14 DAY TRIAL // Weebly is a service that offers its users the possibility to create a fully customized webpage directly on their site trough an online WYSIWYG interface. Now they are expanding their product to include the ability to add web store components to the sites you are creating, although the basic service will remain free.
Creating a site with Weebly is very easy; it all works with drag and drop and it can be done in a matter of minutes. But its strength comes from the ability to customize all the elements making a site that is truly your own. The interface is simple, with the menubar at the top and the page you are editing below. The menubar has all the elements you need – paragraphs, video player etc – and it also allows you to change the layout and the design of the page. Behind all the simplicity there are actually a lot of options and you can even add SEO or scripts like Google Analytics.
The new feature being introduced is a revenue section with the 'product' elements and also Google AdSense. There are only four product elements but they provide you with the most common layouts for small web stores. The store supports PayPal and Google Checkout as means of payment, both of which are easy to set up. This new feature isn't aimed at professional stores of course but at individuals or small businesses looking for a way to sell their products but who don't have the kind of money you would normally need to set up a web store.
The service is totally free but Weebly plans to introduce other features only available to paid 'pro' accounts. You can host your site with Weebly with a domain name ending with weebly.com or you can buy a domain name, which is another way they generate revenue. Weebly has been steadily growing since it was launched in 2006 and has reached almost 2 million registered sites.