From SEO to Design: What Is Odoo Website? My Thoughts On If It's Something You Should Be Using In Your Business And A Quick Guide For New Users
Everyone should have a website. I honestly believe that.
Websites are all about informing, from selling services to selling your story.
That comes down to website design, functionality and external factors like SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). But how can Odoo help through their integrated website builder to further ensure that your business is getting the attention it deserves via effortless web building?
Odoo's website builder is aimed at effortless web building through a 'no code' experience to ensure that 'anyone can do it' if they want to. Poof, your website is created.
I'd thought I would discuss just that. It's one I have wanted to discuss many times but have not had the chance to, and how is it fair compared to key competitors like WordPress on the market for businesses today? Let's discuss the best open-source website builder in my eyes and how you can start to build a website that converts into leads and revenue.
Is Odoo Website on your list to scope out? If not, then have a look at why it maybe should be. While it's an app within the suite which is rapidly developing in areas for improvement, it has come a hell of a long way, even since v14 a couple of years back.
This Edition's Ingredients
Let's take a look at this article's ripe ingredients to see what's coming up.
- 💻 What Is Odoo Website?
- 🎨 Crafting A Website Like A Designer
- 🧱 Building Blocks + Designing
- 🖱️ Odoo Website Features
- 🔎 Search Engine Optimisation In Odoo Website
- 🔝 My Top Tips For SEO In Odoo
- 🤖 Odoo's AI Tools Are Your New Friend
- 📈 Odoo Website Analytics
- 🤝 The 'Fully' Integrated Benefits
- 💰 Is Odoo Website Free?
- ✅ How to Get Started With Odoo Website
- 🆚 Odoo Website Vs WordPress
- 🔌 Odoo Website Tutorials [Directory]
What Is Odoo Website?
All in all, Odoo Website offers, a user-friendly platform for creating and managing your website in addition to your current apps being used within Odoo for indervidually. Including various tools and capabilities to help you design, publish, and maintain web pages without the obvious need for advanced technical skills or coding knowledge.
Utilise key features and take advantage of easy layouts, multimedia content, and quick integration with Odoo's other apps to expand on functionality.
Odoo follows the concept of being able to both dream and build it. Following core simple concepts through the module to ensure that even people 'without technical skills' can be able to mock up a website.
This also includes letting AI guide you through the process from theme all the way to copy.
Set up your business, add a logo, select the additional features that you need, pick a theme and you are ready to go. Odoo thrives on simplicity when it comes to its website builder, but we will touch on that.
The Odoo Website has come a long way since it was first introduced and is now an extremely popular app within the Odoo suite. Allowing businesses to keep their operations all under one roof alongside all their other requirements. Further allowing businesses, companies and sole inderviduals not to have to turn to other application systems, like WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Squarespace and many more currently on the market.
To give you a quick flavour of what can be achieved, check out the currently spotlighted websites which have been built through Odoo.
Crafting An Odoo Website Like A Designer
Through drag and drop blocks, out-the-box, Odoo wants to make your building process as smooth as possible. Want to make precise adjustments to the layout. Not a problem. Adding filters, media and content. You can do that too. Animate an element? Yep, easy.
With plenty of themes available, it's a quick process to start customising and implementing your brand and persona within an existing package.
From the very start, with Odoo Website, it's all about creating something which is going to be quick and efficient for your business. By using Odoo's native functionality like 'building blocks' as well as looking across effective standards like structure, dynamic content, inner content and website themes, the inner 'designer' within you can quickly take effect.
For anyone new to Odoo Website, I'll run through some basics regarding what can be done and some nice features to look out for.
Building Blocks + Designing
Building blocks in Odoo, is the foundation for any page or concept that you want to build. By quickly dragging and dropping them onto your desired web pages. Away from custom development and code, four types of building blocks are available depending on their use for visitors coming to the site. Those are the following:
- Structure
- Features
- Dynamic Content
- Inner Content
I'd recommend looking at the following video if you are just getting started at this point and want to learn more information about creating your first pages. ⬇️
Adding building blocks, in this sense, is pretty easy. click 'Edit' - select the desired building block and drag and drop it onto any page. Add as many blocks as needed. You would then click 'Customise' to change features where available. Again, I'll mention this the last time, but this is where the flexibility of the Odoo website comes in. While everyone shouldn't have access to creating content on your website, they could if they wanted to from a skill level.
