Today’s post is a follow-up to Marta Goertzen’s guest post from last month, “Three Key Questions To Ask Before Building Your Website.”
Three Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Website Builder
Type the questions “what website builder is the best,” and you will find a list of articles and sponsored ads all claiming they know the best one. Read all of those articles, and each one will come to a different conclusion. The truth is, no one correct answer fits each and every situation.
To help you decide which website builder to use there are three questions you should ask. Before getting into these questions let’s take a look at a few of the top options available.
WordPress
Available in two different formats WordPress allows you to start a basic website with room to expand your site as your business grows. It is built for SEO (search engine optimization), and it has a large community built around it that provides a vast array of tools and resources to help you develop your site and add the functionality you need.
WordPress.com – is a website service that provides a pre-installed WordPress website for free or with a paid service with more advanced features.
WordPress.org – this is the software WordPress that you would need to have installed on your choice of website hosting service.
SquareSpace
SquareSpace has come a long way in recent years. It also offers pre-installed website software with a wide variety of site designs for you to choose from.
It is similar to WordPress.com in that you do not need a separate website hosting service. Your monthly fee covers hosting and the website builder software.
Wix and Weebly
Two other popular options are Wix and Weebly. Both are similar in that they offer both free and paid services and offer a variety of designs and page layouts to choose from.
3 Questions You Should Ask Before Deciding on a Website Builder
Question #1: Where are you in your business?
The best website builder will be different for you if you are just starting out in business. You may still be vetting your business idea, and you probably do not have much, if any, established branding pieces in place. Most likely as you learn you will need the ability to quickly change and adapt your website as you refine your business, products, and services.
If you are just starting out, consider a free option like WordPress.com. You will find it has a great price and you will have the ability to change website designs and layouts as needed.
If you want to dive in and try your hand at building a website and see what all is involved, a free Wix or Weebly site might be a great way to get started.
If you have an established brand and set of products and services, then consider self-hosted WordPress.org or SquareSpace. These website builders will provide you the tools you need to get started right now, as well as offering you the advanced features and designs you will need in the future.
Question #2: What are your business plans for the next 6-12 months?
If you have plans to launch anything new like books, e-courses, membership sites, etc. you need to consider this before making your decision. You will also need to think about any marketing plans like growing your email list and your SEO strategy. These are also critical components in making your choice.
Services like WordPress.com, Wix, and Weebly are enticing with the free option, but it’s good to remember “you get what you pay for.” When it comes to website builders, this can be frustratingly true.
If your website will remain relatively static, with few updates to content, products, and services, then SquareSpace or a Premium WordPress.com is something to consider. Both of these options will allow you to meet the needs you have today and will let you add, edit, and adjust your site as needed.
If you have regular product launches or have plans for list building and SEO marketing, this is where WordPress.org shines. Not only can it meet your immediate needs, but it is also built to grow and adapt with an array of features and functionality you can add to your site when you need them.
Question #3: Are you willing to keep up with software updates and maintenance?
This is probably the biggest stumbling block for anyone considering a WordPress.org website. While WordPress is the number one recommendation you hear from just about everyone, there are a few things to be aware of. Yes, a WordPress.org site will give you the most options, features, and customization, but it also will require regular software updates and maintenance.
You will need to schedule time on your calendar to perform the software updates that are released at least once a month. These updates are essential for functionality and website security.
If this is a significant hurdle for you, then I would suggest SquareSpace. While you may not have all the options and features of a self-hosted WordPress site, you also won’t have the software updates; they handle that automatically for you.
Choosing a website platform can feel like an overwhelming decision. As you ask yourself these three questions, you should start to get clarity on what will be a good fit for you now and in the future.
In asking yourself these questions, what type of website platform would you choose?
About Marta Goertzen
Marta is the founder of Trail Guide WebWorks, a WordPress consultant and website development company. She is also the author of The WordPress Website Discovery Guide: 7 Steps to Easily Plan A Website That Works For You. When not on the computer she can often be found exploring her home state of Oregon with her camera and four-legged companion, Bailey, in tow.
Be sure and visit Marta’s website: https://TrailGuideWebWorks.com