After cost savings, the biggest reason small business owners choose to build their own websites with a website builder is that it’s easy. There’s no need to hire a web designer or spend hours you don’t have to learn website code or design.

If you’re looking for ease of use, then user-friendliness needs to be at the top of your list for a website editor. It won’t be much use to you if you choose a website editor that you need outside help to actually use.

Look for a website builder that has a drag-and-drop editor that’s easy to use and intuitive. This will make customizing and updating your website quicker and easier, and give you the freedom to do it yourself.

#2. A library of website design templates

With the right website builder, anyone can build their own business website, regardless of how much experience or knowledge they have. However, when you’re building a website from scratch, it’s not always clear where you should start. That’s especially true if you’ve never done it before.

When you can start with a template that already looks good and offers the existing functionality you need, you’ll have everything you need to get started. All you have to do is add your own branding, images and information to make it your own.

Websites 360 makes finding the right template for your needs easy by organizing templates by industry. You also have the option to choose one of our blank templates if you’d like to customize your site from the ground up.

#3. Mobile-friendly designs

The fact of the matter is that most of the people who visit your website will be using a smartphone or a tablet. But, unfortunately, many small businesses make the mistake of designing their websites with only desktop or laptop users in mind.

Since mobile users make up such a large portion of internet users, it’s no longer OK to leave them out when designing your website. That’s why the standard for modern websites has become responsive website design.

If your website is responsive, it will automatically reconfigure itself to provide the best possible experience for the user, no matter which device they are using. This ensures a consistent experience whether someone is visiting your site using their laptop or smartphone.

#4. Seamless integration with digital marketing

Your website is kind of like your business’s home base online. Having a website isn’t the only thing you need to build an online presence for your business, but it’s an important piece of the puzzle. And, as such, it needs to be the right fit with the rest of the pieces.

For example, when someone fills out a contact form on your website, you don’t want to have to manually enter that information in the CRM. You want your website and CRM to be integrated so that the appropriate information goes where it needs to.

You also want to be able to display glowing reviews about your business on your website with a reviews widget, and to be able to point visitors to your social media profiles, where they can follow you and stay up to date about what you’re up to.

Like I said, there are a lot of pieces in the digital marketing puzzle. They all work a lot better individually when they work together.

#5. Advanced website features and functionality

The way people use the internet has changed over the last several years, and as a result, so have small business websites.

It used to be that people would visit a small business website to learn about services or the business itself, and maybe to find contact information or hours of operation. Now, they might be looking to do all of those things, but they also want to be able to schedule an appointment, pay their bill or go shopping.

Depending on what industry you’re in and what you need out of a website, a basic, informational website may not cut it for your business. And, that’s OK, because many small business website builders now offer the kind of advanced functionality you need.

#6. Advanced SEO tools

There’s an old philosophical thought experiment that says, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Well, the same thing goes for your website. If you create a beautiful website that will knock the socks off your visitors, does it even matter if no one ends up seeing it?

Visibility is a key part of success for any website you build, and in order for your site to be visible in the search results on Google and Bing, it needs to be optimized for search engines.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is an ongoing thing that’s helped, in large part, by adding new content to your website that includes relevant keywords. However, the more technical aspects of SEO are found in the DNA of the site itself, and that’s where having the right website builder comes in handy.

Websites 360, for instance, has built-in SEO tools, like Schema Markup, that give search engines more information about what kind of content you’re putting out. Plus, the platform automatically compresses images and makes it easy to update image tags, title tags, meta descriptions and more.

#7. Expert support when you need it

Even with the easiest, most user-friendly website builder, you may find that you have questions or need help getting your small business website just right. The best tools can get you a long way, but without experience and expertise to back it up, you may need a little help getting to the finish line.

A website builder is only as valuable as the support backing it up. You may need help at some point or another, and when you do, it’s important that you are able to get it!

One big benefit of choosing Websites 360 is that it’s backed by a full support team. Whether you have questions about how to use the editor, you’re looking for professional design help for specific, one-off projects or you want an expertly designed website, Website 360 can provide you with as much or as little help as you need.

Want to maximize your business’s online presence in 2020 with a new, modern small business website? Build your own with Websites 360, or let our talented team of designers build it for you.

Pick a template to get started.