Choosing Between Wix and Squarespace: A Small Business Owner's Guide to Selecting a Website Platform.

With so many website platforms available, it can be daunting for small business owners to decide which to use. Two popular options that often come up in this discussion are Wix and Squarespace. Both offer user-friendly interfaces and powerful features, but they cater to different needs and preferences. Let's delve into the pros, cons, benefits, and costs of each to help you make an informed decision.

Wix

Pros:

1. Ease of Use: Wix boasts an intuitive drag-and-drop editor that makes building a website fairly simple, even for those with no coding experience.

2. Design Flexibility: With Wix, you have access to a vast library of templates catering to various industries. Additionally, the platform allows for extensive customization, giving you the freedom to create a website that reflects your brand identity.

3. App Marketplace: Wix offers a wide range of apps that can enhance your website's functionality, from e-commerce tools to marketing integrations.

4. Robust ecommerce opportunities - if you are willing to spend more money: Wix offers some great ecommerce tools, such as multi-currency, drop-shipping and product reviews, but for these functions, you’ll need to pay more.

Cons:

1. Template Limitations: While Wix's templates are visually appealing and customizable, some users may find them somewhat rigid compared to Squarespace's designs.

2. Unintuitive UX: There’s no way to explain why some things in the Wix editor work the way they do. For example, if you have an image in a container box, you click once to select the container box, and then again to select the image, or sometimes twice. It takes a while to learn these little foibles and some things will stump you for hours, days or even forever!

3. Limited SEO Control: While Wix has improved its SEO capabilities over the years, some users may find it lacking compared to other platforms like Squarespace.

4. Templates are not fully responsive: Although you’ll be able to edit the mobile version of your site, be aware that most Wix templates are not fully responsive. This means that your site will not adapt as the screen size gets smaller. So if someone is viewing your site on a tablet for example, it may look a bit broken or elements may be missing.

5. Limited number of forms: You’ll be merrily creating pages and then bam, Wix will pop up a little window telling you that you’ve reached your form limit and you need to upgrade to add additional forms to your website. You get 4 forms on the Lite plan and 10 on the Core plan. P.S. A newsletter sign up field is a form, so if you want this on every page of your site, you’ll soon run out on the lower plans.

6. Weird things are limited, even on the ecommerce plan: If you want to sell on your Wix website, you’ll need the Core plan at a minimum. But within this, simple things like ‘Back in Stock’ notifications are limited to 10 per month.

7. Can be buggy depending on which browser you are using: Wix isn’t perfect on every browser yet. I had a client who couldn’t work out how to edit her SEO settings for each page. I kept explaining, sending her screenshots and talking her through the journey. She just couldn’t see what I could see. When I finally went to her studio and sat at her computer to show her, none of the settings were there! She was using Safari as her browser, and Wix just didn’t work properly on it. She had been tearing her hair out for months.

Benefits and Costs:

Wix offers a range of pricing plans to suit different needs, from basic personal sites to robust e-commerce platforms. Pricing starts at a reasonable rate of around £7.50 per month*, with higher-tier plans offering additional features such as e-commerce functionality and advanced analytics, which go up to £119 per month.

Overall, Wix provides value for money, especially for small businesses looking to establish a professional online presence without breaking the bank. Having said that, I don’t know anyone who hasn’t needed to upgrade from the Lite to at least the Core plan to attain all the functionality they need for their website. I advise clients to assume they’ll need the Business Plan and budget for that to avoid overspending or disappointment.

Squarespace

Pros:

1. Stunning, fully responsive Templates: Squarespace is renowned for its sleek and modern templates, which are fully responsive and perfect for showcasing visual content such as products, photography or design portfolios.

2. Built-in Features: Squarespace offers an array of built-in features, including integrated analytics, blogging tools, events listings and robust e-commerce functionality, making it a comprehensive solution for small businesses.

3. Good analytics: The built-in analytics tool for Squarespace is actually really good. It’s not going to show you everything you can see in Google Analytics but all the key info is there and it’s well laid out. It’s also slightly more accurate than Google Analytics in my experience.

4. SEO Optimization: Squarespace provides extensive SEO options, allowing users to optimize their websites for search engines effectively.

5. The Drag and Drop Grid: Once you get used to it, I really think the drag and drop grid is the best CMS design ever. The simple grid keeps every element lined up and looking perfect. You can create beautiful shapes for your content to live in and it’s easy to add effects to text or images and see how they’ll look before publishing any changes.

Cons:

1. Learning Curve: While Squarespace's interface is user-friendly, some users may find it takes a few goes to get used to the grid system. Once you are used to it though, editing your site is super-speedy.

