Surprising really - no more than 18 months ago I found them lacking in functionality and the design choices were somewhat limited. Back then I already knew I needed more control of my website; I had to have this control if I wanted to make real strides forward in my marketing.
Unfortunately the tools were lacking.
Today, however, things have changed. Thanks to some clever people they are now much better!
If truth be told, the recent (UK) TV campaign from a well known 'Build your own Website' provider persuaded me to take a look.
And I was impressed!
After a bit of research I realised they had come a long way. I decided on what I needed and I opted for Moonfruit - it offered me everything I wanted and the reviews were mostly very good.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little sceptical but my stubbornness and the excitement of what I had before me soon diverted my attention!
Here, I could build my own website and it wouldn't cost me a penny until I was happy with it.
The Nitty Gritty
The first thing that struck me was how easy it was to use - no more ‘klunky’ menus and archaic design; this was really quite cutting edge. OK, perhaps a slight exaggeration but I was pleasantly surprised.
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Moonfruit Website Builder - The Local Marketing Business |
If you're competent on MS Office and alike you'll soon pick it up. You needn't worry if you're a design novice either, there are hundreds of templates to choose from and you can simply add your text and make some basic formatting changes to start things off.
For the more experienced and if, like me, you're a bit of a control freak, you'll love the 'Drag and Drop' editor - this lets you create your website from scratch and you'll have free rein to do whatever you want!
As with anything, your first attempt may not be the masterpiece you had pictured but don't worry, you don't have to pay or publish anything until you're happy with it. At least this is the case with Moonfruit, other providers may have different terms so best to check first. Functionality, plug-ins and add-ons may also vary from provider to provider so pick one that offers everything you need.
Don't be fooled though - you won't be up and running and 'online within minutes' as some advertising may suggest. If you want something that's personal and tailored to fit your own specific needs you’ll need to invest the time.
The beauty, and the clincher for me, was the ability to have total control of my website - to be able to change it, add to it and reformat it whenever I want.
Sure, you can change your content with a content management system, but how many local business owners can afford to have one purpose-built?
Now, I can add and change the content and the design - I can move things around and I can react quickly to the ever-changing needs of my business.
I'd also rather avoid having to call on my designer and host-provider each and every time I want to make a design change to my website - all of these costs add up and could be better spent elsewhere.
Pricing
The pricing is quite reasonable - Moonfruit 'Standard' is the third of five pricing levels and for £8 per month I can build up to five websites with an unlimited number of pages. As an example, you can see the Moonfruit pricing options with functionality here.
All in all it's a big thumbs up. But I'm a realist. Time will tell and I'll soon find out if there are any issues or real downsides. For now, it's the right platform for my business but I'll be sure to keep you posted.
One thing I know for sure; my business will grow quicker as a result. I now have the freedom to try and test new things and with that comes a new wave of excitement.
If you don't have the time or expertise to do this yourself, get someone in to help but please don't pay them the earth. If you would like a comparative quote do get in touch - I'm probably the best value for money for this type of work today.
Finally, each business is different and has a unique set of challenges. In marketing it's never a 'one-size-fits-all' and these platforms won't suit everyone. That said, from what I've seen and from what I know about local marketing, in time, building your own website could soon become the norm for the local business owner.
These tools give the business owner and marketer a real chance to take back control of their marketing - that can't be anything but a good thing.
Can I Help You?
All of my work is covered by my Guarantee - so what have you got to lose?
Get in touch: paul@thelocalmarketingbusiness.co.uk
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