So you have decided to get a website. You have no idea where to start. You are thinking this is going to cost me big bucks, who do I call? We’re gonna break it down for you and make sense of it. First things first…we want to explain some basic website lingo that you will hear.
In case you don’t already know, a domain is your address online. The name that visitors can use to find you. Ex: unpluggeddesigns.com
And to make your site live and available to the world you need a hosting plan. Ex: BlueHost
That said, you’re actually renting digital storage space from a web hosting provider to store all content and images of your website.
To simplify your understanding, website hosting is the land where you build your house on while the domain name is your home address.
Here comes the question: How are you going to build your website or who should you call that won’t break the bank?
Similar to a physical house, aside from having a hosting plan and domain, you’ll need to decide how are you going to create and design your website.
Are you planning to take the do-it-yourself route or hire a professional?
Truth be told, these days life is a lot easier.
Even a complete beginner that has little or no technical background can easily set up a brand new website in minutes.
All it takes is having the RIGHT tool that best suits your needs.
If you want to go the do-it-yourself route, there are two common options: WordPress and website builders.
So what’s the difference between WordPress and a website builder? Which one should you use to build a website?
Well, it depends- mostly on you. Flip a coin:::heads a website builder / tails- WordPress.
Choosing between these two options can be overwhelming and confusing especially for those that are not tech-savvy. Years ago if someone told me I would be making WordPress sites I would’ve laughed at them.
We don’t want you to start using a tool that you’ll regret later. This will cost you more -you’ll have to go through the troubles of moving your content, redesign your website or even rebuild your site from scratch.
There are pros and cons of using WordPress and website builders. We hope we can shed a light on this matter and perhaps help you make a better-informed decision. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Website Builder vs WordPress
In general, a website builder is the easiest and quickest way to launch a website for beginners who are looking to launch their first site. It’s especially helpful for those who are not so tech-savvy.
Just log in to your dashboard and tweak your design, layout, and content as you like. You can do this easily without reading any lengthy tutorial or contacting support.
On the other hand, you may need to take some time to become familiar with WordPress. Non-technical users may find the system a little confusing and overwhelming.
Managing WordPress, sometimes, can be as easy as just one simple click to update plugins. Go to your WordPress dashboard, click “Plugin” on the left menu bar then click “Update Plugins”. But on rare occasions, you may have to deal with technical maintenance, broken functionality, or compatibility issues. For example, some of the WordPress plugins and theme customizations require you to tweak codes for them to work.
Here’s the good thing about WordPress: If you wish to change your web host, for whatever reason, you can easily do so by export your website to the new host.
But if you use a website builder to build your site, you can never export and migrate your website. This means that if you want to change web host, be ready to rebuild your website from scratch! It’s a real pain in the neck. You can also change the appearance of your website by using a theme that best fits your business.
With website builders, you don’t have to tweak any code. Just click, drag and drop the elements you like and move around them you’re satisfied.
DIY site builders are somewhat new. They’ve started becoming popular for the past few years, especially with the growth of Shopify – a DIY site builder specifically for small e-commerce startups. WordPress on the other hand has been around for over 14 years.
So which website building tool should you choose?
Both WordPress and website builders are great, they both have their own unique features and benefits. But there’s no ONE tool that’s right for everyone.
Before we part ways, We’d like to say don’t get hung up on making the decision. Pick a choice, test it out and keep improving. A Website needs to be kept “fresh” don’t just create it and forget about it.
