5 Popular Site Builders for Web Hosts
Nicole Henderson on February 23, 2012
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A screenshot of CM4all Sites, one of the website builder tools available for hosting providers
For small and medium-businesses, one of the barriers to creating an online presence is having the budget to hire a professional web designer. When web hosts offer a website building tool as a value-added service, they can reach out to customers they may not have had access to before. Below is a list of five different website builders that web hosts can offer their customers.
Microsoft WebMatrix
A screenshot of WebMatrix from a demo on its website shows the HTML editing feature in action
Customers: Customers download and install WebMatrix using the Microsoft Web Platform Installer. WebMatrix allows users to install free web applications like WordPress, Joomla! and DotNetNuke from a single interface. Users need to know HTML, CSS and Javascript (if they want to use them) and it doesn’t include WYSIWYG functionality. It also allows offline content management and storage. WebMatrix “helpers” include PayPal, Twitter and Amazon Checkout Helper to install shopping cart widgets and social media buttons.
Web hosts: Once a user’s website is ready, they access a hosting gallery to find a web hosting provider. Users are able to publish directly from WebMatrix with a few clicks. The shared hosting plans start at $1/per month/per website for shared hosting. Web hosts can submit hosting offers to be included in Microsoft’s hosting gallery. The gallery allows users to search for web hosting plans using a variety of parameters, rate their experience and share reviews.
Parallels Web Presence Builder
A screenshot of Parallels Web Presence Builder illustrates how SMBs can choose templates based on type of business
Customers: Customers do not have to be able to code, but Parallels Web Presence Builder allows customers to get into the code if they are more experienced, says Jon McCarrick, senior product marketing manager at Parallels. The expansion widgets allow for drag-and-drop functions like forms, e-commerce, and video or photo galleries. It also includes the ability to make a Facebook page, ideal for SMB customers. It can be integrated into Parallels Plesk Panel, so publishing from the web presence builder requires no further knowledge of the server. It includes sample content based on the natural language of the user, eliminating lorem ipsum type language blocks.
Web hosts: Web hosts that already use Parallels Plesk Panel can easily integrate Parallels Web Presence Builder in the control panel. The tool is designed to be monetized, though many web hosts don’t charge for access to the builder, and use it as a value added service to increase retention. “A specific concern for hosts should be whether the builder, once launched by the customer, is likely to lead to a completed website within a few interactions,” McCarrick said.
BaseKit
A screenshot of BaseKit's website builder taken from a demo on its website
Customers: BaseKit is browser-based so there is no software to download, and the sites are fully HTML, making them viewable on all devices including mobile phones. BaseKit allows users without technical experience to build a website code free with a library of widgets, tools and templates. Like Parallels Web Presence Builder, full access to code is available for advanced users. Basekit offers hosting so users can publish the site instantly.
Web hosts: Web hosts can partner with BaseKit to offer customers the website building tool. Hosts offer BaseKit through their own control panel rather than a browser. The editor is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Turkish and Portugeuse for web hosts with a presence in multiple countries. Host Europe and HostGator are among BaseKit’s existing partners.
CM4All Sites
A screenshot of CM4all Sites site builder editor
Customers: CM4all features a browser based WYSIWYG website editor and offers drag-and-drop functionality so users can add and remove widgets. The editor allows for one-click resizing of images, and more experienced users can access the new expert mode at any time. The single user interface is fully resizable to fit different browsers, screen sizes and resolutions and gives users different fly-out menus that expand to full size when needed.
Web hosts: Web hosts can integrate their own logo in the co-branded user interface. Other support and promotional materials can be integrated into the interface as well. Like BaseKit, CM4all Sites can be delivered in a range of languages. Partners can provide customers with unlimited CM4all Sites test licenses, and target both technically inexperienced and more experienced users.
RVSiteBuilder
A screenshot of RVSiteBuilder's content editor
Customers: Customers can access RVSite directly from their cPanel control panel, and create unlimited pages and sub-pages on their website. Users can create their own template with the DIY template feature or choose from a library of royalty free website templates and backup and save data on their PC with one click. The WYSIWG editor allows customers to edit flash, and create an image library.
Web hosts: Web hosts can offer RVSite directly from their cPanel control panel. RVSite is available in many languages and it is able to auto-detect the user’s language environment. RVSite offers a tryout module for users to try RVSiteBuilder without buying the hosting account. If they like it, they will be able to purchase a hosting plan with one click. RVSiteBuilder updates regularly to address new features and security vulnerabilities, a feature cPanel VP of operations Aaron Phillips says is important for web hosts to consider before selecting a website builder.
Is there a different website builder that your web hosting company provides? Tell us more in the comment section.
About Nicole Henderson
Nicole Henderson writes full-time for the Web Host Industry Review where she covers daily news and features online, as well as in print. She has a bachelor of journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, and has been writing for the WHIR since September 2010. You can find her on Twitter @NicoleHenderson.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
you can design your site like a PRO with Basekit…use basekit.com and another one is sitebuilderdiy.co.uk
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does any1 know of the pricing of cm4all is? reply would be much appreciated.
regards
graham
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You might want to mention how outrageously expensive CM4All Sites is…
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jigsy.com/ is best
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Thanks for pointing that out. I’ve fixed it now.
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That’s not a screenshot of RVSiteBuilder, that’s RVSkin which is a completely different product by the same company.
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