Building and maintaining a successful business today requires an online presence of some sort, even if you are managing a small retail store in a rural town. If you want to outshine your competition or simply establish your brand as an authoritative source, you can do so by searching for the best interactive website builder to bring your online presence to life. With the best interactive website builder, create an official website, portfolio, or even an online store, even if you are not a professional programmer or coding expert yourself.
Establish a Vision for Your Website
Before you can find the best interactive website builder for your site, you will need to establish a vision for your online presence. Consider the purpose of your website before you begin searching for and comparing quality website design builders that are suitable for your needs. Whether you intend to create a blog, a gallery of your work, or you intend to launch an eCommerce store that sells products live, establishing a vision for your site can go a long way in helping you find the best website builder for the job.
If you are not someone who considers themselves to be creative or if you are simply lacking inspiration, you may also want to take a bit of time to compare competitors in your current market and industry. Immersing yourself in the current industry you represent is one of the best ways to gain knowledge and valuable insights when it comes to features and functions that will be integrated into your own website once it is live. The more familiar you are with competitor’s websites, the easier it will be for you to determine what type of features, functions, and tools you will need for your own site.
Create an Image for Your Brand
In order to find the best interactive website builder for your site, you will also want to create an image for your brand first. Whether you are building a branding company or offering event luxury transportation, you will need to craft a logo, slogan, and an image to represent your business that best reflects your purpose, objectives, and the demographics you intend to reach. Developing an image for your brand is rarely an overnight process, and will likely require a bit of creative brainstorming on your behalf.
If you are just building a business from the ground up, you will need to spend some time researching existing competitors, various logos, and even messaging that is utilized to promote similar products or services you intend to provide. Immersing yourself in the industry you work in and represent can help you configure just how you want to present your brand and its image to the world. Seeking inspiration for logo designs and color schemes that may be optimal for your business and brand can also be done online and with the use of various social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Consider Industry-Specific Needs
Whether you are building a website to promote a local estate sale or you want to showcase the waterproof deck coating services you provide, you will need to consider the specific needs of your website before choosing an interactive builder that is right for you. While some websites may include a blog, newsletter, or even social media connections, other sites may be designed for eCommerce shopping or even submitting service requests. Create a list of the specific functions and features that will be useful for your own website to help it stand out from the competition online.
Research Top-Performing Website Builders
Once you have a basic vision for your website, and you know which features are most important to you, you can begin your search for the best interactive website builder. Researching the best website builders online can be done with the use of traditional search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, Bing, and even DuckDuckGo. Take the time to read in-depth reviews of each individual website builder you are interested in using to learn more.
While you are researching top-performing website builders, be sure to compare features, amenities, pricing, and even web hosting solutions that may also be available to use. Finding an all-in-one host and website builder can streamline the process of building your website even more, even if you are new to the process. In some instances, you can also research photos and videos of the interactive website builders you’re interested in using to determine which has the interface that is most appealing and accessible to you.
Compare Interactive Features and Included Functions
Familiarizing yourself with some of the most popular interactive features and functions of a website builder today can help you make a decision once you need to select a platform for your site. Some of the most notable features and functions to keep in mind while you are searching for the best interactive website builder for your business or brand might include:
- Drag-and-Drop Solutions: Using a drag-and-drop solution makes it easier than ever to build websites and layout for your pages, even if you do not have programming or design experience.
- Templates: Premade responsive and mobile-friendly templates can also help you build your website in a much shorter time. Using a pre-made layout is a way for you to fully integrate a brand-new look and feel onto your website in an instant.
- Forms and Surveys: If you have a business that will be providing digital forms and surveys for your visitors, you will want to find a builder that also allows you to integrate these functions with the click of a mouse.
- Social Media Connections: For those who want to connect their social media accounts to spread brand awareness and to increase visitors to your site, you can seek builders that include the ability to integrate social feeds directly onto your official website itself.
- ECommerce Integration: Building an eCommerce store does not have to require in-depth knowledge of programming and coding with the right website-building interface. Using included eCommerce functions will help you get your online store up and running without waiting months to get the job done.
