Startups need to ensure their capital isn’t burned out quickly. However, they also need to follow a few methods to test out the waters. Some methods include building an MVP-focused website. What worries many founders about building their MVP website is the lack of tools they can utilise which fit their budget.
Lucky for you, we have the best free tools for website MVP below for you and your brand to utilise! Each of the 6 cost-effective tools and their examples are crucial to budgeting your MVP website without breaking the bank!
But before we get into all the juicy details of your future tools, we should first discuss what MVP is and why it’s essential for startup companies to utilise it. Furthermore, learning about the features that make an MVP website helps give you a solid idea of what to expect as well.
So what are we waiting for? Let’s learn about the best tools for a website in MVP!
What is an MVP?
Before we learn about startup MVP websites, we should start with understanding what an MVP is. MVP, also known as a minimum viable product, refers to a product that entices early consumers and is viable for changes to improve customer satisfaction through feedback.
MVP is all about using the fastest method of growing a business through feedback. That way, you give your consumers what they request while improving any potential errors in the earlier deployment stages.
While MVP usually refers to the product or service being sold, a minimum viable product website is also a method for faster transition. Depending on how well you utilise tools for website MVP, you may find yourself earning an effective agile method to improve your business growth faster than expected.
Why is MVP Essential for Startups?
There’s a reason why it’s important to have an expert website MVP builder in startups. Just like with traditional MVPs, startups need to gear themselves toward success without adding unnecessary costs. Receiving realistic feedback, and improving the functions and UI of a website can encourage consumers to continue building a relationship with your brand as it grows.
Remember that every startup needs its customers to remain satisfied with its services to grow. Whether it’s from the products they sell, the website they use to interact with the brand, and even customer service.
While it’s fairly simple to utilise the MVP method, a big problem that many startups face is the cost. Luckily, the Internet holds multiple free tools for website MVP building.
Essential Features of an MVP Website?
There are three essential features every MVP website needs to have. These three features include basic functionality, UI/UX importance, and finally the ability to scale up and become adaptable for future changes.
Basic functionality is required for early adopters and guests of your website to interact with the information you’ve given. Furthermore, ensuring that your UI/UX is comfortable for your consumers and visitors encourages them to continue interacting with your website and brand.
The last but crucial feature is the website’s ability to adapt to changes and scale to create a larger accommodation for your consumers. To keep these things simpler, the free tools for website MVP can support your efforts.
Top 6 Cost-Effective Tools for MVP Development
Now that we know the importance of MVP and its required features as a website we can now begin discussing effective startup software tools and their role in creating an agile movement business process. Keep in mind that these tools create a substantial difference in your growth and transition from initial deployment to future scaling.
1. Website Builders
The first thing that MVP websites need is pretty self-explanatory. Website building can become costly if big web developers are purchased that cater to front-end and back-end development. Even if you decide to use a full-stack developer, this could still lead to high costs.
This is why website MVP tools like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress are lifesavers for many startups. These website builders have platforms that include a wide variety of free or cheap themes available for any business, personal, or educational use.
However, tools for website MVP like website builders can become costly over time. If you begin to create more functions, accommodate more users, and add security measures. The good news is that these costs would be reasonable depending on the growth of your brand.
2. Low-Code/No-Code Platforms
Speaking of creating a website and scaling it, if your business still hasn’t reached its maintained potential, it’s easier to begin with simple low-code or no-code platforms. These are essential for any startup founder with little to no knowledge of coding.
A no-code MVP builder can give you the edge to add simple functions that you need when your business’s growth develops at a maintained rate. Just before you go about hiring developers, low-code MVP platforms can be enhanced with functions such as sign-ups, purchasing, submitting, and other interactions.
For those searching for a low-code to no-code full-stack development app, we suggest using platforms like Bubble, Webflow, or Glide.
3. Affordable Hosting Options
Every business with a digital presence requires web hosting and a service provider that will host their website. Web hosting refers to a server location where the information you have set up and its functions become accessible online.
Servers are required for any type of website visible online. Without servers, you won’t be able to see codes, media, or any other information you worked hard to make. While there is a wide variety of web hosting types, there are two that stand out when it comes to affordable hosting: shared and cloud.
A. Shared Hosting.
The first type, shared hosting, is the best to consider when utilising tools for website MVP development.
The goal of shared hosting is to create a cost-effective solution for multiple users by sharing the same server resources. This includes storage, processing power, and even memory. Startup businesses often opt for shared hosting in its early stages. This is because shared hosting doesn’t require top-of-the-line bandwidth or much configuration.
The benefits of shared hosting aren’t just cost-effective functions, it also helps non-technical users create their website platform without having to worry about its maintenance and administration.
Unfortunately, this does come with some downsides when opting for shared hosting. You can’t quite adjust your server because of the minimal access you receive. Furthermore, if those within your shared hosting have high traffic rates, this could result in your website’s speed slowing down.
B. Cloud Hosting
Another option for affordable hosting is cloud hosting, which has several servers that host multiple websites. This solution to shared hosting’s problem of slow website speed is operating within another server should the previous server experience high traffic.
While excellent as one of the tools for website MVP development, keep in mind there are a few things you should know about cloud hosting. First off, cloud-based web hosting is the ideal method for eCommerce shops. This is because cloud hosting relies mostly on non-stop web servers that don’t have any downtime.
Another good thing about cloud hosting is its ability to be scaled since it’s not limited to a single server like shared hosting. However, it can become more expensive than shared hosting.
4. Open-Source Solutions
Another option to consider for affordable website building is open-source solutions. Open source is the process of using open source software (OSS) which can be customised from its original piece. These open-source codes are legally distributed and given rights to their creator.
So, how is it beneficial to a startup trying to build a website MVP? Open-source content management systems (CMS) are the best way to maintain your website’s quality without compromising your budget.
Excellent open-source solutions include Joomla, Drupal, and Grav. These sources create their content management systems that can be customisable to your wishes and functions.
5. Collaboration and Project Management Tools:
One of the easiest free tools for website MVP is project management tools like Trello and Asana. Meanwhile, collaboration and open communication is possible with apps like Slack, and Google Teams.
Asana, Trello, and Monday are prime examples of project management tools. These platforms create an organised space for their users to pinpoint the statuses of unfinished and ongoing tasks. It also provides a much more organised form of taking improvement and feedback.
These project management tools create an organised space for your brand and your employees while building your startup. Any concerns feedback-wise and improvements being made can be listed on any of these project management tools and assigned to any of your staff.
Furthermore, open communication lines like Google Teams and Slack provide quick memos and discussions should your teams be far away from each other.
6. Free/Low-Cost Design Tools
Last on our important and accessible tools for website MVP are design applications that help boost the visuals of your brand. You can’t expect to catch the eye of your consumers without aesthetically pleasing images and designs. That’s why hiring graphic designers tends to become expensive and necessary for a brand or website.
The good news about using a website MVP builder with free tools is that you can start out doing these things slowly. Software online like Canva, Figma, and Adobe XD provides a wide range of graphic elements that you can customise to create your aesthetically-pleasing visuals.
The best part is there are free options available for most of these design tools! Should you want to purchase some designs, low-cost themes are also available on their website.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed learning all about these tools for website MVP that can kickstart your business’ online launch. There are more than just the ones we have discussed that can help build your MVP website today and can surely support all your needs!
Once you have deployed the perfect website, why not look for maintenance, security, and other complex code functions next? Contact Flexisource IT for quality service that is tailored to your needs!