Business

Best Options for Building Websites for Beginners

February 17, 2023

Building a website is a critical aspect of modern business, but it can be daunting for beginners. Fortunately, there are many easy options available for creating a website without prior technical expertise. These options range from website builders to hiring a digital marketing agency.

Your website is an important part of your business and how you present yourself in the digital space. There are a lot of different elements that go into creating a website for your business, from marketing tactics such as using SEO to having customized portals that can be used by internal teams. No matter what you need or want your website to be used for, it can be a challenge to build even a simple landing page. In this blog, we will offer some solutions for figuring out how you want to build your website even if you are a complete beginner. 

The Challenge of Building a Website

website designer building a custom website

Building a website is a complex task that requires expertise in website design, development, and other related fields. It is not just about creating a website that looks good but it is also about ensuring that it functions optimally and meets the needs of your target audience. A website designer must have a good understanding of website layout, user experience (UX), color theory, typography, and graphic design principles. They also need to be knowledgeable in website coding languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript and various website development frameworks.

As a website designer, you must be familiar with search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to ensure that the website is easily discoverable by search engines and can rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). You must also be familiar with website security measures to ensure that the website is protected against cyber-attacks and other security threats.

Building a website takes a lot of expertise in website design and related fields, and it is not a task that can be done by anyone. It requires a combination of technical skills, creative skills, and business acumen to create a website that is not only visually appealing but also functional, secure, and optimized for search engines. There are solutions to building a website that will make it easier for people who are not familiar with website design to create a website that will function for their business. If you hire a digital agency they can also help you navigate the complex and ever-changing digital landscape. Or using a website builder can simplify creating a website design with functionality.

Hiring a Digital Marketing Agency

If you do not have the time or technical expertise to build your website yourself, you may consider hiring a digital marketing agency. Digital marketing agencies such as LSM specialize in creating websites that are optimized for search engines, user experience, and conversions. We will work with you to create a website that meets your specific business needs and goals. Additionally, we can help with ongoing website maintenance, search engine optimization (SEO), and other digital marketing services to help grow your online presence.

While LSM is a local Las Vegas digital marketing agency, we help clients from all over the world build and develop their different kinds of unique websites or software in addition to our marketing services. We work with clients every step of the way from maintenance to marketing to ensure they get the most out of our finished product.

Hiring an agency will provide you with the help you need to assure your business has a functional website that properly communicates and is fully functional for your team and customers to be able to use. With the help of a digital marketing agency like LSM, businesses can increase the visibility of their website and reach a larger audience. Our agency's expertise and experience can lead to improved search engine rankings, increased traffic, and better engagement with potential customers. Additionally, partnering with a digital marketing agency can free up time for businesses to focus on other aspects of their operations, such as product development or customer service. To ensure success, it's important to select a digital marketing agency that has a proven track record and aligns with your business's goals and values.

Website Builders 

website builders graphic

One of the simplest options for building a website is using a website builder. These platforms provide an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create a website without any coding skills. Some popular website builders include Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly. These platforms offer a variety of templates and design elements, making it simple to create a professional-looking website. Additionally, they typically offer hosting and domain registration services, making it easy to get your website online and accessible to the world.

One of the biggest benefits of using a website builder is its simplicity. With website builders, you do not have to worry about coding or technical skills, making it easy for anyone to create a website. They offer a user-friendly interface, allowing you to focus on designing your website and creating content. Additionally, they provide many design elements, such as images, fonts, and themes, to help you create a visually appealing website.

There are many website builders available on the market, each with its own features and benefits. Here are some of the most popular website builders:

Webflow: Webflow is a powerful website builder that allows you to create custom websites without having to write code. It has a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface and a wide range of design features, making it easy to create visually stunning and functional websites. Webflow also integrates with a number of third-party tools, including e-commerce platforms, form builders, and marketing automation tools, which can help you achieve your goals for your website. One of the standout features of Webflow is its ability to create responsive designs, ensuring that your website will look great and be easy to use on any device. Additionally, Webflow offers robust hosting options and a built-in CMS, allowing you to manage your content with ease.

Wix: Wix is a cloud-based website builder that offers a wide range of templates and design elements. It provides a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy to create a website without coding skills. Wix offers hosting and domain registration services, making it simple to get your website online.

Squarespace: Squarespace is a website builder that offers a simple and intuitive interface. It provides a range of templates, design elements, and e-commerce options, making it a great option for building a website for your business. Squarespace also offers hosting and domain registration services, making it easy to get your website online.

