Website Builds vs GoDaddy: what a tradesperson should know
GoDaddy is best known for domain names, and many businesses buy a domain there and then get offered its website builder and email on top. That can work. It is worth knowing what you are signing up to before you do.
The builder
Like other DIY builders, it gives you templates and an editor; you write and arrange everything. Check GoDaddy's current prices, and in particular the renewal price after any introductory offer, because introductory and renewal prices often differ.
Questions to ask any domain company
What does the domain cost to renew each year, not just in the first year? Which extras have been added to your basket, and do you need them? Is the domain registered in your own name, and can you move it elsewhere easily?
There is a full guide on who owns your domain name, and why it matters more than almost anything else when you leave a provider.
Having it built instead
I build the site around your trade and keep it up to date for you. £249.99 to build, then £49.99 a month for a sole trader, no minimum term, with your domain registered in your name. If you already own a domain at GoDaddy, it can stay there and simply point at the new site.
Common questions
- I already have a domain with GoDaddy. Do I need to move it?
- No. The domain can stay where it is and point at your new website. Moving it is optional.
- Can I keep my GoDaddy email?
- Yes. Email and the website are separate settings on the domain, so your email can carry on as it is.
If you would rather somebody just did it
I build websites for self-employed tradesmen and small businesses across the UK: £249.99 to build, then £49.99 a month to host, maintain and update it. The sites I have built show on page one of Google for 103 searches between them, in Search Console.