Software Stack Editor

Our view at Stack - Capsule CRM simplifies customer relationship management, streamlines sales processes, and saves time. Features include contact management, customisable sales pipelines, email integration, analytics, and workflow automation. It doesn't provide full email marketing functionality but it does allow you to connect to other tools.

Do you know what your employees are up to? Are they achieving their goals for both the company and their career?

If you need to know for sure what the answer is, performance management could help.

Performance management tools provide valuable insights into employee engagement, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. They can also help to identify areas for improvement and support employee development.

Choosing an effective performance management system is difficult – the right tool can impact your company’s success, and the wrong one can cause frustration.

When each performance management system seems so similar, what should you choose?

We’ll review the top performance management tools and provide practical information on key features, implementation strategies, and benefits.

Organizations use performance management tools to optimize the evaluation of employee performance. These tools often help to clarify and simplify the evaluation process – which can be complex and subjective, particularly in large organizations.

However, even in small organizations, performance management can be challenging because of limited resources, no training, or inconsistent practices.

Performance management tools can help address these challenges by standardizing employee management and supporting effective communication between employees and managers. There are more advantages, and we’ve listed them here:

While performance management tools may add complexity to your HR processes (at least at first), their benefits outweigh any disadvantages: .

• Improved alignment: Individual goals and team objectives can be aligned throughout the review cycle.
• Enhanced productivity: Performance management solutions enable you to identify performance gaps and implement actionable strategies.
• Data-driven decisions: Track performance management data while rewarding top contributors and addressing underperformance.
• Continuous improvement: You can help employees grow by offering clear feedback on strengths and areas for development.
• Increased engagement: Employees can be motivated by recognition of achievements and constructive feedback.

Performance management software helps you monitor individual contributions while supporting company-wide success.

Top performance management software features to look out for

The ideal performance management solution doesn’t exist as a one-size-fits-all package. Instead, it’s a combination of features for your specific needs.

However, you should always keep an eye out for a couple of features:

Goal setting and tracking

Don’t settle for a tool that just tracks goals. Look for one that helps you set and track SMART marketing goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound), KPIs, and OKRs. The best tools will let you customize your metrics to align with your company’s goals.

Continuous feedback and check-ins

Any peformance management tools directly links employees and managers. It provides a platform for ongoing communication, facilitating regular check-ins and real-time employee feedback.

Performance appraisals and reviews

Don’t limit yourself to traditional annual reviews. Any performance management tool offers numerous evaluation methods, including self-assessments and regular performance reports.

You should be able to customize the review cycles (e.g., monthly, quarterly, annual reviews) and choose from various review formats to evaluate employee performance in different ways.

360-degree feedback

Any performance management software tool should gather ongoing feedback from multiple sources to holistically understand employee performance. This involves collecting input from peers, managers, team members, and customers.

Employee development and learning plans

Good performance management tools should help you to create individual development plans for each employee. These plans serve as roadmaps to guide employees toward skill development and career advancement.

For example, look for software that integrates with learning management systems (LMS) to support ongoing learning and development for your team.

Automated notifications and reminders

A performance management system that’s too complex and time-consuming is more of a burden than a benefit. What’s worse than a tool that hinders employee development and engagement instead of improving it?

The system should automatically notify employees about upcoming reviews, check-ins, and goal updates. Keeping everyone on the same page will ensure that deadlines aren’t missed and all tasks are completed.

Integration capabilities

Solid performance management tools integrate easily with other HR and business platforms like:

• HRIS and payroll tools
• communication platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams
• productivity tools like time trackers and project management apps.

These integrations help manage performance efficiently and keep employee data accurate in your company performance reports.

Customizable templates and workflows

Effective performance management systems provide ready-to-use templates for feedback, reviews, development plans, and goal setting, saving time when building your performance management processes from scratch.

Analytics and reporting

One of the critical advantages of performance management tools is the ability to track and review your entire performance management strategy. Reports and dashboards provide insight into KPIs and metrics on an individual and organizational basis.

Compensation tools

The best performance management tools go beyond mere performance evaluations. They provide a powerful link between performance and reward.

Top tools tie performance KPIs to compensation decisions. High performers who consistently meet or exceed goals can be rewarded with salary increases, ensuring your review process recognizes and rewards excellence.

Employee recognition and rewards

Sometimes, a pat on the back does a lot more than money.

While traditional rewards like raises and bonuses are important, they’re not the only way to show appreciation. Performance management tools offer various recognition options to celebrate your team’s achievements.

The rewards can go beyond increased salaries, bonuses, and promotions. You can use other options for recognizing the great work of your team, such as:

In this way, you can strengthen your organization’s culture and improve the quality of your review process – for everyone involved.

User-friendly interface

A performance management tool should be more than just functional – it should be easy to use. Look for software with an intuitive interface that’s easy for everyone in your organization, from managers to HR teams. A user-friendly design can minimize the learning curve, make the tool more accessible, and encourage widespread adoption.

Mobile-friendly

While managers may not conduct reviews on mobile, giving employees access to features like employee engagement surveys on the go increases flexibility and helps them adapt to a changing work environment.

Compliance and security

Ensureyour performance management software complies with relevant regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA. Look for features like secure cloud storage, role-based access, and audit trails to safeguard sensitive employee data.

Employee engagement tools

Don’t limit your performance management tool to just reviews and evaluations. Consider features that improve employee engagement – such as surveys and sentiment analysis. These are all quick ways to make your employees more involved.

No single tool covers every aspect of performance, talent, and employee engagement management. We’ve categorized the best tools based on the most critical performance management features.

Goal setting and tracking tools

These tools help set, track, and manage employee and team goals while ensuring alignment with broader company objectives. Some of the top tools for this include:

Capsule CRM

A full-cycle CRM that helps your sales teams manage all their accounts in one place. With Capsule CRM, you can make their lives easier with tools for outreach, follow-up, closing, and post-sales support. This CRM for HR also provides tools for evaluating your sales reps and their performance in real time. The best part is that Capsule is free to try.

