{"id":154,"date":"2022-01-28T22:10:34","date_gmt":"2022-01-28T22:10:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/?p=154"},"modified":"2022-01-28T22:10:34","modified_gmt":"2022-01-28T22:10:34","slug":"how-to-design-a-website-in-eight-simple-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/index.php\/2022\/01\/28\/how-to-design-a-website-in-eight-simple-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"How to design a website in eight simple steps."},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 class=\"entry-title fusion-post-title\">How To Design a Website in 8 Simple Steps<\/h1>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\">\n<div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\">\n<div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\">\n<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\">\n<div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\">\n<div class=\"vc_row row wpb_row vc_row row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p><strong>Designing your own website. Seems daunting, doesn\u2019t it? Well, fear not. Our guide will show you how\u00a0<em>anyone<\/em>\u00a0can build a website \u2013 with just a few pointers!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A lot of folks think that if you want to design a great website, you need to be some Silicon Valley whizz-kid or have state-of-the-art tools. The good news? That\u2019s total garbage.<\/p>\n<p>That said, you will need to know a thing or two about web design. After all, it\u2019s important \u2013 so much so that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluecorona.com\/blog\/20-web-design-facts-small-business-owners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">38% of visitors will leave a website if they find the layout unattractive<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You can think of web design like selling a car \u2013 it could have the most incredible engine, but if the chassis is hideous, people won\u2019t be interested in buying it.<\/p>\n<p>Here at Website Builder Expert, we know a thing or two about designing websites. So to help you out, we\u2019ve put together this simple, easy to follow, eight step guide. For a quick overview, here\u2019s what we\u2019ll be covering:<\/p>\n<h3>Designing Websites: Our 8 Step Guide<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Define Your Site\u2019s Purpose and Strategy<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Research the Latest Web Design Trends\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Choose Your Platform<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Select a Template and Start Customizing<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Decide on Your Branding<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Add In and Optimize Your Content<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Publish Your Website<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Analyze and Improve<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Below, we\u2019ll run through all eight steps in detail, and teach you exactly what to do at each stage. If you\u2019re interested in designing a new website, or giving an existing one a makeover, then you\u2019re in the right place.<\/p>\n<p>Have your mouse at the ready, and get those creative juices flowing \u2013 it\u2019s time to dive in.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<h4>Want to know how to build a website?<\/h4>\n<p>This guide focuses on how to design a website. If you want to know\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/building-websites\/\">how to\u00a0<em>build\u00a0<\/em>a website<\/a>, head over to our step-by-step manual.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"taco-section-menu\" class=\"taco-section-menu\" data-eventaction=\"content-navigation\">\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div class=\"menu-item-header\">\n<p><a class=\"menu-item-icon-number \" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-1\" data-taco-scroll-margin=\"30\">1\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<a class=\"menu-item-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-1\">Define Your Site\u2019s Purpose and Strategy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"menu-item-header\">\n<p><a class=\"menu-item-icon-number \" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-2\" data-taco-scroll-margin=\"30\">2<\/a>\u00a0<a class=\"menu-item-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-2\">Research the Latest Web Design Trends<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"menu-item-header\">\n<p><a class=\"menu-item-icon-number \" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-3\" data-taco-scroll-margin=\"30\">3\u00a0<\/a><a class=\"menu-item-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-3\">Choose Your Platform<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"menu-item-header\">\n<p><a class=\"menu-item-icon-number \" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-4\" data-taco-scroll-margin=\"30\">4\u00a0<\/a><a class=\"menu-item-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-4\">Select a Template \/ Theme<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"menu-item-header\">\n<p><a class=\"menu-item-icon-number \" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-5\" data-taco-scroll-margin=\"30\">5\u00a0<\/a><a class=\"menu-item-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-5\">Decide on Your Branding<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"menu-item-header\">\n<p><a class=\"menu-item-icon-number \" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-6\" data-taco-scroll-margin=\"30\">6<\/a>\u00a0<a class=\"menu-item-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-6\">Add In and Optimize Your Content<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"menu-item-header\">\n<p><a class=\"menu-item-icon-number \" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-7\" data-taco-scroll-margin=\"30\">7<\/a>\u00a0<a class=\"menu-item-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-7\">Publish Your Website<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"menu-item-header\">\n<p><a class=\"menu-item-icon-number \" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-8\" data-taco-scroll-margin=\"30\">8<\/a>\u00a0<a class=\"menu-item-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-8\">Analyze and Improve<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"menu-item-header\">\n<div class=\"menu-item-title\"><a class=\"menu-item-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-9\">Summary: How to Design a Website<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"menu-item-header\">\n<div class=\"menu-item-title\"><a class=\"menu-item-title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/#section-10\">FAQs<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row row wpb_row vc_row row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<section id=\"section-1\" class=\"taco-content-section has-number \">\n<header class=\"\">\n<h3 class=\"taco-section-number\">1\u00a0Define Your Site\u2019s Purpose and Strategy<\/h3>\n<div class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">It sounds like such a simple point to make, but before you jump head-first into designing your website, you first need to be clear on its purpose.<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Beyond simply knowing your industry and defining a content strategy, you need to think about what your USP (unique selling point) is, and how you want to come across.<\/p>\n<p>People aren\u2019t stupid.\u00a0<strong>If you put yourself out there just to make a profit or raise your own profile, people will see through it<\/strong>. Your website\u2019s design is directly linked to your brand, and it needs to come across as authentic and engaging.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block secondary\">\n<p>\u201c<em>An organization\u2019s \u2018culture of purpose\u2019 answers the critical questions of who it is and why it exists. They have a culture of purpose beyond making a profit.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Punit Renjen, Deloitte<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>What are you trying to achieve?<\/h3>\n<p>Once your purpose is clear, the focus shifts towards what action you want visitors to take when they land on your website. Is your site there just to display information? To sell products? To get sign-ups?<\/p>\n<p>The answer to this will ultimately dictate how your website looks and feels. Using ecommerce as an example, one crucial element of your design is your landing page.<\/p>\n<p>According to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.crowdspring.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Crowdspring<\/em><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a top digital branding company \u2013 your landing page should be laser-focused around one product or deal, with a clear CTA (call to action) accompanying it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03040928\/microsoft-landing-page-1.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03040928\/microsoft-landing-page-1.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03040928\/microsoft-landing-page-1-450x189.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03040928\/microsoft-landing-page-1-768x323.png 768w\" alt=\"microsoft landing page\" width=\"1000\" height=\"421\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03040928\/microsoft-landing-page-1.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03040928\/microsoft-landing-page-1.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03040928\/microsoft-landing-page-1-450x189.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03040928\/microsoft-landing-page-1-768x323.png 768w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">Microsoft uses its homepage to demonstrate just how effective single-product targeting can be<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Taking this one step further, we caught up with Wolfgang Bruns, a conversion rate expert at a global tech company. We asked him about the importance of having separate landing pages for different visitors, in order to individually tailor offers and products \u2013 a process known as customer segmentation. Here\u2019s what he had to say:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block secondary\">\n<h3>Advice from the Experts<\/h3>\n<p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17418 aligncenter lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03062823\/Wolfgang-Burns.png\" alt=\"Wolfgang Burns\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03062823\/Wolfgang-Burns.png\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/>\u201cUnderstanding your users is essential to the success of any business. It means you can customize and improve the experience you deliver and better serve their needs. Doing that has a direct impact on the bottom line.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cSegmenting your traffic to provide a more relevant experience is your first step on the journey to a personalized user experience, and the business success that comes with it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Wolfgang Bruns, CRO Manager<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/hibu-review\/\"><strong>Hibu Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Discover if Hibu\u2019s web design service could help you. We went undercover to test it, and here\u2019s what we found\u2026<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/awesome-home-page-design-layouts\/\"><strong>5 Awesome Homepage Layout Designs<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Draw inspiration and gain insight from our top tips!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<h3 class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">2 Research the Latest Web Design Trends<\/h3>\n<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row row wpb_row vc_row row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<section id=\"section-2\" class=\"taco-content-section has-number \">\n<header class=\"\">\n<h3 class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">Web design evolves quickly, but there are some more prevalent trends you can learn from. At this point, it\u2019s important to note that\u00a0<strong>just because a web trend is current, it doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s necessarily right for you<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluecorona.com\/blog\/20-web-design-facts-small-business-owners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">48% of people cite design as the most important factor of a website<\/a>, so it\u2019s important to take your time and look at what competitors are doing. Each sector will have different styles, so it\u2019s vital you know whether you want to fit into your industry, or disrupt it.