Is There a Fee to Move From Website Builder to WordPress?
You’ve been using Website Builder to create your website for free and now you’re wondering if there’s a cost to continue using the service or move to a different platform. You’re not alone. Several of our readers have been wondering the same thing.
So whether you’re looking for a free platform to create and grow your business, or you’re ready to take the next step towards becoming a professional web developer, keep reading. We’ve got you covered.
What Is Website Builder?
Website Builder is the easiest way to build a website. Simply drag and drop HTML elements onto a page to create a complete website. You don’t need to be an expert in HTML to use Website Builder, but you do need to know what you’re doing. You can learn what you need to know from the documentation. There’s also a vibrant community that’s eager to help you succeed. If you’re stuck, you can reach out to someone via the live chat feature on the Website Builder dashboard.
Why Should I Build My Website With Website Builder?
There’s a lot to love about Website Builder. Here are just a few reasons why you should build your website using this tool:
- It’s free.
- You can put your website up in a matter of minutes.
- You can add custom elements like forms, buttons, and headers.
- The platform is extremely stable.
Plus, if you decide at a later date that you’d like to move to a different platform, you can simply export your data and continue where you left off.
These are all fantastic reasons why you should build your website with Website Builder. However, there’s also a downside to this tool. If you want to keep your website secure, you have to use a free hosting service that supports HTTPS. Fortunately, most free hosting services do support HTTPS. But just in case, you also need to verify that your domain name is set up correctly with a free certificate hosted by LetsEncrypt. Otherwise, all of your visitors will be presented with a warning message whenever they visit your site.
Will My Website Be Ready to Go Live With Just the Basic Plan?
When you first sign up for a free account with Website Builder, you’ll notice that you can choose between two plans: basic and pro.
The basic plan lets you create a basic website that can only host up to three pages. While the pro plan gives you the ability to create a fully-fledged website with unlimited pages and features. However, if you decide that you need more features than the basic plan offers, you can upgrade your account to the pro plan at any time.
For those looking to create a basic website or blog, the basic plan is perfect. You don’t need to worry about hosting costs, security, or traffic. Simply pick a name for your site (we’d suggest picking a unique URL), create an account, and you can start building your site.
As for the pro plan, if you’re looking to tackle bigger projects or need to have a stable, reliable platform that can handle heavy traffic, the pro plan is right for you. Simply go with the default options for a domain name and hosting services, and you’ll be able to use all of the web development tools that the platform offers. Plus, you won’t have to worry about cost-free hosting services that cut off service after a while. Finally, LetsEncrypt certificates are free, so you won’t have to spend a penny on SSL certificates.
Is This the Right Time to Build a New Website Or Blog?
Now that you have a good idea of what Website Builder is and why you should use it, let’s discuss when is the right time to build your website or blog. You have a couple of options here. Below we’ll describe how to choose the right one for you.
If you’re starting off with a new business or blog and need a simple website to help promote your brand, you can build one using the free plan from Website Builder. Just make sure that you register your domain name with the free plan before you start building your website. Once you’ve registered your domain name, you can launch your site in no time. Most importantly, be sure to use a free hosting service that supports both HTTP and HTTPS.
With so much competition, customers are more likely to leave you if your website is not secure. For that reason, you should build your site as soon as possible. However, if you have an existing business or blog that you need to convert into a fully-fledged website, you can choose to use the free plan from Website Builder for the initial launch. Just make sure that you have a professional-looking website before you go live with it.
If you have a specific skill that you want to put to use (like graphic design, web design, or development), you can use freelancing platforms like Fiverr, Freelancer.com, Upwork, or Techworker.com to connect with potential clients. When you’re getting started, it’s best to choose a niche and go after it. For example, if you’re a graphic designer, you can start by offering your design services to small businesses or solo entrepreneurs in your area. Once you have a decent amount of work under your belt, you can branch out and offer your services to clients nationwide or worldwide. Or if you’re a web designer, you can start by creating websites for small businesses in your area.
The key to finding success as a freelance web designer or developer is to find your niche and stick to it. For example, if you focus on creating business websites for small companies in your area, you’ll be able to build a portfolio of websites that you can use to attract potential clients. If you’re able to secure some nice small projects, you can use those to build your reputation.
In short, if you’re looking to build a new website or blog, the basic plan from Website Builder is a great choice. You don’t need to go above and beyond what’s provided with this plan. Simply get a domain name and use the default settings for hosting services. You’ll be able to connect to your site quickly and easily via a web browser.
If you already have an existing business or blog and are wondering if it’s the right time to build a fully-fledged website or blog, the options are endless. You can choose to use the free plan from Website Builder to get your website up and running in no time, or you can choose to use a different platform to build your blog. Just make sure that you register your domain name with the free plan before you start building your website.
What If I Want to Keep My Website Private?
If you decide at a later date that you want to keep your website private, you have a couple of options here. First, you can upgrade your account to the premium plan. Second, you can use a free VPN service to protect your personal data while on the internet. Just keep in mind that VPN services can slow down your browsing experience.
If your existing business is built on robust security and you’re worried about keeping your website private, the premium plan is a great choice. Simply register for a premium account (it’s free) with a reliable VPN service like Private Internet Access, NordVPN, or IPVanish, choose a strong password, and you’ll be able to keep your website secure even if you have hundreds of thousands of visitors per month. If money is no object to you and you want to keep your website secure, the premium plan is the way to go.
However, if you’re looking to keep your website private for personal reasons, the best option is to use a VPN service. They will encrypt all of your personal data before they transmit it over the internet, protecting it from hackers and data brokers. It’s important to keep in mind that the security offered by a VPN service is only as good as you make it. For example, if you’re using a free, public VPN service, the security of your data is only as good as everyone else’s around you. So make sure that you always use a strong password and never share your password with anyone. Additionally, make sure that you regularly update your VPN service’s software so that it’s as current as possible. While a VPN service can be a great choice for keeping your website private, it’s never a good idea to use a free or public VPN service for anything important or confidential. This is why we recommend using Private Internet Access, NordVPN, or IPVanish — they’re all premium services and guarantee you the utmost in security without having to pay a penny for privacy.