Betterworks

A simple tool for goal setting, tracking, real-time performance management, and setting OKRs and SMART goals. Pricing is available upon request.

Weekdone

An OKR and goal-tracking tool with weekly and monthly check-ins. It offers excellent dashboards for tracking team progress Weekdone’s user-friendly interface and customizable features easily adapt to your team’s requirements. Pricing starts at $108 per month.

Workboard

A strategy execution platform with OKR management, real-time tracking, automated reports, and advanced analytics. Workboard’s robust analytics capabilities provide actionable insights into your team’s performance. Pricing is available upon request.

360-degree feedback tools

360-degree feedback apps gather feedback from multiple sources (peers, supervisors, stakeholders, as well as independent reports) to give a well-rounded view of employee performance.

Best examples of performance management software in this category include:

Qualtrics 360

Qualtrics is a performance management solution for collecting and analyzing 360-degree feedback. It allows you to run employee surveys and question sets and view real-time reports on employee performance reviews. Qualtrics does not have publicly available pricing.

Leapsome

Leapsome is a talent management platform that offers continuous feedback features and learning modules to support employee development. It enables managers to align employee goals with business objectives through ongoing feedback and development tracking. Pricing for Leapsome is available upon request.

Spidergap

Spidergap allows HR teams to run 360-degree feedback cycles, offering customizable surveys and performance reports that help employees clearly understand their strengths and growth areas. It is one of the best and most comprehensive feedback platforms on the market. The price starts at $989 per year.

Employee engagement tools

A good employee engagement tool goes beyond just making your employees happy. Tools help you increase workplace motivation, satisfaction, and commitment – all contributing to positive and productive results.

Workleap Officevibe

Workleap offers weekly pulse surveys, anonymous feedback channels, customizable templates, and in-depth engagement analytics. Workleap Officevibe provides managers with real-time employee engagement data, allowing them to track trends and address engagement gaps. Pricing starts at $3.50 per user per month.

Cultureamp

Cultureamp is another employee experience platform that offers clear insights into employee engagement. Cultureamp offers engagement heatmaps, enabling leaders to pinpoint specific areas of the company needing improvement and take action based on data-driven insights. To get pricing information, contact their sales team.

TINYpulse

TINYpulse allows companies to retain top talent by collecting anonymous feedback and pulse survey insights, helping leaders make timely improvements that resonate with their teams. For pricing information, contact their sales team.

Learning and development tools

Investing in your employees’ growth is an investment in your organization’s future. Learning and development tools (e.g., those with personal development plans) provide the resources and platforms to cultivate talent, enhance skills, and drive innovation.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning empowers employees to develop relevant skills through on-demand courses, allowing managers to set up tailored learning paths that support individual and team objectives.

Prices start at $20 monthly.

Docebo

An AI-powered platform that combines online and offline learning. With Docebo, you can create tailored learning paths based on employee preferences, goals, and roles. As of yet, no pricing information has been released.

Cornerstone OnDemand

Cornerstone OnDemand’s compliance and skill development modules help managers track employee upskilling efforts and maintain regulatory standards. They also integrate with broader HR systems.

Employee performance appraisal tools

Do you want to evaluate your team’s contributions fairly AND systematically? You need employee performance appraisal tools for that.

These tools transform how you measure and value your team’s impact. Employee appraisal tools can provide crystal-clear insights into progress, feedback, and performance goals. No more vague evaluations – just data-backed decisions on raises, promotions, and development.

These tools are excellent choices for employee performance appraisal:

Lattice

Lattice enables organizations to run structured performance review cycles and track individual goals, providing managers with a clear, comprehensive view of team performance.

Feature-based pricing starts at $5 per user per month.

Trakstar

Trakstar streamlines performance evaluations with customizable review templates and automated reminders, helping managers maintain consistent and timely feedback processes.

They can also create personalized appraisal forms and set automated reminders for evaluation. There’s no publicly available pricing, so reach out for a quote.

BambooHR

BambooHR’s integrated performance appraisal tools allow managers to conduct self-assessments, peer reviews, and goal tracking in one platform, simplifying the performance review process. Pricing is available upon request.

Tracking performance doesn’t have to mean more work – performance management tools optimize this process and show employees you’re invested in their growth.

For sales teams, Capsule CRM organizes customer data, letting your team focus on selling instead of wrestling with tools.

Try Capsule free and see the impact on your team’s performance and business success!

If Capsule CRM is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - Capsule CRM simplifies customer relationship management, streamlines sales processes, and saves time. Features include contact management, customisable sales pipelines, email integration, analytics, and workflow automation. It doesn't provide full email marketing functionality but it does allow you to connect to other tools.

Whatever the nature of your business, having a well-defined organizational strategy is essential for long-term success and growth. A market research template is a foundational tool in developing these documents. In this blog post, we’ll help you understand how to create your organizational strategy.

Whether you’re navigating competitive markets or looking to optimize internal processes, the right strategy provides a clear roadmap for achieving your goals. At its core, an organizational strategy is about making deliberate choices to position your business effectively. It’s not just about setting goals—it’s about aligning those goals with actionable plans that drive performance and productivity.

From understanding your current business situation to ensuring that operations and workflows support your vision, crafting a successful strategy requires careful consideration and execution.

Understanding organizational strategies

Every successful business has a clear organizational strategy that guides its decision-making, resource management and overall performance. These strategies provide a roadmap, helping your business focus on key priorities and allocate resources effectively.

A well-planned market research project can provide the insights needed to develop a strong organizational strategy. Whether it’s improving customer relationships, entering new markets or increasing operational efficiency, a strong strategy ensures that all efforts are moving in the same direction. Without a clearly defined plan, you risk fragmented goals, and an inability to respond to market changes or customer needs.

