Introduction to Small Business Websites
Creating a website for your small business is a crucial step in establishing an online presence and reaching a broader audience. A well-designed small business website can attract new customers, showcase your products or services, and build credibility.
Importance of Mobile-Friendly Design
The importance of mobile-friendly design cannot be overstated. In 2023, approximately 60.67% of all online activity came from mobile devices (Durable). This ongoing shift towards mobile browsing means that if a website is not optimised for mobile, users are likely to leave quickly. Therefore, a mobile-friendly website is essential for keeping visitors engaged and improving overall user experience.
Google also ranks mobile-friendly websites higher in search results (Forbes), making mobile website design vital for search engine optimisation (SEO) and drawing in organic traffic. Here are some mobile web design best practices:
- Optimise layout for thumbs
- Increase button size and readability
- Refine copy to be concise and readable on small screens
- Optimise images for faster loading times
- Increase loading speed with browser caching and using a CDN
- Utilise responsive web design for adaptability to different screen sizes
For best practices regarding design, refer to our small business website design packages page.
Responsive Website Builders
A responsive website builder is a tool designed to help you create a website that automatically adjusts its layout and elements to look great on any screen size, from desktops to smartphones. Given that mobile devices make up about 59% of the total web traffic globally (Forbes), using a responsive builder is essential for any small business.
There are several website builders specially designed to help create a responsive website. These builders offer drag-and-drop functionalities, customisable templates, and various tools to ensure that your site looks professional and works seamlessly on all devices. Here are a few popular options:
| Website Builder | Responsiveness | Ease of Use | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | High | Very Easy | Free/Paid Plans |
| Webflow | High | Medium | Flexible Pricing |
| GoDaddy | High | Easy | Free Option |
| Ucraft | High | Easy | Free/Paid Plans |
| Weebly | High | Very Easy | Free/Paid Plans |
When choosing a responsive website builder, consider factors such as customisation, ease of use, and pricing. Our detailed guide on how to create a website for a small business provides step-by-step instructions to get you started.
Incorporating these tools and best practices can significantly enhance the usability of your website, ensuring that your potential customers have a smooth and enjoyable experience, whether they are browsing on a desktop or a mobile device. Curious about the different options? Check out our comparisons under small business website templates and affordable web design for small business.
Choosing the Right Website Builder
Selecting the appropriate website builder is crucial for the success of our small businesses. We need to ensure the tool we choose is easy to use, cost-effective, and provides the necessary features to support our business growth. Let’s explore some key factors and the best options primed for small businesses.
Factors to Consider
When deciding on a small business website builder, we need to weigh several important factors:
Ease of Use: The website builder should have a user-friendly interface, allowing us to create and manage our site without requiring advanced technical skills.
Price: Cost is crucial, especially for new businesses. We want to look for affordable plans or even free options to minimise overheads. For more on affordable solutions, check out our guide on affordable web design for small business.
Customisation: The builder should offer a variety of templates and design options to create a unique site. Visit our small business website templates page for more inspirations.
eCommerce Features: For businesses planning to sell products online, eCommerce functionality such as payment gateways, inventory management, and shopping cart integration is essential.
SEO Tools: SEO tools and integration can help us improve our site’s visibility on search engines, driving more traffic to our business. Learn more on our small business website optimization page.
Security: We need to ensure that our customers’ data is protected, particularly if we’re handling transactions online. Features like SSL certificates, PCI compliance, and fraud detection are vital (Website Builder Expert).
Primed for Small Businesses
Shopify
Shopify stands out as the best overall small business website builder, especially for eCommerce. It offers robust sales features like multichannel integration, abandoned cart recovery, and a native POS system (Website Builder Expert). Shopify’s built-in SSL certificate, two-step verification, and fraud analysis tool ensure secure transactions for our customers.
| Feature | Shopify |
|---|---|
| Starting Cost | $29/month |
| eCommerce | ✓ |
| Security | ✓ |
| POS System | ✓ |
Read more about how to create a website for a small business with Shopify.
Wix
Wix offers extensive customisation paired with user-friendly features, making it ideal for beginners. Wix provides a variety of free and paid plans, allowing us to start small and scale as our business grows.
| Feature | Wix |
|---|---|
| Starting Cost | Free, $14/month for Premium |
| Customisation | ✓ |
| User-Friendly | ✓ |
Explore small business website design packages available with Wix.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is known for providing the best value for money, with premium plans starting from $9.99 per month (Website Builder Expert). It offers a simple section-based editor, making it perfect for those with limited technical knowledge.
| Feature | GoDaddy |
|---|---|
| Starting Cost | Free, $9.99/month for Premium |
| User-Friendly | ✓ |
| Value for Money | ✓ |
Check out more about small business website maintenance and how GoDaddy can simplify it.
