A web design service is a web design service…or is it? Wix, a relatively new do it yourself web design service, aims to prove that not all web design services are created equal. And while the service’s drag and drop site builder is great, one could argue that it’s not substantially different than other drag and drop editors. Wix’s extras, however, are what truly set this company apart. If you’re a smart consumer, you won’t purchase a web design service because of its extras alone…but if you’re savvy, you’ll realize that the addition of these perks to a rather sophisticated site builder make Wix a noble competitor in the running to become the best do it yourself web design service.
What makes Wix stand apart is that it looks like a web design company but acts like a web hosting provider. While hosting services such as iPage and Just Host offer free advertising credits, few (if any) web design services offer similar credits…until now. As a new partner of Network Solutions, Wix is now offering $50 in Facebook ad credits and $75 in Google AdWords credits. In addition, Network Solutions will be hosting any site created by Wix for free for one year.
Another benefit of the Wix premium plan is integration with Google Analytics, a feature that is not only rare in the world of web design, but is not especially common in most web hosting packages either. Google Analytics is a program designed and supported by Google that allows site owners to see who is coming to their site(s), where their visitors are coming from and what pages are getting the most traffic. It is a great way to learn about your user behavior so that you can maximize the success of your site. And, while it may be a free tool, having it integrated into the Wix package (and having support available to help) provides a dramatic advantage.
A final perk of Wix is that it makes it incredibly easy to create a Flash website. While many other web design services support Flash files or offer Flash templates, none offer the customization abilities that Wix offers. Although this is not a specifically new offering, it’s important to realize that if you want to create a Flash site Wix will offer unparalleled options.
There’s no uniform do it yourself web design service that will serve the needs of every webmaster or business owner. I am merely suggesting that if you’re looking for a reason to choose one from a handful of do it yourself web design companies it’s worth looking beyond the standard offerings to see how each service enhances their service. Because after all, being a smart consumer is about getting the best bang for your buck with a product or service that works – and Wix is clearly giving other web design companies a run for your money.
