Deciding the type of platform for your website
The first big selection for creating a website is what platform you will use. This decision can feel overwhelming due to the number of options and opinions available. Let’s break it down into the main options.
What is a CMS?
A CMS or content management system, is a technology that allows you to create and maintain content on your website. It allows you to publish web pages and change content, pictures, text, etc. without writing computer code.
Without a CMS, every single content change you need to make will require you to hire a developer to edit the code. The purpose of a CMS is to empower you to make content edits without having to pay a developer each time you need to post your stores hours.
WordPress
Across all industries WordPress is the most dominant and the most flexible CMS for building a small business webpage. It can be used to power anything from a simple informational site to a fully functional membership website or event booking system with advanced functionality. Any feature you could imagine, has likely been built on top of WordPress.
We recommend WordPress to most small business owners, as it offers the best price to feature and ease of use. There is also a large feature development community, including our own team.
Shopify
For online storefronts, Shopify is often a better option.
It’s designed to help users create online stores from start to finish through features for product page creation, payment systems, stock management, and more.
WordPress is comparatively more flexible for general content creation. However, since selling online is the priority for most users, the trade-off is worthwhile for most users. Shopify tackles a lot of the complexities that come with eCommerce.
Custom builds
There are cases when a product doesn’t provide a feature that a business might need. It could be a custom way of booking appointments, or an integration with an in-house system. For these instances, a custom built website is your only option.
For the most part, we try to avoid these types of builds because they cost more and take longer, but we’ll always accommodate a need for a custom build.
- WordPress — flexible, popular, great for most small businesses
- Shopify — best suited to online shops
- Custom build — for unique or complex requirements beyond standard platforms
How Sunneo helps you choose
There are many resources available about different platforms. However, what works best for one business might not be the right choice for another. Understanding your business and your growth strategies is important for us to recommend you the right platform.
We’ll explain your options in plain English and help you select the best business foundation now and in the future with the least trade-offs.
What if you make the wrong choice?
Fortunately, choosing a business platform is rarely a decision that can’t be undone. However, a platform switch costs time and money, so you should strive to make the right choice at the start. We would suggest it is a red flag if a potential provider doesn’t ask about your end goals before suggesting a specific platform.
If your business needs change a lot in the future, a platform migration is always possible, but it will require a lot of work to recreate your content and features, so you should consider your decision carefully at the start.
Beyond the platform
A platform isn’t everything. The design, content, and the structure of your website should also be considered. Avoid obsessing over the tech and consider your website’s utility for your users.
Whatever we recommend, we’ll configure it to be secure, easy to use, and ready for your business needs. Get in touch to find out more.