As web designers, we are often posed with the question of why a company should avoid using Wix, Squarespace or similar solutions for website creation. At first glance, it may appear to be an appealing option. They entice you with their user-friendly interface that allows you to easily drag and drop your content into place. They also offer affordability with low monthly fees. However, what they fail to disclose are the drawbacks associated with building a website using these platforms.
Throughout the years, we have assisted numerous businesses in transitioning their websites away from these platforms through web design projects. The primary reason for this shift was their unsatisfactory experience, leading to poorly designed websites and search engine traction. Additionally, some encountered issues when their web designer became unavailable, leaving them unable to make necessary edits or address site problems.
Reasons not to use Squarespace out Wix for your website…
Web Design Expertise
Becoming a proficient web designer requires years of experience. Without any prior experience, it’s challenging to grasp the art of web page design. Most small business owners lack an understanding of design principles, typography usage, branded colour palettes, HTML, and CSS, which are crucial for conveying meaning effectively. The key lies in combining visual appeal with the desired content to be shared. Although platforms like Wix and Squarespace claim that web design skills are unnecessary to create an excellent website, this statement is far from true.
Inadequate SEO
The most significant issue we have encountered with websites created using such platforms is their poor search engine optimisation (SEO). These platforms are not designed to be search engine-friendly, resulting in numerous technical flaws in website functionality. Issues with page URLs, excessive use of Flash, and other factors make it exceedingly difficult to optimise websites built on these platforms. If your website cannot be properly optimised, your potential customers will struggle to find you. Competitors who rank higher in search engine results will overshadow your website, leaving your website in the dark back on page 3 or 4.
Limited Flexibility
Once you have built a website on one of these platforms, you become restricted. If you are dissatisfied with the system and wish to switch, you will face significant challenges. Unfortunately, once the site is built, it becomes arduous to transfer it to your own hosting account. To move your website, you will need to rebuild it entirely on a different platform. Consequently, rebuilding a website due to a desire to switch platforms becomes a costly process, whereas investing in a site created by a web designer using open-source software could have potentially saved you money in the long run.
Lack of Supportive Community
Attempting to receive support from companies associated with these platforms can be an arduous task. If you encounter any issues with your website or need guidance on adding specific features, you will likely feel isolated and helpless. In contrast, the WordPress community is extensive, comprising experts in design, development, SEO, and internet marketing. This community willingly shares their knowledge and provides support, making it much easier to navigate and utilize your website for effective internet marketing purposes.
Drupal Triumphs
When it comes to website content management systems, nothing can rival Drupal. It remains unparalleled and widely accessible, being built and maintained by thousands of contributors and utilised by millions of users. Drupal is not only free but also boasts a vast community of developers, offering around endless themes and modules to choose from. A skilled web designer can create a fully bespoke design or select a theme tailored to your industry, optimises it, and customises it to align with your brand while providing useful functionalities.
So what should you use instead?
Here’s the secret companies prefer to keep hidden… you can achieve the same results using Drupal (or even WordPress). However, the downside is that you may still require the assistance of a web designer. While it may appear to be an unnecessary expense to hire a web designer for something you believe you can do on your own, this is actually the biggest misconception.
If you operate a business, you probably recognise the importance of allocating funds towards advertising and other marketing endeavours. However, we frequently encounter numerous business owners attempting to save money by opting for a low-cost website. Unfortunately, this decision ultimately harms their own interests – the website may be cheap but is also likely to be ineffective without the input of an experts eye.
So why not talk to us?
You may think that your budget will not stretch to a professional web designer but it may not be as much as you think. At Give the Dog a Bone, we offer affordable monthly packages as well as one of solutions to ensure we can work within our clients means.
If your current website is built using open source software (such as Drupal or WordPress), you might simply require assistance in enhancing its effectiveness through minor adjustments. Our experience web designers could implement the necessary improvements to optimise functionality, speed, and modern design that aligns with your brand.