Defining organizational strategies

At the heart of any organizational strategy are several key components that act as building blocks for success: mission, vision, goals and execution plans. These elements provide the foundation allowing businesses to plan their future and ensure that every decision aligns with their overarching objectives.

• Mission: A company’s mission defines its core purpose and what it aims to achieve in the long run. This guides business decisions but also how a company interacts with customers, stakeholders and employees
• Vision: The vision outlines where the business wants to be long term. It’s a forward-looking statement that inspires growth and sets a clear direction for the company’s evolution
• Goals: Goals are specific, measurable objectives that help a company move toward its vision. Setting clear goals is essential because it provides tangible benchmarks that the business can track and evaluate
• Execution plans: Once goals are set, execution plans lay out the actionable steps that need to be taken. These plans detail the resources, timelines and actions required to bring the strategy to life.

Together, these components will help your business define its path forward, ensuring every initiative and decision contributes to a unified, long-term vision. When you have clear mission and vision statements, and match them to well-structured goals and actionable plans, you improve your ability to manage resources and stay focused on achieving strategic objectives.

Starting with market research

Before building your organizational strategy, completing market research is a crucial step in understanding the needs and preferences of your target audience. By conducting thorough market research, you can gain valuable insights into your market, helping your team to develop effective strategy and stay competitive.

What is market research?

Definition of market research

Market research is the process of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data about a target market, competitors, and customers to inform business decisions and drive growth. It involves collecting and analyzing data from various sources, including customers, competitors, and market trends, to gain insights into the market and identify growth opportunities. By understanding your target market, you can tailor your strategies to meet their needs and stay ahead of the competition.

Importance and benefits of market research

Market research is essential for businesses to make informed decisions and stay competitive. It provides valuable insights into customer needs, preferences, and behaviors, which can be used to develop effective marketing strategies, improve products and services, and increase customer satisfaction. Additionally, market research helps businesses identify market trends, opportunities, and threats, allowing them to develop strategies to address these factors proactively. By conducting market research, you can reduce the risk of launching new products or services and ensure that your business remains relevant and competitive.

Primary vs. Secondary Research

Primary research involves collecting original data directly from sources through methods such as surveys, focus groups, and interviews. This type of research provides firsthand information about the market and customers, offering specific insights that are not available through secondary research. For example, conducting a market survey can help you understand customer preferences and behaviors in detail.

Secondary research, on the other hand, involves analyzing existing data from sources such as books, articles, and online databases. This type of research is often used to gather general information about the market and customers, and to identify trends and patterns. Secondary market research can be a cost-effective way to gain a broad understanding of the market landscape and inform your strategic decisions.

Why conduct market research?

Market research is the process of collecting and analyzing data about a target market, including demographics, needs, preferences, and behaviors. Doing market research is essential for businesses to make informed decisions and stay competitive.

It helps to identify market trends, understand customer needs, identify new business opportunities and reduce the risk of launching a new product or service.

Steps to build your own organizational strategies

Building an effective organizational strategy requires careful planning and a clear understanding of both your business environment and long-term goals. In this section, we’ll walk through a step-by-step guide to creating strategies that’ll help your organization thrive.

Step 1: Analyzing your business environment and conducting market research

Before creating any strategy, it’s essential to understand the industry in which your business operates. Conducting a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) is one of the most effective ways to gain this understanding. By identifying internal strengths and weaknesses, along with external opportunities and threats, you can identify where you stand and what factors may affect your strategic choices.

In addition to a SWOT analysis, using customer and market data is key to refining your strategic vision. This data helps you understand customer behavior, preferences and market trends, all of which can inform your strategy. Tools like Capsule CRM make this process easier by centralizing and analyzing customer data, giving you valuable insights into your strengths and opportunities, and highlighting areas for improvement. By using data-driven insights, your strategy becomes more focused and aligned with real-world market dynamics.

Step 2: Defining clear business goals

Once you understand the market you’re operating in the next step is to define clear business goals. These goals should support your overall vision and be designed to push the organization forward in measurable and achievable ways. The SMART framework—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound—is a very effective tool for setting business objectives.

Using the SMART framework helps ensure that your goals are unambiguous and actionable. For example, instead of stating a vague goal like “increase revenue,” a SMART goal would be, “Increase revenue by 10% over the next year by launching a new product line.” This level of specificity allows your organization to focus on tangible outcomes.

Step 3: Identifying customer-centric strategies

One of the most important aspects of any successful organizational strategy is placing the customer at the center. A customer-centric strategy focuses on building and nurturing relationships with your clients, offering them value at every touchpoint.

To create customer-centric strategies, you need to understand your customers deeply. This involves analyzing customer data, feedback and behavior to anticipate their needs and exceed their expectations. CRM systems help you manage and nurture your customer relationships by organizing customer data in a way that is accessible and actionable. You can track interactions, manage leads, and ensure every strategy is designed with the customer in mind. Customer-centric strategies not only enhance satisfaction, but also, help build loyalty and retention, which are crucial for sustained growth.

Step 4: Monitoring progress and adapting

Even the best organizational strategies need continuous monitoring and adaptation to remain effective. Markets change, customer needs evolve and internal challenges can arise. That’s why businesses need to track the progress of their strategies regularly and be ready to adjust when necessary.

Setting up key performance indicators (KPIs) is one way to monitor how well your strategy is performing. These KPIs should be directly tied to your strategic goals and offer a clear success measure. Whether it’s customer acquisition, revenue growth, or operational efficiency, tracking these metrics will help you identify areas for improvement.

Common pitfalls to avoid in strategy development

Developing an effective organizational strategy is invaluable for long-term success, but many businesses make common mistakes that can derail even the best-laid plans. Recognizing these pitfalls and taking steps to avoid them is vital for ensuring that your strategy remains actionable and successful. Below are two key areas where businesses often go wrong and how they can be corrected.

Ignoring key qualitative data in strategic decisions

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make when developing strategies is ignoring key data. Failing to leverage available data when making strategic decisions can result in a plan that doesn’t correspond with market realities or customer needs.