Here is an example in motion of the editor being used, across inputting building blocks and editing functionality and elements within side of them for more of a branding pop to attract customers and keep them hooked to click CTAs and funnel them into channels.
Colour pre-sets and backgrounds can also be applied to web blocks for consistent branding.
What features should you be looking out for as a designer? Here are a few highlights...
Layout: Grids & Columns
Choose between two layout styles for most building blocks through 'Grid' or 'Columns', allowing for flexibility in design. Reposition elements and resize elements, such as images or text, by dragging and dropping them.
It's a great way for multiple-element positioning within a single block. Perfect for you creatives our there when it comes to mixing copy with images.
In regards to columns, you determine what number of elements per line can be used within the block. While also looking towards device dynamic content such as mobile for easy accessibility on smaller screens.
For anyone who further wants to take a look at the design elements within Odoo Website, I would suggest taking a read through the latest Odoo User Documentation guides.
Odoo Website Features
So, at this point, you might be wondering, what features are included within Odoo's website builder? Well, with v17 released at the back end of 2023 and v18 due in just a few months time, there has never been a better time that to build a website through Odoo.
Design Your Website
Designing your website has never been easier. With intuitive features that are easy to use for both business owners and skilled website developers, the builder is there to bring your brand and story to life.
The ease of use regarding Odoo's website builder is one that I have really come to appreciate. The builder saw massive upgrades in Odoo's v17 release during OXP 23 in November 2023, and from a design perspective, v18 is anticipated to follow suit with even more features.
Mobile Responsiveness
Build your website to be mobile responsive through automatic adaptability across all devices. You can easily control what is mobile visible and what is not.
The Media Manager
Struggling for imagery? Odoo Website contains a deep wide log of illustrations and high-resolution photos through the Unsplash library to ensure your website is hitting the mark with viewers and even blog readers.
Likewise again, I would think that we can expect some great Odoo 18 upgrades here.
Getting That Website Traffic!
Critical to any successful website. Use Odoo's SEO tools to write up friendly search engine content that not only appeals to your audience but also to the robots. We'll touch on this in a little more depth later on.
If you fancy learning more about how we increased our website leads by 10x by switching from WordPress to Odoo, then check out the talk our Head of Marketing - Jordan Kinsella, is running at OXP 24 this year. More coming up on that soon on Drinking The Purple Juice.
Essential Analytics
Learn more about your visitors and act accordingly to analytic dashboards so you can make the best moves that fit your audiences when attracting the masses. We will touch on this more in a second however.
Connect to Visitors In Real-Time: Yes, Real-Time!
In this day and age, it's all about connecting with your audience in real time, and the Odoo Website does just that across various sources of automation.
Of course, if you are already an existing Odoo customer, then these additional apps come at no additional cost. One price = all access to every module.
Developer Friendly Tools
While the builder is designed for business owners, additional tools are available for those who are more technically inclined or want a more bespoke site/features to stand out from their competition.
Trust me, from someone who has spent a lot of time with our marketing team in the backend code editor, it's great. A great mix of out-of-box and customisations if it does take your fancy and you have the capacity. Tread with caution, however!
Odoo Website Features
- Layouts: Grids & Columns
- Duplicating Building Blocks
- Drag & Drop Building Block Reordering
- Save Custom Building Blocks
- Website Blogs
- Visibility: [Hide Specific Blocks on Mobile or Desktop]
- *Conditional Visibility
- Mobile View Customisation
- Variety of Blocks: Banners, Masonry
- Table of Contents
- Call to Actions
- Dynamic Forms [Integrated to Other Odoo Apps]
- Website Forums
- eCommerce Stores/Shops
- Social Media Connectivity
- Fully Customisable Website Themes
- Integrated Website Menu Editor [Including Mega Menus]
- Mailing Groups
- Multiple Websites
- Bespoke Link Tracking
- e-Learning
- Fantastic Reporting Tools
- Integrated Event Management
- Jobs & Appointments
- HTML/CSS Editor
Plus, much, much more.
If you want to learn more about the further features, I'd recommend taking a look at the Odoo 17 documentation regarding the website. With further information on select tutorials for features and insights into configuration. I'll, of course, provide a directory towards the end.
I wouldn't want to disrupt your flow or reading, now would we?
