Which Website Platform Should I Use?

I know there are lots of things that can make starting your own business seem overwhelming. Between things like marketing, product development, and brand strategy, your plate is full! Creating a website can seem like just another complicated process on your to-do list, especially if you’re unfamiliar with website design. 

As a brand strategist and a small business owner myself, I’ve worked with several different website platforms, and I want to share some of my knowledge with you! Thankfully, you don’t need to have a degree in Web Development to make your website look professional. I hope that helping you understand a little bit more about a few popular website platforms will make your decision about a website a little bit easier to tackle.

• Wix
  While these are in no way ranked, Wix is known to be one of the most popular website platforms across the internet. It’s widely known as a platform for those who want the most freedom in website design and customization. However, Wix also offers website templates that are a great resource for individuals who aren’t interested in designing every aspect of their site. Having these options makes Wix appealing for both new and experienced business owners. This platform also has package options for a wide range of price points, though there are limitations as far as the amount of data that can be uploaded with each package. 

• Shopify
  Shopify is a well-known website platform geared towards e-commerce businesses. With an easy-to-use and customer-friendly interface, Shopify is set up to walk you through every step of selling a product. However, one of the biggest downsides to using this platform is that it doesn’t offer very many product plans or payment options. For businesses that will use the detailed e-commerce abilities that Shopify provides, this is an extremely valuable option.

• Squarespace
  Squarespace is a great platform for business owners who want a beautiful website without worrying about the complex behind-the-scenes design that goes into it. Squarespace offers a wide variety of prepackaged template options that are easy to work with and customize. These templates also translate well from mobile to desktop, making them very user-friendly. There is also an option for Squarespace users to include e-commerce into their website, though it is not as inclusive as some other website platforms, like Shopify.

• WordPress
  While it’s not known as an inclusive option for all kinds of businesses, WordPress is a great website platform for businesses who will mainly utilize the blogging feature. Similar to Squarespace, this platform has much of the behind-the-scenes work built into the program. Another quality that brings people to WordPress is the low monthly package plans. Though WordPress doesn’t offer very much in terms of customization, it still definitely holds its value for businesses like writers and bloggers.

While this post is just a snapshot of the many website platforms out there, I hope this information made your decision a little less overwhelming. If you ever have questions about a certain platform, check out their page and see what they have to offer!