A well-structured research project can provide the necessary data for informed strategic decisions. Without a data-driven approach, you may set goals that are unrealistic or misaligned with the actual demands of your customer base.

For example, understanding customer behavior, market trends and operational performance is key when shaping organizational strategies. Customer relationship management tools provide you with access to detailed customer data, making it easier to analyze trends, identify patterns and tailor strategies accordingly. This reduces the risk of making decisions based on assumptions rather than facts.

To avoid this pitfall, make data collection and analysis a priority in every stage of strategy development. Incorporate customer insights, operational data and market research to ensure your strategies are grounded in reality and poised for success.

Misalignment between strategy and execution

Another common pitfall is the disconnect between strategy and execution. Even the most well-developed strategy will fail if it isn’t properly executed. Often, businesses focus too heavily on creating the perfect strategic plan but don’t pay enough attention to how that plan will be implemented in day-to-day operations. This misalignment can lead to confusion, inefficiencies and missed opportunities.

To avoid this, it’s essential to develop processes and operations in line with strategic goals. Every department should understand how their specific tasks contribute to the overall organizational strategy. Additionally, ensuring that teams have the right tools to execute the strategy is crucial. By automating repetitive tasks and organizing workflows, you can focus your efforts on strategic priorities rather than getting bogged down by operational inefficiencies.

Ultimately, the key to success is ensuring the entire organization is working toward the same goals. Effective communication, regular monitoring and ongoing adjustments are needed to ensure that strategy and execution remain aligned.

Measuring your organizational strategy’s success

By evaluating how well a strategy is working, you can determine whether you’re meeting your goals or need to adjust your approach. Consistently tracking performance ensures that the strategy remains effective over time and continues to support growth.

Key metrics to track for strategy success

The metrics below provide a clear view of how well the strategy is being executed and its impact on the organization.

• Customer satisfaction: This KPI is crucial, especially for businesses focused on enhancing customer relationships. High satisfaction levels indicate that customer-centric strategies are working as intended
• Revenue growth: Measuring revenue over time helps determine whether the company’s financial goals are being met. A steady increase in revenue is a clear indicator that the strategy is driving growth
• Operational efficiency: Tracking efficiency within internal processes helps assess whether the strategy is optimizing workflows and reducing bottlenecks. Improved operational efficiency often leads to lower costs and higher productivity
• Employee engagement: This metric gauges how motivated and committed employees are to the organization’s goals. High engagement levels often indicate that the strategy is successfully meshing with internal culture, promoting productivity and reducing turnover. Engaged employees are more likely to contribute positively to strategic objectives.
• Market share: Monitoring market share provides insight into the company’s competitive position. An increase in market share indicates that the strategy is helping the business outperform competitors and capture a larger portion of the market, demonstrating its effectiveness in fuelling growth and expansion.

Using analytics for continuous improvement

While tracking KPIs is important, you should also use analytics to continuously refine your strategies. Analyzing performance data over time provides insights into what’s working and what’s not, allowing businesses to pivot when necessary. CRM tools’ reporting features offer valuable analytics that help you keep a close eye on performance. These reports can reveal trends in customer behavior, sales patterns and team productivity, offering a comprehensive view of how the strategy is performing.

By regularly reviewing these reports, you can make data-driven adjustments to improve your strategies. Whether it’s tweaking a marketing campaign, reallocating resources, or refining customer service processes, analytics ensure your strategy evolves to meet changing conditions and opportunities.

The future of organizational strategies and technology

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in shaping how businesses approach strategy development and execution. From artificial intelligence to automation, the future of organizational strategies will be defined by how well companies integrate these tools to stay competitive, agile, and efficient.

The role of AI and automation in strategy execution

Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are set to revolutionize how businesses execute their strategies. AI tools can analyze vast amounts of data quickly, identifying trends and patterns that would otherwise go unnoticed. This allows you to make data-led decisions in real-time, adjusting your strategies to capitalize on opportunities or mitigate risks.

In strategy execution, AI-powered tools can optimize everything from marketing campaigns to supply chain management, ensuring that every aspect of the business is aligned with strategic goals. As AI and automation technologies continue to advance, businesses that exploit these tools will be better positioned to execute their strategies efficiently and adapt quickly to changing conditions.

Looking toward the next step

Developing an effective organizational strategy is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process that evolves as your business grows and the market shifts. A well-constructed strategy is only valuable when put into action, continuously measured and refined. Now is the time to take the steps outlined here—analyze your environment, define clear goals, align your operations and stay focused on customer needs. These actions will help ensure your business remains competitive and resilient in an ever-changing landscape.

As you move forward, it’s important to remember that flexibility and responsiveness are just as important as having a plan in place. Regularly revisit and adjust your strategies to ensure they continue to meet your goals. Tracking performance with the right metrics will enable you to fine-tune your approach and make data-powered decisions that keep your business on course for long-term success.

If you’re ready to take your organizational strategies to the next level, don’t forget that the right tools can make all the difference. Capsule CRM offers a suite of features that will support your efforts, so sign up for a free trial today.

If Capsule CRM is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

Credit: Original article published here.

Our view at Stack - Capsule CRM simplifies customer relationship management, streamlines sales processes, and saves time. Features include contact management, customisable sales pipelines, email integration, analytics, and workflow automation. It doesn't provide full email marketing functionality but it does allow you to connect to other tools.

Building a website is a great way to get your business the attention you need. Whether you’re showcasing your goods and services, looking to boost your brand presence, or selling online, a website is a great place to start.

You used to need extensive technical knowledge to build a basic website meaning small businesses either had to outsource the process or hire a developer. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. Website builders allow you to create your website without needing external help.

From intuitive features to a user-friendly interface, we’ve collated a list of the best website builders on the market to help you make the right decision.

What makes a good website builder?