<\/p>\n<p>Alex Vasili \u2013 a leading brand expert \u2013 believes you should always research by industry, rather than age or gender. When speaking to us about web design, he said:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block secondary\">\n<h3>Advice from the Experts<\/h3>\n<p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17422 aligncenter lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03062953\/Alex-Vasili.jpg\" alt=\"Alex Vasili\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03062953\/Alex-Vasili.jpg\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/>\u201cThere\u2019s a whole load of stuff in terms of color theory \u2013 which colors suggest certain emotions, and how they place you in a sort of feeling. I think it depends on whether you\u2019re trying to disrupt or trying to fit in.<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cIf you\u2019re trying to disrupt, then you want something completely different to what the sector is offering. But if you\u2019re trying to fit in, there are clear patterns.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cIf you\u2019re a tech company, you\u2019ll probably have some blue in there, whereas if you\u2019re a start-up, you might have a really vibrant, hot color in there. The same goes for your font. You\u2019ll want a really clean, simple design, and a lot of whitespace.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Alex Vasili, Brand Manager<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>This goes to show the importance of knowing what you want before diving into the physical design itself. We\u2019ll come back to color in the \u2018Branding\u2019 section, but to help you out, here are some current trends that are taking the internet by storm.<\/p>\n<h3>Micro-interactions<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Micro-interactions are small animations which takes place when a user engages with a website.\u00a0<\/strong>For example, if you \u2018react\u2019 to a post on Facebook, it will pop up with the relevant, animated emoji.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041014\/facebook-reactions.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041014\/facebook-reactions.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041014\/facebook-reactions-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041014\/facebook-reactions-768x512.jpg 768w\" alt=\"facebook reactions\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041014\/facebook-reactions.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041014\/facebook-reactions.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041014\/facebook-reactions-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041014\/facebook-reactions-768x512.jpg 768w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">Facebook nails its micro-interactions, offering an intimate user experience<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Micro-interactions are there to inject a website with some personality. Micro-interactions create a human touch point that actively makes your visitors feel like they are communicating with your website.<\/p>\n<p>Micro-interactions can take many forms \u2013 clicking, hovering, scrolling etc. \u2013 and are important in building a relationship with users. They might not suit serious white-collar businesses, but most sites could benefit from a little interaction.<\/p>\n<h3>Brutalism<\/h3>\n<p>If you thought you wouldn\u2019t be learning about architecture in this guide, we\u2019re afraid you\u2019re sadly mistaken. Brutalist web design takes its inspiration from mid-twentieth century building construction, and although many people see it as ugly, it just\u00a0<em>works<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Spanish fashion house\u00a0<em>Balenciaga<\/em>\u00a0was one of the first major companies to adopt a brutalist website back in 2016. And much like its seasonal trends, brutalism has quickly caught on.<em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041049\/balenciaga-homepage.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041049\/balenciaga-homepage.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041049\/balenciaga-homepage-450x204.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041049\/balenciaga-homepage-768x348.png 768w\" alt=\"balenciaga homepage\" width=\"1000\" height=\"453\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041049\/balenciaga-homepage.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041049\/balenciaga-homepage.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041049\/balenciaga-homepage-450x204.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041049\/balenciaga-homepage-768x348.png 768w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">Balenciaga\u2019s no-frills homepage is incredibly stripped back, but highly effective.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Brutalism derives from the French word \u2018<em>brut<\/em>\u2019, meaning \u2018raw\u2019, and offers a basic, bold and striking approach to web design. It\u2019s not for everyone, but those looking to disrupt their industry will certainly want to take note.<\/p>\n<h3>Chatbot Support<\/h3>\n<p>Here\u2019s a stat for you: businesses spend nearly $1.3 trillion every year on customer service requests. It\u2019s estimated that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/chatbotslife.com\/chatbot-2019-trends-and-stats-with-insider-reports-fb71697deee4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">chatbots could reduce this by 30%<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Gone are the days when chatbots were mere gimmicks \u2013 now, they\u2019re becoming ever more essential to customer-facing services.<\/p>\n<p>The major draws of chatbots are time-efficiency and cost-effectiveness. They work 24\/7, which frees up your time to get on with other matters. They also save you the expense of employing staff to work as customer service representatives.<\/p>\n<p>Sure, chatbots aren\u2019t perfect, but their emotional intelligence and ability to provide tailored support is improving by the day. There\u2019s never been a better time to install one.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<h3 class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">3 Choose Your Platform<\/h3>\n<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row row wpb_row vc_row row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<section id=\"section-3\" class=\"taco-content-section has-number \">\n<header class=\"\">\n<div class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">The first thing that springs to mind when you think of quality web design is a professional agency, right? And while top companies largely do a great job, they can be eye-wateringly expensive.<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Luckily, there is another way:\u00a0<strong>website builders and ecommerce platforms<\/strong>. These are DIY online tools that allow you to create and design your own website \u2013 without needing to know a single line of code!<\/p>\n<p>Naturally, there are tons of options out there \u2013 of varying quality \u2013 but we\u2019ve put in the legwork and researched the best on the market. Through a combination of expert research and thorough testing, we can now reveal the best options for designing your very own site.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/best\/\"><strong>10 Best Website Builders<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Explore the very best on the market.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/comparisons\/\"><strong>Website Builder Comparison Chart<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Take a side-by-side look to compare key areas.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/best\/platforms\/\"><strong>7 Best Ecommerce Platforms<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Check out our mini reviews of each.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/comparisons\/\"><strong>Ecommerce Platforms Comparison Chart<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Easily identify which platform works for you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Below, we\u2019ll run through the top three options for both regular websites and online stores. First, though, let\u2019s address the elephant in the room: WordPress.<\/p>\n<h3>What about WordPress?<\/h3>\n<p>WordPress.org is a self-hosted, open-source CMS (content management system) \u2013 but all you\u00a0<em>really<\/em>\u00a0need to know is that it\u2019s the most popular platform for designing a website.<\/p>\n<p>WordPress gives you total control over the look and feel of your website, and is\u00a0<em>technically<\/em>\u00a0free to use. We say this because, in order to get your website live, you\u2019ll actually need to pay for web hosting, security, a domain name, and any additional plugins or themes you need.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest issue with WordPress, though, is that it\u2019s not really suitable for the average Joe. Unless you\u2019re comfortable with code \u2013 or have the budget to hire a professional developer \u2013 WordPress will prove near-impossible to use.<\/p>\n<p>For this reason, we\u2019d recommend that people who are building their own site stick to website builders and ecommerce platforms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wordpress\/org-review\/\"><strong>WordPress.org Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Learn more about the world\u2019s most popular platform.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wordpress\/wordpress-com-vs-wordpress-org\/\"><strong>WordPress.com vs WordPress.org<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Find out the difference between the two.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>Designing Websites: Website Builders<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Unless you\u2019re looking to sell online, website builders are the most effective way for non-tech whizzes to create their own website. If an online store is what you\u2019re after, skip to our ecommerce platforms section.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>From our expert research, we\u2019ve been able to establish the 10 best website builders available to you today. All cater to different needs, but for a general overview, take a look at our quality scale below:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\"><a class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/comparisons\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01033055\/Website-Builder-Quality-Scale.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01033055\/Website-Builder-Quality-Scale.png 650w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01033055\/Website-Builder-Quality-Scale-450x114.png 450w\" alt=\"Website Builder Quality Scale\" width=\"650\" height=\"165\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01033055\/Website-Builder-Quality-Scale.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01033055\/Website-Builder-Quality-Scale.png 650w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01033055\/Website-Builder-Quality-Scale-450x114.png 450w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>Wix<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-table-container basic\">\n<table class=\"taco-table\">\n<thead class=\"table-section\">\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" scope=\"col\">Wix Pros<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" scope=\"col\">Wix Cons<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"table-section\">\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Highly intuitive and easy-to-use editor<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Can\u2019t switch templates after your website goes live<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Great value for money<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">May have to spend more on third party apps to scale your website<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Strong help and support features<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">The sheer choice and amount of customizable options can be overwhelming<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">The builder our users were most likely to recommend<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/wix-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Wix<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0is generally regarded as the best website builder on the market<\/strong>. Its easy to use drag-and-drop editor gives you total creative control, allowing you to add in all your content and position it wherever you see fit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wistia_responsive_padding\">\n<div class=\"wistia_responsive_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wistia_video_foam_dummy\" data-source-container-id=\"wistia-r9apejj17u-1\">There\u2019s also a choice of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/wix-templatesdesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">510 professionally designed templates<\/a>, a bunch of amazing features which come built-in, and a huge app store where you can install any extras you may need.