Which businesses should use ‘no code’ website builders?
What are ‘no code’ website builders?
Log in to an online platform, create an account, get a trial, and then pay a monthly subscription. Get an ‘all-inclusive’ package for owning a business website. Multiple tiers, ability to customise, intuitive visual builder. Examples:
Squarespace
Shopify
Hubspot
Other similar platforms
The most reputable platforms arguably do a better job following best practices than most developers in the market/industry. As such, in our eyes, ‘big tech’ has won the game of providing simple B2B and B2C brochure websites as a service.
In short, we posit that most SMEs will see a better ROI and owner experience using ‘no code’ website builders for their business website, as opposed to something that is fully bespoke.
Can my business get a better ROI with these ‘no code’ website platforms?
Most small- and medium-sized businesses will fall into 1 of these 3 groups below.
Group A, can achieve everything they need using a ‘no code’ website builder with in-house resources…
You’ve learnt about the features of your chosen platform and determined that you have the time and in-house capability to build a ‘no code’ website that meets your requirements. You understand how to use the builder interface and customisation options.
Group A businesses are usually:
Small local companies requiring a simple ‘local business’ brochure sites
Companies with a tech-savvy in-house marketing team
Startup companies or early-stage ideas that are simply seeking market validation
Simple ‘information out’ websites (blogs, articles, events, etc.)
You’ve identified a platform you like (eg. Squarespace) and are ready to begin. You’ll either learn the required utility as you go or maybe do some prep learning via the official platform and community resources (eg. YouTube).
Still not sure?
Drop your email below if you want access to a questionnaire that confirms which group you belong to. A few multiple-choice questions will lead to valuable customised advice.
Group B can use ‘no code’ in-house but may want/need to augment with a developer or agency.
As with ‘Group A’ you’ve qualified a platform as suitable, but you need some advanced customisation that requires coding knowledge. You have checked with the platform’s customer support to confirm that what you want is possible with developer assistance.
To successfully augment a developer/agency for advanced customisation, invest some time into identifying web developers/agencies for hire via many ‘online staff/service’ platforms. We recommend LinkedIn, Upwork, TopTal, and other niche B2B web dev/agency directories.
Also, some free advice…
Find a platform that is a good fit for your desired outcome.
Shop around; understand the options as deeply as you can.
Use the live chat support or helpdesk if you need help.
The same applies to your agency/developer.
Submit requirements to 5-10 options and assess the quality of responses.
Always read their client reviews — and seek evidence of their ability to deliver.
Focus on outcomes & be willing to compromise on processes.
Define exactly what outcomes you want for a website and don’t get bogged down in the details of ‘pixel perfection’ doing it ‘that way’. Going too far off the beaten track will push you into Group C.
Group C requires a fully bespoke website or platform with ongoing developer support.
You are a business that can effectively capitalise on bespoke online utility or market differentiation. You outsource most of your development requirements to a dedicated web developer or agency.
Darwin Software is a small but agile agency with excellent customer service, craftsmanship and technical expertise. You can see our Case Studies for examples of the websites and web platforms we work on.
Our clients retain full control of their websites, licenses and infrastructure.
We retain clients through excellent service, not contractual capture.
We’ve been committed to the Craft CMS ecosystem since 2011 and there is so much to love for both developers and site owners. As such, we focus on Craft CMS as our building platform/framework, which may or may not be suitable for you.
Craft CMS could be an excellent choice under the following circumstances.
You want to rebuild what you have for improved security, performance or growth/evolution
You are not entirely sure how your website/platform should be structured, but you know what outcomes you want and can collaborate with us to make it happen
You’re just starting and want to invest in something reliable, flexible and capable of scaling
You have an existing Craft CMS site (v3, v4) that needs to be modernised (v5)
We should be able to assess if we are well-positioned to deliver what you need, within 15 minutes on the phone or a few emails back and forward at your leisure.
If you’re remotely unhappy with your current website/platform, let’s communicate to find out if Darwin Software is capable of delivering better performance, ROI and metrics than your current setup.
