In the digital age, a robust online presence is essential for small businesses to thrive. WordPress, one of the most popular content management systems in the world, has long been a go-to choice for creating websites. It’s user-friendly, flexible, and endlessly customizable. However, there are still myths and misconceptions surrounding WordPress, particularly when it comes to page builders. Small businesses often believe these myths, preventing them from taking full advantage of what WordPress has to offer. In this article, we aim to debunk some of the most common myths about WordPress page builders for small businesses. Then we will take a brief look at the 3 most popular page builders on the market today.
The Myths
Myth 1: Page Builders Are Only for Beginners
Many small business owners believe that WordPress page builders are solely for novices who lack coding skills. While page builders are indeed beginner-friendly, they are also powerful tools for experienced web designers and developers. Even seasoned professionals use page builders to save time and streamline their workflows. These tools empower small businesses to create and edit complex web layouts without the need for extensive coding knowledge. With page builders, professionals can focus on the creative aspects of web design rather than getting bogged down by code.
Myth 2: Page Builders Make Websites Slow
A prevalent myth is that using a page builder will slow down your website. However, the performance of a WordPress site depends on various factors, including the hosting environment, the number of plugins installed, and how well the site is optimized. Many modern page builders are designed with performance in mind and are optimized to produce clean and efficient code. With proper setup and optimization, page builder websites can load just as quickly as those built from scratch, if not faster. Bottom line, the performance of your site with a page builder comes down to 2 things: overall site design and proper configuration of your chosen builder.
Myth 3: Page Builders Lead to Unprofessional-Looking Websites
There’s a misconception that websites built with page builders all have the same cookie-cutter appearance. In reality, the design possibilities with WordPress page builders are endless. They offer a vast array of customization options, allowing businesses to create unique and professional-looking websites. Many page builders provide extensive design flexibility, enabling businesses to maintain brand consistency and stand out in a competitive online landscape.
If you have a decent grasp on code, especially CSS, the posibilites are endless. You can build a site that looks, feels, and functions exactly how you want it to. There even sites where you can easily generate or find code snippets to do what you want to do.
Myth 4: Page Builders Limit SEO Capabilities
Some believe that using a page builder limits a website’s SEO capabilities. This is far from the truth. Page builders often integrate seamlessly with SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and All in One SEO, making it easier for small businesses to optimize their content for search engines. In fact, many page builders provide additional features and settings that enhance SEO, such as schema markup and faster loading times, which are critical for better search engine rankings. For example, Divi, our favorite builder, has some basic SEO baked right into it.
Myth 5: Page Builders Lock You In
Another misconception is that using a page builder locks you into a specific theme or design. While it’s true that some themes and page builders work together more smoothly, many page builders are designed to be theme-agnostic. This means that you can switch themes without losing your content or design elements. Page builders give small businesses the flexibility to adapt their websites as their brand evolves or as new design trends emerge.
This is probably the most common complaint about Divi and admittedly, not entirely untrue. The currrent version of Divi does rely on shortcodes and deactivasting Divi on your WordPress site can lead to a nightmare, including loising your content and layouts. Fortunately, the upcoming Divi 5.0 will end that nightmare once and for all, making it much easier to move from Divi to another theme or builder.
Myth 6: Page Builders Aren’t Secure
Security concerns often deter small business owners from using page builders. However, page builders themselves are not inherently insecure. The security of a WordPress website depends on various factors, including the choice of hosting, keeping themes and plugins up to date, and practicing good security hygiene. Using reputable page builders and regularly updating them can contribute to a secure and stable website.
Top 3 WordPress Page Builders for Small Businesses
When it comes to WordPress page builders, there is no shortage of options to choose from. These tools vary in terms of features, ease of use, and pricing. Here, we’ll take a closer look at the top three WordPress page builders that are especially well-suited for small businesses, starting with Divi, along with their pros and cons:
1. Divi
*Pros:*
– **Versatility**: Divi is highly versatile, offering a range of modules and templates to create diverse website designs.
– **Theme and Builder**: It can be used as a theme or a plugin, giving you control over how it integrates into your site.
– **Lifetime License**: Divi offers a lifetime license option, making it cost-effective in the long run.
– **Responsive Editing**: Easily customize the design for different screen sizes and devices.
*Cons:*
– **Learning Curve**: Some users may find Divi’s interface a bit complex, especially if they’re new to page builders.
– **Heavier Code**: Divi generates more extensive code compared to other page builders, which may affect site speed if not optimized correctly.
2. Elementor
*Pros:*
– **User-Friendly**: Elementor is renowned for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for beginners.
– **Feature-Rich**: It offers a wide range of widgets and templates, enabling users to create highly customized designs.
– **Free and Paid Versions**: There’s a free version with essential features and a pro version with advanced capabilities.
– **Community and Support**: A large and active user community ensures plenty of online tutorials and resources for assistance.
*Cons:*
– **Pricing**: While the free version is quite powerful, some advanced features are only available in the paid version, which can get expensive for small businesses.
– **Learning Curve**: While it’s beginner-friendly, mastering all the features may take some time.
3. Beaver Builder
*Pros:*
– **Stability**: Beaver Builder is known for its stability and performance, which is crucial for small businesses concerned about site speed and reliability.
– **Lightweight**: It doesn’t rely on excessive code, ensuring faster load times and a smooth user experience.
– **Theme Compatibility**: Works well with most WordPress themes, giving you flexibility in design.
– **SEO-Friendly**: The code it generates is clean and optimized for search engines.
*Cons:*
– **Limited Free Version**: Beaver Builder’s free version offers fewer features compared to other free page builders.
– **Lacks Advanced Design Capabilities**: While it’s excellent for creating straightforward designs, it may not be as flexible for intricate layouts.
Each of these page builders has its own strengths and weaknesses. The right choice for your small business depends on your specific needs, budget, and your team’s familiarity with the tool. Experimenting with a few different page builders can help you identify which one aligns best with your goals and resources. Regardless of which page builder you choose, they can all be utilized to create stunning and effective websites for your small business, helping you thrive in the digital landscape.
Conclusion
In conclusion, WordPress page builders are versatile, powerful tools that can benefit small businesses in numerous ways. Dispelling these common myths allows small businesses to leverage the full potential of page builders to create professional, high-performing, and secure websites. When used correctly, WordPress page builders can be a game-changer, enabling small businesses to compete effectively in the online marketplace and reach a broader audience. Don’t let these myths hold you back—explore the possibilities of WordPress page builders and take your online presence to the next level.