With the dawn of the internet age and the requirements of it, companies such as Squarespace and WordPress evolved to make sure anyone can be represented online. These companies help business owners, bloggers, artists, and average Joe’s of all stripes build the perfect online presence. So once you’ve decided to establish or refine your internet presence it’s time to ask who’s the winner in the ongoing Squarespace vs WordPress debate? (Please note; this article references WordPress.org, the open source platform.)
Who are You and What Do You Want?
If you are an aspiring lifestyle blogger, your website needs are different from those of a small town bakery or international drop shipping business. The first thing to do when deciding how to establish your online self is answer a few basic questions;
- Why should people go to your website? (ex information, commerce, portfolio)
- Who is the target audience?
- Where is the target audience? (ex local buyers, international readers)
- What features do you want on your website?
- When does this website need to be published?
- How much of your time and energy are you willing to put into the website? Time to decide if you would rather hire a competent web developer/designer or if you want to invest months, or years, of your time into making the site.
Also consider things such as branding. Do you have a logo and/or brand colours or do you need help developing those?
Now That You Have Some Answers
Ok, now you have a bit of an idea of how you want the world to see you and what you’re willing to contribute to it. Let’s talk a bit about how the Squarespace vs WordPress debate affects different scenarios.
Not A Lot of Money, But A Lot of Time
A lucky few seem to have all the time in the world to learn the ins and outs of web design such as developer languages, design, and video editing. Or maybe you have a small amount of experience working on existing websites and want to expand your knowledge over time. If you fall into these categories, then WordPress is definitely for you.
WordPress is a free platform with many free award winning plugins available for use. However, hosting is not free with WordPress so you should use a trustworthy company such as Stylistic Design for hosting. The advantage to working with companies that not only offer hosting, but a full range of website solutions is that there is always the option to hand over website and content curation should the need arise.
Not A Lot of Time, But A Lot of Money
If time’s not on your side, Squarespace is optimal. Everything is included in a Squarespace package from hosting to plugins and more. There is very little room for error as every partner such as Instagram or Apple News is fully vetted to ensure 100% functional plugins and themes.
However, you will begin to notice the reach of the Squarespace curators once you look through the available themes. Truly creative website design is not possible and you may begin to feel a bit “Groundhog Day” surfing the internet after becoming familiar with Squarespace. Don’t let that stop you, though, as their sleek looks have become iconic for good reason. Furthermore, they truly are a one stop shop for launching a DIY website so those with a bigger budget may prefer it.
A Definite Vision for Your Site
Going into website design with a clear vision of your internet presence means that WordPress is the choice for you! As mentioned above, WordPress is open source. This means that themes and plugins are submitted by people around the world for every possible look and function imaginable. Being open source also means that while everything is fully customizable, not everything is functional together. Luckily, the user community does an amazing job of offering free support! And as WordPress tends to be the choice of web developing professionals, if you find yourself over your head, you can easily find a service to get you back on track or take the reins.
Having a completely custom website sets you apart from the competition. While it can require a bit more work to set up a WordPress site, the payoff is in delivering an experience unique to you.
Providing Conventional Products or Services
Don’t be put off by the word “conventional”, we just mean a product or service with an existing customer base or ingrained cultural expectations such as a carpet cleaning company or dog food. These products and services may have straightforward needs for a website. For example, a shopping cart, appointment setting, or just providing information. Squarespace suits these needs very well. Their streamlined themes and easy to navigate layout create a user experience even the most inexperienced internet users can follow. But something to keep in mind is that while Squarespace is great for smaller businesses, once you begin to grow there may be functionalities you want to add that just can’t be handled by the limited plugins Squarespace provides.
Clear As Mud
Even with all the information above, the Squarespace vs WordPress question might still be clear as mud. That is to say not clear at all! Sometimes it’s better to keep things simple and easy. That would be Squarespace. On the other hand, a strong internet presence is no longer optional for success in the business world. And a safe, simple website easily gets lost in the crowd. Which is why WordPress is still the top pick for those looking to stand out from the pack.
