For SaaS startups, no-code platforms are a revolution. The first step for a Software as a Service (SaaS) startup is creating a website because it establishes a digital presence. It’s your door to getting more recurring revenue by proving to people you’re serious about what you do.
But most startups fall into the trap of spending thousands of dollars on creating a website. You hire an agency or programmers to code the website, both of whom cost a bomb. This needless expense is not a smart move when you are building a business.
The good news is that a SaaS startup doesn’t need a developer to produce its website. You can use the best no-code website builder platforms to make a website without coding a single line.
The Difference Between Low-Code and NoCode
There is a vast land filled with low-code websites between coded and codeless websites. Both no-code platforms and low-code website builders have the same objective – to create a website without manually writing code. But the audience they cater to differs.
You still need some technical know-how to use a low-code platform to its maximum potential. You may need to write or insert a line of code here or there. Take WordPress, for example. It’s a low-code tool that needs minimal hand coding. So even a developer with few skills can design a website rather quickly with it.
Free no-code platforms, on the other hand, take a completely visual approach to develop a site. You don’t have to know, write, or insert code at any point. You simply drag and drop a block or an element into a functional flow to create the site. Imagine dragging an image and dropping it on the left side of the screen, or moving text from up to down with two clicks.
Essentially, no-code platforms are plug-and-play. You move things around on a screen instead of writing code, so anyone can use them to make a site.
👉 Related Read: AI in SaaS: How is AI Changing the Landscape for SaaS Businesses
How Do NoCode Website Builders Help SaaS Startups?
In the SaaS and product world, no-code platforms show promise, not just because anyone with a computer (and zilch technical skill) can build a landing page or even a full website. It is also because they are faster, more affordable, and more flexible.
The fundamental Pros of No-code Platforms
When it comes down to meat-and-potatoes, no-code platforms have 3 basic advantages for SaaS startups –
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skill
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time
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and cost
Technical and Design Skills
Your team doesn’t need to be aware of HTML or proficient in CSS or JavaScript to get your website up and running with no-code platforms. Similarly, you don’t need a team member with aesthetic or design skills.
There are dozens of presets and templates available with free no-code platforms. You can choose anyone to bring your site to life. Since these are customizable templates, you don’t have to design the website from scratch. You pick a template that best suits your vision and then tailor the look accordingly.
An incidental benefit of these no-code platforms is that the layout engine automatically adapts the copy, illustrations, images, icons, and video for the best result. All the while, you still have complete control over everything. You can tune the spacing, change the colors, and go deep with fonts to match your brand persona.
Moreover, you can build responsive designs that look fantastic on any device. A responsive design offers a more user-friendly experience for your site no matter which screen it is viewed on – tablet, desktop, or mobile.
No-code platforms ensure you don’t have to create special versions for each screen. Again, without writing any code. Moreover, you can build responsive designs that look fantastic on any device. This also necessitates accessibility testing to ensure that all users, regardless of their abilities, can navigate and interact with your site seamlessly.
Quicker Time-to-Market
Coding is time-consuming. You have to look at the source code of any website to realize this. When you’ve got a startup to run, time is the most precious commodity, and you are constantly trading it off for other things. And that’s the next essential advantage of free no-code platforms.
You don’t have to waste time on building a site. Compared to the traditional coding approach, no-code platforms are much faster and more efficient. With the right no-code tool, you can get a site ready in less than 24 hours. When timeliness is essential, such quick turnarounds become crucial to success.
Cost-friendly Building
Developing a website from the ground up is prohibitively expensive. First, you would need a designer to create the layout and structure of the site. Second, you would require a developer or coder skilled enough to develop the site you want.
You will either have to hire them or ask the in-house team to redirect their attention. Both instances are costly endeavors, especially when the budget is limited. In addition to the cost of a designer and developer, you may also have to pay for hosting your site, domain registration, added functionalities, and integrations.
That’s why SaaS startups should choose no-code platforms. The plans they offer come at a fraction of the cost, including the cost of a domain, storage, CMS, and integrations.
The Derivative Benefits of No-code Tools
Besides giving startup teams the ability to build websites without code and do it faster and without breaking the bank, no-code platforms offer plenty of incidental advantages.
Complete Autonomy
Since you’re creating the website, you know it inside and out. You don’t have to rely on complicated and comprehensive documentation to make changes or add functionality. Plus, you have full liberty to adjust the site's appearance.
