Choosing The Right Website Builder
When it comes to choosing a platform for your website, there’s a lot to consider. The best platform for you will depend on your goals, technical comfort level, and the features you need. In this blog, I’ll tell you why I choose Squarespace, but give fair mentions to WordPress, Wix and Shopify!
Why Squarespace?
As a platform I specialize in, I can confidently say that Squarespace is an excellent option for clients who want a professional, reliable website without the need to master a steep learning curve. Here’s what makes it stand out:
1. User-Friendly and Easy to Manage
Squarespace is designed with ease of use in mind. Its drag-and-drop editor and intuitive interface allow you to make updates yourself, even if you’re not tech-savvy. This self-management capability is incredibly valuable—it means that after your website goes live, you won’t need a developer to make basic changes, saving you time and money in the long run.
2. All-in-One Solution
With Squarespace, you get everything you need in one place: hosting, design, security, e-commerce options, and even built-in SEO tools. You don’t have to worry about managing multiple accounts or providers, which keeps things simple and streamlined. Squarespace’s all-in-one setup is ideal for anyone who wants to avoid the hassle of technical maintenance or dealing with third-party plugins.
3. Reliable Security and Support
Squarespace is a closed platform, which means security is tightly managed, minimizing vulnerabilities. Regular updates and automatic SSL certificates help keep your site secure without requiring any work on your part. Plus, Squarespace’s customer support team is available 24/7, so you have a trusted backup if you ever run into issues.
4. RESPONSIVE Designs
Squarespace’s platform has nailed the coding behind responsive designs, so your website will look great on any device. This feature is crucial in today’s mobile-first world, where over half of internet traffic comes from mobile devices. You don’t have to worry about optimizing separately for mobile; Squarespace handles it for you.
5. E-commerce Made Simple
Squarespace includes robust e-commerce capabilities, perfect for small businesses, artists, and creators who want to sell products or services. It supports various payment processors and allows you to manage products, inventory, and shipping all in one place. It’s a straightforward, reliable option for those who need a professional online store without the complexities of managing a separate e-commerce platform.
6. Beautiful, Customizable Templates
Squarespace offers a range of stunning templates that are easy to customize, even if you don’t have a design background. This flexibility means you can create a unique, visually appealing site without needing to start from scratch. Templates are adaptable to various industries, and custom styling options make it easy to match your brand identity.
WordPress: More Control, More Complexity
WordPress is a highly popular platform, especially for larger sites or businesses with complex needs. It’s incredibly versatile and allows for virtually unlimited customization through plugins, themes, and custom coding. However, with this level of control comes complexity. WordPress requires more hands-on maintenance, including managing hosting, updates, security, and backups. In other words, unless you’re pretty tech-savvy, you’ll be on the hook for needing help every time you have an update.
Other Platforms: Shopify, Wix, and More
Shopify: If your primary focus is e-commerce, Shopify is a great platform specifically built for online stores. It offers advanced e-commerce features, but may not be as customizable in design as Squarespace or WordPress. The design process is more difficult, but not impossible!
Wix: Personally, I really like Wix. I’ve built several websites out on it! Wix is similar to Squarespace in terms of ease of use, offering a drag-and-drop editor and all-in-one solution. However, I’ve found that Squarespace generally provides a more polished, professional design and stronger security features. Squarespace also has incredibly in-depth support forums and a more robust customer support, which can be invaluable.
In the end…
It’s what works best for YOU. Don’t let a designer force you into one platform or another, especially if you don’t think it will meet your website needs. There’s lots to consider, and having use all the website builder I’ve mentioned here, I’d be happy to discuss your options with you!
