So you want to be an affiliate? Good choice, Not only is it a highly lucrative enterprise in today’s climate but when done correctly, can be a stepping stone to selling your own products or earning from your own brand.
Today, I’m telling you all about the best website builder for affiliate marketing - in my honest opinion.
Plus, a few more that you might want to consider.
What should I look for in a website builder for my affiliate marketing business?
The first thing you need to think about is your budget. Don’t overspend especially if you know you can’t sustain it for the first few months.
Make sure you have at least a six-month allotment to pay for the fees. This will give you more time to start earning a profit to make your venture sustainable.
Other than that, here are some of the things you need to consider:
SEO and marketing capabilities - it’s difficult to get started, and as a marketer, you know all about the importance of optimization techniques as well as accessible advertising. I don’t think I need to explain the whys of it to you anymore, after all - you’re already pursuing a career in affiliate marketing. But make it a little bit easier by choosing software that you no longer have to integrate with third-party apps to double-check your search engine optimization efforts or marketing campaigns. This will also help you keep track of analytic reports.
Template options - let’s face it. Not everyone has design skills, and even if you do, it can be difficult to get started. Make sure you choose a builder with a template library to at least give you some direction and make designing your website a lot easier.
User interface - the UI is one of the most important things to consider on any platform. It’s important for it to be smooth, easy to navigate, and well-organized so that you don’t run into any problems while doing what you’re supposed to do.
The main reason why I’m telling you to look out for these three specific factors is that you’ll need to spend the bulk of your time creating content for your website.
After all, you need to be consistent in your posting schedule while still being able to maintain the quality of your work. All these factors will just make it slightly easier for you to start building an affiliate marketing website so you don’t spend weeks or months figuring it out when you could be doing something more productive - like market research.
Best website builders for affiliate marketers
Now that you know what to expect and what to look for, it’s time to decide which platform to use. Keep in mind that what’s best for me, might not be the best platform for you so take your time, do your research, and give the trial periods a whirl.
Wix
This platform holds a very special place in my heart simply because it’s one of the first I tried out when I was still a clueless newbie. And let me tell you what - it was more than kind to me.
This affiliate website builder is known for its simplicity, beginner-friendly drag and drop builder, and reasonably low prices.
I like how you can launch your website for under $10 a month, and have room for ECommerce expansion in the future if you want to start selling your own products.
It’s a good starting point especially since there are multiple template options to fit the industry you’re in. Furthermore, the Wix ADI is a great feature especially if you don’t want to spend hours starting from scratch.
What this does is it basically builds the ideal website for you. If you don’t want that, there’s also an option for you to do it yourself.
So, what makes it so great?
For starters, the extensive app market might be where you’ll spend the bulk of your time. If you have ideas on widgets or interactive features such as booking meetings on your site, the directory has it all.
This means you’ll be able to take full control of how your UI will feel.
But more than that, it covers all areas. The platform is one of the most inclusive I’ve come across - with templates for every industry imaginable, and options for beginners and intermediate website builders alike.
Just want to start a blog? GREAT. You can do it here!
Want to start selling something? You can add a store to your site.
Need a landing page? They have that too.
And more than anything, these are all of the features I like to look for in a website builder.
That said, it isn’t perfect. Let’s be honest - no software truly is. Let’s take a look at some of its shortcomings before you make your decision:
Weebly
If you want a platform that is truly beginner friendly, this is your best bet. It boasts an easy-to-use drag and drop builder and plenty of templates to get started with so you don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the best way to present your brand.
Unlike Wix, it doesn’t have a learning curve. Plus, its features and user interface are a lot more streamlined and easy to navigate.
You’ll likely get the hang of it within 5 minutes after setting everything up.
The software offers a free plan which is a great idea if you want to just try it out first and see if it’s a good fit for you. There are also three other paid plans to choose from ranging from around $6 a month to $26 depending on your requirements.
So, what makes it great?
If in the future you decide to scale your business and migrate to a larger platform, Weebly has a feature set up to make it easier for you. The process doesn’t take more than a few minutes and isn’t difficult to figure out so you may not need additional help to get it done.