2. Limited Third-Party Integrations: While Squarespace offers many built-in features, it may lack some of the third-party integrations available on platforms like WordPress or Wix

3. Limited ecommerce features: This actually applies to Wix too. If you are selling a small number of products, both Wix and Squarespace are fine. If you have a larger quantity and want to offer sophisticated discounts, bundles or really go to town on your customer communications via the platform, you should be looking at an e-commerce focussed platform such as Shopify.

Benefits and Costs:

Squarespace's pricing structure is similar to Wix's, with different plans catering to various needs and budgets. While Squarespace may be slightly pricier than Wix, its robust features, stunning templates, and superior SEO capabilities make it a worthwhile investment for small businesses aiming to stand out online.

Making the Decision

When deciding between Wix and Squarespace, it ultimately boils down to your specific requirements, preferences, and budget. If you prioritise affordability, Wix may be the choice for you. On the other hand, if you value sleek design, comprehensive features, and superior SEO capabilities, Squarespace might be the better option.

Regardless of which platform you choose, both Wix and Squarespace offer powerful tools to help small business owners create stunning websites that effectively showcase their brand and attract customers. My advice is to take the time to explore each platform's features, experiment with their templates, and consider your long-term goals before making your decision. With the right website builder at your disposal, you'll be well on your way to establishing a strong online presence for your small business.

My personal opinion

As you can see from my website, I’m a Squarespace website builder, so my preference is Squarespace :) I’ve worked on many, many Wix websites in the past and I actually don’t accept Wix projects any more. They take longer to edit, the templates aren’t as easy to customize, the sites aren’t mobile responsive and the SEO is limited. I also find it much easier to train clients in editing Squarespace sites versus WIx.

I find that clients are happier editing Squarespace websites once they are used to the grid platorm and it’s much harder to break them! With the addition of new Squarespace features that have been released recently, such as Courses, On-demand content hosting and Squarespace AI, Squarespace sets clients up well for the future.

If you are still unsure and have questions about which platform to choose, we can jump on a no-obligation call and I can give you my thoughts and honest opinion based on your business and specific requirements.

Contact me on rhea@salthouse.digital

*Pricing correct at time of writing - March 24

The Website User Journey - and why it should be at the heart of your website.

‘User journey’, also known as ‘customer journey’ or user ‘user experience’, refers to the process or path that a user or customer takes when interacting with a product, service, or platform. It encompasses all the touchpoints and interactions between the user and the product, from the initial awareness stage to the final action or outcome.

Let’s think of a user journey like an adventure that you go on when you interact with a product or service. It's all about the steps you take and the experiences you have along the way. Imagine it as a roadmap of your interactions, from when you first discover something to when you achieve your goal.

Discovery

This is when you first hear about a product or service, maybe through ads or recommendations. Or perhaps you stumble across it on a site.

Research

You start digging deeper, looking for more information and comparing different options to see what suits you best.

Decision Time

You make up your mind and decide whether you want to go ahead with it or not.

Getting Started

You take the first steps to actually purchase or use the product or service.

Time to Shine

Now you're fully immersed, using the product or service to do what you wanted to accomplish. It's when things get exciting!

Help Is There

Sometimes, you might need a little assistance along the way. That's when you can reach out to customer support or find helpful guides to solve any issues.

Super Fan

If you have a great experience, you might become a loyal customer who keeps coming back and even tells your friends how awesome it is!

Understanding the user journey helps companies make things better for you. They can see where you might need more support or how they can improve the overall experience. So, it's all about making your journey easier, more enjoyable and successful!

How can a website audit help me and should I have one?

A website audit can sound a bit overwhelming. “What if I pay for one and then end up with a big to-do list of things I can’t do?”

Well, we’re here to set your mind at ease because a website audit from Salthouse Digital will only have up-sides. Yes, you will definitely have a bit of a to-do list afterwards but it will be full of quick wins, and some of them will be super-easy to implement. For any that need a bit more work, we’ll be here to support you and guide you to the best way to tick them off the list. Here are just a few ways a website audit can help you:

Evaluate website usability & user journeys

User experience is crucial for the success of a website. A website audit can assess the usability of your site, including navigation, layout, and overall design. By identifying any usability issues, you can make improvements to enhance user satisfaction, increase engagement, and encourage conversions. Sometimes this can be as simple as changing a Navigation title, or moving a navigation link to make a huge difference to website conversion!

Identify technical issues

A website audit can help uncover any technical issues or errors on your website that may affect its performance, such as broken links, slow page load times, mobile responsiveness, or coding errors. By identifying and resolving these issues, you can improve your website's user experience and search engine visibility.

