vincevincevince - 10:20 am on Jun 18, 2007 (gmt 0)

A website builder can be very powerful and effective, or it can be a clone of an early Microsoft Frontpage version without any of the bits which worked properly.

For a top-notch website builder, this is what I would demand:

Three versions - different bits of software - all connecting to the same site.

Version 1: Designer
Full access for editing and implementing templates and CSS. Make it as easy as you can, but give the designer raw control over the HTML as well. Very few designers worth hiring don't know their HTML well enough to be able to code the exact effect they want.

Version 2: Administrator
Add content, edit content, change configuration, etc.

Version 3: Office
Direct link to module features such as: incoming orders, stock, etc. for a shop; comments for a blog; incoming contact forms; etc.
Add and modify-own access for the content where set by someone with the Administrator version

Each version needs to be a true different version, not just the same thing with bits disabled. It needs to be designed with the end user in mind, not easy programming by the software engineer.