The answer is simple, WordPress!
So many options these days when developing a website! We will help you navigate the confusion!
The main difference is that WordPress is a Content Management System (CMS), whereas Squarespace and Wix or even GoDaddy Builder, for example, are drag-and-drop website builders. If you had to use one drag and drop builder, then Squarespace is definitely the better of the options but we don’t recommend anything other than a CMS and WordPress specifically. A CMS generally has more in-depth functions than a drag and drop website builder. You can scale and customize your WordPress site on a more technical level not to mention access to the many powerful plugins (tools) that are available.
Squarespace and Wix are easier for the complete novice on a budget, but a lot less flexible in the long run. Sure, WordPress has a steeper learning curve, which is why you hire a professional unless you are technologically savvy and have the time to learn it. When creating something as important as a website to represent your business, it isn’t the place that you want to cut corners. Sure you want to save money and may even attempt to do it yourself but it is short-sided. Maybe if you are just starting your business and are on such a thin budget, it’s all you can do for now. Eventually, you will need to switch to a CMS like WordPress if you plan on actually growing your business.
Blogging
If you are blogging (and you absolutely, should be if you expect Google to rank you in web searches) then WordPress is by far a superior tool for bloggers and one of the best around. It will let you use both visual and text editors so you can enjoy writing and you can still add custom HTML or your website service company like Gratefulwebservices.com can do it for you on one of our affordable Maintenance Plans. WordPress takes care of your articles, so it will automatically save your progress. Just in case something bad happens like the power goes out. It also keeps revisions, so if you decide that you want the old paragraph back at some point, you will be just one click away from having it on the page.
Unfortunately, Squarespace or Wix just isn’t as good for bloggers. There is no autosave feature, and the platform will not let you use revisions. While there are code blocks that you can use, the feature still won’t let you run your own HTML or CSS from the page. For some bloggers, this can be a deal-breaker. Extremely inflexible! Squarespace isn’t that good with media as well. While WordPress will let you reuse images that you uploaded in the past, Squarespace will force you to upload the same image once again if you decide to reuse it. If you tend to use photos on a regular basis (which you should), this can be a nightmare. Not to mention double work!
How about SEO?
Squarespace and Wix do set your template up with some basic SEO which can help boost your site so that it appears higher in search engine ranking. It is less well known for its solid range of SEO tools, which can help boost your site so that it appears higher in search engine ranking. You can have a beautiful site but if no one finds you, what is the point! It’s the old adage of being penny wise and pound foolish
Security and Speed
One of the most important functions of your website is its security and speed. Having a fast website will increase user engagement and search engine optimization. Wix and other DIY site-building websites usually host your website on a shared server with thousands of other users. This diminishes the speed of your own website as well as security, which will result in lost customers and bad user experience.
Professional Web Services Are Still Needed
People have mentioned over the years that these newer drag and drop programs will make it harder for web design companies such as Grateful Web Services to stay in business but honestly, it really hasn’t. When we started building websites over twenty years ago, there weren’t any of these tools and we had to build using code only but when technology shifted we got on board to give our clients the best product possible. The client can now either manage the content themselves much easier and through an admin control panel or have us do it under one of our maintenance plans. It is not unheard of that a potential client rejects a proposal that we prepare for them in favor of something that they can do themselves. However, many times they come back to us or if they don’t we can see that the website isn’t working for them as intended and in most cases, they end up not maintaining it. Basically ending up with a flat tire on the side of the road. Unmaintained and outdated.
When you build your website with platforms like Squarespace or Wix or any of the other drag and drop programs that promise ease of use, it comes with a price. It’s like you are trying to build a house all by yourself and it may end up looking decent but it’s going to have a lot of structural issues. It’s going to end up costing you more in the end than hiring a professional to get the job done.
The Cool Kids
There are lots of popular, high-profile companies that trust WordPress to power their sites such as, TED blog, PlayStation, Vogue, Sony Music, Walt Disney, Time, BBC America, and thousands more.
Many celebrities also have their sites built on WordPress too to name just a few Leonardo DiCaprio, Kobe Bryant, Katy Perry, Maria Sharapova, Snoop Dogg, John Grisham, The Rolling Stones, and Sylvester Stallone. WordPress claims to power over 35% of all websites on the internet and is growing. You can check out the WordPress Showcase for details and more examples.
When you visit the main page for Squarespace and scroll down, logos are displayed of the companies that use Squarespace. Most of them are small businesses that aren’t nearly as high-profile as those that are built on WordPress.
Here at Grateful Web Services, we now build all of our websites in WordPress and couldn’t be happier with the platform!
