Everything You Need to Know About Website Builders
A website builder gives you the tools to create, manage and grow a website without needing to build it from scratch with code.
For a small business, choosing the right website builder can make a big difference. The right option should make it easier to create a professional website, keep your content up to date, attract visitors and turn those visitors into customers.
But not all website builders are the same. The features, flexibility, design options, SEO tools, ecommerce capabilities, support and ongoing costs can vary considerably.
This guide explains what you need to know before choosing a website builder for your New Zealand business.
What Is a Website Builder?
A website builder is software that provides the tools needed to create and manage a website.
Instead of having to write the code yourself or employ a developer for every change, a website builder provides a visual environment where you can create pages, add content, upload images and manage your website.
Depending on the website builder you choose, you may also have access to:
- Website templates and design tools
- Domain name connections
- Website hosting
- Business and marketing features
- Contact forms
- SEO tools
- Website hosting
- Mobile friendly layouts
- Blogging
- Ecommerce
- Analytics
- Social media integration
The important thing is to look beyond the ability to simply create a website. Your website builder should give you the tools you need to achieve what you want your website to do.
What Should You Look for in a Website Builder?
Choosing a website builder isn't simply about finding the cheapest option or the one with the most templates. Consider what your business needs now and what you may need in the future.
- Ease of Use - You should be able to create and update your website without needing advanced technical knowledge. A good website builder makes everyday tasks straightforward, whether you're adding a new service, changing your contact details or publishing a new page.
- Design Flexibility - Your website should look and feel like your business. Look for a builder that gives you enough control over layouts, colours, fonts, images and page structure without making the design process unnecessarily complicated.
- Mobile-Friendly Design - Your customers may visit your website from a smartphone, tablet or desktop computer. Your website builder should make it possible to create a website that works well across different screen sizes.
- SEO Features - Creating a website is only part of the job. People also need to be able to find it. Look for SEO features that allow you to manage important elements such as page titles, meta descriptions, headings, URLs and other on-page SEO requirements. Your website builder should also allow you to create useful, well-structured content and expand your website as your SEO strategy develops.
- eCommerce - If you plan to sell products or services online, check that the website builder has the ecommerce functionality you need. This may include product management, shopping carts, payments, shipping, customer accounts and order management.
- Scalability - Your website may start with five or six pages and grow considerably over time. Choose a website builder that allows you to add pages, content and functionality as your business develops.
- Support - When you're responsible for your own website, access to reliable support can be important. Consider what support is available, when it is available and whether help is provided by people who understand the product.
Website Builder vs Building a Website From Scratch
There are several ways to create a website. You can use a website builder, work with a web designer or developer, use a content management system, or build a website from scratch.
For many small businesses, a website builder provides a practical balance between control, cost and ease of use. You can create and manage much of the website yourself without having to take responsibility for the underlying technical development. That doesn't mean a website builder is automatically the right choice for every business.
The best option depends on the type of website you need, your budget, your technical ability and how much control you want over the website.
How Much Does a Website Builder Cost in New Zealand?
Website builder pricing can vary depending on the features and services included. Some builders offer free plans, while others charge a monthly or annual subscription. You may also need to consider additional costs such as:
- Domain registration
- Premium features
- eCommerce functionality
- Professional design
- Additional file storage
- Email services
- Website support
- Marketing and SEO
The cheapest website builder isn't necessarily the cheapest way to run a successful business website. It's better to compare the total cost against what you actually get, including the features, support and functionality your business needs.
Can You Build a Website Yourself?
Yes. One of the main advantages of a website builder is that it allows business owners and individuals to create and manage their own websites. You don't necessarily need to know HTML, CSS or other programming languages. However, building a website and building an effective business website are two different things.
Your website still needs clear content, logical navigation, good design, strong calls to action, mobile-friendly layouts and a structure that makes sense to both visitors and search engines.
Website Builders and SEO
Your website builder is only one part of your SEO strategy. A website needs a strong foundation, but ranking in search results also depends on the quality and relevance of your content, your website structure, competition, links and many other factors.
When choosing a website builder, make sure you have enough control to create an SEO-friendly website. You should be able to:
- Create descriptive page titles
- Write unique meta descriptions
- Use logical heading structures
- Create useful URLs
- Add and optimise images
- Create additional content pages
- Build internal links
- Optimise content for relevant searches
- Connect analytics and search tools
Website Builder Features That Matter
The features you need will depend on your business. A local trades business may primarily need service pages, enquiry forms, location information and strong local SEO. A professional services business may need detailed service information, resources, case studies and lead-generation tools. An online retailer will need ecommerce functionality.
This is why it's useful to start with your business requirements rather than choosing a website builder based solely on its template designs. Ask yourself: What does my website need to help my business achieve? That question should guide your choice.
Choosing a Website Builder for Your Business
Before choosing a website builder, consider:
- What type of website do I need? - A simple business website has different requirements from a large ecommerce website.
- Who will manage the website? - If you'll be making your own updates, ease of use matters.
- How important is SEO? - If organic search is part of your marketing strategy, make sure the builder gives you sufficient SEO control.
- What will I need in the future? - Think beyond the first version of your website. You may eventually need more pages, content, ecommerce or additional functionality.
- What is included in the price? - Compare the complete cost rather than looking only at the advertised starting price.
Website Builders for New Zealand Businesses
New Zealand businesses have a wide range of website options available to them. The best choice isn't necessarily the most popular website builder or the one with the biggest advertising budget. It is the one that provides the right combination of functionality, flexibility, ease of use and value for your particular business.
That's why understanding what makes a good website — and what your business actually needs — is more important than simply choosing a name you recognise.
Explore Website Building
BuildAWebsite.nz is designed to help New Zealand businesses understand the decisions involved in creating and growing a successful website. Explore the guides below to learn more about each part of the process.
- Build a website - learn how to plan, create and launch a website from the ground up.
- Website costs - understand the different costs involved in creating and running a website in New Zealand.
- Website design - learn what makes an effective business website and how design affects the customer experience.
- Website content - discover how to plan, write and structure website content that helps both visitors and search engines.
- Website SEO - learn how to optimise your website and content to improve your visibility in search.
- eCommerce - explore what you need to know about creating and running an online store.
- Website tools and resources - use practical tools, guides, checklists and resources to help you plan and improve your website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Build a Better Website
Choosing a website builder is an important decision, but it's only the beginning. The real goal is to create a website that gives your customers the information they need, represents your business professionally and supports your wider business goals.
Use the resources available here at BuildAWebsite.nz to learn how to make better decisions at every stage — from planning and design through to content, SEO, ecommerce and ongoing improvement.
