WordPress vs Squarespace vs Showit vs Shopify
WordPress, Squarespace, Showit and Shopify are some of the most popular website platforms for businesses. WordPress is a content management system that offers bloggers and businesses alike an easy way to create and manage websites. Squarespace is a great option for those who want a sleek design without coding knowledge. Showit is an excellent platform for creative design and customising the look and feel of your website. Shopify is a powerful eCommerce platform for creating online stores. All four platforms have their own range of features, advantages and disadvantages that you can consider before making a final decision.
Is WordPress the right website platform for my business?
(This is my website platform of choice)
WordPress is one of the most popular website platforms as it is a powerful platform that gives you ultimate control over the features and design. It is an excellent choice for businesses of all sizes if you have the resources to manage it.
WordPress is a free content management system & is highly customisable, giving you the ability to create a website exactly how you want it. WordPress also has a wide range of plugins that can be used to add extra features and functionality such as contact forms, page builders, and SEO tools.
You can create an online shop using the Woocommerce plugin or an alternative checkout system like Thrivecart.
WordPress.org is a self-hosted option which means you purchase hosting from a third party provider like Siteground (affiliate link- this is who I use to host all my websites).
The downside of WordPress is that it requires some technical knowledge and experience in order to set up and manage the website. But there are plenty of website designers who are able to assist with this & teach you how to edit your website once set up.
It is well worth the investment to get a powerful website that can grow with your business.
Is Squarespace the right website platform for my business?
Squarespace is a good platform for those who want to DIY and don’t want to get too technical with their website design. It comes with an easy-to-use drag and drop layout builder which makes designing your website simple, even if you don’t have any coding knowledge
Squarespace offers a range of templates that you can use to get started but customising and tweaking them to your exact specifications requires some technical know-how.
It is an all-in-one platform, meaning you don’t need to purchase hosting from a third party provider as it is part of the monthly subscription.
Squarespace integrated with Acuity which means it has a built-in scheduling feature that is easy to set up.
The downside is that it’s not as customisable is WordPress, and you are limited in terms of features and functionality. However, it meets the needs of many business owners who want to be able to DIY their website without too much technical knowledge.
Is Showit the right website platform for my business?
Showit is a user-friendly platform with drag & drop design capability, making it a good choice for many small business owners. If you’re looking to add a blog page onto your website, Showit offers an integration with WordPress.
Like Squarespace, Showit is a hosted platform meaning you do not have to purchase hosting as it is included in the monthly subscription fee.
The downside is that Showit is not ideal for creating an eCommerce site, so if you’re looking to sell products online then this may not be the best option for you.
Is Shopify the right website platform for my business?
Shopify is a powerful eCommerce platform that offers everything you need to create an online store. It is a popular choice for those who want to build an eCommerce website as it has all the features and functionality you need.
Shopify offers a range of templates that are easy to customise, as well as integrations with other services such as Google Shopping, Amazon, Facebook and Instagram. The downside is that it can be costly to use in comparison to other platforms
Shopify includes hosting in their monthly subscription so you don’t have to purchase this separately.
So, what website platform should I use?
There are many different website building platforms available & which one you choose will depend on your needs and budget.
WordPress is the most popular & powerful option but it requires some technical knowledge to set up and manage, so it’s best to hire a professional if you don’t feel confident in doing this yourself.
Squarespace and Showit are good choices for those who want an easy-to-use platform and Shopify is the ideal choice if you are wanting to build your own eCommerce store.
Whichever platform you choose, it’s important to remember that spending a bit of time & money upfront on a professionally designed website will pay off in the long run as your business grows.
If you’re ready to collaborate and create a stunning website; you can get started right here.
Good luck with your website building journey! 🙂