How to Choose the Best Website Platform For Your business
Giving you the “Tea” on the variety of website platforms
You’ve decided it’s time to create a website for your business. But then you hit the first major roadblock “Which platform is best?!?
Between Squarespace, Showit, Shopify, WordPress and more, the options can feel overwhelming and daunting. There are so many opinions out there, and sifting through technical jargon is for the birds.
If you are a service provider, blogger, or creative, I promise you, you don’t need the most complex system available. What you need is a platform that fits your business goals and your tech savvy level.
So here’s the breakdown.
SQUARESPACE
Squarespace is the "easy button" of web design. It’s an all-in-one platform, meaning your hosting, domain, and security are all handled under one roof for one monthly fee.
Which I LOVE. Why overcomplicate things, honestly.
Pros: It’s almost impossible to make a Squarespace site look "ugly." The templates are sleek, mobile-responsive by default, and the interface is incredibly intuitive. You can buy your domain through Squarespace. You can have a blog, a storefront, and an email campaign all within this platform, without having to add plugins to your website.
Cons: You design on a grid, so you cannot move elements anywhere you want (without some coding).
SHOWIT
Showit has taken the creative world by storm because it offers "Drag and Drop" freedom like no other. Imagine a canvas where you can place an image, a text box, or a button exactly where you want it—no grids, no rules. Truly a designers dream.
Pros: Total design freedom. It also integrates seamlessly with WordPress for your blog, giving you the best of both worlds.
Cons: Because it is so custom, you have to design the mobile and desktop versions separately. This can also be overwhelming if you do not have a designers eye. It does require third party tools for payments, booking and email campaigns. It’s also a bit pricier than basic platforms.
SHOPIFY
If your primary goal is to sell physical products, Shopify is the platform I would recommend. It is literally why Shopify was created.
Pros: Incredible inventory management, secure checkout, and built-in shipping tools.
Cons: It can feel "boxy" for service providers who want a storytelling-heavy website. To add specific features to your website, you have to add apps, and some of them come with a monthly fee. So you are paying for the platform + apps every month.
WORDPRESS
WordPress powers a huge chunk of the internet for a reason: it is infinitely scalable. When people talk about "WordPress," they usually mean WordPress.org (the self-hosted version), where you rent "land" from a host (like Bluehost or SiteGround) and build your house on top.
Pros: Unmatched SEO power, and it has thousands of "plugins" that can make your site do almost anything.
Cons: A steeper learning curve in my opinion. You are responsible for your own updates, security, and maintenance (unless you hire a professional to do it for you of course).
Final Thoughts
Choose the platform that matches your current season. If you need to get online fast, want it to look professional, and is easily manageable Squarespace is the platform I would highly recommend.
If you have a specific, high-end vision and want total control over every pixel, Showit is the way to go.
If you are looking to sell products, Shopify is the best platform for that, hands down.
If your business is large, and you are looking to scale, it might be best to look into WordPress!
Your website should be a tool that helps you grow, not a tech project that keeps you stuck.
Website Design Resources to Check Out
Branding Toolkit: 25 color palettes with font pairings and logo suggestions. Choose & launch.
Squarespace Playbook: 44-page digital download with steps to launch your Squarespace Website.
Big Cat Creative’s Squarespace Website Templates: Customize a template to launch faster!
Pinterest Wealth Academy: Learn how to market your business through Pinterest, rather than always feeling “On” through Social Media.
From My Home to Yours
You can always keep up with the products I’m bringing into our home. I have an Amazon Storefront of all the things by category, to keep my favorite items organized for you. Feel free to browse around, and see if there is anything you might find useful in your own home. I do make a small commission from purchases at no cost to you (affiliate disclaimer).