Enhance SEO performance

A website audit can analyze your website's SEO (Search Engine Optimization) performance. It can evaluate factors like keyword usage, meta tags, heading tags, URL structure, and content quality. By identifying areas where your website can be optimized for better search engine rankings, you can attract more organic traffic and increase your online visibility.

Assess content quality

Content plays a vital role in attracting and engaging visitors. We’ll take a look at the quality, relevance, and uniqueness of your content. We’ll then identify areas where you can improve or update your content to better meet the needs of your target audience. This can lead to increased user engagement, longer visit durations, and improved conversion rates. For example, updating old blog posts can be a quick and easy task and sometimes much more valuable than writing new content.

Review where traffic is coming from & identify gaps

We’ll take a look at where your website traffic is coming from. This can be social channels, other websites, emails, search engines and even ads. We’ll look at the quality of that traffic, as well as channels that aren’t driving as much traffic as they should and provide you with recommendations for overall improvements.

Enhance security and performance

A website audit can also examine your website's security measures, including SSL certificates, backup systems, and vulnerability checks. It can also analyze your website's performance, such as server response times and caching mechanisms. By addressing security vulnerabilities and optimizing performance, you can ensure a safe and smooth experience for your website visitors.

Competitive analysis

A website audit can provide insights into your competitors' websites, including their strengths and weaknesses. By analyzing their strategies and comparing them to your own, you can identify areas where you can improve and gain a competitive advantage.

Overall, a website audit will help you to gain a comprehensive understanding of your website's current state and provide actionable recommendations for improvement. It enables you to optimize your website for better user experience, search engine visibility, security, and performance, ultimately leading to increased traffic, engagement, and conversions 👍

Find more info on our website audits and pricing. Or complete the form on our Contact page and we’ll get back to you within 24 hrs.

Why should I move to a Squarespace website?

There are several reasons why moving to a Squarespace website can be beneficial. Here are some key advantages:

It’s super user-friendly

Squarespace provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy for anyone, even those without technical expertise, to edit and manage their website. The drag-and-drop functionality allows for easy customization and design changes. All Squarespace websites are customizable, allowing you to manage a unique and polished website without the need for extensive coding knowledge.

Mobile Optimization

In today's mobile-centric world, having a website that is optimized for mobile devices is crucial. Squarespace websites are designed to be responsive, meaning they automatically adapt to different screen sizes and provide a consistent user experience across devices. Did you know that over 50% of web searches are now on mobile? So this is really important!

All-in-One Platform

Squarespace is an all-in-one platform that provides hosting, domain registration, and content management system (CMS) functionalities. This eliminates the need to juggle multiple services or worry about compatibility issues. Squarespace takes care of the technical aspects, allowing you to focus on managing your website.

E-commerce Capabilities

If you're looking to sell products or services online, Squarespace provides robust e-commerce features. You can easily set up an online store, manage inventory, process payments, and track orders. Squarespace integrates with popular payment gateways such as Stripe and Paypal and offers secure transactions, making it a suitable choice for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

SEO-Friendly

Squarespace provides built-in search engine optimization (SEO) tools and features. You can optimize page titles, meta descriptions, headings, and URLs to improve your website's visibility in search engine results. Squarespace also generates clean HTML markup and provides automatic XML sitemap generation, which helps search engines crawl and index your website efficiently.

In-built Image Library

One of the most time consuming parts of website design, is finding images to support your content. Squarespace has an in-built image library with 1000s of free, high quality images that you can add directly to your website. Simply search using keywords and phrases and voila, choose your images.

Reliable and Secure

Squarespace takes care of hosting and ensures reliable website performance. They handle software updates, security patches, and server maintenance, reducing the technical burden on your end. Squarespace also offers SSL encryption for secure data transmission and integrates with various third-party security services to safeguard your website.

Analytics and Metrics

Squarespace provides built-in analytics and metrics to help you understand your website's performance. You can track visitor statistics, page views, popular content, referral sources, and more. This data allows you to make informed decisions to improve your website and drive better results. Squarespace also allows for seamless integration with Google Analytics, which is a must for every website owner.

Support and Community

Squarespace offers extensive customer support through various channels, including live chat, email, and community forums. Their support team is known for being responsive and helpful. Additionally, Squarespace has an active user community where you can find inspiration, ask questions, and seek advice from fellow website owners.

Overall, Squarespace provides a user-friendly, all-in-one solution for building and managing professional websites. Whether you're a small business owner, creative professional, or blogger, Squarespace offers the tools and features to have a visually appealing, mobile-responsive, and functional website.