By considering these factors and exploring these top choices, we can select a website builder that fits our business needs and budget, ensuring a strong online presence for our small business.
Affordable Website Builders
Creating a website doesn’t have to break the bank. Here, we’ll delve into some budget-friendly options for small business website builders that provide great value without sacrificing quality.
Wix’s Free and Paid Plans
Wix offers a free plan with a Wix-branded domain and 500MB of storage. While great for starting out, it limits branding and storage. Their most affordable paid plan is priced at $17 per month. This plan includes a custom domain (free for one year), 2GB of storage, and 24/7 customer care (Forbes). Wix also provides various templates, making it easy to create a visually stunning site.
| Plan | Cost (USD/month) | Storage | Domain | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 500MB | Wix-branded | Basic |
| Paid | $17 | 2GB | Custom (Free for 1 year) | 24/7 Customer Care |
Webflow’s Pricing Structure
Webflow stands out due to its designer-friendly interface. Their free plan includes a Webflow.io domain and 1GB of bandwidth. Paid plans start at $12 per month, offering a custom domain and 50GB of bandwidth (Forbes). For those needing extra features, their Workspace plans start at $19 per month, incorporating roles, access permissions, and custom code. This makes Webflow a versatile choice for small business website development.
| Plan | Cost (USD/month) | Bandwidth | Domain | Extra Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1GB | Webflow.io | Basic |
| Paid | $12 | 50GB | Custom | Enhanced Controls |
GoDaddy’s Free Website Option
GoDaddy’s free website option includes unlimited pages and content, digital marketing tools, and 24/7 customer support (Forbes). If you decide to upgrade, the paid plans start at $10.99 per month, adding a custom domain, drag-and-drop website builder, and additional marketing tools.
| Plan | Cost (USD/month) | Features | Domain | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited Pages, Marketing Tools | GoDaddy-branded | 24/7 Support |
| Paid | $10.99 | Custom Domain, Drag-and-Drop Builder | Custom | Enhanced Support |
Ucraft’s Plans and Features
Ucraft provides several affordable plans tailored for businesses. Their free plan includes a Ucraft-branded domain, SSL security, and basic SEO tools. Paid plans offer more features such as custom domains, additional storage, and advanced SEO tools. Affiliates and e-commerce capabilities are also available in higher-tier plans.
Weebly’s Free and Paid Plans
Weebly is another robust option for small businesses. Their free plan comes with an e-commerce store, inventory management, SEO, lead-capture tools, and SSL security (Forbes). For more comprehensive features, paid plans start at $10 per month (when paid annually). These plans offer the ability to connect to your own domain, pop-up notifications, chat and email support, and SSL security.
| Plan | Cost (USD/month) | Features | Domain | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | E-commerce Store, SEO Tools | Weebly-branded | Basic |
| Paid | $10 | Custom Domain, Pop-up Notifications | Custom | Chat & Email Support |
Choosing the best small business website builder depends on your unique needs. Comparing these affordable options will help you find the right fit for your new venture. If you’re looking for more tips on web design or searching for the best small business website templates, explore our other articles.
Best Website Builders for Small Businesses
When it comes to setting up a website for a new small business, choosing the right website builder is crucial. We’re looking for an option that balances ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and functionality. Two of the most highly recommended choices are Wix and WordPress.
Wix: Customisation and User-Friendly
Wix offers a broad array of templates and extensive customization options, making it a popular choice for small businesses. We can create unique, brand-aligned websites without needing coding skills, thanks to their drag-and-drop interface. This is particularly beneficial for start-ups that want to focus more on building their business than learning complex web design.
A major advantage of Wix is the variety of plans it offers:
| Plan | Price (per month) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Wix Ads, 500MB Storage |
| Combo | £13 | Custom Domain, 3GB Storage |
| Unlimited | £16 | Unlimited Bandwidth, 10GB Storage |
| VIP | £22 | Priority Support, Professional Logo |
With these options, it’s easy to find a plan that fits both our budget and our needs. But customisation isn’t just limited to appearance; Wix also offers an array of apps and integrations that can enhance the functionality of our site (small business website redesign).
WordPress: E-Commerce Capabilities
WordPress, particularly when paired with the WooCommerce plugin, stands out for its robust e-commerce capabilities (TheeDigital). This makes it an excellent choice for small businesses looking to venture into online sales. We have access to a vast selection of themes and plugins that can tailor our site to meet our specific needs.
Let’s compare some WordPress plans:
| Plan | Price (per month) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | £0 | Limited Features, WordPress Ads |
| Personal | £3 | Custom Domain, No Ads |
| Premium | £7 | Advanced Design, Monetisation |
| Business | £20 | Plugins, Advanced SEO, e-Commerce Features |
The flexibility of WordPress is its most significant advantage. With thousands of plugins available, we can add almost any feature imaginable—from basic contact forms to full-scale e-commerce operations (small business website design packages).
