Mailchimp has a new website builder

[Lynn]

So I just got an interesting email from mailchimp.

We know first-hand that running a small business means navigating a lot of uncertainty and doubt. And one of the biggest challenges that many entrepreneurs face is marketing their business.

That’s why we’re introducing a brand new website builder that’s been created specifically to work with your marketing.

With Mailchimp, it's free to create and host your website. Plus, you have access to everything you need to build and promote your online presence:

    Buy a new custom domain or connect an existing one
    Create and host your website
    Start growing your audience with a built-in signup form
    Sell products from your online store
    Promote and drive traffic to your website with your marketing channels

This is just the beginning for our new website builder, and we can’t wait to hear what you think.

I wouldn't recommend ever building out a site someone else owns but if you're really really really broke and just need something to get started, might be an option. And of course, if you need more than the bare bones, it's going to cost you.

Otherwise, pass, and pay for your own domain name and hosting and own your own site. :D You'll thank yourself later for the foresight.

[Bill Hiatt]

I abandoned Mailchimp when the business model started changing, but I'll second the idea that it's better to have more control over your own web presence if you can afford it.

Free now doesn't mean free forever. Just look at how Mailchimp has already modified its fee structure, stripping down the free plan and charging more for other tiers. My personal favorite is counting unsubscribes as part of your audience so that MC could charge for them. I'd be worried that the free website would at some point begin to cost something and/or lose features that would then only be available for extra cost.

For people who truly want free, there are other alternatives.

The Mailchimp approach (charging more but bundling in all kinds of things beyond newsletter support) I've been told might actually make sense for a larger business and even be cheaper for them. But those economics don't work the same way for an indie author.

[Denise]

Well, from landing pages, it's not such a huge step.

If anyone wants to build their websites on Mailchimp, just make sure they buy the domain elsewhere and connect it because in that case it's asier to move elsewhere if things don't work.