You have just decided that you want to create a website for your new Coaching Business. There are so many platforms out there your head is spinning. What is the Best Website Platform for your coaching business?
And when researching you feel like you have now gotten into a rabbit hole… WordPress, SquareSpace, Shopify, Wix, ShowIt?
While too many options can overwhelm you, it also creates an opportunity for you to choose the best one that meets your current needs…
Here are a few things you need to take into consideration that will help you to decide the right platform:
- Budget
- Features & Functionalities
- Ease of Use
- Scalability
- Security
However you need to be aware that each platform has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, and the best platform for you will depend on your specific needs and goals.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most popular website building platforms and discuss their pros and cons, to help you make an informed decision about which website platform is the best for your Coaching Business.
1. WordPress
WordPress.org is an extremely flexible, reliable, secure, SEO friendly open-source content management system (CMS) i.e. free, used by millions of websites around the world.
Approximately 810 million websites use WordPress as of 2022, This represents around 43% of all existing websites are built on WordPress.
This means there are lots of templates and builders available for WordPress, that makes building a professional website a lot easier than you think.
As we talk about its flexibility and scalability, WordPress can be used to create a wide variety of websites, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce platforms. For online stores you can choose either free plugins such as WooCommerce or go for other paid options.
If you decide to build your website using WordPress.org you will need to pay for hosting. There are many hosting providers available. Over the last 15 years or so, I have used many. Amongst all those, I highly recommend SiteGround* for its services – uptime, speed, server-response time, customisable dashboard and customer service (24×7 chat and phone support!). And their introductory offer, which makes it extremely affordable for new business owners, especially with the level of services they provide.
The cons of WordPress is that as a beginner, it has a steeper learning curve and can be overwhelming.
That said, with the launch of WordPress 6.0, it has now included an extended site editing feature which means it’s a lot more intuitive.
There are many builders that make WordPress design and build easier – most popular ones being Elementor and Divi. And others are Oxygen, Beaver Builder, WP Page Builder, Oxygen Page Builder etc
2. Squarespace
Squarespace is another popular website building platform that is known for its sleek and professional design.
It has a simple drag and drop user interface, which makes designing easier.
Squarespace has responsive design, which means that your website will automatically adjust to fit the screen of any device.
Squarespace also has a built-in e-commerce platform, which allows you to easily sell products or services on your website.
The cons of Squarespace is that it is not as flexible as the available templates may not be customisable or you can’t install plugins to extend functionalities as WordPress and it can be quite expensive.
The basic e-commerce option has a transaction fee and as you move up the e-commerce option tiers, although no transaction fee but if you want to add features or functionalities, you will need to move to a higher tier.
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3. ShowIt
Like Squarespace, Showit also has a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create and customise websites. It also offers a wide variety of templates and design elements.
Showit like Squarespace includes hosting in their packages and has built-in e-commerce platform.
Another interesting thing about ShowIt is that it’s integration with WordPress Blog.
The cons of Showit is that it is not as beginner-friendly as some other website building platforms and it can be quite expensive.
Showit can be a great option for photographers and artists looking for a visually stunning and highly customisable website that allows them to showcase their work in a professional way. However, it may not be the best option for beginners or those on a tight budget.
4. Wix
Wix is a popular website building platform that is known for its ease of use. It also has a drag-and-drop interface that makes design easier.
Wix has various tiers depending on your business needs.
The cons of Wix is that it is not scalable, and it can be quite expensive. Additionally, while Wix offers a wide variety of templates and design elements, the customization options are limited.
5. Shopify
Shopify, technically not a website platform, is rather a powerful e-commerce platform. It’s popular due to its ease of use and scalability.
If e-commerce is your main objective, Shopify may be better suited for your needs as you can set up and sell products or services on your website.
Additionally, Shopify is mobile-responsive, which means that your website will automatically adjust to fit the screen of any device.
The cons of Shopify is that it is not as flexible as WordPress, and it can be quite expensive.
Final thoughts…
In conclusion, when choosing a platform for creating a website, it’s important to consider your specific business needs and goals.
If you would like to get more clarity on what might be the best fit for your coaching business, book a NO-obligation free 15-min Clarity Call with me.
