The Complete Guide to Choosing the Best Web Design Platform for Your Business in 2023

Selecting the right web design platform is a critical decision that will impact your online presence and ability to attract and retain customers. With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to determine which one best fits your specific business needs and goals.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk through the key factors to consider when evaluating web design platforms. I'll share unbiased, research-backed insights into the pros and cons of the most popular options like WordPress, Wix, Webflow, and Squarespace. My goal is to equip you with the knowledge to confidently choose the best platform for your unique situation.

Key Criteria for Evaluating Web Design Platforms

When researching web design platforms, there are several essential criteria to assess how well each option will work for your particular business:

Customization and Flexibility

Some platforms are very rigid and lock you into predefined templates and layouts. Others allow for extensive customization to create a completely unique website. Consider how much design freedom you need to properly convey your brand.

SEO Capabilities

Optimizing your site for search engines is crucial for driving traffic and leads. Make sure the platform supports SEO best practices like quality code, speed optimization, and metadata editing.

Built-in Features

Evaluate which built-in tools and integrations each platform offers such as forms, blogs, ecommerce, analytics, etc. Think about the features you need now and may need in the future.

Ease of Use

Some platforms cater more towards professional web designers while others are very beginner-friendly. Factor in the technical skills of who will be managing the site.

Scalability

As your business grows, will this platform seamlessly scale with you? Changing platforms down the road can be very difficult.

Cost

Pricing structures differ significantly. Make sure to calculate the total costs both short and long term. Don't let price be the only deciding factor.

WordPress

Overview

First launched in 2003, WordPress powers over 35% of all websites, making it the most widely used CMS (content management system) globally. It is open source software that can be hosted through WordPress.com or self-hosted on your own web server.

Pros

• Extremely flexible and customizable with endless design options
• SEO-friendly with great built-in functionality and plugin expandability
• Scales easily from small blogs to enterprise websites
• Huge developer community provides support and plenty of themes/plugins
• Completely free open source software

Cons

• Can be more complex for beginners compared to other platforms
• Requires paying for web hosting separately
• Dependent on plugins/themes which can sometimes break during updates

Ideal For

WordPress is great for all types and sizes of websites, but especially blogs, online magazines/media sites, ecommerce stores, directories, and membership sites. The possibilities are endless.

Example

The TED website is built on WordPress and takes advantage of its customizability and scalability to power their content hub.

Wix

Overview

Wix launched in 2006 as a drag and drop website builder targeted to small businesses, artists, and individuals. It uses an AI web design platform that requires no coding.

Pros

• Extremely user-friendly interface and pre-built templates
• Includes many apps and integrations
• Handles hosting and security
• Free basic plan available

Cons

• Limited design flexibility
• SEO not as strong as other platforms
• Must use Wix subdomain
• Higher cost plans for advanced features

Ideal For

Wix shines for small business websites, portfolios, event/conference sites, and online stores. Strongest for beginners.

Example

The Wix Support Center takes advantage of Wix's simplicity and integrated knowledge base app.

Webflow

Overview

Webflow launched in 2013 as a no-code web design platform geared towards designers and creatives. It uses a visual editor with pre-built components and interactions.

Pros

• Visual drag and drop builder with extensive design capabilities
• Integrates animation and interactions seamlessly
• Cleaner code than Wix for improved SEO
• CMS functionality to update content

Cons

• Steeper learning curve than Wix
• Must buy hosting from Webflow
• Limited built-in features and integrations
• Can only build sites, not blogs or stores

Ideal For

Webflow excels at custom sites for creatives, designers, startups, and agencies who value design flexibility and animation.

Example

The Webflow Showcase demonstrates the platform's capabilities for stunning, interactive websites.

Squarespace

Overview

Founded in 2003, Squarespace offers an all-in-one web publishing platform combining hosting, templates, and ecommerce. Its minimalist style caters towards creative professionals.

Pros

• Award-winning modern templates
• Integrated ecommerce and membership capabilities
• Includes hosting, domain, and security
• Seamless mobile optimization

Cons

• Limited design flexibility
• No built-in blog
• Steep pricing plans
• Primarily caters to creatives

Ideal For

Squarespace is best for designer portfolios, photographers, restaurants, online retail, and membership sites. Less ideal for traditional blogs.

Example

The Ownership Works website highlights Squarespace's bold branding and ecommerce strengths.

Key Takeaways

When selecting a web design platform, first outline your specific business goals, budget, timeline, and capabilities. Then assess the pros and cons and ideal use cases of the various options against your needs. While the "best" platform depends on your unique situation, I hope these insights provide a helpful starting point for making this big decision.

The platform is just the foundation - great web design requires creativity and strategy to truly bring your brand to life. If you need help with your website, don't hesitate to get in touch!