Comparing Seahorse (formerly Easy Website Pro) to Other Website Builders

Seahorse (formerly Easy Website Pro): A Complete Guide for BeginnersSeahorse (formerly Easy Website Pro) is a website builder designed to help users create professional-looking websites quickly, without needing advanced coding skills. This guide will walk you through what Seahorse is, its core features, how to get started, practical tips for building your site, and next steps to grow and maintain your online presence.

What is Seahorse?

Seahorse is a visual website-building platform that evolved from Easy Website Pro. It aims to simplify the site-creation process with drag-and-drop tools, prebuilt templates, and integrated features for design, content management, and publishing. Seahorse targets beginners, small business owners, freelancers, and anyone who wants an easy, low-maintenance way to launch a website.

Who it’s for

• Small businesses and local services
• Freelancers and creatives
• Bloggers and content creators
• People who want a simple portfolio or personal site

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop page builder for layout and design
• Responsive templates optimized for desktop and mobile
• Built-in CMS for managing pages, blog posts, and media
• SEO tools (meta tags, URL customization, sitemap)
• E-commerce support (product pages, carts, payment integrations)
• Hosting and domain management (custom domains or subdomain)
• Integrations with third-party services (analytics, email marketing, social media)
• Forms, contact pages, and basic CRM features
• Backup and versioning tools for restoring previous site states

Getting Started: Step-by-Step

1. Sign up and choose a plan

   • Create an account with your email or social login. Seahorse usually offers a free trial or a free tier with limited functionality. Choose a plan based on site needs (number of pages, e-commerce, bandwidth).

2. Pick a template

   • Browse templates by category (business, portfolio, blog, store). Templates provide a starting layout; you’ll customize colors, fonts, and content.

3. Customize the design

   • Use the drag-and-drop editor to add sections, images, text blocks, buttons, and widgets. Adjust spacing, alignment, and responsive behavior for mobile.

4. Add content and pages

   • Create main pages: Home, About, Services/Products, Blog, Contact. Use the CMS to add blog posts and media. Keep content clear and scannable.

5. Configure site settings

   • Set your site title, favicon, and SEO metadata (page titles, descriptions). Connect a custom domain or use the provided subdomain.

6. Set up e-commerce (if needed)

   • Add products, set prices, configure shipping and taxes, and connect a payment processor (Stripe, PayPal, etc.). Test checkout flow before publishing.

7. Preview and test

   • Preview pages on desktop and mobile. Test forms, links, and interactive elements. Check page speed and accessibility basics.

8. Publish and monitor

   • Publish the site to your domain. Monitor analytics and user feedback. Keep content updated and back up regularly.

Design and Content Best Practices

• Keep navigation simple: 5–7 primary links max.
• Use consistent typography and a limited color palette.
• Prioritize a clear value proposition on the homepage (what you do, who it’s for, CTA).
• Use high-quality images and optimize them for web to reduce load times.
• Write concise headings and short paragraphs; use bullets for scannability.
• Include social proof: testimonials, client logos, case studies.
• Make contact options obvious: contact form, email, phone, and social links.
• Use accessible design: sufficient color contrast, readable font sizes, and alt text for images.

SEO Essentials for Seahorse Sites

• Customize page titles and meta descriptions for every page.
• Use clean, readable URLs and enable sitemap generation.
• Add structured data (schema) for articles, products, and local business info if Seahorse supports it.
• Optimize images with descriptive filenames and alt attributes.
• Create and maintain a blog to target long-tail keywords and drive organic traffic.
• Connect Google Search Console and Google Analytics (or other analytics) to monitor performance.
• Ensure fast load times: compress images, limit heavy scripts, and use built-in caching if available.

E-commerce Tips

• Use clear product photos with multiple views and concise descriptions.
• Organize products into logical categories and include filters if possible.
• Offer multiple payment options and provide transparent shipping/tax info.
• Set up abandoned cart emails to recover lost sales (if Seahorse supports automated emails).
• Monitor inventory and enable stock notifications.

Security, Backups, and Maintenance

• Keep any connected plugins or integrations updated.
• Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication if available.
• Regularly back up your site and know how to restore previous versions.
• Monitor uptime and set up alerts for downtime.
• Review permissions for collaborators and limit access to sensitive settings.

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

• Overcomplicating the homepage with too much content.
• Using too many fonts or colors, creating visual clutter.
• Neglecting mobile design — many visitors will be on phones.
• Forgetting to set up basic SEO or analytics.
• Launching without testing forms, checkout, and links.

Resources and Next Steps

• Start with a simple, focused site and expand features later.
• Use A/B testing for key pages (home, pricing, product pages) to improve conversion.
• Regularly publish content relevant to your audience to build authority.
• Learn basic site performance optimization: image compression, lazy loading, and minimizing third-party scripts.
• If you need advanced features or customization, consider hiring a developer experienced with Seahorse or exporting your content to a different platform.

Seahorse (formerly Easy Website Pro) is designed to lower the barrier to creating polished websites. Focus on clear messaging, solid visuals, and basic SEO to make the most of the platform.