Which Website Builder Should I Use?
YOUR CHOICES
The choices for a website builder or platform are numerous - Squarespace, BigCommerce, Shopify, Wordpress, Weebly, Wix, GoDaddy, Web.com...
Free WordPress (WP) sounds like a great deal
Let's say that you are looking to hire someone to put together your website. I recommend that you stay away from solutions that require custom coding. Custom = more $$$. Simple. You can slice it, dice it however you want. But, it creates a deeper dependence on the developer. Changes are more time consuming and complex when compared to a template-based site provider’s offering. Yes, there are legitimate reasons for getting some custom code on your website - like when you are trying to incorporate legacy (older) systems into a modern web framework. Or, there is a specific feature that is not available with your chosen platform and you take a hybrid approach of developing your website by using a platform’s templates and custom coding.
But, wait! Isn't WP template based? Yes, I will get to that in a moment. WP, the platform itself is free because it is open source. As are many plug-ins. By some estimates, 34-37-43% of the websites in the world run WP. Many successful websites - large scale publishing sites, for example, are run entirely and smoothly on WP. But, those organizations have the deep pockets to afford an in-house development team that support their site or they have it contracted out to a group of professionals and are paying top dollar for the smooth functioning of their site. Security in WP is a nightmare. Given its free nature, it is the #1 hacked website platform in the world. So, as a business owner that doesn't have the luxury of a dedicated group of professionals to manage your WP platform, steer away from it.
I am for the template-based website platforms - to name a few of the most popular and robust ones - Squarespace, BigCommerce, Shopify, Weebly, and Wix. If you want a rock-solid eCommerce platform with minimal traditional website features, you can't go wrong with BigCommerce or Shopify. Squarespace has a nice clean look to it but, its shipping solution, its ability to setup product variations, etc., pale in comparison to BigCommerce and Shopify. Why? Because Squarespace is not a specialized solution for eCommerce like BigCommerce and Shopify. Squarespace offers a fine blend of features to create a website with an eCommerce option. Both BigCommerce and Shopify will allow you to scale to hundreds of products and SKUs, take all kinds of payment channels and allow decent expansion.
If you have less than 20 products or no products to sell online and want a nice blend of a traditional website with eCommerce (to have it as a feature if you decide to start selling online), check out Weebly and Wix.
I personally opted for Weebly and Squarespace for my websites. I have my McAllen Website Designer, eCommerce, Internet Marketing and, IT Consultant website on Squarespace. I also have my McAllen Architecture and Portrait Photographer website on Squarespace with an eCommerce store to sell online. I found the Wix pricing quite high, found the Weebly interface smooth and, the fact that Square (payments processor, not to be confused with Squarespace!) now owns them sealed the deal for me. The one downside with Weebly is that unless you subscribe to their higher-priced plans, they don't give you basic features like a favicon - that is the little icon that appears on your web browser's tab and they plaster their Weebly branding on the footer of your site. Kind of cheesy but, in my comparisons by way of trying out the different platforms, Weebly still gives the best bang for the buck so, realizing that perfection doesn't exist in the universe, I accepted the Weebly cheesiness. In the end, I set up my Antiques business of Typewriters, Watches, Fountain Pens, Inkwells and, Pocket Watches and RGV Singles Ministry on Weebly.
In the long term, you will spend less on a non-WP based template site. Yes, WP is considered template based but, there is a difference between WP template-based sites and the ones offered by Weebly or Wix. The WP ones are based on open source platform model which on one hand offers unparalleled flexibility to customize (at a significantly higher cost over the life of a website) and on the other hand, must play nice with all other themes and plugins that your site uses. Technically, of course, it can be done - the compatibility managed. But, it comes at a cost to you and as nice income to the WP web developer. Now, a template-based site doesn't mean that you don't have any options to change the look and feel of the site. The colors and fonts can be customized to some extent depending on the template you choose.
The advantage of a template-based solution from Squarespace or Weebly or Wix or a similar provider is that the amount of time and effort to create and go live with a site is short. Your dependency on a web developer is virtually non-existent. Why? Because you can pass the login credentials to any web developer and he/she can take over the support and maintenance. Obviously, those developers that earn a living form WP or custom coded sites are not going to be in favor of such solutions. They may even cite the numerous other clients they have that use WP and have been using WP for years. Ask them if a monthly maintenance fee is required with their WP support and the answer is likely an affirmative. With template-based sites, unless you need a regular updating of the site's content that you don't want to handle in-house, there are no monthly costs. You pay a web developer a one-time fee to set it up, document the set-up, train someone from your team and, be done with it. Until it is time to add a page or add a new feature or make substantial content changes.
Another advantage of non-WP based template solutions is that there is zero maintenance needed for the platform itself. Squarespace or Weebly or Wix or whoever is the provider takes care of that. Unlike WP where you (or your WP developer) has to update the core platform, update the plugins, the themes, etc.. Remember as a WP developer that is $$$ to be earned. Continued dependency. Same reason why you don't have folks that sell computers ever recommend a Mac. Selling you a Windows computer means you are hooked for life, well, at least the life of the machine. Selling you a Mac means once it is set up, the darn thing works! No more $$$ to be made. So, you hear all kinds of fuzzy logic like "you can buy two or three Windows computers for the price of one Mac." Or, "they don't make that application for a Mac." I digressed. Pardon me. WP developers will even point out that there are plug-ins that automatically will update the platform, the themes, the plug-ins, etc... Whoa! Beware! Yes, there are and oftentimes, they will cause damage to the site that only the WP developer can fix.
Lastly, with non-WP template-based website solutions, they typically come with a mobile app from the provider. These are robust little platforms on your mobile devices that allow you to do the content updates yourself. Some even allow basic site design changes via the mobile app. So, as a web developer, I am happy to create a WP site if that is what you want and earn the higher $$$ or create a non-WP template-based site for you for lesser $$$ and at the same time, have a much happier Customer. Your choice.
Is the mobile version of your site included in what you pay a web developer or website builder? Yes, absolutely should be. If it is not, time to find another developer. The proper term is 'responsive design.' Responsive meaning that your website displays appropriately no matter what device it is displayed on; computer or a desktop, tablet and, a mobile phone.
As a Web Developer, Designer and IT Consultant based in McAllen, I can help you evaluate your choices and provide recommendations best suited for your business. Contact me today for a free consultation.
#wordpress #squarespace #weebly #wix #websitedevelopment #websitedesign #mcallenwebdesign