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>From thoroughly testing the platform ourselves, we can confirm Wix lives up to the hype. Have a look at our final research scores and see for yourself:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-wbe-vertical-comp-chart default\" data-eventcategory=\"taco-element\" data-eventaction=\"vertical-comp-chart\">\n<div class=\"builder-row top-choice\">\n<div class=\"col logo-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"logo\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/wix.svg\" alt=\"wix logo\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/wix.svg\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<p>4.7 out of 5<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/?wvideo=r9apejj17u\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/embedwistia-a.akamaihd.net\/deliveries\/74a800d8009c625d6de067dea8547c9454f569b2.jpg?image_play_button_size=2x&amp;image_crop_resized=960x540&amp;image_play_button=1&amp;image_play_button_color=aaaaaae0\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" data-src=\"https:\/\/embedwistia-a.akamaihd.net\/deliveries\/74a800d8009c625d6de067dea8547c9454f569b2.jpg?image_play_button_size=2x&amp;image_crop_resized=960x540&amp;image_play_button=1&amp;image_play_button_color=aaaaaae0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/?wvideo=r9apejj17u\">How To Design a Website in 8 Simple Steps (Jan 20)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col score-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"score\">\n<div class=\"taco-radial-rating top-choice\">\n<div class=\"score-area\">\n<div class=\"border-circ\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"top-choice-text\">TOP CHOICE<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col ratings-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<div class=\"rating-title\">Ease of Use<\/div>\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\">Features<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\">Design Flexibility<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\">Help and Support<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\">Value For Money<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\">Customer Score<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-fixed-width\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/wix-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Visit Site<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col cta-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"review-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/wix\/wix-review\/\">Read Full Review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>We also arranged for regular people, just like you, to sit down with Wix and attempt to design their own website. These volunteers were blown away by just how quick and easy Wix was to use, as well as the sheer choice of features on display. Here\u2019s what they had to say:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block secondary\">\n<p><em>\u201cI was genuinely surprised that it was that quick [to design a website]. I didn\u2019t think that it would all get done in an hour.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI like the side menu where you can add images and apps etc. because it was simple and easy to navigate.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-cta-container content-cta-block primary image-cta-block only-desktop-image\" data-eventaction=\"cta\">\n<div class=\"image-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/logo-wix-100x100.png\" alt=\"logo-wix-100x100\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/logo-wix-100x100.png\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-and-button-container\">\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<div class=\"text\">Wix is the best website builder on the market. Sign-up to its free plan and see what you make of it.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-container\"><a class=\"taco-cta btn btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/wix-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Try Wix For Free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/wix\/wix-review\/\"><strong>Wix Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Read more about Wix in our in-depth review.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/wix\/how-to-use-wix\/\"><strong>How to use Wix<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 A step-by-step guide for beginners.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/comparisons\/wix-editor-vs-wix-adi\/\"><strong>Wix Editor vs Wix ADI<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Learn about the different ways you can create a Wix website.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>Squarespace<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-table-container basic\">\n<table class=\"taco-table\">\n<thead class=\"table-section\">\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" scope=\"col\">Squarespace Pros<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" scope=\"col\">Squarespace Cons<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"table-section\">\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Best quality templates in terms of design and flexibility<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Limited number of price plans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Best quality features of any builder on the market<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Not totally beginner friendly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Full customization control without the need for coding<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/squarespace-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Squarespace<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0is a website builder that oozes class<\/strong>, and comes with a glossy, premium feel.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/squarespace-templatesdesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Squarespace prides itself on its templates<\/a>. Their cutting-edge designs make them perfect for anyone in a creative field, such as photographers, artists, or graphic designers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wistia_responsive_padding\">\n<div class=\"wistia_responsive_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wistia_video_foam_dummy\" data-source-container-id=\"wistia-2xli1pq0dv-1\">Squarespace also comes with an array of quality features. Here you can see how it scored in our research for all the major categories:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-wbe-vertical-comp-chart default\" data-eventcategory=\"taco-element\" data-eventaction=\"vertical-comp-chart\">\n<div class=\"builder-row \">\n<div class=\"col logo-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"logo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/squarespace-logo-tertiary-white-100x100.jpg\" alt=\"squarespace-logo\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/squarespace-logo-tertiary-white-100x100.jpg\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"check-tagline\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col score-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"score\">\n<div class=\"taco-radial-rating \">\n<div class=\"score-area\">\n<div class=\"circle-score-holder\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"border-circ\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col ratings-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<div class=\"rating-title\">Ease of Use<\/div>\n<p>3.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Features<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Design Flexibility<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Help and Support<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Value For Money<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>3 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Customer Score<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col cta-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"aff-link\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-fixed-width\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/squarespace-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Visit Site<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"review-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/squarespace\/squarespace-review\/\">Read Full Review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Squarespace proved a real hit with our users, too. Here\u2019s just a couple of their thoughts:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block secondary\">\n<p><em>\u201cMy website looks really clean and fresh. I think a lot of that is down to how well the template I chose is designed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cIt\u2019s a huge challenge to create a site by yourself unless you\u2019re a designer, so the fact that the templates have industry-specific features is a huge benefit. I\u2019d say that\u2019s one of the most important factors [when designing a website].\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-cta-container content-cta-block primary image-cta-block only-desktop-image\" data-eventaction=\"cta\">\n<div class=\"image-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/squarespace-logo-tertiary-white-100x100.jpg\" alt=\"squarespace-logo\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/squarespace-logo-tertiary-white-100x100.jpg\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-and-button-container\">\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<div class=\"text\">Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial. Discover why creatives love it so much.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-container\"><a class=\"taco-cta btn btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/squarespace-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Try Squarespace For Free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/squarespace\/squarespace-review\/\"><strong>Squarespace Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Discover why Squarespace is a dream for creatives.\u00a0<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/squarespace\/how-to-use-squarespace\/\"><strong>How to use Squarespace<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Our simple handbook for using Squarespace.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/squarespace\/squarespace-pricing\/\"><strong>Squarespace Pricing Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Which plans offer real value for money?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>Weebly<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-table-container basic\">\n<table class=\"taco-table\">\n<thead class=\"table-section\">\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" scope=\"col\">Weebly Pros<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" scope=\"col\">Weebly Cons<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"table-section\">\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Best for small businesses, with all the basic tools you need to build a great business site<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Drag-and-drop customization is limited \u2013 unless you\u2019re confident with code<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Cool customizable templates<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">No personal restore option, so if your site goes down, you\u2019re totally reliant on the Weebly support team<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Really helpful SEO guides in Weebly\u2019s help and support center<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">No ADI option (short for Artificial Design Intelligence, this is where a website builder uses information you provide to automatically create a site for you)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/weebly-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Weebly<\/a>\u00a0is marketed as a website builder for all, but really, it\u00a0<strong>specializes in small business websites<\/strong>. It has a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/weebly-themesdesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">great range of templates<\/a>\u00a0to choose from, and a drag-and-drop editor that\u2019s pretty easy to get to grips with.