As the importance of having a strong online presence continues to grow, more people are opting to build their own websites using do-it-yourself (DIY) tools.
These tools, also called website builders, are relatively easy to use and inexpensive. Examples include Wix, SquareSpace, Weebly, and more.
There are numerous website builder providers to choose from, but the majority of content you can find online about these tools are “Top Ten” rankings.
In reality, the information you should consider when determining if web builders are right for you are answers to the following questions:
- Who is the typical user of DIY website builders?
- What kinds of websites are they building?
- Can DIY web builders be used to build complex websites?
- Are web builder tools a viable resource for small businesses?
To better understand the website builder market, Clutch surveyed 307 individuals who created a website using a DIY website builder. All respondents indicated that they were ‘very involved’ in the process of building their website, and 63% said they built the site without help from others.
Findings
- 53% of survey respondents say they have an intermediate level familiarity with website builders.
- Nearly half (48%) say their website was built for personal purposes, while 42% say their website is for business.
- Websites built for business purposes are typically more complex.
Types of Websites Created by Web Builder Users
Web builder users tend to create two different types of websites, either personal sites – a creative display, blog or portfolio – or business sites – for online sales, ecommerce, or an online business presence.
Understanding what users of web builders create with the DIY tools is an important step in identifying what makes these tools stand out.
While the majority of users are familiar with the techniques necessary to build a site, the actual types of websites being built vary. Nearly half of respondents (48%) indicated that their website was built for personal purposes, while 42% said that their website is for business.
Such a nearly even split in the types of websites being built begs the question, “How do web builder users’ differ in skill level and approach?”
The fact that there are two very separate types of websites being built demonstrates that the users of DIY web builders are implementing the tools in different ways.
Web Builder User Characteristics
One of the main benefits of DIY website builders is their ease of use. DIY tools make the process of building a website relatively straightforward for individuals who don’t have a technical background or coding expertise.
To get a better sense of the typical individual who creates a website using DIY tools, Clutch asked survey respondents to select their ‘level of familiarity’ with website builders.
- Beginner: I have changed content, fonts, and images, etc.
- Intermediate: I have set up a site, including advanced features, without assistance.
- Advanced: I inject or customize HTML/CSS or am well versed in search engine optimization (SEO), ecommerce optimization, or other more technical features.
53% of respondents said they were intermediates, while 25% said they were beginners and 22% said advanced.
Clutch also asked survey respondents about the amount of assistance they received when building their website, either from a friend, family member, or external web designer. 63% said they built their website entirely on their own.
From this data, Clutch can infer the following characteristics of the typical users of DIY website builders:
- They are experienced with technology.
- They are able to set up a standard website, including some advanced features and integrations.
- They are highly involved with building the website on their own, instead of delegating the responsibility to somebody else.
Website Complexity Using DIY Web Builders
While the typical web builder user has an intermediate-level technical background, the websites they build differ in their level of complexity.
Yes, individuals in need of a website can use DIY web builders to create clean, responsive websites that “get the job done,” so to speak. But how far can they go, really? Can DIY tools be used to build more complex and advanced websites?
Determining the level of complexity of a website ultimately comes down to the amount of features that are included, as well as the number of tools that are integrated by the user.
“A complex website is one that goes beyond the standard ‘brochure’ style website. For instance, if there’s a greater level of interactivity in any of the sections of the site, if it needs to pull data from an API, or if there is any sort of login to an admin or backend, it adds another layer of development.” – Shawn Parrote, Marketing Manager, Designli.co
Website Features
During the website building process, users are presented with a large amount of setup options in the form of features and integrations. Users are able to select which features and integrations to include based on their needs.
On average, web builder users use more than one feature to build their website. The most commonly used features are: widgets and on-page tools (66%), drag and drop visual editors (64%), and mobile optimized themes (44%).
Website Integrations
In order for a website to be complex, it must include five or more integrated tools. Users who take the time to integrate five or more tools demonstrate an intent to use the site in a complex manner: by generating interactions and conversions.
The most popular integrations web builder users incorporate include social media (64%), customer reviews (55%), and calendar/scheduling tools (45%).