As a small business, you have different needs and resources than a larger organization. When considering a website builder you need to prioritize the following elements to ensure you get the right tool for you and your team.

Simple to use

Unlike larger businesses, smaller teams don’t have the budget for a dedicated developer. That’s why you need a website builder that offers a no-code solution to set up and manage your site.

Many website builders have drag-and-drop functionality allowing you to add text, images, and other elements quickly and easily. A good small business website builder should offer a variety of professional templates that you can alter and adjust to suit your brand and industry. This allows you to create a polished and professional look without needing a designer.

Affordability and value for money

As a small business owner, you know what it’s like to work within a tight budget, so the right website builder mustbe cost-effective and great value for money. Look for a site builder that provides essential features like a custom domain or prebuilt templates. While other perks like unlimited storage are great perks they can come at an additional cost.

Many website builders offer tiered pricing so you can find a price that suits your budget and needs. Before choosing a plan consider signing up for a free trial or free plan to help you test the capabilities of different website builders before making a final decision.

E-commerce capabilities

To create an online store you need a business website with e-commerce tools. While most of the best website builders have rudimentary e-commerce functionality, you want to ensure that whatever website builder you choose has a full range of essential e-commerce features. This includes inventory management tools, secure payment processing, and customizable product pages.

More advanced website builders offer additional features like abandoned cart recovery and discount code creation to help improve your store functionality and drive sales. Additionally, many builders now incorporate AI tools that facilitate quick and easy website creation and assist in content generation, making it easier for users with limited technical knowledge to build functional websites. Ensure you have the basic e-commerce tools first before looking for add-ons. The best website builders should support various payment gateways so customers can easily pay using their preferred method.

SEO and marketing tools

A website builder with built-in search engine optimization and marketing tools is essential for any small business selling online via an online store. The key features to look for are the ability to add custom meta tags, adjust URLs, and optimize your images.

The best website builders integrate and support additional marketing tools like email marketing, social media sharing, and blog creation, helping you reach a broader audience. Some builders provide advanced features like dashboard reporting that connect your data from Google Analytics, so you can track your site traffic and use behavior.

Mobile responsiveness

Over 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices, so your website must look and function well on both phones and tablets. When looking for a website builder, choose one that automatically optimizes your site to ensure all visitors have a seamless experience.

Using software that automatically optimizes your site can improve user satisfaction and make it easier for readers to access the information they need. It can also benefit your search engine rankings as Google favors sites that are accessible for mobile devices.

Customer support

You’ll likely run into a few problems when building and managing your website. The best website builder for small businesses should provide comprehensive support through multiple channels like live chat, email, or phone. This level of reassurance is great, especially in the early stages of website building.

Many website builders provide comprehensive knowledge bases that include tutorials and community forums. These allow you to troubleshoot common issues without waiting for guidance from a customer support team.

Scalability and integrations

As your business grows, your website should grow with it. Whether it’s adding more pages or needing unlimited storage, choosing a website builder with multiple tiers can help you grow your functionality.

A good website builder should integrate with other essential tools to your day-to-day operations. Check if your builders can work alongside third-party apps like CRM software, booking systems, or accounting and reporting tools. This ensures that everything runs seamlessly and limits the amount of intervention needed by you or your staff.

Security and reliability

Data security on your site is an essential non-negotiable, especially if you’re an online store. Look for a website builder that offers SSL certificates for secure browsing and also promises regular backups and robust hosting to prevent downtime.

These security features help protect your business data and customer information. These layers of security create trust and credibility in your brand helping as customers will feel you’re site is safe and secure.

The best website builders for small businesses

WordPress

Functionality and features

WordPress is a highly customizable website builder with over 30,000 themes and 70,000 plugins, allowing users to create anything from a simple blog to a complex e-commerce store. As an open-source platform, it offers complete control over website functionality, with extensive plugins for SEO, social media integration, and e-commerce.

Cost

While the core WordPress software is free, users must pay for hosting and premium plugins or themes. Hosting starts as low as $3.87 per month, making it a cost-effective solution, especially for small businesses and startups. With flexible, tiered pricing, users pay only for the specific features they need—ideal for those on a budget looking for a functional website.

Longevity

As the world’s most popular website builder (powering 43.2% of all websites), WordPress receives regular updates to keep it secure and compatible with changing tech standards, allowing it to handle high traffic. With thousands of plugins, WordPress can scale easily alongside a growing business. Its popularity also means users benefit from a vast support community and knowledge base, with abundant tutorials, forums, and troubleshooting resources readily available.

Complexity to Implement

Implementing a WordPress site varies in complexity based on your specific customization needs. Basic setups with simple themes are beginner-friendly, but sites with advanced customizations, complex plugins, and e-commerce features require more technical knowledge.

While WordPress provides a large knowledge base and community support, navigating these resources may take some initial effort. However, over time, these knowledge bases can be essential for addressing technical challenges and developing your platform knowledge.

Pros

1. High customizability – WordPress provides tens of thousands of themes and plugins making it suitable for a range of purposes.
2. Affordable and scalable – Its free core software has enough tools to help you get started and premium add-ons start at a low price.
3. Large support community – They have an active community of users who provide each other with great resources and guidance.

Cons

1. Can be complex for beginners – Complex sites require some technical expertise to get up and running, especially if you need multiple plugins.
2. Require third-party plugins – While plugins enhance functionality, they may require frequent updates and the tools could conflict with each other.
3. Security vulnerabilities – The open-source design and popularity of WordPress make it a target for hackers; users need to stay updated and apply security plugins.

Score: 9/10 Great all-round solution for anyone wanting to build a simple functioning site quickly and cheaply.

Wix

Functionality and features

The intuitive drag-and-drop builder, allows users to create professional, customized websites without complex technical skills. With hundreds of industry-specific templates, Wix makes it easy to build a branded website. The platform provides essential tools for small businesses, including SEO, e-commerce, appointment booking, and blogging.