Search Engine Optimisation In Odoo Website
As with any website, no matter the features, platform or performance, half of the battle comes with Search Engine Optimisation, also known as 'SEO' in some cases.
SEO stands for 'Search Engine Optimisation' and in simple terms, SEO means the process or improving your website to increase its visibility in Google, Microsoft Bing, and other search engines whenever people search for products you sell, services you provide or information on topics in which you have deep expertise and/or experience.
As we all know, the better visibility that your pages have in search results, the further the fact that you are more likely to be found by people and customers and clicked on. Attracting more website visitors who will become paying customers or audience members.
When it comes to Odoo, it's no different, and Odoo Website can support these ventures. By looking at key aspects like content, social sharing, URLs, images and page speed.
So what are my thoughts on SEO, and how should you get started in Odoo?
My Top Tips For SEO In Odoo
Now, while I am no SEO expert, and alongside the SEO experts in my team, here is what we would suggest when it comes to picking up SEO in Odoo and some considerations that you should be making/paying attention to.
Meta Tags
Meta Tags are SEO standards in the website world. They are HTML elements that provide information about a certain webpage to the search engine and visitors.
Meta tags play a critical role in SEO by helping relevant search engines further understand the content and context of a webpage to attract visitors. There are two types within Odoo:
Title Tags: These tags specify a webpage's title that is then displayed as a link on Google for example. The more concise and descriptive, the better, as they are then relevant to a page's contents. Update the title tag on your web pages to reflect this.
Description Tags: These tags summarise the web page's content, which is often displayed in search engine results below the title. They encourage the user to visit the page further. Update the description tag on your web pages to reflect this.
Website Keywords
Keywords are the main, if not the main, aspect of SEO. Any website which is well-optimised for search engines speaks the same exact language as potential visitors. Relevant terms, in a sense. Keywords can be added in the 'Keyword Field' for different levels across your content, such as H1, H2 page titles, in page copy/descriptions and more. These keywords drive web traffic to your website. The more keywords that are presented, the better.
Images/Media
I'll touch on performance in a second. However, one huge factor in this is the implementation of media across your website. Things such as images, gifs and even videos. This can have a significant impact on webpage speed, which can often go unnoticed when talking about SEO.
The good thing with Odoo is that any image which is uploaded is automatically converted to 'webp' format. This allows image file formats to be smaller, which increases the page loading speed. To further this, Odoo's image formatting helps.
Modify an image based on size and format for the best optimisation on a webpage.
It's small things like this which, always help in Odoo, as standard.
Advanced SEO Features
When talking about advanced features, I had to mention 'Structured Data Markup', which is used to generate rich snippets in search engine results. It's a way in which websites can send structured data to search engine robots, helping them further understand your content and create well-presented results.
Here is an example of how a typical data markup structure would sit from Odoo.
robots.txt
A 'robots.txt' file tells search engine crawlers which URLs the crawler can access on your site to index its content. This is done to avoid overloading your site with requests. When indexing any website, a search engine likes to take a look at the file.
We joke, but Bart is somewhat on the right track here. SEO is a mix of robots, automation and technicals alongside targeting people's thoughts, feelings and language. The ultimate mix of winning people over by robots, and attracting them.
Odoo automatically creates on robot.txt file available on:
mydatabase.odoo.com/robots.txt
By editing this file, you can then further control which site pages are accessible to search engine crawlers. Adding in custom instructions to the file, go to Website -> Configuration -> Settings and scroll down to the SEO section, 'Edit robots.txt', which can be seen.
Website Performance
Now, I know we touched on performance with images and media, but I wanted to personally highlight the real key importance of ensuring that your website is up to scratch. It really can have a massive effect on SEO rankings and results. The last thing we would want to do is spend all that time on keywords and meta tags while then worrying about performance.
My recommendation is using something external like 'GT Metrix' which I will link below. Check out your website performance and areas which are being flagged so that a report can be gathered on improvements.
Other formats are also on the market, such as 'Google Page Speed' or 'Pingdom Website Speed Test', but I personally recommend GT Metrix.
If you are in need of SEO support, certain Odoo Partners who are website-heavy will most likely cater towards your needs. We do it at Gravitai for any client. Additionally, you can look for a bespoke SEO agency to deal with this, or Odoo also offers an SEO service to boost online visibility and drive organic traffic.
