In a Nutshell
pros
- Great design assistance
- Impressive range tools included
- Streamlined setup process
cons
- More expensive than some competitors
- Confusing editor
B12 Features and Tools
B12 is quite a unique website builder that boasts a neat editor and support from a team of design and development experts. A number of its other tools and features stand out as excellent, and we’ve listed a couple of the best below.
Creative Services
B12 offers a number of professional creative services that you can use to add functionality and aesthetics to your website. You will have access to a range of designers, copywriters, and SEO experts whenever you need assistance.
Client Management Tools
You will also benefit from a selection of tools that are designed to help you land more clients and boost your business’s profitability. These include a tidy appointment scheduler, a full contact manager, and a complete toolkit to create and implement banners and pop-ups.
Third-Party Integrations
B12 boasts streamlined integrations with a selection of third-party platforms. Connect with tools like Google Analytics, Drift, Medium, and numerous others to add advanced functionality to your site.
How to Create a Website with B12
Once you’ve worked through the initial questionnaire and created an account, B12 will present you with a small number of themes that have been tailored to your responses. It doesn’t have a template library as such, and you will only ever be able to select from the designs that you’re provided with.
Despite this, you will benefit from a decent level of design flexibility. You can edit virtually every aspect of your site if you so desire, enabling you to create the exact appearance you’re going for. However, the section-based editor is a little confusing, and you will have to spend a decent amount of time familiarizing yourself with it before you can use it to full effect.
If you don’t want to spend the time customizing your own site—or would simply like a little help with a specific component or page—you can select the option to have B12’s expert team do it for you. This is quite a simple process for you and involves consultations with designers and copywriters to ensure you’re getting exactly what you want.
All B12 themes are fully responsive and functional on both mobile and desktop devices. However, the editor is only available on desktop devices, and there’s no way to manage your site on the go.
The editor’s built-in design assistance is a little basic, but you can access complete guides within the B12 support center. Your edits will be shown in real time, so you can always preview your site and see how it will look. On top of this, you can switch between different desktop and mobile views to ensure that your site will look good on all devices.
However, be aware that once your site has been created, it’s not possible to migrate it to another platform.
All things considered, the B12 website builder is a decent option, particularly for those who require extra professional design assistance. It’s easy to use and there’s a great selection of resources to guide you on your journey.
Adding Multimedia to Your B12 website
B12’s multimedia management tools are fairly limited. You can upload multiple image files from your computer, but videos can only be added by embedding a link. There are minimal media editing or management tools, and you can’t import images from your social media or cloud storage accounts. On the plus side, you can easily search the entire Unsplash stock media library directly from the editor.
Marketing Functionality with B12 Websites
B12 offers an integrated blogging tool, but it’s quite basic. However, you can connect blogs from external sites such as Medium or WordPress. Decent email marketing and newsletter tools are available, and you can connect to the majority of the major social media platforms. Basic analytics are available.
SEO Functionality & Add-Ons with B12 Websites
Basic SEO tools are available with all plans. The Basic and Standard plans come with full keyword research and assistance with on-page and off-page optimization. The Premium plan adds even more tools to help you rank well, including a customized content calendar.’
Keyword-informed content is available for up to 2 pages per month with the Premium Plan, and you will benefit from a full SEO evaluation every 6 months. What’s more, B12 provides clear information about the state of your site’s SEO and search engine rankings.
Ecommerce
Online selling is enabled with all B12 plans, including the DIY option. There are numerous payment gateways to choose from, and the B12 team can help you develop the exact store you require. On top of this, they will help you ensure that everything is working the way it should before you launch your site.
B12 also offers a variety of ways to present your products and services online. Templates are available to create pages for pricing, products, services, and tickets, or to book appointments online. Plus, there’s no limit to the number of products or services you can offer. It’s also possible to embed third-party integrations from platforms like Shopify, Ecwid, Calendly, and more.
How much does B12 cost?
B12 is quite expensive compared to the competition, with its cheapest DIY plan starting at $29 per month. This includes full editor functionality and access to most basic tools, but you won’t be able to access assistance from the B12 development team. You can, however, create a draft of your website, prior to publication, for free.
To help create your website, you must upgrade to at least the Basic package ($149 per month). This includes expert web design, photos and images, professional copywriting and copyediting, and on-page and off-page SEO for up to 15 pages. It also adds a selection of analytics tools and phone support.
The more advanced Standard plan ($249 per month) adds email marketing and a contact manager, while the top-end Premium plan ($599 per month) includes a selection of powerful SEO tools.
On top of this, there’s a $999 setup fee for the Basic, Standard, and Premium plans. This pays for the initial design, SEO, and copywriting for your site.
One-time setup fee
N/A
N/A
$1,999
$1,999
Price per month
$42
$169
$339
Unlimited storage and bandwidth
Yes
Yes
Yes
Custom domain
Yes
Yes
Yes
SEO tools
Yes
Yes
Yes
Email marketing
N/A
No
Yes
Yes
B12 Help and Support
B12’s customer service team is only available from 9am to 5pm (ET), Monday to Friday. You can reach out directly via live chat or email, or you can request a callback at a time that’s convenient.
On top of this, there’s a decent selection of articles and tutorials that you can take advantage of. You will also find a large resource center containing a variety of eBooks and other informational resources, along with guides to help you with everything from email marketing to troubleshooting technical errors.
How B12 Compares to Other Website Builders
Pricing
$0 to $399 per month
$5 to $35 per month
$14 to $49 per month
$7 to $59 per month
Hosting included?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Number of templates
Custom AI themes
18
950+
31,000+
Blogging functionality
Good
Good
Good
Advanced
Ecommerce functionality
Good
Great
Advanced
Good
Email marketing functionality
Great
Basic
Good
Limited
Responsive design
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Analytics & Reporting
Good
Good
Basic
Basic
Bottom Line
B12 is far from the most powerful website builder we’ve used, but its assisted design solutions stand out as great if you can afford the high prices. With all its features, you will have full freedom to edit your own website while taking advantage of professional design, SEO, and copywriting services from the B12 team.
To make the process easier, B12 has a great support center packed with decent resources. Basic ecommerce and marketing tools are included, and you can integrate various third-party platforms to add functionality.
Ultimately, B12 is a decent option if you want a professional touch for your website, although its high prices may be less suitable for individuals or starting businesses.