Its app market offers add-ons like payment processing, email marketing, and CRM integrations, enabling businesses to expand functionality as they grow. Wix also includes mobile optimization and reliable hosting, ensuring a seamless experience for users and their audiences.

Cost

Wix offers a range of pricing plans to fit different business needs. The basic plan starts at $11.60 per month, providing hosting for 2GB of data and access for 2 users, while the Business Elite plan offers unlimited storage and up to 15 users for $150.40 per month. These flexible options make Wix an affordable choice for small businesses, balancing simplicity and essential features without high upfront costs.

Longevity

Wix can scale alongside your business due to its ability to scale through add-ons and integrations. Its app market and ongoing updates allow businesses to easily enhance functionality over time, making Wix adaptable as business needs evolve. The platform’s reliable hosting and mobile optimization also help ensure Wix websites are up-to-date with the latest web trends.

Complexity to implement

The platform is designed to be beginner-friendly, requiring no coding skills. This simplicity allows users to quickly set up a site that suits their needs. For more advanced needs, Wix’s app market offers various add-ons that integrate well, though adding complex features may still require a learning curve. Overall, the platform’s ease of use and available support make it accessible for users with little to no technical expertise.

Pros of Wix:

1. Beginner-friendly – Wix’s intuitive features allow users to create professional websites without technical skills.
2. Scalable and flexible – The platform’s app market and ongoing updates allow businesses to scale easily, adding features like payment processing, CRM, and e-commerce tools.
3. Tiered pricing – With flexible pricing plans, Wix offers a range of options with essential tools, starting from just $11.60 per month.

Cons of Wix:

1. Limited storage on lower plans – The most affordable plan offers just 2MB of data and access for only 2 users, which may not be sufficient.
2. Can be a learning curve – While the platform is beginner-friendly, integrating complex features and add-ons may require some technical knowledge.
3. Expensive advanced plans – The most advanced plan costs $153.37 per month, which may be costly for some small businesses.

Score: 7/10

Wix is ideal for anyone who wants to expand their current site and can use the unlimited storage and advanced feature options.

Squarespace

Functionality and Features

Squarespace offers sleek, professional templates that are easy to customize, making it ideal for small businesses looking to create visually appealing websites with minimal technical skills. It includes built-in SEO tools, blogging capabilities, and appointment scheduling tools, along with an all-in-one service that provides hosting, domain registration, and SSL security.

Squarespace also integrates with analytics, social media, and email marketing tools to streamline business operations. Reliable customer support is available to help businesses manage and grow their online presence.

Cost

Squarespace offers several pricing plans, with the cheapest starting at $20.63 per month. Each tier includes hosting, free domain registration and SSL security and users can save up to 25% by paying annually. While more expensive than other website builders, Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial, allowing users to explore advanced features before committing.

Longevity

Squarespace’s all-in-one approach and scalability make it a strong choice for long-term growth. It seamlessly integrates with tools like Google Analytics and email marketing platforms, allowing it to support businesses as they expand. The platform’s ease of use and customer support help businesses maintain and improve their online presence.

Complexity to implement

Squarespace is beginner-friendly, with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for quick setup. However, as businesses grow and require more advanced features, there may be a learning curve, especially when customizing templates or integrating third-party tools.

Pros:

• Professional design templates – Squarespace offers sleek, professional templates that are easy to customize for businesses looking for a high-quality website.
• All-in-one service – The platform includes hosting, domain registration, and SSL security, simplifying the website setup and management process.
• Good customer support – Reliable support ensures businesses can manage and scale their online presence with consistent support.

Cons:

• Higher cost – Squarespace tends to be more expensive compared to other website builders, especially for advanced features and plans.
• Limited customization – While the platform is easy to use, advanced customizations are limited compared to other platforms
• Complex features – Additional features can be complex to implement, presenting a steep learning curve for anyone who isn’t tech-savvy.

Score: 8/10

A good choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one platform and ready to make an annual commitment to a website-building platform.

Shopify

Functionality and features

Shopify’s website builder is a no-code solution specifically designed to create comprehensive e-commerce sites. It provides small business owners with the tools they need to manage inventory, process payments and customize visuals.

Shopify has a variety of templates to choose from, drag-and-drop editing tools and an integrated checkout system making it easy to set up your own online store.

It offers built-in payment processing tools and its extensive app market lets you add social media, email marketing, and SEO tools helping you to reach a wider audience.

Their 24/7 customer support also ensures you have the resources you need if you have issues.

Cost

Shopify offers multiple pricing plans based on the features you need. Starting at $32.33 a month, with an additional discount for annual plans, the basic package includes web hosting, payment processing, product and informational pages, and a blog section.

More advanced plans range from $333.80 and upwards depending on your specific needs making it one of the more expensive website builders.

However, they offer a free trial and their extensive e-commerce functionalities are worthwhile for anyone who conducts most of their business through their online store.

Longevity

Shopify is designed to support long-term growth, with scalable tools and a vast app market that allows businesses to expand as needed. Its e-commerce-focused features like inventory management, payment processing, and marketing integrations ensure that businesses can keep up with growth and evolving online selling needs. Shopify’s continuous updates and robust support infrastructure also make it a reliable choice for long-term use.

Complexity to implement

Shopify is easy for beginning focused on an e-commerce solution. The intuitive editor and built-in templates help simplify the setup process, but more advanced features may need more technical skills to implement. Shopify’s support resources help bridge this knowledge gap but it could take time to fully master it.

Pros:

• E-commerce focused – Shopify is specifically designed to help users create and manage online stores and has good tools for product management, payment processing, and inventory.
• Extensive app market – Shopify offers a wide range of apps to improve functionality like customer service, SEO, and marketing integrations.
• 24/7 customer support – Customer support is always available to provide your business with the help and infrastructure it needs to succeed.

Cons:

• Pricier option – Shopify plans start at $32.22 per month, making it one of the more expensive website builders.
• Complex advanced features – While the basic setup is easy, advanced customizations and integrations may require additional learning or technical expertise.
• Transaction fees – Shopify charges transaction fees which can add to the overall cost of running a store.

