How to Choose the Right Website Platform for Your Business

Choosing the right platform for your website is a crucial step in building your online presence. The right platform can enhance your brand, optimise your SEO, and help you connect with your target audience effectively.

But with so many options out there, how do you know which one is the best for you?

In this post, we’ll cover popular website platforms like Wix, Squarespace, WordPress, Showit, GoDaddy, and Pixieset. We’ll break down each platform based on pricing, ease of use, security, hosting, SEO performance, and design flexibility, and give tailored recommendations for creatives, coaches, and small businesses.

In-Depth Breakdown by Platform

Wix

Best for: Small businesses, personal blogs, and anyone needing a quick, easy solution.

• Pros:

  • Easy drag-and-drop builder.

  • Good for beginners.

  • Includes hosting and security in the price.

  • Affordable plans.

• Cons:

  • Limited SEO control (less flexibility for optimization).

  • Slower load times.

  • Limited design customization, especially for advanced needs.

• Perfect For: Simple, budget-friendly websites where ease of use is a priority. Great for local businesses like hairdressers or small shops.

Squarespace

Best for: Creatives like photographers, designers, and those needing visually stunning websites.

• Pros:

  • Beautiful, modern templates with mobile optimization.

  • Easy-to-use with built-in features like social media integration.

  • Great customer support.

• Cons:

  • Limited customization options.

  • Can be slow to load.

  • More expensive than some other platforms.

• Perfect For: Those who need a visually appealing, simple-to-manage site. Ideal for photographers and artists who prioritize design over customization.

WordPress

Best for: Coaches, bloggers, and businesses needing full customization and control.

• Pros:

  • Completely customizable with thousands of themes and plugins.

  • Great SEO features and full control over optimization.

  • Open-source and flexible.

• Cons:

  • Requires some technical knowledge.

  • Can be overwhelming for beginners.

  • Needs extra attention to security (WordPress is a popular target for hackers).

• Perfect For: Entrepreneurs, coaches, or anyone needing a customizable, professional site. Ideal for businesses that will grow over time and need flexible features like membership areas or e-commerce.

Showit

Best for: Creatives who want an intuitive design platform paired with WordPress functionality.

• Pros:

  • Excellent design flexibility, especially for visually-driven businesses.

  • Integrates seamlessly with WordPress for blogging and SEO.

  • Easy drag-and-drop interface.

• Cons:

  • Needs WordPress for blogging and SEO, which adds complexity.

  • Can be pricey for beginners.

• Perfect For: Photographers, wedding planners, and other creatives needing a beautiful portfolio with great design flexibility.

GoDaddy

Best for: Small businesses and personal projects with a simple, no-frills approach.

• Pros:

  • Inexpensive, easy-to-use, and fast setup.

  • Includes hosting and security in the plan.

• Cons:

  • Poor SEO control, limited customization.

  • Not ideal for growing businesses or anyone needing advanced features.

• Perfect For: Small businesses or personal websites that don’t need complex features.

Pixieset

Best for: Photographers and creatives with a focus on portfolios.

• Pros:

  • Free tier available, and easy to use.

  • Focuses solely on photo galleries and client-proofing.

• Cons:

  • Weak SEO capabilities.

  • Limited design flexibility and features outside of a portfolio.

• Perfect For: Photographers or visual artists who want a simple portfolio, but not recommended for businesses needing SEO or blog content.

Best Platform for Each Business Type

• For Creatives (Photographers, Designers, etc.):

  • Showit is your best choice if you prioritize design. It offers great flexibility for creating visually stunning sites with the WordPress backend for blogging.

  • Squarespace is also great for those who want an elegant, easy-to-manage website without technical knowledge.

• For Coaches:

  • WordPress is perfect for you if you need complete control over your content, blog, and SEO. It can handle memberships, course integration, and everything a growing coaching business needs.

  • Showit, paired with WordPress, is great for a visually attractive website with strong blogging and SEO capabilities.

• For Small Businesses (Hairdressers, Local Shops, etc.):

  • Wix or GoDaddy are solid choices if you want a simple, budget-friendly website that’s quick to set up and maintain.

  • If your business needs more functionality in the future, Squarespace offers flexibility while still being easy to use.

Final Thoughts & Next Steps

Choosing the right platform depends on your business goals, technical skills, and budget. If you're just starting, Wix and GoDaddy are great for simplicity. If you're building a long-term business and need customization, WordPress or Showit might be the best fit. Squarespace strikes a good balance for creatives who need a beautiful, easy-to-use site.

If you're unsure or overwhelmed by the options, get in touch with me! I specialize in creating SEO-friendly websites tailored to your business needs. Let’s make sure your website is built on the right platform for your goals.

📩 Email me at hey@donna-reid.com, and let’s get started on your perfect website today!