Struggling to manage your site with all the code that’s in there? Enter Showit

Have you ever tried to maintain a website that’s heavy with code? You move one little thing and the whole page goes wonky, and it doesn’t matter how much you tinker and undo, you can never seen to get everything back where it’s supposed to be. 

I’ve heard this complaint from so many people who come to me with a heavily coded website. They just want to go in and swap out a team member’s picture or update a deliverable in one of their services. But because of the way their site has been set up, they have to hire someone to do it. 

This is just one of many reasons I decided to use Showit to deliver client sites. This no-code website builder is the solution of your dreams if you’re ready to make updating your website exponentially easier.

What is Showit? Meet Your No-Code Website Hero

The Showit website builder has a user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface that makes image swaps, text updates, and other minor changes or updates super easy.

Some of my favorite things about Showit include:

• Ease of Use for Clients. While code can be integrated into Showit designs, there often isn’t any need to do so. Because Showit gives designers so much control over placements, spacing, and aesthetics, the need for code is minimized, making it easier to maintain your site in the long run.
• Complete Control Over Mobile. One of the reasons I decided to leave Squarespace was the difficulty that came with designing the mobile version of client sites. I rarely, if ever, could get away with designing a mobile version of a site without resorting to code to make it look the way I wanted it to look. Showit’s separate mobile design makes it simple to get everything pixel perfect without any code.
• Support. Another benefit for clients is that they don’t have to have a web design agency on retainer to be able to make small changes to their site. And if they do run into an issue, they have Showit’s amazing support team to turn to. The help docs are amazing, their video tutorials are second-to-none, and you have to love a help desk team that responds with funny gifs (my own personal love language).

Making the Switch to Showit: A Step-by-Step Guide

When you’re ready to make the switch to Showit, it couldn’t be easier. You can work with a designer (like me!) who will walk you through the process start to finish. Or, you can even do it yourself. There are tons of great templates out there that make setting up a Showit website on your own a breeze. Or, you could even delegate the build to a virtual assistant or another member of your team. 

Step 1: Sign up for Showit. If you use my affiliate link, you’ll get your first month free. Showit has three different tiers you can choose from. The most basic tier is perfectly suitable for anyone who doesn’t need to integrate any plugins or stand up a blog. The middle tier is great for folks looking for a site with a blog. And the advanced tier is best for people looking to integrate a bunch of WordPress plugins and/or who have an extensive blog. Purchase your preferred plan and create your account.

Step 2: Familiarize yourself with Showit’s dashboard, getting a feel for its features and tools. There’s a main account page where you can manage your subscription, preferences, notifications, etc. Then, there’s the design app, where you can actually create your own website. There are lots of options here, but the Showit help docs and tutorials can help you get ahead of the curve.

Step 3: If you aren’t working with a designer to build a custom site, I strongly recommend purchasing a template from a reputable source. I always suggest buying from a designer who is currently or has worked with clients to develop custom sites, too. They are more likely to have the knowledge needed to create an easy-to-use, client-friendly site. 

Step 4: Customize your template – either by yourself or with the help of a designer. With Showit’s drag-and-drop interface, it’s super easy to swap out images, text, and colors to make the site feel at one with your brand. 

Step 5: If you plan to have a blog on your site, you’ll need to integrate Showit with WordPress. It sounds scarier than it is. If you have an existing blog, the Showit support team can help you migrate those posts over, so you don’t have to start from scratch.

Step 6: Optimize your site by making sure you have configured your SEO settings in Showit to improve your search engine rankings. Make sure you’re using keywords in your web copy, adding alt tags to relevant images, and incorporating meta descriptions.

Step 7: In order to get your Showit website live, you’ll want to connect a domain. If you already have one, great. If you don’t, head over to GoDaddy or another vendor and buy one. They typically run between $12-40, depending on the domain you purchase. Then, you’ll point that domain to your sparkly new Showit website so people can access it.

Step 8: Once your site is live, there’s a bunch of things you can do to make the most of it. This blog outlines a few of my regular recommendations for what to do with your new website.

Ready to Ditch the Code?

If you’re ready to ditch the code that’s been making it crazy difficult for you to maintain your site, Showit might just be your answer. Take a look at this blog for more details around why I made the switch myself. 

And then, if you want a partner in the process of switching, Huckleberry Creative is here for you. Reach out to us to learn more about our proprietary Website in a Week service that can get you set up in just a few days.