You know you need a website, and you want it to be high quality and attractive for visitors. But you don’t want the expense of a web developer, and you have limited technical skills in order to build your website. That means a web platform that makes it easy to create your own design.
You have three main choices in this situation, WordPress, Wix or Squarespace. All are marketed as the easy solution to get up and running with a professional-looking website quickly, but which is right for you?
WordPress
Starting with WordPress, the longest established of the three and by far the most used platform with over 70 million sites build on it. As a result, WordPress has an almost limitless number of add-ons, plugins and templates available that allows you to create a unique site relatively quickly.
WordPress though, is not, unlike Wiz and Squarespace, an all in one website builder. You do need to learn a little, and you also need to host the site. Unlike Wix or Squarespace, you will need to understand a little about the technical parts of website building to get everything you want but laying out the site once you have every addon and plugin you need working is straightforward. There is a free hosting option at WordPress.com, but for anything commercial, you probably need to look at a web hosting package to build your site on. Check out our service – website building.
Wix
Wix is a complete, all in one website solution, with a drag and drops design to build the site and hosting all included. You simply drag text boxes, graphics and other elements onto your page design, so no coding is needed.
This does limit the customization a little, your Wix website will never match the design flexibility or options of a WordPress site, for instance, However, if you want to get a site up and running quickly, Wix is definitely the easiest. While it may not be as flexible, Wix does have all the tools you may need to build an attractive site, including e-commerce, with templates for online stores that allow you to add in product photography and descriptions and quickly launch a store. Wix also includes payment solutions and stock management tools, so you can get started with your site without going outside of the Wix platform for anything.
Squarespace
Squarespace provides similar functionality to Wix, offering a drag and drop solution for designing a site, all the tools integrated including e-commerce options for simple, fast setup even if you have no technical skills at all. Like Wix, Squarespace is a comprehensive, all-inclusive package that hosts your site as well as helps you build it.
Squarespace differentiates itself as a site builder with an array of design options. It can’t match the flexibility of WordPress, but it surpasses Wix when it comes to customization. Squarespace really does make it easy to create beautiful sites that match your brand or idea.
Which to choose?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer for web building. If you have some technical skills or access to someone who can help, WordPress will allow you to create exceptional sites. Some of the biggest sites on the web today are based on WordPress for good reason.
Squarespace offers an easy to use package including hosting, and it is the best option for design when looking at the all-in-one solutions. However, there is a learning curve with Squarespace to get the most out of it that you don’t get with Wix.
That is why, if you have no technical skill at all and no time to learn, Wix offers the best option. It cannot match Squarespace for template design, nor WordPress for customizability, but what Wix does better than anything is usability. You really can go from having nothing to a fully hosted, good looking website in a couple of hours. For a first website, it is so easy to use that it has to be the best option.
How much does it cost to make a website for a small business?
On average, creating a website for your small business can cost anywhere between $200 to upwards of $10,000. The total cost of a website depends on its size, complexity, and whether or not you hire a professional web designer. If you build your website yourself, you can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
Can I built a website for free?
You can make a website for free, but there are catches. Free accounts on website builders hold a lot of important features back. You can’t use custom domains, and your free site will have ads for that website builder. If you’re looking to learn more about website building then the free options are worth a look.
How much does it cost to set up a website?
On average, though, you can expect to pay an upfront cost of around $200 to build a website, with an ongoing cost of around $50 per month to maintain it. This estimate is higher if you hire a designer or developer – expect an upfront charge of around $6,000, with an ongoing cost of $1,000 per year.
Is creating a website worth it?
Having a website is a must for most businesses, and even when it’s optional, it’s still highly recommended. Your website presents new opportunities to build credibility, capture more leads, and learn about the shoppers who visit your site.
