Make yourself visible with no-code tools (websites, apps, bots)
No-code tool series — part 2/7: interfaces
Do you have an idea for a tech product but do not know how to build it? In a series of articles, I show my favourite tools, so you can start building your project right away. No coding is required, most tools are even usable for free (in their basic versions).
Previously — Databases: store your content 🪣
Start by picking a database solution. Databases enable you to save your data in a machine-readable and now human-readable format. The tools: Google Sheets, Airtable, Notion, and Ghost.
This episode — interface tools (the “visible/hearable” 📱)
Second in the series: interface tools. Interfaces are textual, graphical or auditory representations of your product or service. You have learned to hide your data in a virtual basket in the previous article. Now you should learn how to present it to others. In the form of websites, apps, bots or social media. All with easy-to-use tools. Here are my favorite tools (in the three categories).
Websites
Webflow — the design tool
One of the leaders in the no-code/low-code space, with a massive $334.9m funding (last in 2022). Webflow is shining on the “design” part of creating websites. Using Webflow Designer, the graphical editor, anyone can create modern, animated websites with all the effects you see from companies like Apple. Provided you have the design skills.
What it lacks is any deep interaction. When you click on anything, it triggers nothing else than animations or links to the next page. One exception: it offers an e-commerce solution (you might want to use Shopify instead, see one of the following articles). But two announced features will change that: Webflow Logic, a workflow solution, and Webflow Memberships, a subscription solution.
Link: https://webflow.com/
EditorX — the underrated tool
EditorX is the unknown, more intellectual brother/sister of the famous website builder Wix. It is very similar to Webflow, easier to use (requires less knowledge in design to create beautiful websites) and creates way better code than Wix. It also shines regarding collaboration functionality. Sadly, Wix’s plans with EditorX are unclear (completely off the radar) and therefore the future of EditorX, too. Test case or future of Wix?
Link: https://de.editorx.com/
Super — the website interface to Notion
In the last article, the all-in-one workplace tool Notion was introduced. Notion can be used as a database for all types of content. Although you can share a Notion page with a few clicks in Notion itself, there are more functions you expect from websites. Here, Super helps. It provides you with a connection of Notion pages to website domains, a password protection, SEO functions and publishing features (change behind the curtain, publish later). Super!
Link: https://super.so/
Bubble — the full solution
“The best way to build tech products without code” — their website headline sounds like the typical marketing wording, but that is really what their solution is about. You can build whole tech products, not just websites. It includes a visual website editor, a complete workflow solution in the backend and a marketplace to get hundreds of templates and integrations.
Whole custom automated processes can be triggered by clicks on the created websites and even be connected to other tools (e.g. Stripe for payment). Want to build a social network, project management tool or NFT marketplace? Get/buy a template and adjust it to your needs.
With infinite possibilities comes a higher complexity and a learning curve. Basic knowledge of tech (e.g. if-cases) and UX design is required.
Link: https://bubble.io/
Softr — the soon-to-be no-code marketplace
Softr is a tool to create web apps from Airtable databases (see the previous article). The process of designing the website layout gets simplified by the ability to combine pre-built building blocks. Only basic tech knowledge is needed.
The future is quite clear after new funding in January 2022. The strategy is to turn Softr into the “world’s largest ecosystem of developers and partners for building no-code apps” with marketplaces for templates and components (the pre-built building blocks).
Link: https://www.softr.io/blog/worlds-largest-ecosystem-for-building-no-code-apps
Apps
Glide — the easiest way to build an app (“view content”)
If you followed the first article’s advice and built up a database in Google Sheets or Airtable it only takes seconds to convert it to a usable app using Glide. Glide is the best option to build any app whose focus is on presenting data (show, search, categorise) to users. Possible applications might be a simple delivery app, a city guide or a budget tracker. For all three use cases, there are templates freely available. More advanced templates can be bought (and sold).
Link: https://www.glideapps.com/
Bravo — the designer’s favourite
“All you need is a design and a backend” — the backend part can be attached to other no-code tools (no coding required), for the design part you should have at least some experience in UX design. Apps can be designed either in Figma, a modern graphic design tool, or in Adobe XD, a prototyping tool for mobile and web apps. Bravo converts them into a native mobile app (Android and iOS). To use or save existing data, you can connect your app to Airtable, Notion or Google Sheets (see the previous article). If you want anything to happen in the background (e.g. send out a mail), you can connect it to Make (previously Integromat) or Zapier (which you will see more of in one of the following articles). The recent intro video published by Bravo makes clear they are no big fan of templates, but if you need any design templates you can find many on Figma.
Link: https://www.bravostudio.app/
Adalo — the potential “Bubble for mobile”
The principle is “components, actions, database”. Build the user interface using pre-built graphical elements, connect them and fill in or save data from or to a database. The main strength is the pre-built elements. A component for Stripe lets you even include payment options in the app. Also, you can use native device functions, like accessing the camera.
The biggest disadvantage is that (subjectively) apps created using Adalo do not look well, but you might have a different opinion here.
Adalo has the potential to turn into a complete solution to create all possible apps without any coding. Compared to other tools, there is still not much money behind Bubble (the latest funding of $8m from Tiger Global is exciting because of the investor’s name). Similarily to Softr, they want to extend its marketplace for components, templates and educational resources. Recently, in April 2022, they released a new version of their Component marketplace.
Link: https://www.adalo.com/
Bots
Chatfuel — the role model
Chatfuel is a long-proven tool to create chatbots for Facebook Messenger and Instagram. Whenever someone writes you a message through a Facebook page, your bot (created with Chatfuel) can answer automatically. I have been using Chatfuel for several years both for customer projects and as a demonstration in workshops and university guest lectures on how to build chatbots. It is stunning how fast everyone, without any knowledge, can easily build chatbots using Chatfuel. In my opinion, the absolute role model on how easy it can be to create a tech product without code. All other tools mentioned here are still not on the same level of simplicity.
Link: https://chatfuel.com/
Voiceflow — it speaks to you
What Chatfuel is for text bots, Voiceflow is for Google Actions (the apps on the Google Assistant) and Skills (the apps on Alexa). You can create bots that speak to you. It’s more complex than Chatfuel, so if you want to get the principle first, try out Chatfuel before Voiceflow. Or simply head jump into Voiceflow. There is also a template marketplace for a lot of use cases. The templates are a fresh mix of example sentences, a “flow” (the logic behind the chatbot) and a tutorial on how to adjust.
Link: https://www.voiceflow.com/
Dialogflow CX — the professional tool
Dialogflow CX is more than just a tool to create bots. Dialogflow is an NLP, which stands for Natural Language Processing. An NLP is an artificial intelligence to understand human (“natural”) language, compared to logical language (code). It is used for contact centres (maybe you had Dialogflow on the phone at some point) but you can also use it to create Google Actions (for the Google Assistant). Dialogflow CX is way more complex than Chatfuel. The learning curve is high but if you have in mind that your tech product will scale in the future, it might be worth it.
Link: https://cloud.google.com/dialogflow/docs/
Social media
For information on how to use social media as an interface for your business (and automate it) subscribe and wait for the following articles.
Coming up next
- Connectors: the missing link between tools 🔗
- Graphics: make it beautiful 🖼
- Monetization: it’s all about money 💸
- Artificial Intelligence: level up the game 🤖
- Final episode: How to choose the right tool(s) 💪
About the author
I equip business persons with the right skills to start building right away. Feel free to message me and/or follow me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bflader/) if you need any further help or support.