- SEO Solutions: If you want to hone in on the SEO, or search engine optimization of your website, you may also want to search for a website builder that includes SEO tools that are ideal for you. SEO tools may include meta tag generators and text editors that pinpoint areas where SEO may help boost your website’s visibility online.
Determine If eCommerce Solutions Are Necessary
Determining if an eCommerce solution is necessary is also part of the process when you are selecting a website builder that is optimal for your current industry. Whether you are promoting a single beach bed for sale or if you want to show the auto repair services you provide to the locals in your community, you will need to determine if an online checkout solution is necessary before choosing the website builder that is right for you. While most standard website builders do not include eCommerce integration solutions, there are plenty on the market that do depend on your exact needs and the type of business you are running.
If you do want to integrate an eCommerce solution into your website, you will also need to compare your options and the software or platforms that are currently supported. Some of the most popular eCommerce solutions today include both WooCommerce, which is free and compatible with a free copy of WordPress, along with Shopify, which offers premium services that can be integrated into your own site once it is built.
Social Media Integration Capabilities
If you are currently searching for the best interactive website builder for your site’s online presence, consider whether you will be developing your presence with the use of social media as well. Social media integrations will help you maximize your reach online while allowing you the opportunity to appeal to more groups and audiences, depending on the social media platforms you intend to utilize each day.
Integrating social media into your own website will allow users and visitors to share content with the click of a button. When social media buttons are visibly present on a website, you can also boost your website’s SEO, or search engine optimization, through organic clicks.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Features
Whether you are offering local brake repair services or you own a business that showcases various places to stay in your city, SEO, or search engine optimization, is essential. SEO tools can help streamline the process of creating page titles, selecting meta tags, and implementing links appropriately each time you publish a blog or create a new piece of content. Utilizing SEO tools is recommended if you are new to building a website for the first time or if you are targeting a highly niche audience or demographic.
Compare Mobile Responsiveness
During the process of researching website builders, be sure to compare mobile responsiveness features. If you want to maximize your reach among any group or target audience, you will want to ensure your chosen website builder is well-suited for mobile applications and browsers. Be sure to verify that any interactive website builder you choose provides mobile responsiveness templates and solutions that are optimal for your audience.
Reporting Tools and Real-Time Analytics
While you are searching for the best interactive website builder for your site, you will also want to consider what type of reporting tools and real-time analytics you will need. Monitoring analytics and visitor statistics in real-time will provide you with valuable insight into the demographics who are accessing your site. Some website builders include real-time monitoring solutions, while others generate reports on a 12 or 24-hour basis.
Using reporting tools and real-time analytics will help you learn more about the age range, gender, and location of your online visitors. You can learn more about how your users are accessing and browsing your website in real time, which can be extremely beneficial if you are in the process of creating and launching a content marketing strategy, a newsletter, or a blog of your own. When you are using reporting tools to review analytics, you can also monitor your top-performing pages and your poorest-performing pages to make changes as necessary in the future.
When you are using online reporting tools and real-time analytics, you can also learn how users are interacting with your website’s sitemap and any navigation system you have in place. Whether you’re using a traditional menu and tree map or if you have an interactive navigation bar inserted into the layout of your website, real-time analytics will help you determine which layout is working best in generating responsiveness. While you are using various reporting tools, you can also monitor the bounce rate of your website.
The bounce rate of a website is the percentage of users who leave a website immediately after visiting its homepage or initial landing page. When the bounce rate of a website is too high, it is typically an indicator of a poorly designed or optimized site, which can be improved with updated coding or a new design altogether.
Security Features
Whether you are building a website to promote a real estate package or you’re creating an online community, to find the best interactive website builder you will also need to compare security features. With the rise of cyberattacks and hacking attempts online, building a website with proper security in place is essential. Take the time to compare different security features and functions before choosing a website builder to ensure your site will remain protected from potential malware, phishing, and redirect hacking attempts.
Taking your time to compare various website builders and providers today is the way to find the best interactive website builder that is right for your site’s online presence and the vision you have for your brand. Anytime you are in the market for the best interactive website builder, familiarizing yourself with potential features and functions can go a long way in determining which builder is most suitable for your needs. The more comfortable you become with various website builders and their offerings, the easier it will be for you to settle on a solution that is just right for the type of website you want to build for your business and brand.
