Choosing the Best Website Builder


There are lots of softwares you can use to build out a website that suits your needs. You can choose any that fit your needs and help you accomplish your goals.

What's On This Page?


Creative Cloud Express - Pages

Adobe Creative Cloud Express (formerly Adobe Spark) is an online and mobile design application. CC Express can help you create a variety of different types of digital media including websites, videos and social media content.

Strengths

  • A quick to learn interface that does not require coding,

  • Includes an integrated stock image collection that automatically cites images you use,

  • Great for visual essays, digital reports, and portfolios.

Weaknesses

  • Although there are a variety of themes to choose from, their customization options are limited,

  • Does not support branching websites that require the use of multiple pages.

Watch

In this short video you'll learn how to quickly get started with creating a webpage using Adobe Creative Cloud Express.


Microsoft Sway

A Seneca supported presentation program that allows users to combine text and media to content such as websites, reports, visual essays, and portfolios.

Strengths

  • Well-designed templates based on common design projects such as student reports, portfolios, and presentations,

  • It has several integrated accessibility tools,

  • Great for visual essays, digital reports, and portfolios.

Weaknesses

  • Does not support branching websites that require the use of multiple pages,

  • Cannot embed a large variety of other objects such as videos, H5P or other interactive elements.


Google Sites

Google’s structured website creation tool can seamlessly integrate several google products and allows you to build multiple-page websites.

Strengths

  • Seamlessly integrates several google products including Google Sheets, Google Slides, Google Forms and YouTube.

  • Allows you to create a multi-page website

  • Quick to learn building that does not require coding

Weaknesses

  • Limited choice of themes

  • Does not include fully developed templates

  • Works best if you are already using other Google products


Wix

A robust website builder with both free and pay-to-use options that can complement complex website, portfolio, visual article projects.

Strengths

  • Can support complex website projects such as advanced portfolios, commerce, blogging and discussion forms.

  • Allows you complete control over your project’s themes, colours, style, fonts and layout.

  • Includes several templates that can help you start your project.

Weaknesses

  • You will need to navigate the pay-to-use options to access the free to use features

  • More control over the look of your project, comes at the cost of Wix being a more complex tool. Advanced customizations may require the use of some coding.


One Platform Won't Do It All

Sometimes one tool can not do everything we need it to do. When this happens you will want to balance the pros and cons of the tool's capabilities.

Know Your Limits

Some limits are hard limits which are often set by your instructor. This might include specific capabilities, length, type, function and content. Some are soft limits, like our own desires for how we envision the final project. Some limits may just be convenience, because it is easier to do it one way versus another since you are not likely to find one tool to check every box.

It is best to weigh your limits against the limitations of the software.

With some creative problem solving and a little flexibility you can often find ways of making software work for you. But if the software you chose is not meeting your needs, do not be afraid to switch.

Watch

Websites can be a fun and creative project, and using creative problem solving we can not only get around the limitations of a tool but also find fun new ways to present our idea.

Exercise: Identifying Your Limits