Using AI to help build beautiful websites... and increase your travel business revenue!
By Kenneth Sum, President, ATA
In today’s digital world, having an online presence is essential for personal brands, small businesses, freelancers, and creators. But building a website often seems like a daunting task — especially for those without coding knowledge. Fortunately, platforms like WIX, GoDaddy, Shopify, Squarespace, and Strikingly make it easier than ever to create beautiful, functional websites, even if you’re a complete beginner. Now at this point, I feel the need to provide a Full Disclosure Alert: I use Strikingly, I love it, and I continue to rave about it.
I found Strikingly stands out the most. It is an intuitive, it uses an AI user-friendly website builder that lets anyone create stunning websites without any technical skills. Best of all, it offers a 30 day free website builder plan, making it an excellent option for those looking to get started without any upfront costs. (USD 20/month after the free trial, if your an ATA Member). Let’s dive into the features, benefits, and why Strikingly might be the perfect solution for your website-building needs.
What is Strikingly?
Strikingly is a website builder that allows users to create professional-looking websites with no coding required. It’s designed to help individuals, small businesses, and even large enterprises easily launch their websites. Strikingly's drag-and-drop interface and pre-designed templates make it possible to build a website in just a few hours.
While it offers several paid plans with advanced features, the free plan is ideal for personal websites, portfolios, and small projects. It is also a great way for beginners to dip their toes into web design without committing to anything right away.
Key Features of Strikingly’s Free Website Builder
1.
One-Page Websites
One of Strikingly's unique features is its focus on one-page websites. These types of sites are simple, streamlined, and perfect for showcasing a personal project, portfolio, or even a small business. Each section of the site is designed to flow seamlessly, so visitors can scroll through all the information they need on a single page.
If you’re looking for a more complex website with multiple pages, Strikingly also offers the option to upgrade to plans that support more pages and additional features. But for simple, straightforward needs, the free plan is more than enough.
2.
Templates for Every Purpose
Strikingly offers a range of stylish, responsive templates that cater to various industries and needs. Whether you’re a photographer, entrepreneur, artist, or small business owner, you’ll find templates that are designed specifically for your niche.
These templates are mobile-optimized, meaning your site will look great on any device. This is crucial, especially as mobile browsing continues to increase globally. Strikingly’s design tools allow you to customize your template to match your brand’s identity — all without needing to write a single line of code.
3.
Easy-to-Use Drag-and-Drop Interface
The user interface is incredibly simple and intuitive. Even if you’ve never built a website before, Strikingly’s drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to add content like text, images, and videos. You can also add custom elements such as social media links, forms, and contact information.
Editing your website is as easy as selecting a section, dragging a new block into place, and customizing it to your needs. Whether you're updating a photo gallery or adding a testimonial section, Strikingly lets you make changes on the fly.
4.
Free Hosting
Strikingly provides free hosting with all its plans, including the free one. This means you don’t have to worry about finding a third-party hosting service or paying for hosting fees. Your site will be hosted on Strikingly’s secure and reliable servers, giving you peace of mind as you build and maintain your site.
5.
Custom Domains (Paid Plans)
While the free plan includes a Strikingly-branded domain (e.g., yoursite.strikingly.com), you can connect a custom domain to your website with the paid plans. Having a custom domain name (e.g., yourname.com) is vital for establishing professionalism and building trust with your audience.
Even though the free plan limits you to a subdomain, it's still a great starting point for personal projects, testing ideas, or creating a basic portfolio.
6.
Mobile-First Design
Strikingly’s templates are designed to prioritize mobile-first design, meaning they are optimized for mobile screens by default. With the increasing number of users browsing on smartphones and tablets, having a mobile-friendly website is crucial. Strikingly ensures that your site will look great no matter what device your visitors are using.
7.
E-commerce Integration
Since we are talking about travel agency websites here, you can insert your Internet Booking Engine code into their website builder! Talk to your ATA rep about this one. This will bring that Call to Action step for your online guests.
8.
Analytics and SEO Tools
To grow your website’s visibility, Strikingly offers built-in SEO tools that help you optimize your content for search engines. The platform provides basic analytics, allowing you to track your website’s performance, see how visitors are interacting with your site, and make improvements.
Benefits of Using Strikingly’s Free Website Builder
1.
No Coding Knowledge Required
One of the greatest advantages of Strikingly is that you don’t need any coding skills to create a beautiful website. With its drag-and-drop editor and pre-designed templates, anyone can get started right away.
2.
Fast Setup
Strikingly is perfect for people who need a website up and running quickly. You can create a fully functional site in a few hours without getting bogged down by technicalities. For small businesses or personal projects that need to launch fast, this is a real time-saver.
3.
Free to Start
The free plan is an excellent option for anyone on a budget. You can get a site up and running without paying a dime, and if you need more advanced features in the future, Strikingly offers affordable paid plans.
4.
Mobile-Friendly
With Strikingly’s mobile-first approach, you don’t have to worry about making your website responsive for mobile devices. All the templates are pre-optimized for mobile viewing, ensuring a smooth experience for visitors on smartphones and tablets.
5.
Perfect for Personal Projects
If you’re a freelancer, blogger, artist, or someone looking to showcase your work, Strikingly’s free website builder is ideal. It’s simple, effective, and allows you to focus on what matters: your content.
Who Should Use Strikingly’s Free Website Builder?
Strikingly is perfect for individuals, small businesses, and creators who need an online presence but don’t have the time or expertise to build a complex website. Here are a few examples of people who can benefit from Strikingly:
- Freelancers: Create a personal portfolio to showcase your work and attract clients.
- Artists and Creators: Display your artwork, videos, or music in a visually appealing way.
- Small Business Owners: Promote your services or products with a simple one-page website.
- Bloggers: Start a blog and build an audience without needing to invest in expensive tools.
- Nonprofits: Share information about your cause with a minimal but effective online presence.
Conclusion: Why Choose Strikingly?
Strikingly offers an easy-to-use, visually stunning, and completely free website builder that allows you to create a website in no time. Its drag-and-drop editor, pre-designed templates, and mobile-first design make it an excellent option for anyone looking to build a simple yet professional website.
Whether you’re looking to build a personal blog, a portfolio, or a small business site, Strikingly provides the tools to get you started — all at no cost. If you need more advanced features down the line, Strikingly also offers affordable paid plans that expand your options, including custom domains, e-commerce capabilities, and more.
So, if you’re ready to create your travel website, contact ATA and our team can get you setup.life!