The best website builder for small businesses (and a budget-friendly solution to skip the designer prices)
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If you’ve recently decided to start a new small business or you’re relatively new to the small business world, you’ve probably already exhausted your google searches for website designs, builders, and pricing. So it’s no surprise that some of the most popular website searches are phrases like:
What is the best website builder for small businesses?
How expensive is a small business website?
Do I need to hire a website designer?
And, for every answer you find online, you’ll find strong opinions and advice for every option out there. But, the truth is -- it’s personal. And the decisions you make must be in line with your priorities, budget, and personal preferences. There’s a different website solution for everyone, and anyone that tells you otherwise has another plan.
One of my company values has always been to empower small business and nonprofit leaders to make decisions that serve their interests and align with their priorities. This means I’m not selling anyone a product that they cannot afford to maintain on their own. And when it came to selecting a website platform that I could learn and become an expert in using, I needed to keep my client’s perspective in mind.
For example, I know that WordPress users will often swear that no other website builder can compare. And from my somewhat limited experience with WordPress, I agree that it’s a very robust tool. However, I also know that for MY audience, it’s often not the best solution. It requires a fair bit of maintenance and upkeep (with many features requiring plugins), and for those who aren’t pretty tech-savvy, it can be a steep learning curve. That doesn’t mean it’s not a great product. It just means, in my opinion, that it’s not the right fit for everyone.
My experience with Squarespace was the exact opposite. In early 2016, I started working with a client’s Squarespace website and realized how much potential they had to expand and grow their online presence without knowing any code, using plugins, or paying extra costs. I quickly invested in some serious training and courses, and now, five years later, I’m a Squarespace Circle member with nearly 75 websites under my belt.
I admire Squarespace’s commitment to iterate until they reach the pinnacle of function and ultimate design, and I have never had a client tell me it’s challenging to use on their own. In late 2019, I moved from Squarespace 7.0 and Squarespace 7.1 and only fell more in love with the product.
So why do I recommend Squarespace to all of my small business clients? Here are a few highlights:
Their commitment to small business owners through transparent pricing is unmatched in the industry. When you pay your annual subscription, you understand exactly what it includes and what to expect when it renews. There are no hidden fees or messages telling you about extra costs not disclosed upfront.
The ability to expand and grow your website is limitless and requires no additional investment. However, if you decide to launch your website using a one-page landing model and later add 25 pages, you pay the same price. I have never met a small business owner who understands precisely how many pages they might need on day one, anyway.
Squarespace websites are flexible for every industry and type of business. But it is definitely among the best-known website builders for photography. In Squarespace 7.1, the templates are suggested layouts, and the examples are fluid. For instance, if you’re a photographer in need of a professional portfolio website, you might find the foodie layout more suitable. You can easily adjust the demo content to meet your needs. My small business clients have ranged from dentists to doctors to management agencies, healthcare professionals, and schools, and all of them started as a demo site that was completely transformed.
Incorporating e-commerce is very straightforward and offers flexible pricing based on the projected volume of sales. The E-commerce industry has continued to grow at record paces, especially with the events of 2020 driving so many to rethink their career paths and business models. Squarespace’s ability to offer simple yet effective e-commerce features is a huge plus for small businesses. There are no extra modules to purchase or complicated components to figure out. Just add your products (or services) and go!
With cybersecurity as an emerging trend business owners must face, Squarespace’s commitment to security continues to lead the website industry. They describe their security measures and safeguards in the following statement:
Squarespace implements and maintains technical and organizational security measures to protect company and customer assets and data. Squarespace has a dedicated security team that guides the implementation of controls, processes, and procedures governing the security of Squarespace and its customers. (source: https://www.squarespace.com/measures)
Last but not least, Squarespace support is one of the highest-rated website support companies out there. Their 24/7 availability through chat and email has never failed me! However, I rarely need to make it that far thanks to their extensive knowledgebase articles and how-to videos.
Listen, I’m not getting paid for this post. I wish I earned affiliate revenue because I might be able to work in another vacation or two with how many websites I build on Squarespace. I’m sharing this information because I’m a small business owner, and I know the volume of decisions that owners must make can be overwhelming. If you can take one decision off your plate, make it this one. Decide to use Squarespace for your business website.
Until next time,
Andrea