<\/p>\n<p>Weebly really comes into its own when you start looking at its features \u2013 there\u2019s hundreds to choose from, and most of them are brilliant! For a closer look at where Weebly\u2019s strengths lie, take a look at our scores:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-wbe-vertical-comp-chart default\" data-eventcategory=\"taco-element\" data-eventaction=\"vertical-comp-chart\">\n<div class=\"builder-row \">\n<div class=\"col logo-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"logo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/weebly_logotype_100x100.png\" alt=\"weebly_logotype\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/weebly_logotype_100x100.png\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"check-tagline\">4.1<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">out of 5<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col score-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"score\">\n<div class=\"taco-radial-rating \">\n<div class=\"score-area\">\n<div class=\"border-circ\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col ratings-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<div class=\"rating-title\">Ease of Use<\/div>\n<p>3.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Features<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Design Flexibility<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Help and Support<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>3.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Value For Money<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Customer Score<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \"><a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-fixed-width\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/weebly-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Visit Site<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col cta-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"review-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/weebly\/weebly-review\/\">Read Full Review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wistia_responsive_padding\">\n<div class=\"wistia_responsive_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wistia_video_foam_dummy\" data-source-container-id=\"wistia-9goi1x37lm-1\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"wistia-9goi1x37lm-1\" class=\"wistia_embed wistia_async_9goi1x37lm videoFoam=true wistia_embed_initialized\">\n<div id=\"wistia_chrome_90\" class=\"w-chrome\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div id=\"wistia_grid_96_wrapper\">\n<div id=\"wistia_grid_96_below\">Our users who tested Weebly really liked how it helped them structure their site, and how it showed them that anyone really can build their own website:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block secondary\">\n<p><em>\u201cI think Weebly\u2019s templates are a good way of introducing you to the structure and presentation of a website.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cOverall, it was really easy to use, and kind of debunks the myth that it\u2019s really, really difficult [to build a website].\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-cta-container content-cta-block primary image-cta-block only-desktop-image\" data-eventaction=\"cta\">\n<div class=\"image-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/comparacion-de-editores-de-paginas-web-logo-weebly.png\" alt=\"comparacion de editores de paginas web weebly\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/comparacion-de-editores-de-paginas-web-logo-weebly.png\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-and-button-container\">\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<div class=\"text\">Weebly\u2019s free plan lets you \u2018try before you by\u2019. Take a look at what all the fuss is about.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-container\"><a class=\"taco-cta btn btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/weebly-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Try Weebly For Free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/weebly\/weebly-review\/\"><strong>Weebly Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Everything you need to know about Weebly.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/weebly\/how-to-use-weebly\/\"><strong>How to use Weebly<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 7 steps to getting your Weebly site online.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/comparisons\/wix-vs-weebly-vs-squarespace\/\"><strong>Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 The ultimate comparison.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>Designing Websites: Ecommerce Platforms<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Ecommerce platforms work in a very similar way to website builders, but they\u2019re specifically designed to help you set up an online store. Some are purpose-built just for ecommerce, while others (like Wix) are website builders that have ecommerce functionalities.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\"><a class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/comparisons\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01033211\/Ecommerce-Platforms-Quality-Scale.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01033211\/Ecommerce-Platforms-Quality-Scale.png 650w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01033211\/Ecommerce-Platforms-Quality-Scale-450x114.png 450w\" alt=\"Ecommerce Platforms Quality Scale\" width=\"650\" height=\"165\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01033211\/Ecommerce-Platforms-Quality-Scale.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01033211\/Ecommerce-Platforms-Quality-Scale.png 650w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01033211\/Ecommerce-Platforms-Quality-Scale-450x114.png 450w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>Shopify<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-table-container basic\">\n<table class=\"taco-table\">\n<thead class=\"table-section\">\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" scope=\"col\">Shopify Pros<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" scope=\"col\">Shopify Cons<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"table-section\">\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Sell across multiple channels, including Facebook, Instagram, Amazon and eBay<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">You have to create your storefront between the editor and dashboard, meaning you\u2019ll have to flick between the two<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Brilliant inventory system which helps you manage your store<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Only platform to enforce its own transaction fee with Shopify Payments<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Came first in our research for sales features and customer score<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Content doesn\u2019t automatically reformat if you switch to a different theme<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/shopify-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Shopify<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0stands head and shoulders above its peers as the best ecommerce platform<\/strong>. It has a range of themes which are all designed with your products in mind, and more sales features than you can shake a stick at.<\/p>\n<p>Where Shopify really excels, though, is away from your website. The platform allows you to broaden your online store\u2019s reach by tapping into different channels, and by selling across various marketplaces and social media networks.<\/p>\n<p>Here you can see how Shopify performed in our ecommerce platform testing:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-wbe-vertical-comp-chart default\" data-eventcategory=\"taco-element\" data-eventaction=\"vertical-comp-chart\">\n<div class=\"builder-row top-choice\">\n<div class=\"col logo-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"logo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/shopify-small.png\" alt=\"shopify logo small website builder\" width=\"130\" height=\"130\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/shopify-small.png\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col score-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"score\">\n<div class=\"taco-radial-rating top-choice\">\n<div class=\"score-area\">\n<div class=\"circle-score-holder\">\n<div class=\"semi-circ\">4.7<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">out of 5<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"border-circ\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"top-choice-text\">TOP CHOICE<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col ratings-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<div class=\"rating-title\">Ease of Use<\/div>\n<p>4 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\">Design Flexibility<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\">Sales Features<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\">Website Features<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\">Help and Support<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\">Value For Money<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>3.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\">Customer Score<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating top-choice\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-fixed-width\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/shopify-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Visit Site<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col cta-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"review-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/shopify\/shopify-reviews\/\">Read Full Review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\"><a class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/shopify-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065339\/shopify-homepage.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065339\/shopify-homepage.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065339\/shopify-homepage-450x232.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065339\/shopify-homepage-768x396.png 768w\" alt=\"shopify homepage\" width=\"1000\" height=\"516\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065339\/shopify-homepage.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065339\/shopify-homepage.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065339\/shopify-homepage-450x232.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065339\/shopify-homepage-768x396.png 768w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">Shopify provides a gentle slope into designing your own ecommerce website.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Shopify is slightly different to website builders in that you predominantly work from a dashboard, rather than an editor.<\/p>\n<p>Because there is so much more to consider with online stores \u2013 like marketing, inventory, and shipping \u2013 it makes sense that you have a hub to manage everything from, including your website\u2019s design.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-cta-container content-cta-block primary image-cta-block only-desktop-image\" data-eventaction=\"cta\">\n<div class=\"image-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/shopify-small.png\" alt=\"shopify logo small website builder\" width=\"130\" height=\"130\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/shopify-small.png\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-and-button-container\">\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<div class=\"text\">Shopify\u2019s 14-day free trial lets you get a real feel for the platform before deciding whether to invest<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-container\"><a class=\"taco-cta btn btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/shopify-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Try Shopify For Free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/shopify\/shopify-reviews\/\"><strong>Shopify Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Understand the power of Shopify, and what it could do for your business.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/shopify\/how-does-shopify-work\/\"><strong>How Does Shopify Work?<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Our 9-step guide covers all the basics.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/shopify\/shopify-pricing\/\"><strong>Shopify Pricing Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Is Shopify worth the investment?