Best Website Platforms for Small Businesses

Why Choosing the Right Website Platform Matters

In today’s digital age, having a robust online presence is crucial for small businesses. The website is often the first point of contact between a business owner and their potential customers. Therefore, selecting the right website platform is a critical decision that can impact the success and growth of a business. This article compares the top 3 SaaS platforms along with a self-hosted website option with WordPress, highlighting their features, benefits, and the advantages of self-hosting for small businesses.

Understanding Website Platforms

What is a Website Platform?

A website platform can be a hosted software or service (SaaS) service that allows users to create, manage, and maintain a website without the need for extensive coding knowledge. Website platforms also include WordPress, hosted and self hosted, Joomla and Drupal, as well as free website builders that are often offered when you sign up for web hosting. For the purpose of this article, we will not cover the free website builders or Joomla and Drupal due to the lack of market share and in our opinion, relevancy in business website platforms. Whether you go with a hosted (SaaS) solution, or a self hosted WordPress solution, these platforms offer various tools and templates to help users build professional-looking websites efficiently.

Key Features to Look For

When choosing a website platform, small businesses should consider several key features:

• Ease of Use: The platform should be user-friendly, with intuitive navigation and simple customization options.
• SEO Tools: Built-in SEO tools are essential for improving search engine rankings and attracting organic traffic.
• E-commerce Capabilities: For businesses planning to sell products or services online, robust e-commerce features are a must.
• Customization Options: The ability to customize the website to reflect the brand’s identity is crucial.
• Customer Support: Reliable customer support can help resolve issues quickly and keep the website running smoothly.
• Marketing Tools: Essential for promoting your business and engaging with your audience.

Top Website Platforms for Small Businesses: Best Free Website Builder Options

Wix

Features and Benefits

Wix is a popular website builder known for its ease of use and extensive customization options. It offers a drag-and-drop editor, making it easy for users to create professional websites without any coding knowledge. Wix also provides a wide range of templates, SEO tools, and e-commerce capabilities. Wix is often considered one of the best free website options for small businesses.

Pros and Cons

• User-friendly interface
• Extensive template library
• Built-in SEO tools
• Strong e-commerce features

• Limited flexibility for advanced customization
• Some features require premium plans
• No ability to transfer your site and data to self hosted platform without rebuilding site from ground up.
• Traffic and tracking data does not transfer out of the Wix platform, which means you will start from scratch with no access to historical data.

Squarespace

Features and Benefits

Squarespace is renowned for its sleek, modern templates and robust design capabilities. It is ideal for businesses looking for a visually appealing website. Squarespace offers excellent blogging tools, SEO features, and e-commerce functionality. It is also ideal for creating a professional small business website.

Pros and Cons

• Beautiful, professional templates
• Strong design customization
• Good SEO and blogging tools
• Integrated e-commerce features

• Slightly steeper learning curve compared to some other platforms
• Higher cost for advanced features
• No ability to transfer your site and data to self hosted platform without rebuilding site from ground up.
• Traffic and tracking data does not transfer out of the Squarespace platform, which means you will start from scratch with no access to historical data.

Shopify

Features and Benefits

Shopify is a dedicated e-commerce platform designed to help businesses build and manage online stores. It offers a range of customizable templates, comprehensive e-commerce tools, and excellent customer support. Shopify is suitable for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. Shopify is designed to help small businesses sell online effectively.

Pros and Cons

• Powerful e-commerce features
• Easy to set up and manage
• Extensive app marketplace
• Reliable customer support

• Higher transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments
• Limited customization options without coding knowledge
• No ability to transfer your site and data to self hosted platform without rebuilding site from ground up.
• Traffic and tracking data does not transfer out of the Shopify platform, which means you will start from scratch with no access to historical data.

Self-Hosted WordPress

Features and Benefits

Self-hosted WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that provides unparalleled flexibility and customization options. Unlike SaaS platforms, users have complete control over their website’s design, functionality, and hosting environment. With thousands of themes and plugins available, businesses can tailor their site to meet specific needs, from e-commerce to portfolios. Additionally, WordPress is highly SEO-friendly, allowing for optimizations that can improve search engine rankings. WordPress allows users to fully control and customize their own website.

