Wix and Weebly, should I use these platforms for my new website? I have seen this question asked so many times and each has their own response as to whether you should use them or not. But in short, I would say avoid at all cost!
Yes, Wix and Weebly are very easy to use, you don’t need coding experience and even the most novice of computer user can create a website on Wix or Weebly in under an hour. This is a fact. You can build a website with most of the features you are after and be up and running in no time at all. They have hundreds of free templates to choose from and basic hosting (and I mean basic!) can cost as little a a few dollars a month. Bingo bango your business is up and running for next to nothing!
So, what is the problem?
When something seems too easy or too good to be true, it usually is! One of the main problems with Wix and Weebly website builders is they are not correctly geared for SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). If you are not familiar with SEO, this is the key factor in your website ranking on search engines such as Google and the ability for these engine to pick up your content and read your site. A website that has been built for SEO will make it easier for the search engine spiders to crawl through your site and find relevant content. A website with good SEO will rank higher than a website with poor SEO, regardless of how pretty the website is or how lovely your products are.
Now, Wix will say it is SEO friendly, but there is friendly and then there is friendly. Think of Wix as the worst piece of DIY furniture you have bought. Yes, the instructions are there and yes all the pieces are there… but by gee, it took you 3 times as long as it should have to build that darn chair didn’t it! Well that’s Wix and Weebly, it is all there, but it is not quite as Google user friendly as it could be.
A website platform like WordPress for example is geared for SEO. It is one of their key draw cards and why WordPress websites are currently occupying 10% of the internet website platforms on their own. WordPress is a little harder to learn but it is not impossible. Once you learn the ropes, you can build an amazing website on your own with no coding experience and for not much more than a Wix or Weebly site will cost you. And, if you chose a free theme – your website and hosting will cost you the same per month as a cup of coffee from your local cafe.
So, apart from poor SEO, why do website professionals not rate Wix and Weebly Website Builders? Basically there are limitations to what you can do and limitations to the growth that your business can take. Wix and Weebly are designed for the small home-made business that needs a website presence, but will not be relying on this as their income stream. You will not see Surf Stitch (Now Number 1 for Surf Wear and come up number one in many online search categories) or any of the big boys in online retail using a Wix or Weebly site for their business. Also, there is advertising on your site if you are on the basic package and the “created by wix.com” at the bottom of your website does not sit well with many in the industry either – and trust me, they look!
Again, setting yourself up on a WordPress platform or similar will help with your business growth in the future and you will be surprised how many plugins and add-ons you can get for your site – for free!
If you are hoping to move up the Google ranks to achieve organic growth in your business, then Wix and Weebly probably aren’t for you. Save yourself the time and effort and build your website on a platform that is going to grow with you in the future, not just ok for now. Trust me, building a website is not a 5 minute job and you want to get it right the first time.