Assuming that you outsource the job of developing the website, typically, the only person involved in the project from your team would be the Point of Contact. With free no-code platforms, creating a site becomes a collaborative effort.
Collaborative Building
Everyone from the design team to the marketing team to leadership can pitch in and brainstorm at every stage, from ideation to going live. With such a diverse group working together using no-code platforms, the final result is more comprehensive. It ensures that the website showcases a multitude of perspectives and functions of your SaaS tools or products.
Empower Teams
Team empowerment is another reason a SaaS startup should use nocode platforms to create their website. Every person from any team can build their additional pages.
For instance, the marketing team can create static pages to promote new features of your SaaS product. Then observe how customers interact with them and modify their SaaS marketing strategy accordingly.
Likewise, the sales teams can create landing pages using no-code platforms to get more leads. Or use integration to automate processes like sending custom form data to Airtable or linking a subscription form to Zapier.
Implement Changes
Unlike established businesses that can afford long timelines for developing a site, startups need to be quick to stay relevant. The backbone of a successful and innovative startup is the ability to ship fast, get user feedback, and iterate. And no-code platforms help you do just that with your website. The no-code tools help you boost your business.
In traditional coding, it would be necessary to loop in the developer, or divert the in-house team away from their core job, to edit the code and make any changes to the website.
With free no-code platforms, anyone from the team can make the required tweaks and push them live. An example would be adding a page of testimonials to the website after your SaaS product has launched to act as social proof.
Content Management
For startups who need to share content with their audience, good no-code platforms come with easy-to-use built-in blogging tools. The simple interface makes it easy to write content without distractions. You can even embed content from GitHub, YouTube, and CodePen.
With different formats like headings and blockquotes, you can make it more readable; with social media integrations, you can maximize the reach; and with SEO tools, you can optimize it for better discoverability without being dependent on third-party tools.
More than that, it is easy to introduce gated content with no-code platforms to generate more leads or revenue for the business. The advice here would be to pick a no-code platform with a built-in payment system, and it can make a material difference.
White-label
The White-label empowers SaaS startups to produce faster, increasing productivity, sales, and profit. Take, for example, an agency that has productized the web design business. They can use the white-label feature of no-code platforms to cut down the time it takes to build sites for their clients.
They use premade tools and software or integrate with one rather than wasting time developing something that already exists. Say you are a productized web design company with a new client who needs blogging support.
A white-labeling solution with a CMS, subscription list building, memberships, gated content, and comment moderation features is a more effective approach than building a CMS.
Faster Redesign
Most websites need to be redesigned every two to three years. Although there is nothing wrong with an old site, it does become dated from the design, copy, and feature perspective.
As a SaaS startup, you expect to pivot, ship new products, and retire features. As you grow, the website often fails to communicate your product's current version or showcase your vision and short-term objectives. Hence, demanding a redesign or at least an update.
With no-code platforms, you can update or redesign your site with agility, without dependency on a designer or developer. Anyone on the team has the flexibility to make changes to bring the site back in sync with your product roadmap.
Caveats of No-code Platforms
Like with every tool, there are limitations to what a no-code platform can do. Yes, they can make building a website painless and swift, but it depends on the tool you use. Each no-code website builder comes with rules, features, functionality, and parameters. Some are extremely intuitive, while others have a steep learning curve.
So, know what you want to achieve for your site before you select a platform. Once you do, you are tied to the platform. Another proviso with no-code platforms is familiarity with tech and design terms like blocks, accordions, and parallax animation. While most platforms keep the jargon to a minimum, it helps to know what these labels mean when building a full-fledged site.
NoCode Platforms Are No-Brainers for SaaS Startups
Going codeless when building a website for your SaaS startup bypasses a lot of complexities. You can experiment with the site while ensuring that your design and development team is not burdened with creating, and then maintaining, the site.
The templates of no-code platforms act like your canvas. You can shape and mold their look and feel without relying on intermediaries, Figma prototypes, or design mockups. Depending on how extensive the site is, you can craft a masterpiece even Google loves in a matter of minutes.
If you’re a SaaS startup on the hunt for free no-code platforms, try Dorik!
It offers unlimited web pages that require no coding and some of the most beautiful customizable templates. You don’t have to worry about design or technical terms with the no-code platform’s very simple interface.
The affordable pricing plans include SEO tools, a white-label dashboard, SSL certification, custom domains, a global content delivery network for faster speeds, and much more!