Following through the process from analysis and strategy through to training and go-live support that focuses on website structure, targeting keywords and comprehensive training as advertised. I'll leave the link below to check out if desired.
To cap off on the SEO piece, if you have an existing website and are looking to migrate to Odoo, please consider the SEO migration process. It might seem that way, as per other data, would work, but SEO, unfortunately, in this day and age, does not just 'carry over'. I'd suggest taking a look into conducting more research on this, but in the meantime, you can take a look at Odoo's insights into effective strategies for maintaining this.
Odoo's AI Tools Are Your New Best Friend
As a business it can often be hard deciding what slogan or title to go for. Does this match the branding? Does this match our SEO needs to land more customers? That's where your Odoo Website AI Sidekick comes into action!
It's where Odoo has thrived since last year, with AI features being announced at Odoo Experience 2024 with various modules in mind.
Integrated through ChatGPT, copywriting became a whole lot easier. Ask Odoo directly to generate your website's content for you if stuck all through a tiny prompt. Focus on tone and ROI to ensure those clickthroughs!
While there is not too much more to discuss on this, it's one to for sure look out for as Odoo continues to develop the website application in version releases to come with new features. Maybe even some insights at the upcoming Odoo Experience 24 in October with the release of Odoo 18 arriving on the scene, we will see.
Odoo Website Analytics
When it comes to Odoo Website analytics, there are a couple of options. Analytics are how website owners monitor their data when people enter their websites/pages. Providing key data on aspects like demographics, behaviour and interactions. This can then further help improve website aspects and marketing strategies which are being taken.
A quick screenshot of the interface. Being a user myself, I have to admit that the first time I came across the tool was through Odoo and up till now, I have been impressed with the data and results.
Please Note: It is important to note however that Plausible.io does come at an extra cost. Dependant on how many website visitors and the data/access to insights that you are looking to achieve. It's pretty affordable compared to some of the alternatives out there however.
The 'Fully' Integrated Benefits
Yes, I had to touch on this. While Odoo's full capabilities might not outshine WordPress in terms of the real volume of options, the possibilities of scaling up and integrating other Odoo apps make it a key winner. Have the ability to play with amazing features across growing your business while also streamlining company processes and enhancing user experience along the way. A fully unified system to grow your business efficiently.
Just a handful of apps that are integrated to Odoo Website. That means not midnight shopping for WordPress plugins or additional apps for requirements. Odoo has all you will ever need across websites.
I'll touch on this in my later review, however, and how this stacks up in comparison to competitors such as WordPress for customers. I think it's an important note to touch on.
Is Odoo Website Free?
Theoretically yes. Odoo's website is free forever with the 'One App Free Plan', including hosting, unlimited support and maintenance. No ads or limits. The best part???
Your domain name is also FREE.
This remains in all Odoo Online databases for one year, as suggested above.
But why would Odoo do that? Well, honestly, they can because they believe in the product, and so do the customers. It's hard to resist a free website, and with the functionality on offer, customers quickly realise that with the additional integrated apps such as e-commerce, Live Chat, Helpdesk, Recruitment and much more, it would be silly not to become an Odoo customer, once all your processes are integrated. It's a no-brainer.
How to Get Started With Odoo Website
Well, there are multiple ways you can get the process started. Across training material diving deep into the features straight away and putting your ideas to life to getting stuck in and contacting Odoo directly or an Odoo Partner.
It's easy to start as well. Instant access, after submitting some basic information via Odoo.
Alternatively, Odoo also runs a service directly to use their expert website builders through their in-house team creating custom website themes fully integrated with all Odoo apps.
It's an alternative option if you're still undecided on Odoo Partners and want to go with support directly. However this option could be pricer as you are adhering to Odoo's 'Success Packs' based on needs.
So how does this work, if you want to go with Odoo directly?
Across key areas such as Implementation, Design, Development and Training, you're scoping out your requirements and needs as per scope. From setting up your online store through features like categories, products and pricelists to designing brands and graphics. From developing a theme which works to training your employees to operate the site.
Through a team of designers, experts and developers, tailor your requirements based on needed features that match your brand and style.
Oh, and yes, of course, this is based on a strict process the whole way, from a kick-off meeting to building a sitemap and wireframes through to design, development, testing and much more on offer. If it sounds like something you would be interested in, you can check out the website calculator on offer from Odoo in the link below. Click and enter your requirements while then further estimating pages, data migration, designs etc.