\u00a0<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>Wix eCommerce<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-table-container basic\">\n<table class=\"taco-table\">\n<thead class=\"table-section\">\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" scope=\"col\">Wix eCommerce Pros<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" scope=\"col\">Wix eCommerce Cons<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"table-section\">\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Eye-catching designs \u2013 add product videos to give customers a better shopping experience<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">No social media integration \u2013 doesn\u2019t let you sell across multiple channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Advanced ecommerce tools, including abandoned cart recovery to catch customers who have left items at the checkout<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Too much creative freedom, which can get in the way of ecommerce design best practices<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Multilingual sites \u2013 grow your business globally by creating multiple sites for different countries<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>\u201cBut haven\u2019t you already covered Wix?\u201d Well, yes \u2013 but\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/wix-ecomdesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">building an online store with Wix<\/a>\u00a0is a whole other ball game!<\/p>\n<p>Although Wix can\u2019t rival Shopify when building a \u2018pure\u2019 online store, it\u2019s perfect for people who just want to have a store section on their website.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Anyone who sells products on the side could benefit from Wix<\/strong>. If you\u2019re in a band, for example, the main purpose of your site will probably be to provide fans with tour information and take bookings for gigs.<\/p>\n<p>However, you may also want to sell merchandise, such as tour tops, albums, and branded instruments. Wix makes it easy to either build an online store from the off, or add in a store section further down the line.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\"><a class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/wix-ecomdesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065451\/wix-ecommerce-homepage.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065451\/wix-ecommerce-homepage.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065451\/wix-ecommerce-homepage-450x170.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065451\/wix-ecommerce-homepage-768x290.png 768w\" alt=\"wix ecommerce homepage\" width=\"1000\" height=\"377\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065451\/wix-ecommerce-homepage.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065451\/wix-ecommerce-homepage.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065451\/wix-ecommerce-homepage-450x170.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065451\/wix-ecommerce-homepage-768x290.png 768w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">Wix provides attractive template designs to really show off your products and catch the customer\u2019s eye<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Here are Wix\u2019s ecommerce-specific scores from our research:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-wbe-vertical-comp-chart default\" data-eventcategory=\"taco-element\" data-eventaction=\"vertical-comp-chart\">\n<div class=\"builder-row \">\n<div class=\"col logo-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"logo\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/wix.svg\" alt=\"wix logo\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/wix.svg\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col score-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"score\">\n<div class=\"taco-radial-rating \">\n<div class=\"score-area\">\n<div class=\"circle-score-holder\">\n<div class=\"semi-circ\">4.3<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">out of 5<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"border-circ\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col ratings-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<div class=\"rating-title\">Ease of Use<\/div>\n<p>4 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Design Flexibility<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Sales Features<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>3 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Website Features<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Help and Support<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Value For Money<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Customer Score<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \"><a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-fixed-width\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/wix-ecomdesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Visit Site<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col cta-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"review-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/wix-ecommerce-review\/\">Read Full Review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Squarespace and Weebly also offer online store pricing plans, so if you just want the option to sell online, it\u2019s worth having a look around.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-cta-container content-cta-block primary image-cta-block only-desktop-image\" data-eventaction=\"cta\">\n<div class=\"image-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/comparacion-de-editores-de-paginas-web-logo-wix.png\" alt=\"comparacion de editores de paginas web wix\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/comparacion-de-editores-de-paginas-web-logo-wix.png\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-and-button-container\">\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<div class=\"text\">Use Wix\u2019s platform free of charge and see whether it\u2019s worth upgrading to the online store plans.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-container\"><a class=\"taco-cta btn btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/wix-ecomdesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Try Wix For Free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/wix-ecommerce-review\/\"><strong>Wix eCommerce Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Discover why Wix is the best website builder for ecommerce.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/comparisons\/wix-vs-shopify\/\"><strong>Wix vs Shopify<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Learn more about the difference between the two platforms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>BigCommerce<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-table-container basic\">\n<table class=\"taco-table\">\n<thead class=\"table-section\">\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" scope=\"col\">BigCommerce Pros<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" scope=\"col\">BigCommerce Cons<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"table-section\">\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Most scalable ecommerce platform<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Hard for ecommerce beginners to get to grips with<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">More built-in features than any competitor<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">No mobile app to run your store on the go<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Lets you sell across multiple channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">Fantastic SEO tools<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Between Shopify and Wix,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/bigcommerce-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">BigCommerce<\/a>\u00a0is far more similar to the former. It\u2019s designed solely for selling online, and is\u00a0<strong>widely regarded as one of the best platforms to create an online store with<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>One thing BigCommerce has over Shopify is the amount of built-in features it has. With Shopify, you may end up spending far more than just the standard monthly fee to install a whole bunch of apps \u2013 many of which are free to use with BigCommerce.<\/p>\n<p>On the flip-side, BigCommerce is undoubtedly harder to use than Shopify. Some of the terms it uses are quite technical, and the actual design of your site can get quite complex \u2013 meaning it\u2019s not exactly a beginner-friendly platform.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\"><a class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/bigcommerce-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065613\/bigcommerce-homepage.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065613\/bigcommerce-homepage.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065613\/bigcommerce-homepage-450x239.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065613\/bigcommerce-homepage-768x408.png 768w\" alt=\"bigcommerce homepage\" width=\"1000\" height=\"531\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065613\/bigcommerce-homepage.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065613\/bigcommerce-homepage.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065613\/bigcommerce-homepage-450x239.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065613\/bigcommerce-homepage-768x408.png 768w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">BigCommerce is a powerful online store builder with tons of built-in tools<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Still, BigCommerce more than held its own through our research testing:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-wbe-vertical-comp-chart default\" data-eventcategory=\"taco-element\" data-eventaction=\"vertical-comp-chart\">\n<div class=\"builder-row \">\n<div class=\"col logo-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"logo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/website-builder-bigcommerce-min.png\" alt=\"bigcommerce logo\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/website-builder-bigcommerce-min.png\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col score-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"score\">\n<div class=\"taco-radial-rating \">\n<div class=\"score-area\">\n<div class=\"circle-score-holder\">\n<div class=\"semi-circ\">4.2<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">out of 5<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"border-circ\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col ratings-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<div class=\"rating-title\">Ease of Use<\/div>\n<p>3.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Design Flexibility<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>3.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Sales Features<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Website Features<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Help and Support<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>3.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Value For Money<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>4 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \">Customer Score<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating-row\">\n<p>3.5 out of 5 stars<\/p>\n<div class=\"taco-star-rating \"><a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-fixed-width\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/bigcommerce-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Visit Site<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col cta-col\">\n<div class=\"inner-col-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"review-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/bigcommerce\/bigcommerce-reviews\/\">Read Full Review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>We\u2019d see BigCommerce as a platform for those who are both more technically skilled and budget-conscious. It\u2019s really designed for SMEs, so anyone just looking to sell a few products a month will be better off with a website builder that has ecommerce functionality.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-cta-container content-cta-block primary image-cta-block only-desktop-image\" data-eventaction=\"cta\">\n<div class=\"image-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/website-builder-bigcommerce-min.png\" alt=\"bigcommerce logo\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/website-builder-bigcommerce-min.png\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-and-button-container\">\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<div class=\"text\">BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial for you to find your feet.