5 Reasons NOT to Use Wix, Weebly, or Squarespace to Build Your Small Business Website
When you’re just starting your small business, it’s so tempting to choose a free or low-cost service like Wix, Weebly, or Squarespace to create your first website. You think, “I’m going to save all this money” and “Why pay someone when I can do this myself”, but here’s why these platforms may not be the best choice for your business in the long run.
1. It’s Expensive
In the long run…
At first glance, using a DIY website builder like Wix, Weebly, or Squarespace might seem like a cost-effective solution. However, the reality is that you can’t afford not to invest in a professionally designed website. Here’s why:
While these platforms might save you money upfront, they often lack the scalability needed as your business grows. These DIY sitebuilders are limited in their ability to evolve with your business. Over time, as your needs change, you’ll find that these platforms can’t keep up—whether it’s adding new features, optimizing for search engines, or improving user experience. When that happens, you’ll likely need to rebuild your entire site on a more robust platform like WordPress. So, after investing your time and energy into building this site yourself, you now need to invest again to build a new site? What is the real cost here?
2. Experience & Support
Investing in a professional website from the start can save you from these headaches down the road. A well-designed, user-friendly, and content-focused site built on WordPress not only establishes trust with potential customers but also provides the foundation you need to grow and adapt your online presence over time. A professional website ensures your site is optimized for performance, is mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate—critical elements that keep visitors engaged and encourage them to take action.
The return on investment can be substantial. Instead of facing the cost of rebuilding your site later, you’ll have a scalable, flexible, and future-proof website that can grow with your business, making the initial investment well worth it.
3. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
This is one of the most important reasons! Search Engine Optimization is crucial for any small business, especially those just starting out. It determines how easily potential customers can find you online. Unfortunately, platforms like Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace often fall short in this department and are simply not search engine-friendly.
It gets a little technical but these platforms are limited in their ability to fully optimize your site for search engines. The underlying code is often cluttered, which can slow down your site and make it harder for Google bots to crawl and index your content. If your site isn’t showing up in Google searches, it’s almost as if it doesn’t exist. This could mean missing out on valuable local searches from potential customers who are looking for exactly what you offer.
WordPress, on the other hand, is renowned for its SEO capabilities. With the right plugins and setup, a WordPress site can be optimized to rank higher in search results, bringing more traffic and potential customers to your business.
4. Your Site Can Get Stuck On Their Platform
One of the biggest drawbacks of using platforms like Wix, Weebly, or Squarespace is that you’re essentially locked into their ecosystem. Once you build your site on one of these platforms, migrating away is nearly impossible. If you decide to switch, you’re often faced with the daunting task of starting from scratch, and completely rebuilding your website from the ground up. This lack of flexibility can be a significant limitation as your business grows and your needs evolve.
Not only can your website get stuck, but so can your domain name. This is one of your business’s most valuable assets. We highly recommend purchasing your business domain through a separate domain registrar, like GoDaddy. Purchasing through one of these platforms can add a new layer of entanglement to decouple from.
Other considerations are scalability, marketing, and design. These can include adding custom design elements, selling a product, offering courses, or including a marketing campaign. We can’t always see what is down the road. If your site is built on Wix, Weebly, or Squarespace, you will find limitations in growing past a certain point in your business. You will also find it challenging to find website designers and marketing agencies willing to partner with you. Most agencies are most comfortable in the WordPress ecosystem.
Small Businesses Just Starting Out Need a WordPress
WordPress is the go-to platform for small businesses, and for good reason. Unlike Wix, Weebly, or Squarespace, WordPress offers unparalleled flexibility and scalability. As your business grows, your website can grow with it, without the limitations often imposed by those other platforms.
WordPress also offers thousands of plugins and themes, allowing you to customize your site to meet your specific needs. Whether it’s integrating an online store, creating a portfolio, or adding advanced SEO tools, WordPress has you covered. For a small business just starting out, this level of adaptability is crucial.
Additionally, WordPress has a vast support community and countless resources available, making it easier to find help or troubleshoot issues as they arise. It’s a platform built to support your business as it evolves, giving you the tools you need to succeed online.
Simplified Website Design Makes: The Best of Both
Easy and Affordable Website Templates for Small Businesses
At Simplified Website Design, we understand the challenges small businesses face when building an online presence. That’s why we offer affordable website design services that don’t compromise on quality. We like to think we are the best of both worlds offering affordable website templates on the WordPress platform with exceptional support and hosting. You can get a starter site and be primed to grow your business! Our customizable templates serve as a starting point, allowing you to get a professional, high-performing website without the high price tag.
We handle everything from design to hosting and maintenance, ensuring your site is optimized, secure, and ready to attract and convert customers. With our expertise, you can have a WordPress website that not only meets your needs but also grows with your business.
When it comes to your small business website, choosing the right platform and professional help can make all the difference. Don’t settle for less—your website is your business’s most important marketing tool – invest in a website that will set you up for success.