Find out more through Odoo's 'Website Calculator - Estimator' through the link below.
Alternatively, have a look at some of Odoo's designs through Dribble for more info.
I'd highly suggest taking a look at Odoo's courses on both Website and e-Commerce as well. They offer a great baseline understanding of the applications for newbies with structured tutorials on each feature that is available through the modules.
If you're interested in starting your Odoo website journey, then make sure to sign up for a FREE one-app trial. If you're already an existing customer/user of Odoo, then what do you have to lose? Consolidate your tech stack even further... 🖥️
Odoo Website Vs WordPress: An Honest Review From Someone Who Has Used Both
While you could apply this comparison to any one of the alternative website builders on the market, I have skin in the game with WordPress, and can relate to it the most. From first hand experience, we switched to Odoo Website three years back now and have not looked back.
WordPress, if you don't know, is considered one of the most advanced website builders out there. While it can be a little 'techy', the possibilities are endless with the plugins and apps that are on offer.
P.S. We even increased our leads by 10x
We started on Odoo 14 when it came to the website. Ironically, it was acutally the first application which we focused on first. Our tech stack was pretty big when it came to WordPress, with around 25 additional apps that we had paid for or were paying for on a monthly basis.
Odoo 14 worked well, but since then, moving to Odoo 16 and then Odoo 17, I personally think a very strong comparison can be made for both, and we really benefited from the further upgrades across sleek design, enhanced user experiences and optimised functionality. It's a huge improvement which has been made.
Firstly to make an honest review, I think it is important to note that each business has different needs, and this can be supported through other apps, and your tech stack. Remember that!
So here is our experience and how we benefited from switching, including some features for both so that you can make an informed decision if needed:
Integration With The Odoo Platform
It's an obvious one at the time. As I said, we had just made the switch to Odoo. One of the main reasons we switched to the Odoo Website was so that it could have seamless integration with our new and now existing Odoo infrastructure. Something that would be increasingly difficult if we stuck with WordPress, or at the very least, a pain.
It allowed us to simplify our processes, automation channels and marketing/sales capacity.
One of the most relevant examples was CRM. Quick and easy to connect through forms for something that in WordPress would have most likely needed a full theme or additional plugin that would both cost us additional funding and add to our tech stack.
We then balanced out the pros and cons of both platforms and compared:
Odoo Website: Pros
- Full integration to the Odoo Infrastructure [CRM, Email Marketing etc]
- Easy to use for anyone in the business
- Easy drag-and-drop functionality + editing
- You don't need much Technical Knowledge [Coding]
- No additional cost on existing plans
- Integrated ChatGPT is a great plus for customers
- Very flexible platform
- Strong Multilingual capabilities and well-rounded
Odoo Website: Cons
- Better to remain out of the box than purchase apps in the store
- Any website apps or themes are not approved by Odoo [*currently]
- Could be classed as simple by design
- SEO functionality could be improved compared to WordPress + Yoast
- Versatile but focused on ERP needs
WordPress: Pros
- Thousands of Website Apps, Plugins and Designs to pick from
- Built for businesses on larger scales
- Very detailed SEO analytics + on-page optimisation
- Built to be customised
WordPress: Cons
- Heavily reliant on plugins which increases your costs and tech stack
- Can be very expensive with additional apps and themes
- Often seen as quite a technical platform
It's also important to note that Odoo should be considered more of a 'Website Builder' as standard rather than WordPress, which is a 'Content Management System (CMS)' in theory.
For us, on reflection, it was one of the best decisions we made. WordPress was, well, honestly, far too much for what we needed. We found Odoo much more intuitive, which also influenced our decision. The integrated approach sealed the deal as we could really focus on business processes which optimised the company, and the website started at the helm for a lot of those processes. To us, while we dedicate time to our website in showing customers our services, we are customer success focused, so 90% of the features we didn't even scratch the surface with. We are techies as well, so without proper guidence, it would seem very confusing for most.
Odoo website for us was an easy and quick migration decision.
Odoo Website Tutorials [Directory]
Find a list of Odoo Website tutorials or documentation regarding relevant areas of configuration or insights across the module.
Features
Odoo Website Additional Tutorials
Configuration