What’s the best website builder For you?
When looking for a DIY Website option, you have many choices, but which website option is the best one for you and your business? Let’s look at three very popular website builders: WordPress, Squarespace and Wix. But before we get started I’d like to share my perspective on the following question.
What is the best website builder?
Here are some things I’d like you to keep in mind when you try to answer this question.
Popular website platforms like Wix, Squarespace and WordPress have stood the test of time. Each has thousands of faithful users and they are all great choices for the right person.
Each website was created for a specific audience and their needs. While there is an overlap, they each have their own niche with faithful followers.
There is no one answer to this question, there is only the best choice for you and your needs today. 👩🏻💻 ✔️
And of course, there are more options out there for you to look at.
I’ve picked three of the most popular for small and service based businesses. Let’s keep it simile to start. The points I make for the three website platforms I talk about here can also help you in general, while you search for your perfect match, no matter what website platform you are reviewing.
WordPress
Wordpress.org is often considered the “Holy Grail” of website platforms for many businesses online because there is little you can’t do with it, if you have the skills, time or funds to hire help. One thing you must understand when it comes to Wordpress. There are two versions with the same name and Wordpress.org is very different from Wordpress.com.
Wordpress.org requires you to manage your own web hosting. This is the more complex option of the two, with the most features and flexibility. You pay a web hosting company to host your Wordpress.org website. You can consider this a self-managed solution.
Wordpress.com* similar to Squarespace or Wix in that you do not have to manage your own web hosting. For a Wordpress.com website you are not responsible for finding your own web host as this is included with the price of Wordpress.com.
*I don’t recommend using Wordpress.com websites simply because there are better options for hosted website solutions. Squarespace and Wix are better options, more on these options below.
When people recommend Wordpress, most are talking about Wordpress.org and that’s what I’ll talk about below.
Wordpress.org
If you decide to go with Wordpress.org, you will need to pay for a “web host” so your website has somewhere to live online. These are the web hosting services I can recommend at this time: Mediatemple, SiteGround and WPEngine. This is where you would start.
Hosting services like the ones above make it very easy for you to install your Wordpress.org website. Often they have an option where you just click a button and it will then install it for you. Wordpress.org websites are the most technical of the options I’ll talk about here. If you plan to DIY a Wordpress.org website you will have to into the weeds a bit, with the techie things unless you hire someone to get things setup and designed for you.
Wordpress Pros
You have endless design options with a Wordpress.org website. You can choose from thousands of ready made themes, free themes and paid. You can also alter a Wordpress.org website for a completely customized design if you have web design skills or you hire someone to do this for you.
You have endless functional options from e-commerce, to private memberships, e-learning and more. If you have a dream -you can bring it to life with Wordpress.org
Wordpress.org websites are super flexible and popular, therefore most popular services and tools online already work with a Wordpress.org website.
You can download all your website content. If you want to move your website or change your website platform, you can download all your blogs and pages and images. You can even move all your content to another Web Host if you want. You will likely need some help to do this as this requires some techie skills but it is possible. Moving a Wordpress site still takes some skill and time.
You can download all the code and content because this kind of website is owned by you and you can do whatever you like with it. You can change any part of the code and function (at your own peril as well).
This kind of website can grow with your business easily (however your web hosting package may need to change to accommodate certain types of growth). You can start small and then add a store, or a learning portal or a blog. You can even add numerous blogs, you can expand and alter a Wordpress.org website endlessly as you change and grow. No other platform provides as many options for growth and change.
Wordpress Cons
If you feel very non-techie and you want to truly work with your website, this option would not be good for you unless you had some help
Time to get up and running can be much longer if you don’t work to keep things simple and really focus
You have endless options and the choices can be *very* overwhelming
Specific features such as e-commerce shopping carts and online learning and anything else you might want as an added feature, you can do but will have to install or connect 3rd party systems to do it - WordPress does not come with e-commerce functions “out of the box”
Does not come with any technical support
You are more likely to need the skills of a web developer at some point in time
Due to all the features and functions and possibilities, troubleshooting when you have problems can be more time consuming and costly
Some themes can be very tricky to change such as Divi
If you feel very non-techie and you want to truly work with your website, this option would might not be good for you unless you had some help
Can become a large time-suck :(
Squarespace
So, now you know that a website choice like Squarespace is an example of a “hosted website service”. These kinds of websites are kinda like membership sites. You pay for a membership and you get all the services you need to create and maintain your website.
You don’t have to maintain the code or the hosting of the website, you pay a monthly fee to use the website tools they give you to create your website and if anything goes wrong, they will fix it or help you fix it!
These services are designed specifically for the DIY non-technical person in mind.
Squarespace Pros
Shorter learning curve
Easy access to free stock images in the website builder
Comes with e-commerce
Comes with calendar a and booking system for an additional fee
Comes with features that allow you to have a membership website for courses or members only content
Quicker to launch
Easy to use
Many professional ready-made designs
Mobile ready -will look great and function well on your phone
Customizable
No need to install anything anywhere, ever
Large variety of functions and plug-and-play options
Easier to stay focused on your purpose and goals
Includes tech support
Quick* and easy for you to change or modify
Less risk of tech difficulties that can bring your site down or require that you need tech help
Squarespace Cons
Limited ability to integrate with other tools and systems compared to WordPress
Limited design and functional options compared to WordPress
*The authoring environment can sometimes be a bit slow & it has it’s “isms” to get used to, that you have little to no control over
Of course there are many ways WordPress website differs from a Squarespace website but I hope to have covered some of the biggest differences you need to be aware of.
Wix
WIX is one of the simplest website platforms to use. I’d say they are catering to a non techie audience in particular with a focus on ease of use.
PRO - WIX is easy to work with but can also be easier than Squarespace to get into trouble with.
PRO - WIX has very good e-commerce features, possibly better than Squarespace for the cheaper versions. Both Squarespace and WIX have good e-commerce features
PRO - WIX has a FREE version! You can launch your website right away with Wix for FREE using their free account. This uses a subdomain they provide and looks like this: username.wixsite.com/sitename/
CON - WIX requires some extra TLC in order to get your mobile website looking right. Squarespace does an excellent job creating your mobile site effortlessly without you having to do anything.
How do I choose the best website builder for my business?
At the end of the day you have to go with the platform that fits your needs. Take some time to explore your options. Consider what you need and if you need support get it. No one can tell you that one option is “the best”.
There is only what’s best for you. Today.
If you are having a difficult time trying to understand which website might be the best match for you & your business, give me a shout. Let’s talk about what you need and your website goals and I can help.
