Why Free and Cheap Website Builders aren’t Very Good
Website building serves as a necessity for businesses, whether a startup or not, to build their brand identity and online presence. As most people are now relying much on the internet, websites are very much considered by companies to create a more convenient way to reach clients and be reached by their target market. By which, companies often pool their resources on website building and online marketing, which then creates a strong representation of their brand and gain a presence on a larger scope.
While businesses are leaning towards the online platform for branding, some businesses, especially startups, are looking for ways to cut costs; website building can be a great asset, however, may entail greater costs as well. When costs are at stake, it is very understandable for companies to find cheap website builders, and in most instances, free. Typically, it’s just so tempting to avail of such services given the fact that you’re not even paying for anything.
Still, reality check. When services are offered for free, you can’t deny thinking that there’s always a catch —- you slowly start discovering its limitations, and start to realize that it’s actually not for free. Moreover, availing their premium services may get so costly, and sometimes, it can get a little terrifying not to try it as your website might be compromised, or worse, deleted permanently.
Hence, why should you avoid free or cheap website builders at all costs?
1. It isn’t fully functional
Free websites are too good to be true. Website builders that offer their services for free can make your website so inconvenient that no one wants to visit it anymore. This means that the interface is so basic, tabs aren’t as functional as they may seem, and every click can redirect you to another website through the unending presence of annoying ads. Nevertheless, your website will not be as good as you want it to be.
2. Limitations
Limitations are one of the worst catches when opting to avail a free website builder or developer. This might mean that you will not be able to customize your landing pages according to your preference, as the website builder is the one solely magnifying all the features of the site they are building. For instance, Wix. You get templates, but they aren’t interchangeable. Therefore, although you are building a website for your company, you may feel that it is not really your website because you don’t hold much of the choices and amendments for it.
3. Bad Website Address
Come to think about it —- we often are reluctant in opening websites that have unprofessional addresses. When website builders are offering their services for free, it is also without a doubt that they are using domains with no costs. These web addresses come to appear sketchy, and clients will rethink visiting your website because it might come out as a phishing site. This will result in potential clients not taking your website seriously, which may flop down future sales easily.
4. Ads
As per the first reason, your website might be overpowered by recurring ads that are not even an inch associated with the product or service you are offering. This can be so annoying, distractive, and ugly for both the company and the clients and can make clients leave your website in seconds. Worst-case scenario, your competitors can even pay these developers to post ads that redirect to their landing page. Hence, instead of gathering up clients for your company’s profit, your website might just be a link farm for more customers to your competitors’ advantage.
5. Sluggish Sites
One thing that we hate about visiting websites is the slow interface and sluggish loading. As free websites can mean low maintenance from the builders, your website can load so slowly, turning in less visits from your target market. Even so, if we put ourselves in the client’s shoes, we can be impatient loading sites that are not worth our time and effort too.
6. Hidden Charges
Let’s say for instance that you’ve already signed up for the free website building. You have inputted all your company’s details, product information, and you might be unconscious about it but your company credit card too. There will be an inevitable point where the website builder will debit charges from your account without being notified beforehand. Services like image hosting, website transfers, and even exclusive email addresses are the prime suspect for it. So be careful… always.
7. Locking of data
While website building is free during the starting phase, limitations can hinder you from customizing it. This will mean you will still end up paying another website builder to migrate your website to a new website. However, your free website builder may lock up data and your new website builder may not be able to transfer your files. When this happens, you’ll still end up paying your initial builder higher charges to unlock your info. Yet, if ever you will not fall for the “blackmail”, they can shut down your website in no time.
8. Malware Domain
If it’s for free, tone down security expectations. This is typical for free website builders as they do not do so much effort on maintenance for every site they make, making it susceptible to malware. Malware can corrupt your data and even your whole site, and you can’t do any backup for it. There will be less to no customer service as well because you don’t pay them —- you will not be prioritized.
9. Ghosting
If you thought ghosting can only happen in romantic relationships, think again. Free website builders have a high probability of disappearing without a note, worse, shutting your website as they close their services. Nevertheless, all your data will disappear in a snap, and you will not even have a chance of replicating the old site to redirect your clients to a new and improved one. One best example for this is Squarespace; you will not have phone support when something goes wrong and you’ll be wasting your time figuring out how to maneuver over your site. Accordingly, you will go back to the start of creating your site and building your brand identity and presence again.
10. Data Cloning
You have 2 unfortunate chances for this. First, due to the tendency of having an unsecured website, cloning of information is always at stake. Startup competitors can copy all your data and use it for their gain. Second, website builder betrayal. They can copy all your information and even sell them to competitors who are willing to pay them. Just put yourself in your website builder’s shoes; is your trust higher to those who avail your services for free or is it for those who pay you? Know where you stand first.
When opting to go for free website builders, you should remember to manage your expectations. As you’re using their time and efforts for free, it is unlikely that you will be a priority given that you don’t pay them at all. If you’re a startup business, be sure to invest in something worth your resources. If it’s free, it’s likely to have a catch. Thus, avoiding these “free” website builders is a good choice for you, to prevent yourself from the disappointment of doing your website all over again. Always rethink and make better choices, entrepreneurs!
