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Choosing the Right Web Platform for Your Business: A Quick Guide

22 August 2024 · Industry Insights

When building a website, it’s important to choose the right platform and the right developer. Whether you need a custom WordPress site or a high-performance static website, understanding your options will help you make the best decision. Here’s a rundown of popular web platforms and how a skilled developer can tailor them to your business needs.

1. Custom WordPress Development

Best for: Businesses looking for unique, scalable solutions.

Why Choose WordPress?

  • Custom Design: With WordPress, a developer can create a bespoke design that perfectly fits your brand and goals. No generic templates—just a site that truly represents your business.
  • Scalability: WordPress grows with you. Whether you’re starting small or planning for major expansion, WordPress can handle it all with the right development.
  • Plugins: With the right plugins, you can further extend the out-of-the-box functionality of WordPress to support events, e-commerce and membership sites.
  • SEO and Performance: A developer can fine-tune your site for speed, security, and search engine optimisation, ensuring it performs well and ranks highly.

2. Flat File Websites (Brochure Sites)

Best for: Simple, fast, and secure static websites.

Why Choose a Flat File Website?

  • Blazing Speed: Without databases, flat file sites load incredibly fast, making them ideal for landing pages and brochure sites.
  • Enhanced Security: No databases mean fewer vulnerabilities, reducing the risk of hacking.
  • API Integration: Extend your flat-file site’s capabilities with custom API integration, enabling seamless connections to CRMs and other external services, ensuring your website works efficiently with the tools your business relies on.
  • Custom-Built: These sites are crafted entirely with code, offering complete creative control. A developer can build exactly what you need—no unnecessary features, just a clean, efficient site.

3. ShowIt

Best for: Creative professionals who need visually stunning portfolios.

Why ShowIt?

  • Design Freedom: ShowIt is perfect for photographers, designers, and artists who need a portfolio that looks just as creative as their work.
  • WordPress Integration: ShowIt combines its design flexibility with WordPress’s powerful blogging capabilities, giving you the best of both worlds.

4. Shopify

Best for: E-commerce.

Why You Might Consider Other Options:

  • High Costs: Shopify can be expensive, especially when you add transaction fees and premium features.
  • Limited Customisation: You’re confined to Shopify’s ecosystem, which can make it hard to create a fully customised store.
  • SEO Constraints: Shopify’s SEO tools are not as strong as WordPress, limiting your online visibility.

5. Squarespace

Best for: Simple DIY websites.

Why Squarespace Might Not Be Ideal:

  • Limited Flexibility: While the templates are attractive, they don’t offer much room for customisation.
  • SEO and Code Quality: Squarespace’s code isn’t optimised for search engines, which could hurt your site’s performance.
  • Not for Growth: Squarespace works for small sites, but it lacks the scalability needed for growing businesses.

6. Wix

Best for: Basic, quick websites.

Why You Might Avoid Wix:

  • Basic and Limited: Wix is easy to use, but it’s also limited in what it can do. Customisation options are restricted, making it hard to create a truly unique site.
  • Poor SEO and Performance: Wix’s SEO tools and overall site performance don’t measure up to other platforms.
  • Hard to Scale: As your business grows, Wix may not be able to keep up, leading to costly migrations to better platforms.

How I Can Help

Choosing the right platform is important, but having a professional developer who understands your needs is what really makes your website shine. Whether you’re looking for a custom WordPress site or a sleek, high-performance static site, I can help you create a website that not only looks great but also delivers results.

Let’s talk about how we can build a website that meets your current needs and supports your future growth. Your perfect website is just a conversation away—let’s make it happen.

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I'm a Kent-based freelance brand designer and website developer with 15 years of experience, bringing creativity and technical expertise to clients across the UK and beyond.