Need a web site as part of your author platform? Don't know the first thing about creating a web site? Can't afford to buy web site creation software? Can't afford to pay for web site hosting?
Not a problem. It is possible to create and host a web site entirely for free. The answer is Wix. Wix is a website hosting/website building service that offers both paid and free plans. I currently have four web sites with Wix, one paid and three free. While there are some limitations with the free plan, the truth is that I haven't felt any lack or drawbacks with it. Indeed, the only reason I have a paid plan is because I wanted to use a custom domain name with that particular website. Otherwise, I've found the free plan features more than sufficient for my needs.
I'm not going to cover the details of website hosting and creation with Wix in this blog post. A visit to the Wix web site will provide you with all the info you need, and a Google search will yield loads of reviews, tutorials, and videos. Instead, I want to give you a broad overview of why I love Wix. Basically, there are three reasons:
Ease of use
Powerful features
Free option
Ease of use: The Wix website builder offers a drag-and-drop interface that is amazingly intuitive. The entire interface is beautifully designed and presented; using the tools and features is simple, logical, and intuitive. With a little exploring and trial & error I'm almost always able to able to figure out how to do what I want to do on my own. On the rare occasions when I get stumped, a quick search instantly yields an easy-to-understand, step-by-step explanation. That's another plus - Wix's Help is fantastic, with loads of text & video tutorials. Furthermore, there are hundreds of high quality, professional looking design templates to get you started. There's no coding necessary, no complex high-tech skills needed. With a little poking about & trial-and-error a novice should be able to create a web site in a matter of hours. Oh, I should mention that playing around with the Wix tools & features is fun! Honestly, I actually enjoy the learning process because the interface is so friendly and the feature set is so rich. Which brings us to the second reason I love Wix ...
Powerful features: Usually, easy-to-use, drag-and-drop creation services are severely limited in their capabilities & features. What you gain in ease-of-use, you generally lose in power (think, for example, the CreateSpace cover designer). But not with Wix. I have yet to find myself disappointed because I'm unable to do something I want to do. Every single thing I've wanted to do with my web sites I've been able to do, because Wix's tools are so powerful and its feature set is so extensive. There have been many, many times I've been astonished to find that Wix offered a way for me to accomplish some vision I had for my web site.
Free option: And now we're back to where I started: easy and affordable website creation & hosting for a cash-strapped, struggling author. The Wix free plan is not some limited-feature teasy come-on. It is feature-rich and highly powerful. Yes, there are some drawbacks to the free plan: for example, your web site will have ads displayed and you cannot use a custom domain name. For me, I consider that a rather small inconvenience for free hosting and an easy-to-use, powerful, and feature-rich website builder.
So, if you're looking to have an author's web site but you don't have the skills to do it yourself or the funds to pay a professional, then give Wix a look. Research Wix thoroughly and then decide if Wix is right for you. As for me: I love Wix!
Wix web site: www.wix.com
Article: Wix Review Summary
Two of my other Wix-created, Wix-hosted web sites:
