Is this somewhere you’ve been before? Unsure about which website platform to build your (next) website on? And do you want to know why WordPress (that’s the self-hosted kind you get at WordPress.org, not WordPress.com) is my platform of choice? Well, let me explain!

When it comes to deciding which is the best website platform, I’m probably slightly biased in my opinion. Since WordPress is the CMS I’ve had the most experience in, of course.

But!

I actually don’t think it’s the best website platform for everyone.

And to be honest and equitable, the best website platform is the one that best suits your needs right now.

Why do I specialise in WordPress?

Apart from being the one I have the most training and experience in, it’s good for my clients. In other words, it serves the business needs of the clients I typically work with. That is to say: local services and online practitioners.

WordPress has all the versatility I need to deliver a custom website that ranks well on Google. It’s also excellent for those who need email marketing and online booking integration. Furthermore, with self-hosted WordPress, you own your account and everything on it. You get more control over how your content is used… As long as you comply with the terms of your web hosting provider. (Which typically means, don’t host anything illegal on your website.)

Other website platforms (including WordPress.com, which is different to self-hosted WordPress) allegedly will sell your content to AI scrapers, without your consent. It is also said that SquareSpace will opt your website in to AI scrapers by default.

Similar platforms on the market, like Webflow, don’t offer the same degree of flexibility or control over your content.

Circa 2018 I wore a shirt with a WordPress logo to work. I was dubbed ‘Captain WordPress’. Gee, I wonder why?

What about the other website platforms?

Alright, let’s explore some of the most well-known ones, and I’ll tell you what I think based on my experience as a web designer!

Shopify

I love, love, LOVE Shopify! In fact, if you are opening an eCommerce store (or looking for a new platform), I will recommend it without hesitation. It is made for eCommerce, after all!

Unfortunately, I am not your Shopify human. I do know my way around Liquid code, sure, but Shopify isn’t my happy place. I’d rather work on projects that I’m happy to work on, rather than force myself into something I don’t enjoy.

➡️ Looking for a Squarespace or Shopify website designer? I’d highly recommend checking out Nikki at Studio Nyx.

➡️ Also, if you need custom Shopify development, Kim at Online Tree is your gal!

Weebly/Square

To be honest, I haven’t had a lot of experience with this platform.

I know that when I open up one of these website builders, I just feel constricted by the lack of customisation.

This platform is built for people who don’t want to customise with HTML and CSS (much, if at all). Whereas WordPress is pretty open to someone like me who knows how to code – even if you’re using a visual builder like Divi.

I also find that as your business needs expand, you tend to have to spend more and more on plugin subscriptions. That type of ongoing expense can be saved by getting a once-off customisation with WordPress.

Wix

I get a similar feeling with Wix as I do with Weebly. I simply recoil at this kind of drag-and-drop website builder.

Also, since I heard that Wix fired a staff member for speaking out about genocide, I want nothing to do with them.

Webflow

I hate it. Next topic please.

Squarespace

Yeah, I don’t actually mind this one, to be honest.

But like with other platforms, it doesn’t really let you do all that much with HTML/CSS. I feel like I’m stuck with its templates.

WordPress with Elementor

No.

I prefer Divi.

Like, I get that it does pretty much anything Divi can do… But I find its user interface super frustrating.

Why not WordPress.com?

This platform is different to WordPress that you install on a web hosting account. The difference is that this version of WordPress limits what you can do. Its intended use is more for hobby websites and blogs.

If you’re unsure about using WordPress as the platform for your business’s website, it’s actually a great way to try it out for free. You can set up a free WordPress.com website without having to worry about hosting and keeping it maintained.

Reasons WordPress is good

As mentioned before, self-hosted WordPress is very developer friendly.

It’s quite easy to integrate any kind of booking system or email newsletter system you want.

And you don’t have to be constrained by the limitations of other platforms. You can make just about any kind of website you can imagine.

Why not WordPress?

The biggest criticism with WordPress is the security flaws.

And oh boy yes, hackers do like to target WordPress.

But hackers like to attack any website platform they can get into. Heck, they get into people’s Facebook accounts all the time.

It’s only insecure if you let it be that way…

And you know what? I’ve never seen any WordPress site in my ownership get hacked. Not a single one.

How is this so? Because I maintain my WordPress websites, and practice good security hygiene.

Here’s how I do that:

• The username of any admin account is never “admin”.
• Update WordPress and plugins whenever possible.
• My websites never use any dodgy or out-of-date plugins.
• I use secure passwords, and update them regularly.
• Get rid of plugins and themes that aren’t being used.
• Investigate plugins that have changed ownership, and replace them if necessary.
• Actually, I try to go as light as I possibly can with WordPress plugins.
• My own websites have brute force protection. (Brute force is when hackers try to guess different username and password combinations over and over, in hopes they can hack in. This actually puts strain on the server your website is hosted on.)
• Keep backups!

Phew!

Is WordPress the absolute best website platform for SEO?

Well, yes and no. There isn’t something inherently magical about WordPress that makes it better at SEO. However, there are plugins such as Yoast that can help guide you into making better SEO decisions in building your website.

Any website platform is good for SEO as long as you set it up correctly for SEO.

If your website contains terrible content, and a bad user experience, then it won’t rank very well on search engine result pages.

If you do something silly like accidently deny indexing (that’s allowing a robot to “see” your web pages and decide where to put in search results), then you’ll wreck your SEO.

➡️ So, how do you do SEO right? Check out The Recipe for SEO Success by Kate Toon.

Conclusion, why WordPress is what I use

The simple answer is that I can put together any website I imagine for my clients. And I know for certain I can set up for SEO success.

It’s what I know best, and I know with certainty I can build successful websites with it. Self-hosted WordPress websites (different to WordPress.com) can be built on my own terms — which includes opting out from AI content scrapers if I wish.

➡️ Do you still want to compare website platforms? My friend Nikki Vera also has their own article comparing website platforms, such as Squarespace and Weebly! Feel free to go and check that out.

If you still have questions about getting a website built with WordPress, please feel free to connect with me. Also, if you’re looking for someone to build you a WordPress site, I’m available for that!

Thanks for stopping by!