In 2022, WordPress continues to be the number one choice for content management systems. HubSpot reports that 65.2% of all websites use WordPress as their CMS. Over the years, even in the face of new “Software as a Service” (SaaS) competitors such as Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace, this number has steadily increased.
In light of all the new integrated features offered by SaaS options, why is WordPress still the top choice and is it the right choice for your business? When comparing WordPress to SaaS platforms, here are a few things to keep in mind:
WORDPRESS 2022 BENEFITS
- It’s easy to move your website, database, files, and content to another hosting provider.
- It’s scalable to any business size.
- Suitable for almost any website.
- Richer in features than ‘software as a service’ web platforms.
- Cost-effective with a good hosting provider.
- No monthly fee for open source, self-hosted platforms.
- Also available as ‘software as a service’ via wordpress.com.
- Detailed control over Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
WORDPRESS 2022 DISABILITIES
- It is more complex than most “Software as a Service” platforms.
- Budgeting for domains, hosting, themes, and plugins is necessary.
- Updates and security and maintenance issues must be addressed as well.
ANALYZING THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF WORDPRESS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
These three disadvantages are pretty significant for many people. We completely understand, having been a technology partner to a variety of businesses for many years. In most newer businesses, or businesses run by one person, where time and budgets are tight, WordPress may not be the best choice in the beginning. It comes down to your long-term business goals and expectations.
It is absolutely fine to use a SaaS alternative like Wix or Squarespace if you are keeping your business small, or if you do not have the budget or web experience to consider WordPress. It’s important to get your business going. We recommend that you continue to learn all the aspects of running a website, or start budgeting for some professional help to make sure your website is properly configured and optimized for search. If the proper work isn’t done, merely having a website does not guarantee anyone will be able to find it.
A WordPress website might be worth the extra cost if business growth is at the top of your list of goals. Moreover, if you are serious about your business, not only is it worth going with WordPress, but it is also worth hiring professionals to handle the website, SEO, as well as content and marketing if you can afford it. Modern business is internet-based. A professionally built website that is attractive, secure, and optimized for Google search will give you a better start.
If you’re on the fence about what website CMS solution is right for your business, here are a few other factors to consider:
AS SAAS PLATFORMS IMPROVE, SO DOES WORDPRESS
We hear a lot about SaaS platforms adding new features and functionality all the time. WordPress is no exception. The core features and functionality of the platform have never stopped improving, and some of the changes in the last few years have been quite transformative.
The most notable of these is the introduction of Gutenberg, the block-based editor that was introduced with WordPress 5. Gutenberg has been evolving quickly and has made adding content and media to pages in WordPress super easy and fast. For many users, it has also become a better editing solution than the many 3rd party editors that come with paid themes or are purchased as standalone plugins.
A number of other improvements like Gutenberg have reduced the need for 3rd party plugins, which can make a site more complicated, less secure, and more expensive. The trend is expected to continue.