Score: 7/10

If your business primarily sells online and you’re looking for e-commerce functionalities then Shopify may be for you, but be aware of hidden transactional costs and hidden fees.

Web.com

Functionality and features

Web.com is a website builder and digital marketing service designed for small businesses. It offers AI-powered website building, customizable templates, logo design tools, free domain registration, and e-commerce features.

The platform is user-friendly, requiring no coding expertise, and includes hosting services along with marketing features like SEO and social media management tools to help businesses drive traffic.

In-house tech support is available for setup, troubleshooting, and customer assistance.

Cost

Web.com offers pricing plans ranging from $19.99 to $34.99 per month, with discounts for annual subscriptions. Despite its affordable pricing, each plan includes one free hour of expert design support, typically valued at $99, making it a cost-effective option for businesses wanting to get started quickly.

Longevity

The website builder can support long-term growth as it has essential tools for expanding your online presence. E-commerce and integrated marketing features let you reach a broader audience and the user-friendly interface helps you make changes to your site quickly.

The built-in SEO and social media management tools make it a good option for businesses seeking to improve their visibility and expand their digital footprint.

Complexity to implement

As a beginner-friendly solution, the easy-to-use interface requires no coding expertise. Web.com has many customizable templates, making it easy to build a professional-looking website quickly and efficiently.

Users seeking more advanced customizations or features might struggle to implement them without advanced web skills.

However, Web.com provides helpful in-house tech support to assist with setup and troubleshooting, making it accessible for users at all technical levels.

Pros:

• User-friendly – Web.com’s simple interface and customizable templates are great for beginners who lack coding skills.
• Affordable – Web.com offers budget-friendly pricing, making it an accessible option for small businesses looking to get online quickly.
• Integrated marketing features – Built-in SEO and social media management tools help businesses expand their reach and visibility online.

Cons:

• Limited customization – While Web.com is easy to use, offers fewer advanced customization options than other website builders.
• Basic e-commerce features – Web.com has less advanced e-commerce features compared to Shopify, meaning isn’t ideal for larger more complex online stores.
• Lack of additional plug-ins– Web.com is best suited for small businesses as it lacks the scalability needed by larger businesses with complex needs.

Score: 6/10

Affordable and user-friendly but limited plugins and limited customization options hamper Web.com’s scalability.

SpreadSimple

Functionality and features

SpreadSimple website builder helps small businesses to create websites directly from Google Sheets.

Users can design and manage their websites by altering the data in their sheets removing the need for coding or technical expertise.

It’s ideal for businesses looking to showcase a large product catalog, manage their inventory, and create new pages quickly and easily.

The platform includes features like search, sorting, and filtering as well as e-commerce tools like checkout and order forms making it a good option for online sellers.

It also offers third-party integrations with CRM systems and Google Analytics helping users to understand and streamline their customer data management.

Cost

SpreadSimple offers a cost-effective solution, with its Starter plan priced at just $17.90, and additional discounts available for annual subscriptions.

By integrating with free tools like Google Sheets, SpreadSimple minimizes setup and ongoing management costs, eliminating the need for expensive third-party apps and making it an affordable option for small businesses.

For more advanced features like payment options, customer accounts, extensions, and add-ons, you must upgrade to the pricier tiers that may cost up to $30 per month.

Longevity

SpreadSimple’s longevity is dependent on its integration with Google Sheets. As long as businesses continue using Google Sheets for data management, SpreadSimple offers a sustainable and adaptable platform.

However, for businesses with more complex needs, additional customizations might eventually be needed to keep up with growth.

Complexity to implement

SpreadSimple is designed to be user-friendly, making it an ideal choice for businesses looking for a straightforward website builder.

The intuitive interface allows non-technical users to create and maintain their site via Google Sheets but this process makes it tricky to implement more advanced customizations. If you’re interested in integrating with third-party tools you may need a more complex system.

Pros:

• No coding required – The platform is designed for non-technical users, allowing businesses to build and update websites easily through Google Sheets.
• Cost-effective – SpreadSimple can solve many issues usually fixed by a web developer, helping reduce overall website costs.
• Real-time updates – Websites can be updated instantly by editing your linked Google Sheets, simplifying product and inventory management.

Cons:

• Limited customization – While suitable for simple websites, SpreadSimple can’t create highly customized sites.
• Dependent on Google Sheets – SpreadSimple relies heavily on Google Sheets, which is limiting for businesses that require more robust database management.
• Scalability concerns – While great for small businesses, it may not scale well for larger companies with more complex needs.

Score: 5/10

Ideal for solopreneurs with little to no technical skills. But as your business grows you may begin to struggle with limited features.

Hostinger

Functionality and features

Hostinger is a budget-friendly web hosting provider known for its reliable performance and essential security features. The platform includes a simple-to-use control panel, called the hPanel, which makes it easy for non-technical users to manage website features.

Hostinger also offers one-click installs for popular CMS platforms and integration with Google Analytics for tracking site performance.

Additionally, Hostinger provides high uptime, fast loading speeds, global data centers, and supports e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce, making it a practical choice for businesses looking to scale their online presence.

Cost

Hostinger offers competitive pricing, with its premium plan starting at $11.99 per month, which includes 100GB of SSD storage, a free domain, and weekly backups. The higher-tier plan, priced at $24.99 a month, provides 200GB of storage, daily backups, and a dedicated IP address. They also offer additional discounts for annual subscriptions.

Longevity

Hostinger’s scalable hosting plans and wide range of features make it a strong choice for businesses seeking long-term growth. The platform’s robust uptime, fast loading speeds, and 24/7 live chat support ensure ongoing performance and support as your business grows. With the flexibility to accommodate e-commerce platforms, Hostinger is well-suited for small businesses that want to steadily grow.

