Strikingly

1. What is Strikingly?

Positioning: Strikingly is a streamlined website builder focused on enabling individuals and small businesses to create modern, mobile-responsive websites with minimal effort. It specializes in single-page designs but also supports multi-page sites for its higher-tier users. It offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for users without coding experience.

Functional Panorama: The platform covers essential modules for online presence, including a robust Site Editor for design and content management, an integrated eCommerce Store for product sales, a built-in Blog for content marketing, and Analytics for site performance tracking. It also provides Membership functionalities for exclusive content, custom Form Builders for data collection, and direct integration with Custom Domains and SSL certificates. For advanced users, the Pro and VIP plans unlock modules like Code Embeds and expanded storage.

2. Strikingly’s Use Cases

• Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners can use Strikingly to quickly launch a professional online presence, showcase products/services, and collect leads without needing a developer.
• Freelancers & Artists can leverage its portfolio and gallery features to create visually appealing online portfolios to display their work and attract clients.
• Bloggers & Content Creators can utilize the integrated blogging module to publish articles, share insights, and engage with an audience.
• Event Organizers can create simple landing pages for event promotion, registration, and information dissemination.
• Coaches & Consultants can build effective personal brand websites to highlight their expertise, offer services, and book appointments.
• Individuals & Non-Profits can easily set up personal pages, resumes, or informational sites for causes and community initiatives.

3. Strikingly’s Key Features

• Supports mobile-responsive, drag-and-drop website creation.
• Integrated simple eCommerce functionality for selling up to 500 products.
• Includes a built-in blogging platform with scheduled posts and RSS feed support.
• Introduced enhanced SEO settings including custom meta descriptions and alt text fields.
• Improved “Smart Assistant” for faster content generation and layout suggestions within the editor.
• Offers a “Simple Store” feature allowing users to set up basic online shops.
• Users frequently praise the “Duplicate Site” feature for quickly creating variations or backups.
• Many users recommend utilizing the “Custom Code” embed feature to add advanced functionalities or third-party integrations not natively supported by the builder.

4. How to Use Strikingly?

1. Select a Template: Start by choosing from a wide array of professionally designed, mobile-optimized templates that fit your purpose.
2. Customize Content: Use the intuitive drag-and-drop editor to replace placeholder text and images with your own. Click on any section to edit text, upload media, or adjust settings.
3. Add New Sections: Drag new sections from the sidebar to expand its functionality.
4. Pro Tip: Typing directly into text boxes automatically triggers a context-aware formatting toolbar for quick styling. For AI-generated content ideas, look for the ‘Smart Assistant’ icon within text sections.
5. Configure Settings: Access the “Settings” panel to connect a custom domain, enable SSL, configure SEO metadata, set up analytics, or integrate social media.
6. Pro Tip: Before publishing, use the “Preview” option to check how your site looks on different devices to ensure responsiveness.
7. Publish Your Site: Once satisfied, click the “Publish” button to make your website live.

5. Strikingly’s Pricing & Access

• Free Tier: Supports basic website creation with a Strikingly.com subdomain, 500MB bandwidth, and a limited number of products in the store.
• Limited Plan: Priced at approximately $8/month, it allows connecting a custom domain, removes Strikingly branding from the footer, and offers more storage and bandwidth.
• Pro Plan: Approximately $16/month, unlocks multi-page sites, password protection, site search, removes all Strikingly branding, and provides enhanced features like custom code embedding. This tier is often recommended for growing small businesses.
• VIP Plan: Around $49/month, includes everything in Pro, supports up to 5 sites, offers priority customer support, and provides full API access for advanced integrations.
• Web Dynamics: As of Q1 2024, Strikingly frequently offers promotional discounts for new annual plan sign-ups, often advertised on their homepage or via pop-ups.
• Tier Differences: Key differences include the number of products allowed in the store, availability of multi-page sites, removal of Strikingly branding, custom code functionality, and access to premium support.

6. Strikingly’s Comprehensive Advantages

• Speed of Deployment: Strikingly enables users to launch a professional-looking website significantly faster compared to more complex platforms like WordPress, due to its intuitive editor and template-driven approach.
• Mobile Responsiveness: All Strikingly templates are inherently mobile-optimized, ensuring websites look great on any device without extra configuration, a feature sometimes requiring additional plugins or manual optimization on competitors like older WordPress themes.
• Ease of Use: It consistently receives high ratings for its user-friendliness, making it highly accessible for non-technical users, contrasting with the steeper learning curve of platforms like Squarespace or Wix for advanced customization.
• Focused Functionality: Its focus on single-page or limited multi-page sites makes it an ideal solution for landing pages, online portfolios, and simple business showcases, reducing feature bloat often found in comprehensive builders like Wix.
• Integrated Marketing Tools: The platform offers built-in email sign-up forms, social media integration, and basic analytics, providing essential marketing capabilities without the need for third-party plugins.
• Market Recognition: Strikingly is recognized by independent review sites like Capterra and Trustpilot for its strong customer support and high user satisfaction among small business owners seeking a quick and easy online presence.