Weebly: Weebly is a website builder that provides a user-friendly interface and a range of templates and design elements. It offers e-commerce options, making it a great option for building an online store. Weebly also provides hosting and domain registration services, making it easy to get your website online.

WordPress: WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that provides a powerful platform for creating a website. While it is more complex than website builders, it offers more customization options and a wider range of plugins and themes.WordPress also has YOAST SEO implemented into it, which allows you to fully optimize your website’s content for SEO purposes.

These are just a few examples of the many website builders available on the market. When choosing a website builder, consider your goals for your website and what features you need. Website builders offer a simple and accessible option for building a website without technical expertise, making it easy for anyone to get their website online. Be mindful that website builders often have limited options for implementing search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. While they may offer basic features like meta tags and keywords, they do not provide the level of customization and control necessary for effective SEO. It is important for website owners to have a basic understanding of SEO when uploading and creating their website, so they can properly optimize their content, structure, and technical elements to rank higher in search engine results pages. Failing to understand SEO can result in a website that is difficult to find by potential customers and search engines.

Using a website builder does have a disadvantage, however, which is that your website may not stand out. Since many people use website builders, their websites may look similar and lack a unique, custom touch. Website builders offer templates and design elements that are used by many people, making it difficult to create a website that is unique and stands out.

The benefit of using other resources to build your website is that it can make your website unique to your needs. From aesthetics to functionality, there are some limitations on what you can do with website builders. 

Content Management Systems (CMS)

 Another option for building a website is using a content management system (CMS). CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal provide a more robust platform for creating a website than website builders. They offer more customization options and a wider range of plugins and themes, but they may require some technical expertise to use.

CMSs are designed to make it easy for businesses to build and maintain a website, even if they lack technical expertise. They provide a range of tools and features that help you create, manage, and publish your website's content.

One of the main benefits of using a CMS is that it makes it easy to create and manage your website's content. With a CMS, you do not need to have technical skills to create and publish new pages, blog posts, or products. The drag-and-drop interface and user-friendly tools make it easy to create and manage content, even if you have limited technical knowledge.

CMSs also provide a wide range of customization options, allowing you to create a website that is unique and reflects your brand. They offer templates, themes, and plugins that can be used to add features and functionality to your website. With a CMS, you can create a website that is tailored to your specific needs and goals.

Another advantage of using a CMS is that it makes updating and managing your website easy. With a CMS, you can easily make changes to your website, such as adding new pages or updating existing content, without having to touch the underlying code. This means that you can keep your website up-to-date and relevant, even if you have limited technical expertise.

CMSs also provide security and scalability, making them a great option for businesses that want to grow their online presence. They offer tools for managing user access and security, and many CMSs are built to handle a high volume of traffic and data. This makes them ideal for businesses that want to build and maintain a large, successful website.

Mobile Optimizing Your Website

building websites to be mobile optimized

Regardless of which option you choose, it is important to ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and responsive. This means that your website will adjust its layout and content to fit the screen size of the device being used to view it. This is crucial as more and more internet users are accessing websites on their mobile devices.

Having a mobile-optimized website is essential in today's digital landscape, as more and more people are using their mobile devices to browse the internet. A mobile-optimized website provides a better user experience for visitors, improves your website's search engine rankings, and increases your chances of converting visitors into customers. To make sure your website is optimized for mobile devices, you should look for things like responsive design, readable text, or fast loading time.

Troubleshoot problems on your website, for example, a slow-loading website can be frustrating for visitors and hurt your website's search engine ranking. Mobile users often have different needs and expectations than desktop users, so it's important to make sure your website's navigation is optimized for mobile devices. This includes using large, touch-friendly buttons and a clear, concise menu structure.

Images play a vital role in the visual appeal of your website, but they can also slow down your website if they're not optimized for the web. When uploading images to your website, make sure to compress them to reduce their file size and use appropriately sized images for the device being used to view your website. Make sure to optimize images and utilize fast hosting to ensure that your website loads quickly on all devices. 

Building a website is easier than ever with the availability of website builders, content management systems, and digital marketing agencies. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced website builder, there is an option available to meet your needs and help you achieve your goals. If you want to create a professional-looking website with minimal technical expertise, website builders and digital marketing agencies are the easiest options. However, if you have the technical expertise and want more customization options, a content management system may be the best choice.

If you are looking to build a new and unique customized website, software application, or need assistance with digital marketing, LSM is here to help. We offer a variety of services to help you and your team achieve your goals and reach your target audience.  Contact us today and learn more about how we can help your business’ online presence grow.