It’s clear that both Wix and WordPress have much to offer for our new small business. Whether we prioritise customisation and ease of use, or robust e-commerce capabilities, either platform could be the foundation of our online presence.
For further guidance on setting up your website, check out our articles on how to create a website for a small business and affordable web design for small business.
Importance of SEO in Website Builders
When creating a website for our small business, incorporating search engine optimisation (SEO) is crucial for driving traffic and attracting potential customers. Choosing a small business website builder that offers robust SEO tools can significantly impact our online visibility.
SEO Tools and Integration
A strong SEO strategy starts with a website builder that offers comprehensive SEO tools and integrations. Essential features to look for include:
- Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: These elements inform search engines about the content of our web pages.
- Keyword Tools: Assists in identifying and incorporating relevant keywords to boost search engine rankings.
- Sitemap Generators: Helps search engines navigate and index our website efficiently.
According to an SEO Moz report, 83% of customers use search engines to find businesses online, and websites appearing on the first page of search results can see a 42.25% increase in traffic (Folio Websites). Hence, understanding the SEO tools provided by different website builders and their utilisation is key to enhancing our SEO performance.
| SEO Tool | Function |
|---|---|
| Title Tags | Describes the content of a web page for search engines. |
| Meta Descriptions | Provides a summary of web page content in search results. |
| Keyword Tools | Identifies relevant keywords for better ranking. |
| Sitemap Generators | Creates a map of website pages for search engine indexing. |
For mobile optimisation, which is a significant aspect of SEO, Weebly is a noteworthy option. It automatically optimises websites for search engines and mobile browsing, ensuring that all themes are responsive (Durable). This integration is crucial as Google ranks mobile-friendly websites higher in search results (Forbes).
Search Engine Ranking Benefits
Higher search engine rankings offer numerous benefits:
- Increased Visibility: Higher rankings lead to greater visibility and attract more potential customers.
- Enhanced Credibility: Websites that appear at the top of search results are often perceived as more credible.
- Better User Experience: SEO practices such as optimised content and fast loading speeds contribute to a positive user experience.
Statistics show that small businesses value effective SEO tools within their chosen website builder due to its impact on performance and user engagement (Website Builder Expert). Thus, investing in a website builder with strong SEO capabilities is an important step towards establishing a successful online presence.
For additional guidance on optimising your website for search engines, explore our article on small business website optimization. Choosing the right tools can make a significant difference in our online journey, ensuring that we reach our target audience effectively.
Enhancing User Experience
Creating a stellar user experience is key when building a website for our small business. Let’s dive into essential practices for mobile web design, testing, and user-friendly features.
Mobile Web Design Practices
Given that mobile devices make up about 59% of the total web traffic globally (Forbes), a mobile-friendly design isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity for any small business website builder.
- Optimising for Thumbs: Place navigation and key buttons within easy reach. Thumb-friendly design enhances usability.
- Responsive Web Design: Ensure that our website adapts smoothly across various devices. This involves flexible grids, fluid layouts, and media queries.
- Simplified Layout: Reduce clutter. A minimalist approach enhances clarity and user engagement.
- Clear Calls to Action (CTA): Prominent CTAs drive user interactions. Ensure they are easily clickable and visible.
- Refined Copy: Short, impactful text improves readability on small screens.
Testing and Analytics
Continuous testing and analysis are vital to refining user experience on our site. Let’s explore some key practices.
| Testing Aspect | Description | Tools and Methods |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Compatibility | Ensure our site functions well on various mobile devices and screen sizes. | Browser emulators, real device testing |
| Load Time | Test and optimise to reduce load times. | Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix |
| User Behaviour | Monitor how users navigate our site to identify pain points and improvement areas. | Heatmaps, session recordings (Hotjar, Crazy Egg) |
Utilising analytics tools helps us gather crucial data on user interactions, aiding in informed decision-making and optimisation efforts.
User-Friendly Features
User-friendly features enhance the overall experience, encouraging users to stay longer and engage more with our content. Here are some elements we should incorporate:
- Intuitive Navigation: A well-structured menu helps users find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.
- Search Functionality: A search bar enables users to locate specific information swiftly.
- Accessibility: Ensure our site is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. This can include alt text for images, proper heading structures, and keyboard navigability.
- Fast Loading Time: Speed is crucial. Users tend to leave sites that take too long to load. Optimising images and utilising efficient coding practices can drastically reduce load times.
- Social Media Integration: Embedding social media widgets or share buttons allows users to engage with our brand across different platforms.
By integrating these mobile design practices, thorough testing and analytics, and essential user-friendly features, we make sure our website not only looks great but provides a seamless and enjoyable experience. For more tips on web design for small businesses, check out our resources on small business website development and small business website templates.
