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.