5 things to consider when choosing a website platform

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Hi, I'm Alli.

I help passionate entrepreneurs, like you, create a strategic brand and website that stands out to your dream clients so you can run a successful business online.

My ultimate goal is to empower you with the tools you need to live your best life by doing the work your love.

The website platform or builder you choose does matter! But it can be confusing and overwhelming to know which is best for you. Here are 5 things to consider.

Squarespace, WordPress, Showit, Wix, Weebly — there are many website platforms and builders to choose from and it can make it confusing and sometimes overwhelming to know which to decide to use. 

And what you decide does matter!

You already know how important it is to have a strategic and stunning website working hard for your business. But with so many website builders available today, how do you make the decision of which one is the right one for you?

Well, there are 5 things you need to consider.

1. What does your business need?

The first thing to think about is what your business needs.

Will you be selling products online, sharing a portfolio, or collecting leads? Maybe you plan to use a lot of video or you want to have a blog.

Some platforms specialize in having certain functionality that others don’t, so this is key.

2. How big is the learning curve?

Second, there’s a learning curve to every platform that’s new to you, of course.

But maybe you already know one pretty well. Or maybe you have access to tutorials that will teach you how to use one.

A good thing to think about as well is whether or not you’ll be able to update your content yourself as your business grows.

Also, consider how popular the platform is. The more frequently it’s being used, the more free content that will be available and easier for you to find.

3. How much does it cost?

This one is fairly simple, if it’s not in your budget then it’s not a good fit. Be sure to also consider whether you’ll hire help to set up and maintain your site or whether you plan to do it yourself.

Also, some website builders offer different level plans, so you’ll want to factor in any additional fees that you’ll need to pay depending on what your business needs.

4. Are you able to match your brand?

You want to be able to have your website stand out and you won’t be able to do that if the ability to customize your site is limited. If you can’t change the colors, graphics, and typefaces, you’ll have a tough time showing up consistently and cohesively for your viewers.

Think about if you’ll need to add features down the line as well. If so, you’ll want to use a platform that fully supports customization.

5. What kind of data can you track?

And last, can you track who’s visiting your site, how often, what are they doing there, and when?

Having access to this data will help you to understand your audience and make informed decisions about what kind of content they want from you and how you can best provide it to them.

Now you may be wondering what website platform is the best one to use if you’re in it for the long haul, the one that can grow with your business as it grows.

In my opinion — it’s WordPress, hands down. It’s what I teach my clients and all of my students to use. And to many people’s surprise, it isn’t hard to learn and you don’t have to know how to code to use it.

Head here to learn why you should use WordPress to build your website even when you’re just starting out.

Are you more of a visual learner?

Here’s a video version of this post.

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