Nowadays, it is almost impossible to highlight your company, services or even ideas without having a website. Automatically, our first reaction to everything is to search Google for what we want, be it a brand name, help with any kind of thing or someone specializing in what you need. However, how can we find this information if it is simply not there?
Having a website or a page – not to be confused with a profile – on social networks is something extremely necessary for anyone looking to publicize their work. However, many people turn away from this idea simply by imposing on themselves that they do not know how to do this.
As much as setting up a site on the web requires a little knowledge, there are currently many specialized platforms to help you create your own page, requiring little or no experience in the field. In this special, we will list 7 popular web development platforms that can assist you in setting up your own internet portal.
1 – WordPress
Without a doubt, this is the most famous platform for web development. According to WordPress itself, about 24% of the internet uses the platform, that is, practically one in every four websites you visit uses the company’s templates. Basically, it offers ready-made sites – all structural and design – for you to insert your content.
WordPress is completely free, and you can choose a theme from among the many offered. Just choose the option you like best and start producing ideas for your page in an intuitive and didactic interface for anyone. If you just want a simple promotion page, the free service model will do just fine.
However, the platform also offers some paid perks that can make your website even more professional, such as your own domain – which removes the “.wordpress” from your link -, more customization options, security tools and VIP hosting. Most of these features have a very modest price, which is charged annually.
The predefined structures of the service already use adaptive design, a concept that automatically adjusts them to any screen resolution, that is, it offers an adequate visualization on any device.
In addition, WordPress offers free apps for iOS, Android and Windows Phone – it is not official – in which you can edit and publish on your page even when you are away from your computer. It is possible to use the company’s own host model or to use its own server.
2 – Squarespace
In a nutshell, Squarespace is a platform that values the beauty of websites, investing in excellent web design structures. In addition to being beautiful, the service is one of the easiest to use, as the entire interface practically “teaches” what the user can do. Unfortunately, all these advantages are not free. Unlike some competitors, Squarespace does not offer a more basic free version.
The minimum monthly subscription to use the site is US $ 8 (R $ 25), but there are more expensive options that offer even more features. The highlight of the service is already integrating your website with its own e-commerce system. However, all of these perks are entirely in English, so people who do not speak the language may have difficulties.
In addition to the aforementioned resources, this web development platform provides the options to create your own logo with the website tools, use an image bank with more than 40 million files and develop your own template, in addition to providing applications to use the service outside the home and receive feedback on hits and clicks. Squarespace also offers applications for Android and iOS to make life easier for users.
If you want to know if it’s really worth it, you can test the service model for 14 days, without having to pay anything. If you don’t mind spending a little and looking for an easy-to-use tool that guarantees an excellent result and that integrates an e-commerce platform, then Squarespace is the best option.
3 – Wix
Wix, like WordPress, is one of the biggest names in the market when it comes to ready sites. You can use the templates and tools offered by the website to create your own page on the web, in addition to having native interaction with social tools, such as Google+, Pinterest, Twitter and comments via Facebook.
Following the model of other services, Wix has a free plan and some paid options, which offer their own domain, removal of advertisements, e-commerce, storage and higher bandwidth. Regardless of whether you choose to pay or not, all page templates are optimized to suit mobile screens.
The platform’s differential is the app store. This feature offers the user some add-ons for their website, such as forms, integration with DropBox, live chat, restaurant reservation, appointment organizer etc. Although most of them are paid, apps do not depend on monthly subscriptions.
Wix is ideal for novices on the subject, but who knows exactly what they want, and can search for separate modules within the Wix App Market to set up the ideal site. Unfortunately, the web development has no mobile application for you to enjoy and edit your content until you have a computer in hand to access the web version.
4 – Kirby
So far, we have only listed web development services that follow the “ready to use” line. Kirby is the first one aimed at people who know a little about programming and want to personalize their website or blog. In general, the platform is a CMS (Content Management Service, or Content Management System) in which we can modify and create our own layouts and portal functionalities.
Kirby’s API is based on Jquery and you need to know the basics of PHP to make your website work. In addition, the service does not host your page automatically, requiring you to put it on the air in the way you prefer. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as you can maintain backups more easily by having the portal files on your own computer or server.
There are some third-party plugins and layouts, in case you don’t want to get too hands-on. Despite being more difficult to use than the others, Kirby is much more customizable and, in a way, more intuitive for programmers. If you’re looking for a less generic solution and don’t mind putting in a little effort, this is the ideal tool. It is free, but if you want to publish your site, you need to buy a $ 17 license.
5 – Webnode
Webnode is another service that uses the concept of ready-made templates, great for those looking for little effort when putting their website on the air. However, there is a difference: the platform directs the user right from the start to what he wants to build, be it a personal web page or an e-commerce portal, going straight to the point and avoiding unnecessary work.
There is a free version, in which you can enjoy most of the resources in a limited way. Premium editions offer more storage space, more email accounts, the option to leave your site bilingual, backup etc.
Another great highlight of Webnode is the option to use your own domain and create advertising-free content, even in the free version. Unfortunately, the platform does not have any mobile applications.
6 – BlogPress
Want to make a blog look more professional? BlogPress is the best solution for those looking for a very attractive design and very intuitive creation and doesn’t mind paying for it. Unlike most members of this list, the service does not have any free version, just a 14-day demo.
The platform offers courses on how to make your blog popular and tutorials in video format, hosting, varied themes, information backup, customization via CSS and HTML, integration with social media and plugins to further improve your experience.
Because it runs on WordPress’s own system, this web development tool shares many similarities to the aforementioned platforms. However, because it is focused on blogs, it is even easier to create and find great quality layouts. BlogPress costs $ 4.92 a month (about R $ 16) and is entirely in English.
7 – Blogger
Anyone who has been using the internet for a long time must have heard of Blogger. Before the expansion of other services and the popularization of sharing ideas on the Internet itself, there was this blog platform, which was bought by Google in 2003. Basically, this was the strongest and most famous solution for people who wanted to have a personal website.
Basically, the user can create his own page, following ready-made templates and templates from the Google tool. If the user has a little more technical knowledge, it is possible to personalize your portal on the internet with backgrounds and design tools from the service itself.
Despite being relatively easier than conventional, customization still requires considerable effort and does not guarantee a result as good as those of other platforms, such as WordPress and Wix. Blogger is free, and you only need a Gmail account to use it. However, your site will be in the “.blogspot” domain, and you will need to pay a certain amount each year to a company that provides a domain, such as GoDaddy.
Google’s blogging service has apps for Android and iOS, where you can make simple posts and changes – that is, don’t expect to have the same functionality as the web version – without depending on a computer. In addition, Blogger is able to integrate your site with Google+ and is optimized for search by the company’s own search engine.
