How is Web321 different from DIY Builders like Wix, Weebly & Squarespace?
With DIY web building tools like Wix, Weebly and Squarespace, you’re given a pre-designed template that’s ready to have your content “dragged and dropped” into it. You can build your business a decently functioning website, with a standard look, for a low cost.
This sounds great, but be mindful: there are some limitations that come with using a DIY website builder. They are able to offer you such a low monthly price by keeping features to a minimum, offering limited design choices, and leaving all the labour up to you.
Basically, all that is included in these packages is your website template and instructions on how to use it. Many of the tools you need to keep your website safe and well-maintained, and to grow your business, are missing when you opt-in for a DIY website building platform.
Design Consistency
Web321’s designers know that a consistent “look” throughout your marketing material is key to a professional appearance, which is why we pay attention to detail on every page of your site.
When you customize your theme yourself with a DIY builder, there is room for inconsistencies in your font style, colour and sizing. This can have a negative effect on customers’ impression of your business.
Customization Options
Web321’s design team can customize every pixel of your site to make sure it matches the look and character of your brand. Tell us what you have in your brain, and we’ll make it happen.
DIY sites limit the regions you can customize and will provide you with a preset list of fonts, colours or images. If you want something outside those options, you’re out of luck!
Functionality
WordPress, the open-source technology behind all Web321’s websites, has thousands of available plugins for added functions with more being added every day.
DIY website builders give you a limited suite of functions you can choose from for your site. If you run up against a gap that leaves your site without a needed function, you can either petition your provider to add the function, or you can leave and build your site again on a different platform.
Design Change Options
If you want a whole new look for your Web321 website, we can make that happen for you while keeping all your existing content in place. Wix offers a wide range of pre-designed templates and features that you can use to create a website, but it can be more limited in terms of customization compared to WordPress. WordPress, on the other hand, is highly customizable, with a large number of themes and plugins available that allow you to extend its functionality.
Some DIY sites such as those built wiht Wix don’t allow you to change your site template (basic look and feel) without rebuilding your whole site and re-adding all the content.
Site Ownership
With Web321, once you have paid for your site, it’s 100% your property. With Wix, you are essentially renting space on their servers to host your website. With Web321 and WordPress, you have more control over your website, as you can install it on your own web hosting account and have full ownership of your site.
With a DIY website builder, you are at the mercy of your provider’s arbitrary and changing Terms of Service. If you don’t agree with the limitations placed on your website by these Terms of Service, you’re out of luck. Either change your site, rebuild it elsewhere, or you could find your site deleted for not following the rules.
Site Portability
Once you have paid off your Web321 website, you can do as you please with it. We hope you will love our maintenance service enough to stay (and take advantage of our free site design refreshes) but if you do decide to leave to a different web host or maintenance provider, your site can go with you exactly as it is. That’s because we use WordPress, the web’s most popular website software – and it’s supported everywhere.
A website from Wix or Weebly is built on proprietary software. If you ever decide you want to move your website to a different platform, you’ll discover there is no option to just pick up your site and plunk it down somewhere else. This lack of site portability is designed to keep you from going anywhere – and it means if you do leave, you’ll find yourself building the whole site again from scratch.
Delegation
Web321 is here for business folks who need to improve their web presence but just can’t find the time. With our “done-for-you” approach, we take care of everything from domain registration & hosting setup, to web design and content writing, to maintenance and unlimited content updates. That task you’ve been putting off will finally be in good hands, and you’ll be free to grow your business and serve your customers with your full attention.
Web321 isn’t for everyone. We know that some people love to do everything they can themselves – and more power to them! A DIY platform will save you some money and can give you the opportunity to learn a new skill and express your creativity. You’ll just need to assess that value against the time it will take you and the hourly rate you’d be charging for paying work and decide if that’s a trade-off your business can afford to make.
How Does Cost Impact Design Decisions?
The cost of a website for a small business can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the size and complexity of the website, the level of customization and functionality required, and the designer or agency creating the website. Some small businesses may be able to create a simple website for a few hundred dollars, while others may spend several thousand dollars or more on a more complex and customized website.
There are several options available to small businesses looking to create a website:
DIY website builders: There are a number of website builders, such as Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly, that allow users to create their own websites using pre-designed templates and drag-and-drop tools. Prices for these services can range from $0 to several hundred dollars per year, depending on the level of functionality and support required.
Freelance web designers: Hiring a freelance web designer can be a cost-effective option for small businesses. Prices for freelance web design services can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the complexity of the project.
Web design agencies: Working with a web design agency like Web321 can be more expensive than working with a freelancer, but can also provide a higher level of expertise and support. Prices for web design agency services can range from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the scope of the project.
Ultimately, the cost of a website for a small business will depend on the specific needs and goals of the business, as well as the budget available. It is important to carefully research and compare options to find the best fit for your needs and budget. And if you’re confused about service offerings: ask questions. We’re always happy to help.