When creating a new website, I understand that it can be very difficult for an average business owner to know where to start. It seems like there are so many options out there. WordPress, Squarespace and Wix are at the top of that list. Each of them promises to be good picks‚ but which one is the best one for you?

I’m always a big believer in ensuring my clients have all the information they need to succeed. That’s why it’s essiental to understand the difference between the types of websites you can create with WordPress‚ versus Squarespace and Wix.

WordPress

WordPress is the world’s most popular website builder. As a content management system (CMS), WordPress makes it easy for people to create websites, use them every day, and update and maintain them (if necessary).

WordPress currently runs 39.5% of all websites at 2021 compare to 35% at 2020.

If you only count websites that use a content management system (CMS), WordPress has a market share of 64.1%. Quite a few websites (38.3%) do not use any content management system at all.

This information is provided by W3Techs, which tracks statistics on the use of web technologies, including content management systems (CMS), operating systems, web hosting, top-level domains, and more.

So, what makes WordPress so popular?

The biggest reason why is because of its large community. Because the WordPress universe is so big and diverse, there are always talented programmers coming up with new website designs, plugins (special add-on apps that give your site new features), and other nifty things that make the website easy and fun to use.

WordPress is also super user friendly and very powerful. It allows for the creation of totally unique and original websites‚ as well as the opportunity to quickly edit and fix technical components and code behind the scenes in the event a bug or other tech error comes up.

Squarespace and Wix

The main selling point of Squarespace and Wix is to give people the ability to easily create websites. However, this doesn’t mean that there isn’t a big difference in quality and style compared to a good WordPress site.

Though Squarespace and Wix may try to make it super easy for people to start websites, in reality it can be a complex and time-consuming process. Because even a “simple” website can be very difficult to create on any platform.

Sure, you can just use the prebuild templates. It can save you time and money, but it also creates a sense of blandness. Having a unique website is critical for your online presence. It helps you stand out in the crowd and your competitors. The last thing you want is one of your competitor having an exact same website as your business.

Creativity and Customisation

When it comes to creativity, it’s a reality that Squarespace and Wix are quite limited compared to WordPress.

With WordPress, you can create a completely unique and original website from start to finish, top to bottom. Ensuring nobody else in your field has a website like yours, and the website is one that truly meets your needs, and offers you everything you want when it comes to building your business and its online identity.

This is why WordPress is one of main CRM I recommands to my clients when it comes to starting a new web project.

With wordpress it ensure that I as a website developer can create a site exactly how they like it. But also create a site that is seamless and easy to use, meaning once the project is finished and the site is created, it is easy for me but also the clients to make use of the site themselves.

SEO

Beyond the ascetics of WordPress, there are also deeper issues with Squarespace, Wix, and other “Simple” website creators like it. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is one of the most important aspects of a website’s operations online today. When a website has good SEO, it means it will rank highly whenever someone does a search for it via a search engine.

SEO is a complex field, but at its core Google and search engines like it will reward websites with a higher rank when they have features like the following:

• Unique and authoritative content
• Fast loading website
• A clean design
• No bugs or errors
• A strong foundation that makes it easy to determine its SEO ranking

Good SEO practice with a WordPress website can be achieved if you put in the work. Sure, it certainly requires some time and expertise, but WordPress has the tools behind the scenes to make this task doable. The same cannot be said for website builders like Squarespace and Wix.

Because all their designs are ultimately similar, and the technical components behind them are rigid, websites that are built using these platforms can actually be penalitize and marked down by Google in SEO, given the content is duplicated, and technically incomplete compared to traditional websites.

FAQ

Can I transfer my Squarespace or Wix site to WordPress?

Absolutely. The exact process can vary from website to website, but its always possible to do it.

Does WordPress cost more than Squarespace or Wix?

It’s understandable because WordPress is a better platform people may expect it to cost more.

In fact, often the opposite. WordPress is so powerful that you can easily build and maintain your website.

This can sometimes cost a bit more to get started, but over time the Squarespace or Wix website can be a lot more expensive. There is the need for ongoing tweaks and fixes – and because these platforms aren’t as sleek or functional as WordPress than can mean far more money is spent and time is lost fixing them.

I hope that you now feel ready to take on the new year! With a strategic approach and some prior organisation, you have the opportunity to significantly boost sales and grow your brand. If you need help implementing any of the above suggestions, please contact me! You know I am always happy to help.