Complexity to implement

Hostinger is designed to be user-friendly, and its built-in tools help simplify website management. Its one-click installs and easy integrations make setup straightforward, even for beginners.

However, advanced features may still take time to understand, especially if you’re unfamiliar with hosting management. 24/7 support is available to assist users with more complex tasks but priority is given to those on higher plans.

Pros:

• Generous storage on basic plans – Hostinger’s basic plan offers 100GB of SSD storage, which is more storage than many competitors’ basic plans.
• User-friendly interface – The intuitive hPanel simplifies website management, making it more accessible for non-technical users.
• Reliable performance – Hostinger has high uptime, fast loading speeds, and 24/7 live chat support, ensuring site reliability.

Cons:

• Priority support on higher plans only – Priority support is only available on the higher-priced plans, which may be a drawback for businesses on basic plans when you need immediate assistance.
• Learning curve for advanced features – Their built-in features like the hPanel may take some time to master, especially if you’re a beginner.
• Extra cost for daily backups – Only the top package receives daily backups. Businesses needing them more than once a week must subscribe to a pricier package.

Score: 7/10

Hostinger is budget-friendly and simple to use with a reliable performance record. However, it doesn’t have as comprehensive customer support compared to other solutions on this list.

GoDaddy’s Website Builder

Functionality and Features

GoDaddy’s website builder provides a streamlined way for small businesses to create and manage their sites. The drag-and-drop editor enables users without technical expertise to design professional-looking websites.

Integrated with GoDaddy’s domain and hosting services, it centralizes all website setup and maintenance. The builder also includes marketing tools like SEO, email marketing, and social media integration to help businesses track engagement and reach their audience.

For e-commerce, GoDaddy provides tools for online store management, including inventory, payment processing, and shipping.

Cost

GoDaddy’s pricing depends on your specific site needs. Their cheapest option starts at $10.30 a month making it one of the cheapest options available. It allows you to connect a custom domain, use its content and design tools, and helps you to connect unlimited social media platforms.

To access their e-commerce tools you may need to upgrade to their more advanced packages, however, these are still very affordable with their most expensive option starting at $18.03.

Longevity

GoDaddy is a well-established name in the web hosting and domain industry, giving it credibility that lends to its longevity and reliability as a website builder. The platform is regularly updated to meet current web standards and introduce new features, ensuring long-term compatibility and support for users.

Complexity to implement

Designed to be highly accessible, GoDaddy’s website builder features a drag-and-drop interface that makes it user-friendly, especially for beginners.

Integration with GoDaddy’s domain and hosting services streamlines setup for those already using GoDaddy.

While most aspects of the builder are straightforward, users who are new to e-commerce might experience a slight learning curve when setting up online store functionalities.

Pros

• Easy to use: The drag-and-drop interface is ideal for beginners with no coding skills.
• All-in-one solution: Combines website building, domain management, and hosting, simplifying management for small business owners.
• Comprehensive support: 24/7 customer support assists whenever needed.

Cons

• Limited customization: Design customization options can be limited compared to other advanced platforms.
• May have to upgrade: Some advanced features, like full e-commerce capabilities, require higher-cost premium plans.
• Dependence on GoDaddy systems: Users may feel locked into GoDaddy services for hosting and domain management.

Score: 7/10

GoDaddy is a great option for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution. However, anyone seeking advanced features, especially concerning e-commerce may find the platform limiting.

Strikingly

Functionality and features

Strikingly is built for small businesses that need a quick, professional online presence. It provides a simple, intuitive interface, enabling users to build websites without coding knowledge.

Strikingly offers a selection of customizable, professionally designed templates that look polished on mobile and desktop devices.

Key features include built-in SEO tools, social media integration, and analytics, allowing businesses to enhance visibility and track performance.

Basic e-commerce functionality supports online product sales, making it ideal for smaller stores or businesses with straightforward e-commerce needs.

Cost

Strikingly’s basic plan is extremely affordable, costing only $8 per month (billed annually). While you receive a free domain for the first year you’re limited when considering storage with only 1GB of per site and 50GB bandwidth.

The VIP option is pricier at $49 a month but it is much better suited for larger businesses. With 100GB of storage, unlimited bandwidth, and priority customer support this is a better option for businesses with larger and more complex sites.

Longevity

Strikingly is a growing platform with a reputation for simplicity and reliability. The platform receives regular updates to keep pace with current web standards and add features, supporting long-term usability for small businesses.

Complexity to implement

Strikingly is designed to be extremely user-friendly, with simple features that make things easy for non-technical users. Most businesses can launch a basic website in minutes, making it an excellent option for rapid deployment.

While the platform’s eCommerce options are intuitive, they may not be as advanced as those offered by other platforms, making it best suited for smaller or simpler online stores.

Pros

• User-friendly interface: Strikingly’s intuitive design enables non-technical users to quickly build a professional website without coding knowledge.
• Affordable pricing: The basic plan is budget-friendly at $8 per month, providing small businesses with an affordable website-building solution.
• Mobile-responsive templates: Offers professionally designed, customizable templates that look polished on both mobile and desktop devices.

Cons

• Limited storage on basic plan: The basic plan only offers 1GB storage and 50GB bandwidth, which may restrict growing businesses with higher storage needs.
• Simple eCommerce eatures: While suitable for small stores, Strikingly’s eCommerce functionality lacks advanced features for more complex online shops.

Limited customization options: While Strikingly offers customizable templates, the level of customization is more restricted compared to other platforms, which may limit unique branding or design needs for some businesses.

Score: 6/10

Speed and price are big selling points here, but the limited e-commerce features will make things difficult for any business looking to grow or expand.

Now, pick the website builder for your small business

Choosing the right website builder is one of the first steps toward establishing a professional online presence that supports business growth. With easy-to-use design tools, SEO features, and integrated e-commerce options, these top website builders offer everything a small business needs to create a polished, accessible website that reaches customers and drives sales.

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Credit: Original article published here.