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-container\"><a class=\"taco-cta btn btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/bigcommerce-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Try BigCommerce For Free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/bigcommerce\/bigcommerce-reviews\/\"><strong>BigCommerce Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 7 crucial things to know before using BigCommerce.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/comparisons\/bigcommerce-vs-shopify\/\"><strong>BigCommerce vs Shopify<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Read our comparison as these two titans clash.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/bigcommerce\/bigcommerce-pricing\/\"><strong>BigCommerce Pricing Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Is BigCommerce the best valued ecommerce platform?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<h3 class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">4 Select a Template \/ Theme<\/h3>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"vc_row row wpb_row vc_row row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<section id=\"section-4\" class=\"taco-content-section has-number \">\n<header class=\"\">\n<div class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">Now you\u2019re clear on your site\u2019s purpose, clued up on the latest web design trends, and have a platform in mind, you should have a much better idea of what you need from a template.<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p><strong>A template, sometimes referred to as a theme, is the layout of your site<\/strong>. Think of a template like the structure of your house \u2013 it forms its basic appearance, before you fill it with all your belongings.<\/p>\n<p>Most platforms will offer you a range of templates to choose from, which come pre-filled with example content.<\/p>\n<p>Templates are usually divided into industry categories, making it super simple to sift through them and find ones that are relevant to you. Each category will have templates with built-in features that are relevant to that industry, saving you the time and effort of adding them in later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\"><a class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/wix-templatesdesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041240\/wix-cafe-templates.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041240\/wix-cafe-templates.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041240\/wix-cafe-templates-450x198.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041240\/wix-cafe-templates-768x337.png 768w\" alt=\"wix cafe templates\" width=\"1000\" height=\"439\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041240\/wix-cafe-templates.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041240\/wix-cafe-templates.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041240\/wix-cafe-templates-450x198.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041240\/wix-cafe-templates-768x337.png 768w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">Wix has 510 professionally designed templates, split across 15 main categories<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>For example, if you wanted a website for your new coffee shop, you may browse the templates listed under \u2018cafe\u2019. Most of these will already have a contact form, menu page, and contact details built into the template, as they are all related to what a cafe website would require.<\/p>\n<p>All templates can be previewed before you begin editing, so you can get a clear idea of what it looks like \u2013 and, more importantly, whether it fits your needs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\"><a class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/wix-templatesdesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041432\/wix-coffee-house-template.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041432\/wix-coffee-house-template.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041432\/wix-coffee-house-template-450x198.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041432\/wix-coffee-house-template-768x339.png 768w\" alt=\"wix coffee house template\" width=\"1000\" height=\"441\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041432\/wix-coffee-house-template.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041432\/wix-coffee-house-template.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041432\/wix-coffee-house-template-450x198.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041432\/wix-coffee-house-template-768x339.png 768w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Rolling with the example of a coffee shop, it\u2019s worth checking out what other cafes are doing.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130122204602\/https:\/www.surl.org\/usabilitynews\/51\/paging_scrolling.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Research suggests<\/a>\u00a0that website users find information faster by scrolling, rather than by flicking across different pages. So, if your website just needs some basic information, it may be worth considering a one-page template.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/criteria-to-choosing-website-template-design\/\"><strong>3 Simple Criteria to Help You Choose Your Website Design<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/wix\/wix-templates\/\"><strong>Wix Templates Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Learn what we really think of Wix\u2019s templates.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/squarespace\/squarespace-templates\/\"><strong>Squarespace Templates Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Just how good is Squarespace\u2019s design?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<h3 class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">5 Decide on Your Branding<\/h3>\n<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row row wpb_row vc_row row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<section id=\"section-5\" class=\"taco-content-section has-number \">\n<header class=\"\">\n<div class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\"><strong>The time has come to start designing your website! Now, let\u2019s put what we\u2019ve learned into practice.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>When designing your site, you should think about how everything you do relates to your overall brand. Everything from the color scheme to font style and imagery play a part in telling your brand\u2019s story. It\u2019s important they\u2019re all sending the same message.<\/p>\n<h3>Color Scheme<\/h3>\n<p>Color is one of a brand\u2019s biggest communication tools. In fact, according to Color Matters,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.colormatters.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a signature color can boost brand recognition by 80%<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a lot of psychology behind people\u2019s perception of color, so it\u2019s important to understand how it\u2019s used in relation to your industry. To help you out, here\u2019s an infographic we\u2019ve put together that helps explain what different colors mean and how they\u2019re used.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Personality-of-color-infographic-by-website-builder-expert.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 645px) 100vw, 645px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Personality-of-color-infographic-by-website-builder-expert.jpg 645w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Personality-of-color-infographic-by-website-builder-expert-84x450.jpg 84w\" alt=\"Personality of color infographic by website builder expert\" width=\"645\" height=\"3464\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Personality-of-color-infographic-by-website-builder-expert.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Personality-of-color-infographic-by-website-builder-expert.jpg 645w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Personality-of-color-infographic-by-website-builder-expert-84x450.jpg 84w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Most brands have one dominant color, then two or three secondary colors.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zuzaprint.com\/colors-logos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Blue is the most popular color<\/a>, with one third of the top 100 brands using it in their logo.<\/p>\n<p>If you want your site to be in-keeping with modern trends, then vibrant colors are the way to go. Color experts, Pantone, recently voted \u2018Living Coral\u2019 as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pantone.com\/color-intelligence\/color-of-the-year\/color-of-the-year-2019\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">color of the year<\/a>\u00a0for 2019:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041606\/pantone-color-of-the-year.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041606\/pantone-color-of-the-year.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041606\/pantone-color-of-the-year-450x95.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041606\/pantone-color-of-the-year-768x163.png 768w\" alt=\"pantone color of the year\" width=\"1000\" height=\"212\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041606\/pantone-color-of-the-year.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041606\/pantone-color-of-the-year.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041606\/pantone-color-of-the-year-450x95.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041606\/pantone-color-of-the-year-768x163.png 768w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">Source: Pantone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/how-to-choose-color-for-your-website\/\"><strong>How to Choose a Color for Your Website<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/how-to-make-a-logo\/\"><strong>How to Make a Logo<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 The 4 best online logo makers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>Font Style<\/h3>\n<p>Similar to color, the font you opt for has a big impact on what people think about your website.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/conversionxl.com\/blog\/the-effects-of-typography-on-user-experience-conversions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The average website user will read about 20% of the text on any given page<\/a>, so it\u2019s crucial to entice them with an appropriate vibe.<\/p>\n<p>Naturally, white-collar businesses will want to use classic styles of font. Fonts like Arial and Helvetica are synonymous with professionalism, and therefore make sense when discussing serious matters.<\/p>\n<p>A more fun or playful brand, however, may wish to explore more abstract fonts. It\u2019s important to strike a balance between interesting and readable, though \u2013 the last thing you want to do is alienate your readership.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/font-versitility.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/font-versitility.png 583w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/font-versitility-450x312.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/font-versitility-285x197.png 285w\" alt=\"font versatility\" width=\"583\" height=\"404\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/font-versitility.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/font-versitility.png 583w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/font-versitility-450x312.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/font-versitility-285x197.png 285w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">It\u2019s important to choose a font that is readable, versatile, and on-brand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>As a general rule of thumb, you should\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.comicsanscriminal.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">avoid using Comic Sans font<\/a>. That is, unless you\u2019re planning a kids birthday party!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">Interested in reading in-depth about how to use different font styles?\u00a0<strong>Check out our guide on\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/pick-best-font-style-for-website\/\"><strong>how to pick the best font style for your website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>Imagery<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Images are how you turn a modest website into a visual feast.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Visual content is useful for increasing clicks and engagement, but on a more basic level, images simply stick in the mind. According to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hubspot.com\/marketing\/visual-content-marketing-strategy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">one study<\/a>, if we hear a piece of information, we\u2019ll only remember 10% of it \u2013 but if you add a picture, you\u2019ll remember an incredible 65%.