Pros and Cons

• Complete control over website customization and functionality
• Vast selection of themes and plugins for enhanced features
• Excellent SEO capabilities
• Ability to move the website to a different web hosting if needed
• No ongoing platform fees, only web hosting and custom domain costs (you will need a custom domain for your business regardless of platform)

• Requires a higher level of technical knowledge to set up and maintain
• Users are responsible for security and backups
• Initial setup can be more time-consuming than SaaS platforms
• Potential compatibility issues with third-party themes and plugins

SEO Tools and Optimization: Essential SEO Tools

Importance of SEO for Small Business Websites Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is vital for small businesses to increase their online visibility and attract potential customers, especially when establishing a business online. Effective SEO practices help websites rank higher in search engine results, driving organic traffic and enhancing credibility.

Built-in SEO Features

Most modern website platforms offer built-in SEO tools to help users optimize their websites. These tools include meta tag editing, keyword suggestions, mobile responsiveness, and integration with Google Analytics.

Wix SEO Features

Wix offers a comprehensive set of SEO tools, including customizable meta tags, alt text for images, and a built-in SEO Wiz tool that provides personalized optimization plans.

Squarespace SEO Features

Squarespace includes robust SEO features, such as automatic sitemaps, clean URLs, and customizable meta tags. It also integrates with Google Search Console to track performance and identify issues.

Shopify SEO Features

Shopify’s SEO tools are designed to help online stores rank higher in search results. These tools include customizable title tags, meta descriptions, and automatic generation of sitemaps.

WordPress SEO Features

WordPress excels in providing powerful SEO capabilities essential for enhancing visibility and search rankings. One of the significant advantages of using WordPress is its extensive library of SEO plugins, with Yoast SEO being one of the most popular. This plugin offers a range of features designed to improve on-page SEO, including the ability to create and customize meta titles and descriptions, generate XML sitemaps, and ensure content readability.

Yoast SEO also provides invaluable real-time suggestions for optimizing your content, such as keyword density checks, internal linking recommendations, and social media integration. These tools empower users to implement best SEO practices easily, even if they lack technical expertise. Moreover, WordPress’s flexibility allows for easy integration of SEO strategies, helping businesses to effectively manage their online presence, reach their target audience, and ultimately drive more traffic to their sites. By leveraging WordPress and tools like Yoast SEO, small businesses can experience substantial gains in organic search visibility, resulting in increased engagement and potential conversions.

• Extensive Plugin Availability: Access to a wide range of SEO plugins, such as Yoast SEO, for enhanced optimization features.
• On-Page Optimization: Easy customization of meta titles, descriptions, and URLs to improve search rankings.
• Real-Time Suggestions: Tools that provide recommendations for keyword density and content readability.
• XML Sitemap Generation: Automatic creation of sitemaps to improve site indexing by search engines.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Many themes are designed to be mobile-friendly, which is crucial for SEO.
• Flexibility and Control: Complete control over site structure and content, allowing for tailored SEO strategies.
• Integration with Analytics: Seamless integration with Google Analytics and Google Search Console for tracking performance.

E-commerce Capabilities: Building an Online Store

Essential E-commerce Features

For small businesses looking to sell products or services online, certain e-commerce features are essential. These include product management, secure payment gateways, inventory tracking, and shipping options.

Wix E-commerce

Wix offers a range of e-commerce features, including product galleries, secure payment options, and inventory management. It also provides integration with popular payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe. Wix offers a free plan that allows users to test its e-commerce features.

Squarespace E-commerce

Squarespace’s e-commerce capabilities include customizable product pages, secure checkout, and integration with various shipping services. It also offers powerful inventory management and analytics tools.

These features are particularly beneficial for small business owners looking to establish an online presence.

