An estimated two-thirds of global web traffic comes from mobile devices. That’s whopping, considering that mobile browsing was not even in the fray ten years back! Then, there’s another staggering fact – two-thirds of the mobile OS market share is captured by Android.
It hardly needs any underscoring, then, that web entrepreneurs and adventurists like you need a website that loads and works well on mobile devices. Moreover, you’d ideally want to preview and update your website using your own Android phone. Basically, you need the ability to manage your website’s looks, form, and function even when you are on the move, without a desktop or laptop. This is doable through a solid website builder app for Android phones.
Choosing Best Android Website Builder App
In this guide, we’ll tell you how you can choose the perfect website builder app, to create a stunning, stylish, responsive, and content rich website.
1. Look for Easy And Intuitive Website Editing
Let’s face it; website developers and designers prefer a desktop/laptop for creating new websites. For the ultra-busy web entrepreneurs, though, Android website builder apps are godsend, because they allow users to create good-looking websites on the move.
Look for a website builder Android app that offers you a wide range of mobile responsive templates, segregated across categories such as blogs, e-stores, fashion, sports, news, etc. Secondly, the Android app itself must be easy to use, and must present the website builder/editor interface in a user-friendly manner. Also, make sure that the app version of the website builder lets you customize website templates easily.
Because you will be working on a relatively small screen (5 to 7 inches diagonally), the interface becomes important. Broad buttons, pinch zoom, etc. become superb navigation aids that make it easier for users to leverage the app version of the builder to create new web pages. Thankfully, you’ll find that most of the top 10 Android apps for website building offer impressive, user friendly, and intuitive user interfaces.
You get either drag-and-drop website editors (such as Weebly’s Android app) or section editors in mobile apps. On a desktop, drag-and-drop is by far the most convenient option for website building. On a small mobile screen, however, it can be an inconvenient to preview a large portion of the webpage on a single screen. Because of, several Android website builders adopt a section editor approach, where you can edit the content on specific sections of web pages per screen (for instance, Impress.ly). Choose wisely.
2. Check Notifications/Dashboard for Management
For users looking to manage their websites on the move, Android website builders such as GoDaddy website builder app work wonders. Right from purchasing a domain to setting up a website, and then managing it via intuitive dashboards – these builders help you do it.
Here are some examples of the kind of website management activities you’d want to be able to undertake on your Android smartphone.
- Getting updates of site activity such as new orders, quotations, bookings, etc.
- Answering queries posted by your website visitors/Responding to blog comments/Moderating blog comments, etc.
- Making social media updates for your website’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts via the app (for instance, the Wix Android app lets you do this)
- Get a calendar view of all the bookings made by clients (for service businesses), so that you can plan resourcing accordingly
- Get basic reports to develop insights about website traffic, ecommerce activity, etc.
3. Seek Engagement Features
A website builder Android app can speed track your success in engaging your website audiences immensely. Most of these apps allow you to start discussion pages. If your website has an integrated forum or discussion board, your Android app will let you moderate and add content on the move. Most importantly, you get the ability to chat with any of your website users in real time, right from your app interface. The Wix website builder app even lets you create events, manage invitations, let people RSVP or buy tickets, broadcast info to people from your contact list, etc. This lets you be available for your viewers and customers even when you’re not near your workstation or laptop.
4. Experiment with Online Store Management
If your website is also equipped with ecommerce capabilities, you already know the importance of quick actions. In fact, Android website builders offer the maximum benefits for ecommerce. The key capabilities you want to look for in a mobile website builder app are:
- Adding new product pages on the move, simply by keying in product attributes and pricing data on a mobile-friendly form, and uploading images clicked from your phone/or from the photo gallery (Wix Android app does this amazingly well).
- Sending out order confirmations, delivery notes, and invoices from the mobile app.
- Processing and fulfilling orders, checking and updating inventory, receiving order notifications and claims/refund requests.
- Viewing and editing promotional artifacts, such as coupons and deal codes.
Weebly and Wix are the market leaders when it comes to e-commerce capabilities delivered via their respective Android apps.
5. Look for Advanced Blogging Features
Engaging your website visitors and subscribers with valuable content is anyways difficult. You don’t want your Android website builder to create any roadblocks. Look for an app that lets you easily add blog pages to your website. Blogs require a lot more than mere text content, which you can copy and paste from a native Android word editor app (or type directly into the website builder app’s blog creator interface). Apart from this, you need to be able to upload images from your phone’s gallery, add colors and backgrounds, and experiment with visual effects to build your blog. Wix, Weebly, Jimdo – all offer exciting blogging capabilities with their Android apps.
Wrapping it Up
Apart from the key capabilities we’ve covered till now, look for the following options in an Android website builder:
- The ability to sync the changes done on the mobile device directly to the desktop version of the website
- The app should allow you to view and manage all website built using the website builder
- Look for quick support options via the app menu, such as instant chat with a support person, touch to call customer care, and the option to raise service tickets.
There you have it – all the basics you need to check before you pay for a long-term subscription for an Android mobile website builder.
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