Which website software is best: Wordpress, Wix, Shopify, Squarespace?

Wow, I just realised that I have ben creating websites in Squarespace for 10 years! I still think it's the best platform for brands...but wait, isn't AI going to do it for free, in the touch of a button?

I built my first website way back in 2005 when I was working for Sensis. We had no idea of how to do this so we engaged our creative agency. It only cost $250,000 😳 but we did get a logo, brand guidelines, website, eCommerce solution and full back end delivery system. So it seemed good value.

Lucky for me we made $1m in the first year at 90% GP as we were selling software. More specifically Whereis maps CDs for in car GPS systems. Yes it was a thing kids, this was before mobile phones.

Fast forward to 2013 when I started Social Star and my clients asked me to build them websites for their personal brands. I needed something easy to use, with no code writing and looked professional.

My intern at the time, Sacha, found Squarespace and we have been working with it every since. It's a super popular medium now days, but when I first started working with it Wordpress was all the rage. But lately, hackers have been targeting the vulnerabilities inherent in unmanaged Wordpress websites vehemently so many small businesses have been and we have had to quickly rebuild many of our clients websites fast to keep their businesses going.

We build websites in all mediums but 95% of the 400x or so websites have been in Squarespace because it fits our target market which is small professional services businesses. They don't sell products, they just need a place to position their brands and publish thought leadership content. It has beautiful templates, simple to use, secure and always being updated. The iPhone of websites.

We have built Wordpress websites for our larger clients when it was a better fit for them. They can afford ongoing maintenance and updates which is mandatory if you want to head off the hackers and outsource updates.

Another quality option for eCommerce brands is Shopify. We don't often work with product brands, but occasionally we have a friend who needs assistance so this is our go to platform for selling products, especially because of it's integration with paid advertising.

Wix is another templated website software which is easy to use and you can have a free subscription, so my students at RMIT like to use it for a portfolio site. Although, many of them are preferring to use Canva for this lately, as they use it all the time for social media design.

There are many more options for website building as everyone wants to join the subscription party! Go Daddy, Webflow, Go High Level, Framer, Lovable and hundreds more.

So what about AI built website? This is the future, no doubt about it.

With all the attention AI is getting, sometimes people forget the basics. Choose a website software that will suit your specific needs, be secure, easy to maintain and last you at least a few years.

The big guys, like Squarespace, will adopt AI technology to assist in the building of your content so you will not miss out or be disadvantaged in the future.

So if you want to move your websites to a more secure and easy to use platform, book a chat with me and we can decide which is the best one for you.

Cheers Andrew