The World of the Beginners' Site Building Tools.

In Cyberspace (don't you just love that wonderfully dated term?), some websites are more equal than others. Though the World Wide Web (this is sounding too late-1990s here!) has no equivalent to ZiL Lanes as yet, the sites which stand out are often well optimised, well designed, and have high quality content and images. Paying £10k to get a site built doesn't guarantee top spot on search engines compared with one built for a hundredth of that. Plus it doesn't matter if your site is hard coded or built with a CMS.

For many people completely new to the internet, who wish to get a site up and running in no time, you could:

• Pay someone to build your website: if you wish to do so, why not give us [Contact Media Ventures] a call on 0845 833 3600;
• Set up a blog: Blogger and WordPress.com are popular options though I strongly prefer the latter for its SEO friendliness;
• Sign up with a hosting company which offers a WYSIWYG site builder: for many people, this is a popular option with a range of templates to choose from.

Entry Level Site Builders: Pros and Cons

Advantages

• Often part of a full hosting package, either free or paid for;
• Great if you have no knowledge of HTML and CSS;
• Wide range of designs and graphics to choose from;
• Easy to use control panel, often supports uploaded images and other popular files.

Disadvantages

• Sometimes hosted on a company's subdomain, may have adverse effect on search engine results. Lacks professional kudos compared with own domain name;
• Limited scope for expansion: server space may be derisory. Template may lack customisation facilities (i.e. graphics, incorporation of social media plug-ins);
• May be supported by advertising space (particularly so on freely hosted websites);
• May encounter some difficulty in transferring sites from one hosting company to another if latter offers better value for money;
• Templates may look derivative or dated - no real individuality.

If you wish to go down the Site Builder route, I recommend having a good look at the terms before committing yourself to a package. Some may have minimum fixed term contracts, offer stringent bandwidth limits, or only have a limited number of facilities (for instance a WYSIWYG File Manager though no FTP access). Though a less common issue now, they may have difficulties working with the customer's web browsers and/or operating systems.

Ten Entry Level Site Builders

Please note that prices quoted below, including exchange rate conversions, are correct at the time of press.

1. Wix

The most popular site builder on the market is Wix.com. They offer a hosting service whereby your website is on a subdomain of theirs with full support for HTML5 and CSS3. For users wishing to expand, they have the option of buying their own domain name and eCommerce facilities. Their Premium Plans fair well against some consumer level web hosts.

2. Weebly

Weebly.com is the second most popular site builder on the market with a wealth of templates for bloggers, creatives, non-profit organisation and small businesses. Its dashboard has powerful drag and drop facilities, with a user interface accommodating absolute beginners as easily as hardened designers. There is now options for mobile apps, eCommerce, and enterprise level packages.

3. Homestead

On joining Homestead, customers have a 30 day free period with hosting, a domain name and a choice of templates thrown in. By Day 31, you may choose to host your site with Homestead from $4.99 per month (£2.97 at 12 June 2014 exchange rates) with have further templates and customisation options available. Additional fees apply for eCommerce options and SEO services.

4. Jimdo

Jimdo aims to be a website building tool that is easy enough for grandma to use. As well as the free service, there is paid-for hosting options (£60 Pro, £180 Business: all figures per annum including VAT), search engine optimisation and eCommerce facilities available. Each Jimdo template utilises responsive web design techniques, allowing you to have a good looking, mobile-friendly website at such little cost.

5. 1and1 Website Builder

In terms of market share, 1&1 is the UK's most popular web host and it is possible, thanks to their Website Builder, to have a new website for just £1.19 per month (inc. VAT). No knowledge of HTML and CSS is required with website builders available for personal and business clients. Additional templates and site management features are available for higher hosting fees.

6. Go Daddy Website Builder

Go Daddy's Website Builder (originally known as WebSite Tonight though possibly changed to avoid any connection with the embarrassing adverts for the Knorr cook-in sauces) enables customers to build a website from scratch without prior knowledge of HTML and CSS. Layouts, images, templates and text can be added and edited from an easy to use site builder, with Google Webmaster tools also available.

7. CM4all Website Creator

If you wish to hit the ground running, lack advanced coding skills and wish to build a complex site, CM4all could be the right solution for you. It has an intuitive interface, full eCommerce facilities and a wealth of responsive web design templates - agency style results without the obvious 'one size fits all' look of some site builder templates. Customers wishing to use this package need to find a web host which offer CM4all.

8. Mr Site

Launched in 2004, MrSite was launched as 'The Takeaway Website', advertised in catalogues with a software package displayed in a brown takeaway bag, including a year's web hosting. Today, no DVD-ROMs are used; customers join online, using an intuitive WYSIWYG interface. Now, you can also let MrSite build a website for you and undertake SEO services such as copywriting.

9. Moonfruit

After specialising in attractive Flash based websites, Moonfruit have embraced HTML5 and CSS3 with open arms. Owned by hibu (formerly Yell), it was taken over in May 2012 with its team of developers based in London. Registration is free with all templates designed to work on mobile devices as well as PCs. Premium packages include free domain names and Google AdWords vouchers.

10. Squarespace

Squarespace's responsive websites exude high end design values with an easy to use site builder. Features include galleries, fully integrated eCommerce facilities and, on its top-of-the-range package, real-time carrier shipping. Other services include logo design and mobile app development.