Comparing Levels of Complexity: Business versus Personal Sites
Websites built for businesses are more complex than those built for personal purposes.
Clutch applied their five-integration hypothesis and found that 46% of users with a business website integrated five or more tools. Comparatively, only 27% of users with a personal site integrated five or more tools.
Business users are more likely to use their site to engage with potential customers and generate business leads. Of the respondents who built their website for business, 40% said their site’s primary purpose was to improve their online business presence, compared to only 3% of respondents with a personal website.
They also focus more on generating interactions and conversions. The second most popular use of a business website was online sales (25%), while only 9% of respondents with a personal website said the same.
How Web Builders Serve Business Needs
Are DIY web builders a sufficient resource for business users who want to create a truly comprehensive and advanced site?
Businesses are constantly working to develop their marketing strategies, a large part of which involves having a strong online presence. In particular, ecommerce is a huge element for many businesses. It’s a big source of revenue, as long as the business can convert site visitors into customers.
Web builder software makes it easier to launch an ecommerce business, according to Kim Chappel, Head of Communications at Weebly.
“We are constantly impressed with the hyper growth in the DIY ecommerce space. We’ve watched a tiny business on Weebly go global almost overnight because of their professional website and the tools available to market themselves on the Weebly platform. The democratization of this technology is going to continue to change the game, [making] chasing dreams and launching businesses pretty effortless.” – Kim Chappel, Weebly
Additionally, web builder software has adapted to business needs. As they became more complex, the tools also began to offer more advanced features.
“Website builders have come a long way from a decade ago when a blogger or personal user would dabble with a website builder just to get their presence online. Today, many of these tools offer features like hosted services, domain registration, search engine optimization capabilities, responsive web design, and ecommerce integration, making it easy for businesses to hop online in no time.” – Evan Brown, Marketing Manager, DesignMantic.com
However, although there are benefits to using DIY web builders, they are not always a viable resource for businesses.
“It is nearly impossible to have a rapid online growth strategy that relies on a site built on one of the common web builders. While things like Wix and Squarespace are great for businesses that don’t have a web presence and are just starting out, with no real marketing budget to speak of, they are not a good option for anyone who wants to do serious online growth.” – Justin Handley, President, Web Mission Control Inc.
For some businesses looking to grow online, it may make more sense to consider solutions beyond DIY website builders.
“Squarespace is a wonderful content management system and technology platform, and we leverage the power of Squarespace to build elegant and seamless marketing websites. Beyond those simple ecommerce website experiences, we would look to something like Webflow or WordPress for more advanced builds.” – Michael Gaizutis, Founder, RNO1
Takeaways and Recommendations for Action
While DIY website builders provide the tools to produce clean and high quality websites, a more complex website may require an alternative solution.
For some businesses, it may be beneficial to move beyond DIY website builders and either transfer their website to a content management system (CMS) or hire a web designer.
With a content management system like WordPress, individuals can still build their website on their own, but are given support from a professional throughout the process and after the website’s launch. Additionally, there is more customization with a CMS that allows for the construction of a more complex site.
Especially for websites focused on e-commerce, the implementation of advanced features may require assistance from a design expert.
To optimize the online presence for an e-commerce site, hiring a web design company can provide significantly higher amounts of flexibility and customization. Although the cost will be higher, the ability to build a complex site with many features and integrations will be more realistic. With professional guidance, small businesses can feel confident in their opportunity for online growth and can feel secure that they will be supported along the way.
In the end, DIY website builders allow users to create a functional website to a certain extent, but if the intent is to build a truly advanced and complex site, then an individual should upgrade their strategy by hiring a designer or moving to a CMS platform.
For small businesses with the goal of serious online growth, DIY tools should most likely be surpassed as a viable option from the get-go.
About the Survey
Clutch’s survey included 307 respondents who are full-time small business employees and users of DIY website builders. 30% of respondent companies have an annual revenue of less than $1 million. Data was collected throughout December 2016.
Originally published here: https://clutch.co/website-builders/resources/web-builders-survey