<\/p>\n<p>That said, be careful not to overload your site with images. Lots of high-quality images might look great, but they can slow your site down. Web users are impatient, and will vote with their keyboards if your site doesn\u2019t load quickly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><strong>Image help:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/professional-images-for-your-website\/\"><strong>Where to find professional images for your website<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/free-image-editor\/\"><strong>Free image editors we recommend<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<h3 class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">6 Add In and Optimize Your Content<\/h3>\n<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row row wpb_row vc_row row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<section id=\"section-6\" class=\"taco-content-section has-number \">\n<header class=\"\">\n<div class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">So, now you know what you want to add to your website, there are two things you need to think about: positioning and optimization.<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p><strong>Positioning refers to where your content sits on each page, and how it\u2019s laid out. Optimization, meanwhile, is the process of tweaking content to help it rank higher on search engines, such as Google or Bing.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Below, we\u2019ll discuss the technicalities of both, and explain why they\u2019re important.<\/p>\n<h3>Positioning<\/h3>\n<p>Research into reading patterns teaches us that\u00a0<strong>people commonly consume content in an \u2018F\u2019 format<\/strong>. In simple terms, this means that website users will scan a page in a shape that resembles an F.<\/p>\n<p>This picture is taken from a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nngroup.com\/articles\/f-shaped-pattern-reading-web-content\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Neilson study<\/a>, where the group tracked the eye movement of readers on a web page.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041702\/neilson-content-eyetracking.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 943px) 100vw, 943px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041702\/neilson-content-eyetracking.png 943w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041702\/neilson-content-eyetracking-450x392.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041702\/neilson-content-eyetracking-768x669.png 768w\" alt=\"neilson content eyetracking\" width=\"943\" height=\"821\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041702\/neilson-content-eyetracking.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041702\/neilson-content-eyetracking.png 943w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041702\/neilson-content-eyetracking-450x392.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03041702\/neilson-content-eyetracking-768x669.png 768w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">A classic example of how people read information in an \u2018F\u2019 pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>This is why navigation bars on websites are nearly always displayed across the top of the page. It\u2019s the first thing people are drawn to when landing on the site.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s good practice to lay out your content with this in mind, so as many people as possible see the important stuff.<\/p>\n<h3>Optimization<\/h3>\n<p>Search Engine Optimization (SEO, for short) is when you make changes to your website in order to increase the quality or quantity of people landing on your pages. Think of SEO like this:<\/p>\n<p><em>If you own a racing car, the aim is to win a race. You can have the fanciest looking car, but it\u2019s what\u2019s under the hood that\u2019s going to make a difference.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>When you make tweaks to the engine, replace the tyres, or lighten the chassis, what you\u2019re doing is optimizing your car. It may look the same, but you now stand a far better chance of winning the race!<\/em><em>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>SEO is much the same. Your site may not look any different, but making tweaks to content, images, and responsiveness can have a huge effect on how highly it ranks in a search engine\u2019s results.<\/p>\n<p>Here are just a few of the most important things you can do when designing an optimized website:<\/p>\n<h4>Metadata<\/h4>\n<p>Beyond your actual content, page titles and descriptions \u2013 known as metadata \u2013 are the easiest way of telling Google what your site\u2019s all about. Metadata appears in the search results, and allows users to discover what\u2019s on your webpage before they click on it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Metadata-example.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1026px) 100vw, 1026px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Metadata-example.png 1026w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Metadata-example-450x147.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Metadata-example-768x251.png 768w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Metadata-example-1024x334.png 1024w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Metadata-example-285x93.png 285w\" alt=\"Metadata example\" width=\"1026\" height=\"335\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Metadata-example.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Metadata-example.png 1026w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Metadata-example-450x147.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Metadata-example-768x251.png 768w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Metadata-example-1024x334.png 1024w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Metadata-example-285x93.png 285w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/div><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">Most people are familiar with Google\u2019s search results and how websites are presented.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h4>Image Compression<\/h4>\n<p>Images are typically quite large files. This means that having a lot of imagery can slow your site down, leading to people becoming impatient and leaving it before it\u2019s even fully loaded. This is known as \u2018bouncing\u2019 off the page.<\/p>\n<p>To put that into some context:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block secondary\">\n<p><em>Webpages that have a loading time of two seconds or less have a bounce rate of 9%, compared to those which take five seconds, which have a 38% bounce rate.<\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Source:\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/unbounce.com\/landing-pages\/7-page-speed-stats-for-marketers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Unbounce<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>So, what can you do about it? Why image\u00a0<em>compression<\/em>, of course!<\/p>\n<p>There are tons of free online compression tools that will reduce the number of pixels in your images. And while it\u2019s important not to distort the quality of imagery, compressing pictures can have a big impact on page loading speeds.<\/p>\n<h4>Image Alt Text<\/h4>\n<p>Alongside compressing images, another important part of SEO is to tell Google what an image represents. Unlike text, search engines can\u2019t \u2018read\u2019 images, so by adding alt text to an image, you are effectively helping them understand what it being depicted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\"><a class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/squarespace-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01015925\/squarespace_image_alt_text.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 645px) 100vw, 645px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01015925\/squarespace_image_alt_text.png 645w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01015925\/squarespace_image_alt_text-450x357.png 450w\" alt=\"squarespace image alt text\" width=\"645\" height=\"512\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01015925\/squarespace_image_alt_text.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01015925\/squarespace_image_alt_text.png 645w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/01015925\/squarespace_image_alt_text-450x357.png 450w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">Squarespace makes it really easy to add alt text to images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Alt text doesn\u2019t appear directly on your website \u2013 it\u2019s added in when you\u2019re editing \u2013 so you don\u2019t need to worry too much about making it your most inspiring work (as long as it\u2019s representative of the image.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/squarespace\/squarespace-seo-review\/\"><strong>Squarespace SEO Review<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 How to rank highly with Squarespace.<strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h4>Mobile Responsiveness<\/h4>\n<p>This is a big one. In 2018,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stonetemple.com\/mobile-vs-desktop-usage-study\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">58% of all internet browsing took place on mobile devices<\/a>. That\u2019s why Google favors websites that format properly on mobile. If yours doesn\u2019t, you\u2019ve got a serious problem.<\/p>\n<p>Most templates these days are mobile responsive, and will automatically reformat your content to fit various screen sizes. It is, however, worth thinking about if you want anything to appear differently to mobile users.<\/p>\n<p>Nailing this will improve your users\u2019 experience, and earn you some serious SEO brownie points.<\/p>\n<h4>Internal Linking<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Internal linking is where you direct users to another webpage on your site via a hyperlink<\/strong>. This is generally done when you mention something that you have related content on. This tells Google and co. that you are an authority on the subject, since you have multiple articles about it.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018E.A.T\u2019 stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. By writing in-depth about a subject and internally linking to more content related to it, you are showing search engines that you really know your stuff, which should in turn help you rank highly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n<p><strong>Use Our SEO guides to become an optimization expert!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/building-websites\/simple-yet-powerful-seo-tip-website-architecture\/\"><strong>Website Architecture<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/building-websites\/simple-yet-powerful-seo-tip-anchor-text\/\"><strong>Anchor Text<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/building-websites\/simple-yet-powerful-seo-tip-backlinks\/\"><strong>Backlinks<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<h3 class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">7 Publish Your Website<\/h3>\n<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row row wpb_row vc_row row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<section id=\"section-7\" class=\"taco-content-section has-number \">\n<header class=\"\">\n<div class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">At this point, let\u2019s have a quick recap of what you should have done by now:<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Established your website\u2019s purpose<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Researched the latest web design trends and done some competitor analysis<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Settled on a platform and theme to build your website with<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Decided on your branding (color scheme, font style etc.)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Created your website and optimized its content<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now, it\u2019s time to check everything works before you go live!<\/p>\n<p>Ask your family, friends, and colleagues to test the site in preview mode (all website builders and ecommerce platforms will have this), and see if they find anything wrong. You can even get members of the general public to test it too, and to offer their thoughts.