Shopify E-commerce

Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform with extensive features such as multi-channel selling, secure payment gateways, and advanced inventory management. It also provides tools for managing shipping, taxes, and customer relationships.

WordPress E-commerce Capabilities

WordPress is well-equipped for e-commerce, primarily through the integration of WooCommerce, which transforms a basic WordPress site into a fully functional online store. WooCommerce offers a suite of essential e-commerce functionalities, such as product listings, inventory management, and shipping options. This plugin is highly customizable, allowing businesses to tailor their online shops to fit their unique branding and operational needs. Furthermore, WordPress supports seamless payment integrations with numerous gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and Square, making the transaction process both secure and convenient for customers.

• Customization Flexibility: Create a personalised online shop that reflects your brand identity.
• Wide Range of Payment Options: Integrate multiple secure payment gateways to cater to various customer preferences.
• Robust Product Management: Easily manage inventory, product variations, and pricing.
• User-Friendly Interface: Simplified process for both customers and administrators to navigate and manage the store.
• Extensive Plugin Ecosystem: Access to numerous plugins that enhance functionality, from SEO tools to shipping solutions.
• Scalable Solutions: Grow your e-commerce site easily as your business expands, with options to add features and increase product capacity.
• Excellent Community Support: Benefit from a large community of developers and users who share knowledge and provide assistance.

Customization and Flexibility

Importance of Customization

Customization allows businesses to create a unique online presence that reflects their brand identity. A customizable website can help attract and retain customers by offering a personalized user experience.

Wix Customization

Wix provides extensive customization options through its drag-and-drop editor and a wide range of templates. Users can easily add and arrange elements, change colors and fonts, and integrate third-party apps.

Squarespace Customization

Squarespace offers advanced design customization, allowing users to create visually stunning websites. Its templates are highly flexible, and users can make changes to layout, typography, and color schemes.

Shopify Customization

While Shopify offers several customizable templates, it may require some coding knowledge for advanced customization. However, Shopify’s extensive app marketplace allows users to add various functionalities to their stores.

WordPress Customization and Flexibility

WordPress stands out for its unparalleled customization options, allowing users to design a website that not only aligns with their branding but also meets specific functional needs. Thanks to its vast array of themes and plugins, WordPress enables businesses to adapt their websites, enhancing the user experience while maintaining brand consistency. Users can modify layouts, integrate unique functionalities, and tailor their site’s appearance with relative ease, making it an ideal choice for those looking for both flexibility and control. Additionally, the ability to edit code directly provides advanced users with the opportunity to create bespoke solutions that cater precisely to their operational requirements.

Theme Variety: Access to thousands of free and premium themes for a diverse range of designs.

• Plugin Integration: Over 50,000 plugins to extend site functionalities, from SEO tools to social media sharing.
• Code Editing: Direct access to HTML, CSS, and PHP for advanced customisation.
• Responsive Design: Customizable themes ensure compatibility across devices.
• User Role Management: Tailor user permissions based on specific roles within the site.
• Custom Post Types: Create unique content types to fit various business needs.
• Widgets and Sidebars: Flexible arrangements for displaying additional information without altering the core theme.

Practical Tips for Choosing a Website Platform

Identifying Business Needs

Before choosing a website platform, small businesses should identify their specific needs and goals. This includes determining the type of website (e-commerce, informational, portfolio), required features, and budget constraints.

Testing and Comparing Platforms

Many website platforms offer free trials or basic plans, allowing users to test their features and ease of use. Small businesses should take advantage of these trials to compare different platforms and determine which one best meets their needs.

Seeking Professional Advice

For businesses with complex needs or limited technical knowledge, seeking professional advice from web developers or digital marketing experts can be beneficial. These professionals can provide guidance on selecting the right platform and optimizing the website for success.

Conclusion

While Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify are legitimate website platforms, they often come with limitations that may not suit the ideal needs and scalability of small businesses. Among these options, Shopify provides specific advantages for e-commerce. However, for most small businesses, a self-hosted WordPress solution offers the greatest benefits, allowing for more flexibility and growth potential.