Website Builders: Top 5 Options and Their Limitations for Business Owners

Introduction

As a business owner, creating a website can be an exciting yet daunting task, especially when you’re not tech-savvy. Website builders seem like a great solution (and depending on your use case they sometimes are) but they come with limitations that can limit your brand. In this article, we’ll explore the top 5 website builders and the limitations you might potentially face as a business owner trying to make your own website.

1. Wix: Okay, You Saw the Ad and Gave In

You saw your 10th Wix ad and you finally decided to give it a try. Who can resist a drag-and-drop editor and a promise of a website in minutes? But, as a business owner, you’ll soon realize that Wix has its limitations.

“I wanted to create a custom layout for my homepage, but Wix’s drag-and-drop editor was too restrictive. Every time I tried moving elements around it kept doing the opposite as I wanted, and not to mention the design looked amateurish.”

• Limited customization options: Wix’s templates are beautiful, but they can be inflexible, making it difficult to create a unique design.
• Limited control over mobile responsiveness: Wix’s mobile responsiveness is limited, which can affect your website’s user experience. I mean, most traffic comes from a mobile device nowadays.

2. Squarespace: The Point-of-Sale Upsell

You’re a restaurant and/or bar using Square Point-of-Sale’s system, and Square sent you a marketing email about their low-cost website builder. You thought, “Why not? It’s from Square, and it’s easy to use!” But, as a business owner, you’ll soon realize that Squarespace has its limitations.

“I wanted to integrate my email marketing tool with Squarespace, but it wasn’t possible. I had to use a workaround, which was frustrating, time-consuming, and gave me a huge headache. I spent more time reading support articles than anything else.”

• Limited integrations: Squarespace has limited integrations with third-party apps and services, which can hinder your online operations.
• Limited customer support: Squarespace’s customer support is limited, which can be frustrating when you need help.
• Limited design options: Squarespace design options are very limited and look very bland. As a restaurant, or any business for that matter, you lose your competitive advantage by not standing out.

3. Webflow: The Designer’s Dream (or Nightmare)

Webflow is a website builder that offers a high degree of customization and flexibility. But, as a business owner, you’ll soon realize that Webflow has its limitations.

“I wanted to create a custom website with Webflow, but I struggled to make it look professional. I ended up with a website that looked like a DIY project.”

• Steeper learning curve: Webflow requires a good understanding of design principles and web development, making it less accessible to beginners.
• Limited design guidance: Webflow’s design guidance is limited, which can lead to a website that looks amateurish.

4. Shopify: Selling Made Easy, But Everything Else? Not So Much

If you’re a brick and mortar store it is practically taboo to not be selling online too. Shopify is a popular and extremely powerful e-commerce website builder that’s perfect for B2C stores. But, as a business owner, you’ll soon realize that Shopify has its quirks.

“I wanted to create a custom checkout process, but Shopify’s limitations made it difficult. I had to use a third-party app, which added to my… creative problem-solving skills.”

• Limited customization options: Shopify’s templates are limited, and customizing the design and layout can be challenging.
• Limited control over checkout process: Shopify’s checkout process is limited, which can affect your conversion rates.
• Limited blogging features: Shopify’s blogging features are limited, making it less suitable for bloggers and content creators.

5. WordPress: Where Customization Freedom Meets Technical Complexity

WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that offers a high degree of customization and flexibility. But, as a business owner, you’ll soon realize that WordPress has its limitations.

“I wanted to create a custom website with WordPress, because I have heard that was what someone in my Chamber of Commerce said they used, but I struggled to find the right plugins and themes. I ended up with a website that was slow and buggy.”

• Steeper learning curve: WordPress requires a good understanding of web development and plugins, making it less accessible to beginners.
• Limited security guidance: WordPress’s security guidance is limited, which can lead to security breaches.
• Not streamlined: WordPress requires you to set up your own server and configuration settings, which can be extremely overwhelming for non-techies.

Conclusion: Why Professional Website Development May Be the Better Option

While website builders may seem like a convenient solution, but they often come with limitations that can hinder your business’s growth and success. As a business owner, you know that your website is a critical component of your marketing strategy, and settling for a mediocre website can cost you valuable customers, leads, and revenue.

Depending on your business needs, using a cheap website builder may be the better option, but more often than not, a professional website development is the better option . With a custom-built website, you can ensure that your online presence accurately reflects your brand and meets your business goals. Our team of website super experts here in San Antonio, Texas have been doing this for year. We have had numerous clients, once informed of the website builder pitfalls, see the value in our services. In fact, we encourage you to try all the website builders we have mentioned above. But if you decide they are not a right fit for your business, don’t worry, we can help you migrate from your current website builder to a custom solution that drives real results for your business.

It’s important to note that many business owners constitute having a website as just having a website. However, a website is more than that. It’s supposed to be a 24/7 selling machine for your business. If your website isn’t conveying the right wording and verbiage, structure, and easy navigation flows, you’re sadly hindering a huge opportunity for your business.

Don’t settle for a mediocre website that doesn’t drive results. Contact us today to learn more about how our expert website development services can help you achieve your online goals. Let us help you create a website that truly represents your brand and drives real results for your business.

---

FAQs