There are pros and cons to both website building platforms. It’s up to you to weigh up the factors and choose the right approach for you. 


Are you ready to create a professional website for your business? That’s right, we said YOU. YOU can build a great website on your own without resorting to the expensive, time-consuming services of a professional website design company. There are several advantages to building your own website.

So where should you start when you’re ready to build a website? In general, your first decision is between a visual website builder and a content management system (CMS). These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, and people often think that they are one and the same. However, they have very different approaches to building websites.

What is a Visual Website Builder?

 


A visual website builder is a platform that allows you to see the end result in real time while you alter, change, edit, add, or subtract elements in the builder. It is often referred to as WYSIWYG, or “what you see is what you get.”

The best thing about a visual website builder is its ease of use. If you know how to use the mouse and the keyboard, you can easily work on a visual website builder. It’s not complex at all, and with a few practice runs, you can get the hang of building your website, no problem! And the best part, you don’t have to know how to code. Just add your content into the builder, use its functionalities to customize your website, choose what elements you need in your website, and you’re done!


Of course, the level of usability may vary from builder to builder. Fortunately, most visual website builders are made with beginners in mind. This being the case, developers of these platforms strive to make them as easy as possible to use. 

What Is a Website Template

 


All builders have their own set of templates. A template is a pre-designed web page that you use to build your website. The builder has tools to customize your template’s colors, layout, functionalities, and add-ons; you simply select your preferences/needs and add them to the template.


You don’t need to install the website builder platform to your computer or hosting provider. You just choose a subscription plan that lets you avail yourself of the features of the platform and it is ready to use. Once you make your website live, you don’t have to worry about security, backups, and maintenance. The provider will take care of these. Finally, even though you have a lot of control on your website, you can still enjoy full customer support.


Visual website builders are perfect for personal blogs, small- to medium-scale businesses, non-profit organizations, and creatives who want to show off their portfolio. If you don’t need a large and complex website with a lot of functionalities, features and e-commerce plugins, then a visual website builder is ideal and the fastest way to get going

 


Explore some of the templates and options that Folio offers.

 

What is a Content Management System?

 


A content management system (CMS) is a software system that allows you to create, manage, and modify content on a website. It grants access to multiple contributors on a team, such as managers, writers, analysts and contributors to create, edit, and publish content.


The best thing about using a CMS is how much control you have over all elements of the website. That means you can customize headers, menus, side bars, and more. You are not limited to “fixed” layouts. Furthermore, with some experience in programming languages and codes such as HTML, Javascript, CSS, or PHP, you can make your own theme, apps, and add-ons or expand existing ones. All these give you a huge degree of flexibility when you create your website.


If you’re familiar with Microsoft Word, Open Office Document, or similar word processors, then you should be able to use a CMS. And as mentioned in the earlier paragraph, you can further customize your website if you know how to code. Most CMS builders also have a “preview” button so you can see what you’re working at, although it’s not as seamless as a visual builder.


Because most CMS’s often comes as a downloadable software package, you can work on your website offline. Once you have finalized your changes, you can then upload them in the server so you that the updated web pages can be viewed publicly. 


Although CMS builders are flexible, they can be tricky to use, especially if you’re not tech-savvy. Learning and exploring all the functionalities and tools of a CMS builder can take time. Yes, you’ll still enjoy a great deal of flexibility; but if you lack development skills, you may not be able to maximize the full customization potential of the website building platform. When you get stuck, it can be hard to find a way to figure things out on your own.

 

Finally, because you can’t see the final product unless you click the preview, it can be annoying to switch between the dashboard and the preview frequently.


CMS are available free or at an affordable price, to a certain extent. However, it’s important to know that you need to pay for the hosting, domain name registration, and premium things that you want to add to your website. When you want a customized URL for your site, you have to buy it, usually at an annual cost. If you don’t know how to build a website or use the website builder, you may need to add in the cost of a professional website developer to really help you make the most of the CMS platform. 


CMS website builders are ideal for business websites, eCommerce sites, auction sites, and other websites with a lot of complex functionalities. Furthermore, if you intend to create a website that can be used to collaborate with multiple users, a CMS is a great choice.


So there you have it! When choosing between a visual website builder or CMS, it’s really up to you to determine which option is best for you and your business. Which one you should choose depends on what you want your website to be, what goals do you want your website to accomplish, and how confident you are with the platform in order to bring your website to life.