Moving Forward Group is on Saturday
Websites - What are they good for?
Moving Forward Group Call
Our first Moving Forward Group call is now this Saturday, 18th January at 10 am. This is now available for FREE for all paid subscribers to this Substack, otherwise the cost is £5.
This is your opportunity to ask a question of the group, receive feedback, share your wins or your challenges. If you’ve never attended the session before, we are a super supportive bunch, who want to help others to succeed.
There is no downside to coming along and sharing your thoughts.
Remember to use the PROMO CODE that you received in your Welcome Email to register. If you can’t find it, let me know at suzanne@advantagesofage.com
UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY, WE’VE REDUCED THE ANNUAL COST OF BECOMING A GWDC SUBSCRIBER TO ONLY £49.99/YEAR (USUALLY £99.99).
How to Choose the best Software for your Website
One of the questions that often comes up during my 1:2:1 sessions with Startup School for Seniors participants is around deciding what software to use for their first website. Or if having a website is even necessary for your business.
Here’s what I know, having built websites from scratch and purchased off-the-shelf, DIY software - start simple.
When my colleague and I launched a home-sharing platform for older people, initially named Silver Sharers, we started with a simple setup:
A basic Wix website to showcase available rooms
Two Google Forms to collect information from prospective renters and homeowners
A free Mailchimp account to send out weekly listings to our growing database
Our total budget was under £500. This allowed us to validate our idea, which ultimately led to raising £30,000 in investment from Bethnal Green Ventures, along with significant interest and publicity.
Nowadays, there is software such as Airtable (like Google Forms, but with much more functionality) that could have done most of the heavy lifting as our initial database, and Softr.io, from which we could have built our marketplace effortlessly.
Here are my top favourites, in order of my preference:
Carrd
Simplicity: Extremely user-friendly, designed for creating simple, one-page websites quickly. I love this for its ability to create beautiful, simple sites without spending a fortune (I use a gig worker on Fiverr who is my go-to for this).
Affordability: Offers a free tier and low-cost pro options, making it budget-friendly.
Responsive Design: Automatically creates responsive designs that look good on all devices.
Custom Domains: Allows for the use of custom domains, enhancing professionalism.
Wix
User-Friendly: Offers a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for beginners to design websites without coding knowledge.
Templates: A wide variety of customisable templates suited for various industries.
App Market: A range of apps to enhance functionality, from e-commerce to marketing tools.
Hosting Included: No need to find separate hosting; it's included in the package.
WordPress
Flexibility: Highly customisable with thousands of themes and plugins, allowing for extensive modifications.
SEO Friendly: Strong SEO capabilities with various plugins and tools to enhance visibility.
Community Support: A large community means plenty of resources, tutorials, and forums for assistance.
Scalability: Suitable for everything from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites.
Squarespace
Beautiful Design: Known for its visually appealing templates, which are great for creatives and portfolios.
All-in-One: Hosting, domain registration, and SSL certificates are included, simplifying the setup.
E-Commerce Features: Strong built-in e-commerce capabilities, ideal for small businesses.
Customer Support: Offers 24/7 customer support for troubleshooting.
Summary
Wix is great for beginners needing an easy-to-use platform.
WordPress is ideal for those seeking flexibility and customisation.
Squarespace is perfect for creative professionals wanting stunning designs with robust e-commerce features.
Carrd is best for users looking to quickly create simple, elegant landing pages or personal sites.
Creating Online Courses:
There are numerous software programmes that enable you to create courses straight out of the box such as Teachable, Kajabi, Thinkific and newer ones such as UTeach and System.io.
The advantage of any of these is their ability to do everything you need such as create the landing page, a sales funnel, take payment, send emails and, of course, create courses. They do vary in price and AppSumo also appears to have deals on course creation platforms so it’s worth looking there to for a product to suit your needs.
Newsletter Websites:
Mailchimp, Mailerlite, and Substack are primarily email marketing and newsletter platforms, but they can also function as simple websites to some extent. Here’s how each can be used as a website:
1. Mailchimp
Website Builder: Mailchimp offers a basic website builder that allows users to create simple landing pages or small websites.
Features: You can use customisable templates, integrate forms, and add content blocks.
Use Case: Ideal for businesses wanting a straightforward online presence alongside their email marketing efforts.
Limitations: It’s not as robust as dedicated website builders; best for landing pages or promotional sites.
2. Mailerlite
Website Builder: Mailerlite includes a user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder that allows users to create landing pages and simple websites.
Features:
Landing Pages: Create customizable landing pages to promote products, collect email sign-ups, or run campaigns.
Templates: Offers a variety of pre-designed templates to help you get started quickly.
Forms: You can add subscription forms and pop-ups to your landing pages to capture leads.
Integrations: Integrates with various tools and services, enhancing its functionality.
Use Case: Ideal for small businesses, freelancers, and marketers looking to create an online presence alongside their email marketing efforts.
3. Substack
Overview: Substack is primarily a newsletter platform where creators can publish content and build an audience.
Website Features: Each Substack account functions like a simple blog or website where you can post articles, insights, and updates.
Features: Offers customisable landing pages, subscription options, and the ability to monetise content.
Use Case: Great for writers and content creators looking to build an audience through newsletters and articles.
Limitations: Limited design flexibility compared to traditional website builders, and it focuses on content delivery rather than being a multifunctional website.
Summary
Mailchimp can serve as a basic website but is more suited for landing pages.
MailPoet enhances WordPress sites with email marketing but is not a standalone website builder.
Substack functions as a simple blog or newsletter site, appealing for content creators and writers.
Ecommerce Sites:
Shopify
Overview: A leading eCommerce platform designed for businesses of all sizes.
Features: User-friendly interface, extensive app store, customizable themes, and built-in payment processing.
Use Case: Ideal for entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized businesses looking to set up an online store quickly.
2. WooCommerce
Overview: A powerful WordPress plugin that turns any WordPress site into an online store.
Features: Highly customizable, a wide range of plugins, and strong community support.
Use Case: Best for those already using WordPress and seeking flexibility in their eCommerce solution.
4. Wix eCommerce
Overview: Part of the Wix website builder, it allows users to create online stores easily.
Features: Drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, and integrated payment options.
Use Case: Great for small businesses and individuals looking for a simple eCommerce solution.
5. Squarespace
Overview: Known for its stunning design templates, Squarespace also offers eCommerce capabilities.
Features: Beautifully designed templates, built-in SEO tools, and inventory management.
Use Case: Ideal for creatives and small businesses wanting a visually appealing online store.
Whichever platform you choose, consider your use case.
What is the primary purpose of the site - is it to sell products, convey information about you, display your work like a portfolio?
Before you take the leap and hire a designer or commit to a monthly subscription fee, consider the simplest way you can start. It may be a Facebook or LinkedIn page, for example.
I hope this brief summary of the different types of software has been helpful for you.
If you have any questions, I have worked with most of the major website builders and would be happy to talk you through the pros and cons of whatever you may be considering using.
Join the Get Work Done Club
If you haven’t already, why not become a Get Work Done Club subscriber? You will benefit from:
Monthly Power Hour Session
Monthly Moving Forward Group Session
1:2:1 15 minute Office Hours with me or Mark
Discounts on Dell products, Hubspot subscription & others
Free workshops
Weekly newsletter of other opportunities/offers
The cost is £9.99/month or £99.99/year, a small investment to make in making sure you stay on track with your business!
HOWEVER, UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY, THE PRICE FOR AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP IS ONLY £49.99/YEAR. A SAVINGS OF £50!
I hope to see you on Saturday,
Suzanne