Think Twice Before Choosing WordPress for Your Website

Reasons to reconsider WordPress for your website

While WordPress can be an excellent choice for some, there are better choices for small businesses just starting out. Here are some reasons why you should consider going with a different website platform for your website instead:

Complexity

WordPress is quite complex compared to other website builders, especially for individuals without technical expertise. The platform requires coding for setup, making it a significant challenge for those without coding knowledge to establish and maintain a WordPress site. Unless you already have the technical knowledge or desire to learn coding, you will need to hire a web developer to create your website for you.

Cost

Although WordPress is free to use, you will have to pay for hosting, themes, and plugins, which can become expensive. If you're unfamiliar with coding, you'll probably have to hire a web developer to create your site. Custom-coded websites can be pretty pricey, starting at around $5000 for a simple website. These costs can add up compared to using an all-in-one website builder.

Maintenance

Due to the nature of WordPress, sites need to be regularly updated to ensure security and functionality. It is recommended to check your website every 1-3 months to ensure that all plugins are up-to-date and compatible. Missing an update can easily break or slow down your website. Many small business owners don't have the time or expertise to perform these updates regularly, so you may need to hire an expert for ongoing maintenance.

Security

Because of the popularity of WordPress, it is an attractive target for hackers. Small businesses may find it challenging to keep up with the latest security practices, making them vulnerable to cyber-attacks. To ensure the safety of your website, you may need to hire an expert for ongoing security assessments and best practices.

Learning Curve

Learning how to use WordPress can be challenging, and it can take time to master it efficiently. For beginners, the backend of WordPress can be confusing, and they can find it frustrating to navigate. Many small businesses decide to give up and hire a web developer to build and manage their website as a result.

Limited Support

WordPress has a vast community of users and developers but doesn't offer any built-in support. This can be challenging for small businesses, as they may face difficulties finding trustworthy assistance when encountering problems. Often, they have to resort to hiring an expert to help them resolve their issues.

Wix and Squarespace are better options for small businesses

For small businesses that don't have extensive budgets and in-depth technical expertise, all-in-one website builders like Wix or Squarespace are a far better option than WordPress.

My clients love using both Wix and Squarespace. While they're not the only user-friendly drag-and-drop platforms out there, they are two of the best currently available. Here are just some of the reasons that my clients have decided to switch from an existing WordPress site to Wix and Squarespace:

Ease of Use

Wix and Squarespace are both very user-friendly platforms. It's simple to make changes to your website, such as editing text, uploading new photos, creating new pages, or publishing blog posts. You won't have to pay someone else to manage and update your website so you can use it as a valuable tool for your business and marketing efforts.

Constant Updates

With both Wix and Squarespace, you can rest assured that all technology and security updates are handled. You won't have to worry about your website being hacked or keeping all your plugins up-to-date. Additionally, you will always have access to the latest version.

Cost

In the long run, Wix and Squarespace are more cost-effective than maintaining a WordPress website. Both platforms offer multiple, affordable subscription tiers and include hosting at no extra cost.

Customisation

Although Squarespace and Wix offer fewer customisation options than WordPress, you don't need coding knowledge to create a beautiful, functional website. However, both platforms enable CSS integration for those knowledgeable in coding, which opens up even more customisation options.

SEO

You may have heard WordPress offers superior SEO, but that's inaccurate. SEO performs equally well on Wix and Squarespace as on any other platform.

Ultimately, your business's perfect website builder depends on your unique requirements, budget and technical skills. While WordPress is an excellent option for large-scale businesses and companies who need an extensive, custom-built website and can afford to hire web developers, small businesses are much better suited to all-in-one website builders such as Wix and Squarespace.

Are you trying to decide between Wix, Squarespace and WordPress? Check out Website Builder Battle: Wix vs. Squarespace vs. WordPress to find the best platform for your needs.