Having a website for your business is essential to survival in today’s digital-focused society. It’s your window to the world – how people find you, see you, and start to decide if they want to engage with you.
But it’s not enough to simply have a website. You need one that has the right features and functionalities for you and your audience, while also being relatively easy to maintain. That’s why choosing the right website platform is key.
Setting up your website on the right platform for your business, industry, and brand has more impact than you might think. It can hinder or elevate your growth, make your site more scalable, and directly impacts your return on investment.
Just because a platform is cheaper, seems more user friendly, or is more recognized, doesn’t mean it’s always the best choice. Our goal is to help give you a better understanding of some of the most common website platforms, as well as guide you through key factors to consider when deciding where to build your website.
What is a Web Platform?
To answer this question simply – it’s the software that provides the foundation, framework, and tools to more easily build and house a website. They are meant to be a system that brings the components of a website (code, content, design, etc.) into one place and makes it easier for users to operate and manage their website.
There are a variety of different platforms you can choose from when building your website – some general options like WordPress or Wix, purpose specific like Shopify, or even fully custom-coded options. Here are 4 of the most common web platforms and their main pros and cons:
WordPress
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Cons:
Wix
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Cons:
Shopify
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Cons:
Custom Built
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Cons:
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Website Platform
Even when you have an idea of the pros and cons of different website platforms, it can still feel overwhelming having to make a choice. You want to make the right one for your business, especially with how important your website is to your online success, and that choice is dependent on a lot of different things.
Let’s break down 7 of the key factors to consider when deciding what website platform to use:
Business Type & Goals
The first thing you have to think about when starting to build a new website is its (and your) purpose. Then after that, what are you hoping to achieve with it. Those two things will start to guide you in the right direction pretty quickly.
If you’re needing an ecommerce functionality, that likely eliminates Wix. If you’re hoping to have a site that can be tweaked quickly and grow as your business does, WordPress or a custom build might be the best path. Having a clear picture of what you want and need in your site is the foundation for choosing a web platform – and also gives you an idea about the type of web development partner you might need.
Usability & Content Management
Knowing who will be working on your site and their experience level with website development is another key thing to consider for your web platform. The more experience they have working in the backend of a website, the more complex of a platform you can go with. But if you’re looking for something that anyone can use – regardless of web experience – then more of a plug-and-play platform (such as Wix or Shopify) might be the answer.
Part of this decision is how often you need to make changes to the content on your site. If it’s relatively static, a more complex site is still a feasible option. But if you’re regularly changing things, you want a platform that allows that without needing an external partner.
Flexibility
You’ll likely want to make changes to your site as time goes on. Having a web platform that makes adding new features as your needs evolve and your business grows is essential to long-term success.
Part of this flexibility is the scalability. If you expect growth over time, you want your website to easily accommodate that – without requiring a full rebuild. That means being able to handle more traffic, more content, more information in the backend, now and in the future. Some platforms allow for that, but others not as much.
Customization
You want your website to reflect your brand and all that your business is. A big piece of this is the site’s design. Some platforms are more template based, so all the pieces are already there for you and you make more minor changes to colors, content, and things of that nature. But if you want to create your own look and feel, going with a custom build might be better.
You also want to consider the responsiveness of the site when looking at customization. Some templates don’t play well on mobile devices, which can be a detriment to your site and business. So whatever web platform you choose, you want to ensure it works properly on any screen size.
SEO Capabilities
If you want people to actually find your site, that’s where SEO comes into play. Some web platforms have built-in SEO and marketing tools to make pushing your site into the world easier without needing to hire a digital marketing partner. If you’re not well-versed in SEO on your own, having a web platform that guides you through URL structures, metadata, content optimization, and other SEO strategies can be the best answer.
Security & Performance
The way your site runs is key to long-term success and user experience. Where your site is hosted, the SSL, and backup process are important to keeping it running and regaining access if something goes wrong.
Some platforms take care of updates and bug checks on their own, while others leave it up to you. If you don’t have an in-house IT or security team, choosing a web platform that manages security, updates, and performance on its own might be the best choice.
Cost & Maintenance
Almost every website comes with upfront and long-term costs. The difference when it comes to web platforms is which one ends up being more. Fully custom web platforms tend to require more money initially, but cost over time is lower because you have full control over it. But other more template-based options are cheaper initially but costs over time can add up quickly.
Things to consider when looking at your budget for a web platform include hosting, plug-ins, licensing fees, and themes, as well as development and maintenance if you hire an external partner.
Choosing the right website platform isn’t about picking the most popular or least expensive option but rather focusing on finding the right foundation that best supports your business goals today and as you grow. By understanding the different platforms and evaluating factors like usability, flexibility, SEO, security, and long-term cost, you can make a more informed decision that sets your website up for success now and in the future.
How We Can Help
As a web development company in Texas, we understand the ins and out of creating a website – from deciding on a web platform, to design, development, and maintenance, we’re here to help guide you along and bring your dream website to life! If you want to know more about what it’s like hiring a web development partner, or are ready to get started, send us a message!