Furthermore, their themes are mobile responsive which means you really don’t need to worry about making changes to your web design according to the device it’s getting viewed on. This is an important feature because search engines like Google have begun to apply mobile-first indexing which means mobile-responsive websites will get indexed first and most often.
The analytics tool is also quite good. You’ll get reports on how your website is doing and it’s very easy to understand. It can be helpful alongside the classic SEO feature which helps you optimize each page with live feedback.
Despite its great points, it also has a few drawbacks which you may consider deal-breakers such as:
Kartra
For affiliate marketers who want an all-in-one solution that is trusted and can grow with you, this software might be the one. Considered as ClickFunnel’s biggest competition, this platform can help you build entire campaigns on top of your website.
And what’s more, it has ecommerce capabilities so you can sell products on your website without relying on a third party application which usually means additional monthly fees - yikes!
I like how there’s a good assortment of customizable templates to choose from. So you’re not limited in your choices, and your website doesn’t have to look like every other website built on Kartra out there.
I like how the platform has several design elements that are dynamic and interactive. This includes scarcity countdown timers, embedding Facebook comments, and exit-intent pop-ups.
Of course, these can be done on the other platforms as well. However, the problem would be that you’d usually need to download other applications.
Aside from that, the software also has a number of other impressive features such as advanced A/B split testing, mobile responsive pages, a heatmap tool, and more.
That said, it certainly isn’t perfect. And for nearly $100 a month on a basic subscription, you need to think about what the software could do better.
Builderall
This platform allows you to build all the pages you need - which is probably why it’s named the way it is.
One of its biggest selling points is that you’re able to create an unlimited number of pages. And yes, that includes landing, sales, and web pages.
There are quite a few things that I like about the platform. I like how the software is easy to use and navigate so if you’re looking for something that is beginner friendly and won’t take a long time to figure out.
Other than that, there are several things that I really like about the software such as:
The program consistently improves itself. The developers upload a major change each year. This sounds like it can get confusing, but it really isn’t. I like how there are always major bug fixes, and improvements to the user interface so it’s consistently adapting to the user’s needs.
Since you’re in this to become an affiliate marketer, then I think it’s important to mention that BuilderAll comes with a highly lucrative program. So instead of just throwing money at the software for building your website and running it, you get to earn a little commission that could also pay for itself.
Furthermore, it’s also one of the platforms on this list that offers a free forever plan. So if you’re not a big fan of restrictive free trials, you might want to consider checking it out before giving up your card information.
Unlike its competitors in the all-in-one website builder market, it’s incredibly affordable. Keeping that in mind, you’ll have access to email marketing, analytics, chatbot software, social proof, and more. Basically, you’ll have everything you need to run a successful website for a fraction of the cost.
Oh - and before I forget, there’s also the new Cheetah software which loads lightning fast pages.
Unfortunately, there are also quite a few drawbacks that I’d like to mention. So, what won’t you like about it?
Leadpages
If you’re looking for conversion-geared templates, then LP just might be the perfect fit for you. Although the platform is better known as a landing page builder, it’s also quite a prominent website creation tool.
One of the factors that allow it to “lead” in the industry is how quickly you’ll be able to design your webpages on the platform.
Furthermore, the template library has a very unique filtering feature. Can you guess what it does?
It lets you filter your search according to the best-performing templates. Can you imagine cutting out the guessing games? You no longer need to go over several trial and error sessions to make sure your copy and design are as optimized as possible to facilitate conversions.
Another thing I think the platform should be commended about is the fact that there are no limits to the amount of traffic you get. Unlike other software where you need to be on a certain plan to reach the right amount of people each month, you won’t have that problem here.
Although the platform isn’t the cheapest option in the market, it’s certainly affordable enough for mid-budget affiliates. Their best-selling plan costs around $49 a month and can scale up to nearly $200 depending on your needs.
All paid accounts have a free trial so if you want to test it out first, you’ll have 14 days to do so.
There’s also varying billing cycles from monthly, annually, and payment every two years. Of course, choosing to pay annually or every two years means you’ll get a bigger discount, but it’s a lot of money to be spending for a startup.
Unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the program. Take a look at some of its drawbacks below:
Thrive Themes
If you’re a WordPress advocate, then this platform might interest you. The ThriveSuite system has basically everything you need to run a successful site on WP. Plus, it has one of the most extensive theme libraries on the market.
But more than that, did you know that it has funnel capability? This means you can build entire sales funnels on the platform.
There are also several widgets you can add to your pages such as scarcity marketing tactics, quiz building, and lead generation forms.
The software is also easy to navigate - and thanks to the knowledge base, you’ll have plenty of guides to walk you through any confusing tasks that you might encounter.
I like how the FAQs section also guides you through being able to use it to its full potential. Furthermore, since your website will be on the WordPress platform, it will be easier for you to scale up in the future when necessary.
Although plans are paid outside of your monthly WP subscription, their pricing tiers are incredibly competitive. They start at around $20 and would depend on the products you want access to.
So, what’s great about it?
You’ll be able to seamlessly build mobile responsive pages. As far as SEO goes, mobile indexing should be your top priority. This also makes things a little bit easier for you since you don’t need to manually go back and make changes.
Quick loading pages are a must for any website. With the average person’s attention spanning just a few seconds, it only makes sense for you to make sure your site loads as quickly as possible. Luckily enough, Thrive Themes does a decent job at optimizing page speeds.
But what’s the catch?
No software is ever perfect. And there’s more than just a handful of kinks I would like for ThriveArchitect to sort out.
For one, it’s lacking payment processor options. Sure, you might not need it yet. But when you want to start accepting payments on your site, expect that you’ll need to use a third-party app.
Furthermore, there is a substantial learning curve. You might find yourself trying to navigate the knowledge base several times to figure out certain features.
Site123
This platform is aptly named because it allows you to launch your website in three easy steps.
The gist of the design selection process is divided into generic categories like general, online store, and so on. Once you’ve chosen that, you’ll be able to select a specific niche like pets, books, etc.
What I like most about it is that it’s incredibly uncomplicated to use. That means it’s a great option for you if you’re looking for a quick and easy solution.
It also comes with a free plan which lets you try out all of its features for however long you want. And if you find that you’re in need of an upgrade, you can easily do so at any time.
I like how there’s a built-in feature that lets you automatically translate your website to multiple languages. This will help your content be more inclusive without needing the extra work.
And what’s more, the process is so streamlined that you’ll feel like you’re just filling in a survey.
Unfortunately, you might not appreciate the ads on the platform as much. And if you want to get rid of them, you’ll need to subscribe to one of the pricier plans.
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to customize your layouts. So you should expect that your website will look a lot like standard sites out there that use the same platform.
Simvoly
Last but not the least, this platform aims to provide an affordable solution that would satisfy all digital marketers’ needs.
Its feature set includes a white label builder, funnel creation tool, store and website editor, and membership and subscription portals.
What did I say? All that you’ll need, right?
But more than that, the software is aimed towards marketing and advertising more. This is exactly why it might be a good choice for you especially if you’re just starting out as an affiliate.
And since its user interface is pretty much noob-friendly, you shouldn’t have trouble trying to navigate it - even on your first try.
All of its builders and editors carry the same smooth and seamless UI as well which means you won’t hit any snags while working. They’re all drag and drops so even beginners can use them without any problems.
And finally, everything is streamlined to work on autopilot. You don’t need to worry about backups, security, and maintenance because the software does it all for you.
That said, there are still a few areas that Simvoly could improve upon such as:
Final words - which one should I choose?
If you ask me, I’m a sucker for WordPress with Thrive Themes. It’s flexible, transferable, best for bloggers but it has a learning curve.
Alternatively, you might choose Wix. It’s easy to use, uncomplicated, affordable, and it gets the job done right.
However, I acknowledge that you might not agree with me, and that’s all well and fine.
After all, you need to make decisions that would suit YOU best. So instead of telling you what you should and shouldn’t use, let me walk you through a quick recap of what you need to consider before making your final decision.
Overall, a website will only benefit your affiliate marketing career. Make sure you consider all your options and do some research of your own to minimize the risk of having to transfer between platforms every few months.
