No website builder is best for everyone. A good builder for a youth club is a poor one for a growing online shop. Knowing the trade offs lets you advise clients honestly and avoid sites that get abandoned after a month.
The range of builders
Think of builders on a line from simple to powerful.
Simple page tools. Google Sites is an example. You drag text boxes, images and embedded items, such as a Google Form or a map, onto pages. There are few design choices, which makes it hard to make a mess but also limits what the site can do, with no built in shop. Good for a school club, a project page, an internal staff site or a first portfolio.
All in one builders. Wix and Squarespace are examples. They offer polished templates, drag and drop layout, and add ons for bookings, blogs or small shops, with hosting and security looked after for you. Easy to start, but you depend on one company: moving the site elsewhere later is usually hard, and the most useful features may need a paid plan.
WordPress. The WordPress software is open source and runs many business and NGO sites. It can be run on your own hosting or through hosted services such as WordPress.com. It is the most flexible option, with a large directory of themes and plugins, and the one Ghanaian adverts mention most. It also needs the most care: updates, backups and security. The next lesson covers it.
How to choose
Ask these questions with the client:
- Who will update it? A non technical programme officer needs something simple and a short guide.