Technology is constantly evolving and changing the way we do things. Back in the day, developers built websites by hard coding from scratch. As time went by, tech enthusiasts developed tools that could cut down on the development process. This led to the rise of content management systems like Drupal and WordPress which have made the process of building, publishing, updating and maintaining websites easier.
The following roundup is going to focus on some of the best web design tools that can bring more control, consistency, power, and efficiency to your workflow. We have also included several online competitive intelligence tools to help you streamline your website’s SEO and make it more productive.
Let’s dive straight in.
Adobe XD
Adobe XD is an amazingly stable web design and prototyping tool that offers a feature-rich development environment. Its UI kits come in handy if you wish to build your app or website designs from scratch. Adobe XD also allows you to import designs from Illustrator and Photoshop and use them as prototypes.
Zoho Sites
Zoho Sites is a core-component of the popular Zoho productivity suite. It is a simplified website builder that allows developers to create professional websites in a few minutes. Individuals with minimal technical knowledge can also use the platform as it works with a simple drag-and-drop website builder. Zoho Sites provides the basic design functions and capabilities for free but also has a premium service where you can purchase professional add-ons at affordable prices.
Marvel
Marvel enjoys a reputation as one of the best design and prototyping platforms that can refine your web design. Novices, as well as professional developers, can use Marvel as a standalone product. The functions of this tool revolve around design, prototyping, wireframing, and app integration. Marvel offers some exclusive design features such as simple design mode, simple imports, teamwork integration, templates library, Dropbox syncing, and so much more.
Wix
Wix is a powerful coding tool that allows developers to create what we would call a masterpiece design. It allows designers to come up with professional-looking and visually appealing web pages. Through Wix, you can integrate email marketing tools, social-plugins, and community forums into your website in just a few clicks.
Wix also recently rolled out an AI-driven service that presents users with a complete website after answering a few questions. This tool remains one of the best solutions for professional web design in 2019 and beyond.
Webstarts
Webstarts is another fantastic website platform that allows you to create and host your site. Developers can choose to use Webstarts coding tools to build their website from scratch or customize the existing template designs. This tool also has a blogging channel that can help users improve their search engine ranking. The site’s resources are also great for starters who wish to create and promote their brand online.
SeMrush
SeMrush is not a stand-alone web design tool but a comprehensive SEO software that offers an extensive feature set. It helps business webmasters and e-commerce entrepreneurs improve their SEO, link-building, keyword strategy, SERP, PPC, and other marketing elements. With this tool, you can gather data and understand the analytics behind your website. SeMrush is a great resource for online businesses that are struggling to gain a competitive edge in the industry.
Similar Web
Similar Web is a phenomenal software for online competitive intelligence. It provides data analytics for desktop websites, mobile websites, and applications. This tool can complement your web design by offering you data-driven insights concerning your business and your competition activities.
Both Similar Web and Semrush share a lot in common especially in providing competitive intelligence for businesses. Indeed, the Similar Web Vs. Semrush debate keeps coming up on most digital marketers forums and doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.
To determine which between the two is more appropriate for your business, take advantage of the tools’ trial period (Semrush) or free version (Similar Web) to test out their features, customer support, and data accuracy and consistency among others.
Google Webmaster Tools
Google Webmaster Tools provides a wide range of great features for site owners and web developers. It acts as Google’s way of giving webmasters information they need to run a website successfully. With this tool, you can set up and check your sitemap, run a security scan, and even find optimization opportunities with top ranking keywords. If you wish to refine your link building or page-level strategy, this is the tool to use.
Conclusion
Website developers, design agencies, and SEO professionals need to work smarter in 2019 and beyond. Going forward, you cannot afford to waste time on antiquated design software or technologies. And no, we’re not asking you to ditch or completely scrape off the tools you currently use; however, consider switching to better and more efficient web development tools that enhance your productivity and the overall workflow.