<\/p>\n<p>Some common things you want to check for are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>All your links work properly, and they direct users to the right page<\/li>\n<li>All your content is readable and easy to find<\/li>\n<li>You are never more than three clicks away from the homepage<\/li>\n<li>Your site looks great across desktop, mobile, and tablet<\/li>\n<li>Loading speeds are no more than 5 seconds on any page (use a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pingdom.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">free site speed tester<\/a>\u00a0to check this)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more details, you can find loads of UX (user experience) checklists online. It\u2019s important to be as thorough as possible before you go live. Think of it like a restaurant\u2019s opening night:<\/p>\n<p><em>Your restaurant interior, menu, chefs, and entertainment could all be spot on, but if you\u2019re understaffed, it will leave a bad first impression on many customers \u2013 something that\u2019s hard to recover from.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Always take the time to properly check your website before it goes live \u2013 first impressions count. After that, you\u2019re ready: publish your site, and send it out into the online world!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<h3 class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">8 Analyze and Improve<\/h3>\n<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row row wpb_row vc_row row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<section id=\"section-8\" class=\"taco-content-section has-number \">\n<header class=\"\">\n<div class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">Congratulations! You\u2019re now the proud owner of a live website. You can kick back and relax now, right? Well, not quite.<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>It\u2019s important to keep track of how your website is performing. Without meaning to sound like a pushy personal trainer, you have to keep working and improving!<\/p>\n<p>Most platforms have their own built-in analytics, or at least have an app you can install. Alternatively, you can connect your site to Google Analytics, so you can track things like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How many page views you\u2019re getting<\/li>\n<li>The amount of time users are spending on each page<\/li>\n<li>What your bounce rate is<\/li>\n<li>Conversion rate (for ecommerce)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These stats, known as behavioural metrics, help give you an idea of which web pages need some attention. They also help you spot where you need to improve your SEO.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\"><a class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper vc_box_border_grey fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/shopify-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full lazy loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065700\/shopify-analytics.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065700\/shopify-analytics.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065700\/shopify-analytics-450x260.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065700\/shopify-analytics-768x444.png 768w\" alt=\"shopify analytics\" width=\"1000\" height=\"578\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065700\/shopify-analytics.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065700\/shopify-analytics.png 1000w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065700\/shopify-analytics-450x260.png 450w, https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/03065700\/shopify-analytics-768x444.png 768w\" data-was-processed=\"true\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"vc_figure-caption\">Shopify\u2019s analytics dashboard is the home of all data insights.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>The truth is, a web designer\u2019s job is never truly done. If you just sit back and admire your work, others will overtake you.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re not suggesting you need to be making by-the-minute changes, but keeping on top of your site\u2019s performance and shifts in web design trends will go a long way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<h3 class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">Summary: How to Design a Website<\/h3>\n<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row row wpb_row vc_row row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<section id=\"section-9\" class=\"taco-content-section \">\n<header class=\" no-number\">\n<div class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">And\u2026 there you have it.\u00a0<strong>You\u2019re now armed with the essentials for designing a website<\/strong>. Let\u2019s look at those steps one more time.<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h3>Designing Websites: The 8 Steps<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Define Your Site\u2019s Purpose and Strategy<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Research the Latest Web Design Trends\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Choose Your Platform<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Select a Template and Start Customizing<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Decide on Your Branding<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Add In and Optimize Your Content<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Publish Your Website<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Analyze and Improve<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Bookmark this guide as your website design manual. That way, you can always revisit it if you\u2019re unsure about best practice, or basic design \u2018do\u2019s\u2019 and \u2018don\u2019ts\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Remember: keep an artistic eye on your competitors, and don\u2019t be afraid to learn from the best. Follow the steps in our guide, and you\u2019ll be turning dull design into delightful browsing in no time.<\/p>\n<p>Oh, and if you ever get stuck, drop a comment below \u2013 we\u2019ll try to help you as best we can!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>The truth is, a web designer\u2019s job is never truly done. If you just sit back and admire your work, others will overtake you.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re not suggesting you need to be making by-the-minute changes, but keeping on top of your site\u2019s performance and shifts in web design trends will go a long way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-cta-container primary\" data-eventaction=\"cta\">\n<div class=\"text-and-button-container\">\n<div class=\"button-container\"><a class=\"taco-cta btn btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/wix-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Try Wix For Free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"taco-cta-container primary\" data-eventaction=\"cta\">\n<div class=\"text-and-button-container\">\n<div class=\"button-container\"><a class=\"taco-cta btn btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/shopify-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Try Shopify For Free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">FAQs<\/h3>\n<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row row wpb_row vc_row row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<section id=\"section-10\" class=\"taco-content-section \">\n<header class=\" no-number\">\n<h3 class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">How much does it cost to design a website?<\/h3>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>Many website builders offer free plans. That said, it will still cost you a little bit if you\u2019re serious about your site. For example, a domain name costs around $10-15\/year. If you\u2019re on a tight budget, we\u2019d recommend using a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/best\/cheap\/\">cheap website builder plan<\/a>, which costs around $5-15\/month.<\/p>\n<h3>Should I hire a web designer, or do it myself?<\/h3>\n<p>It really comes down to three things: your skill level, your budget, and your requirements. Most people can design a website on a DIY platform for next to nothing without much hassle, but if your site is complex, it\u2019s best to seek a professional\u2019s help. If that\u2019s you, why not check out\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/hibu-review\/\">Hibu<\/a>?<\/p>\n<h3>What is the best platform to design a website on?<\/h3>\n<p>From our independent research,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/wix-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Wix<\/a>\u00a0came out as the best DIY website builder to use. It\u2019s ideal for personal sites, small businesses, and those looking to sell a few products online. Meanwhile,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/go\/shopify-homedesigningwebsites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Shopify<\/a>\u00a0is the best platform for full-blown ecommerce sites, with a stunning range of themes and features.<\/p>\n<h3>Should I use WordPress or a website builder?<\/h3>\n<p>Again, it\u2019s a question of your technical ability. WordPress is more advanced and creatively freeing than a website builder, but you\u2019ll need a solid knowledge of coding to design a website. You\u2019ll also need to think about\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/web-hosting-services\/\">web hosting<\/a>\u00a0and security. Website builders are the simpler, beginner-friendly option.<\/p>\n<h3>How can you make money from a website?<\/h3>\n<p>From simple things like selling products, to more advanced concepts like lead generation, anyone can make money online these days. To read about the different ways you can turn a profit, see our guide on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/building-websites\/how-to-make-money-from-a-website\/\">8 ways to make money from a website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<div class=\"taco-back-to-top-link\">Website Builder Expert aims to provide you with honest data. That\u2019s why we conduct our own research and obtain direct, personal insight. Click\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/how-we-conduct-our-website-builder-research\/\">here<\/a>\u00a0for further information.<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row row wpb_row vc_row row-fluid\">\n<div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container col-sm-12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/designing-websites\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-264 size-medium lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quintewebsitedesign.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/websitebuilderexpert-300x48.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quintewebsitedesign.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/websitebuilderexpert-200x32.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.quintewebsitedesign.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/websitebuilderexpert-300x48.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.quintewebsitedesign.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/websitebuilderexpert-320x52.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.quintewebsitedesign.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/websitebuilderexpert.jpg 324w\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"48\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quintewebsitedesign.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/websitebuilderexpert-200x32.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.quintewebsitedesign.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/websitebuilderexpert-300x48.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.quintewebsitedesign.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/websitebuilderexpert-320x52.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.quintewebsitedesign.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/websitebuilderexpert.jpg 324w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.quintewebsitedesign.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/websitebuilderexpert-300x48.jpg\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How To Design a Website in 8 Simple Steps Designing your own website. Seems daunting, doesn\u2019t it? Well, fear not. Our guide will show you how\u00a0anyone\u00a0can build a website \u2013 with just a few pointers!\u00a0 A lot of folks think that if you want to design a great website, you need to be some Silicon [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":155,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=154"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":156,"href":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154\/revisions\/156"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quintewebsitedesign.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}