Web Design & Dev
Designing and building a website is often a costly and time-consuming process, frequently taking months to complete. This is due to the extensive work that goes into the endeavour. From organizing the information architecture, writing the content, designing the look and feel of the site, actually coding it into existence, all the way to ensuring it’s search engine optimized—there’s quite a lot going on to get it across the finish line.
But there are solutions out there that can help speed up the process, and one of them is the concept of no-code websites.
In 2022, no-code development was forecasted to reach a market size of 14 billion dollars. Today, there are more than 440 no-code platforms available for web designers and developers to use. It’s clear that no-code websites have come a long way, and because no-code development platforms offer a faster way to create websites and applications (without requiring programming knowledge), no-code is poised to be the future of software development.
“No-Code” is Often a Misnomer
No-code development doesn’t mean that coding is eliminated altogether for the websites or applications produced using these platforms. No-code solutions still use code to underlie their object-based tools which are visually intuitive in nature.
The best no-code platforms actually use quite a bit of custom code, but remove the need for “hard coding.” Meaning, you no longer need to rely on third-party resources such as web developers to design and build your website. Learning how to code only makes web designers better, enabling them to improve sites using an all-in-one solution.
The Benefits of Going No-Code
1. Faster Website Development
A no-code platform allows businesses to have a functioning website within a matter of minutes. In comparison, coding a simple website from scratch can take upwards of 16 weeks, even with the help of an experienced programmer. This ultimately means you’ll lower costs too.
2. Cross-Device Capabilities
Many no-code platforms enable users to create attractive websites and landing pages that are also mobile-optimized. Some platforms even allow users to preview the website’s mobile counterpart, straight from the desktop. In comparison, a website coded from scratch would require added steps for it to be mobile-optimized.
3. Wide-Scale Empowerment
No-code websites enable non-technical creators to build websites. Anyone from small business owners, to solopreneurs, to in-house graphic designers will be able to get a website up and running within a short span of time. No-code websites with the option to input custom code are a good starting point for anyone looking to expand their skills in website development.
How No-Code Tools Better Enable Your Business
We’re big fans of no-code tools at The Influence Agency. One of our favourite platforms that we utilize on a daily basis is called Webflow; a no-code software for website building and hosting. It offers tools that have enabled our agency to make strides in the web development process, creating better final products for our clients. Some of these tools include:
Membership
Webflow introduced a tool called Memberships, allowing users to gate premium content, offer subscription experiences, and build member portals and databases without the need for third-party tools. As a result, the sites web development companies and agencies like us are able to create are more robust out-of-the-box solutions for clients looking to create more customized membership-based experiences. Without Webflow’s built-in pre-compilers, this would only be achievable with advanced coding knowledge.
Logic
Webflow’s tool, Logic, allows users to create sophisticated automated workflows directly within the platform. For Webflow sites specifically, this makes it easier than ever to gather leads, connect with potential customers, and manage website content. These workflow automations can be created within Webflow’s visual canvas in just three easy steps: choosing a workflow trigger, setting its conditions, and then selecting what action will be performed. This allows users to create simple and complex workflows, with low-code customizations.
SEO
Webflow’s SEO configurations are also incredibly easy to use—which is especially handy for web designers who may not have as much hands-on technical SEO experience. Each page you create includes an audit panel that allows you to identify any potential SEO issues your site may have. From identifying images without alt text to editing schema markup, this eliminates the need to rely on external tools to find them.
Webflow vs. WordPress
With over 100,000 websites developed using Webflow to date, this platform is often compared to WordPress.
Webflow is the better option for website builders who are looking to have all of their website management software in one singular ecosystem. It gives users complete design freedom without having to rely on templates or plugins. And while WordPress is highly customizable through the number of exetensions available, you have to ensure that these plugins are kept up to date to avoid any errors on your site.
Both platforms have their benefits and drawbacks. The needs of your business will determine which one is the best option for you—something your web development agency can consult on.
Full-Code vs. No-Code: What to Consider in 2023
Choosing the best option among full-code, low-code, and no-code depends on the needs of your business—but the choice does not have to be black and white.
As more and more web designers and marketing agencies are adopting no-code platforms into their development processes, you might even have the option to choose both! Starting out with no-code allows you to get a website up and running quickly, with the ability to switch to full-code at a later date in order to extend and customize your website further. This allows you to take advantage of the speed and simplicity of no-code websites while still benefiting from the complexity of full-code.
