Several of the website builders included here also offer free options. If you choose that path, your site will include the service's branding, which makes your site less impressive to savvy surfers and shoppers. Free offerings vary greatly in storage, bandwidth, and site options, so read the small print to find out how much you get with each web host. Strikingly, Weebly, and Wix are among the most generous with their free services. For more, check out the best free website builders.

A website builder is a service that lets you create a website, typically using software featuring a simple, drag-and-drop interface for positioning text, images, and videos. But why would you need one? On a personal level, you wouldn't want to send prospective employers to your Facebook page, so a website makes more sense as an online, customized resume. On a business level, you can quickly spin up a site to focus on sales. Another reason worth considering, for both personal and business purposes, is that building your own site means endless design choices. You have total control over the products and services you sell (and how they're delivered, too).

Furthermore, having a dedicated, real site makes a business appear more authoritative and trustworthy than a Facebook presence can on its own (though you should also consider those services as part of your online presence). It's as much an opening ante in the business world as having a business card for your company.