WordPress vs. Shopify vs. SquareSpace

Have you noticed anything *shiny and new* around here? If you said, "You have a new website!" you WIN! Ding-ding-ding! (See the bottom of this post for your prize.)

Anyway...if you're in the market for a website, you might find this post helpful! I'm going to explain why, after over 6 years, I decided to make the switch from WordPress (and Shopify) to SquareSpace.

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Disclaimers:

1. I'm a designer, NOT a programmer. Though I'm somewhat comfortable tweaking CSS—that is, changing or adding very basic code to change the appearance of text, tables, images, etc.—I rely on my trusty web developer to handle more hard-core customizations. The comparison below is for non-coders who need a website for their business.
2. This introductory comparison is based on my professional needs as a designer. From most important to least important, my priorities are: a portfolio of my work, a description of my services (and point-of-contact), an integrated blog, and a simple shop that sells both physical and digital goods.

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For the past 6 years, I've used (and loved) WordPress. Last year, I started selling the Branding Workbook (and some digital content) online, so I opened a Shopify store. (I chose Shopify after comparing it to Big Cartel, Store Envy, and WooCommerce.) Until last month, I was maintaining 4 work-related sites in addition to my client sites. It was crazy! To save money and time, I combined content from WordPress and Shopify into one SquareSpace site (what you're seeing now).

Check out my chart below to see how the 3 compare (dots indicate the category winner):

Feature/Aspect	Description	WordPress	Shopify	SquareSpace
BEST PRICE	The monthly cost of running a professional website, including: domain registration, hosting, security, back-ups, plugins, etc.			•
EASIEST TO SET UP AND USE	How easy is it for a "beginner" to set up the website from start to finish? How intuitive is the layout and process?			•
HARDEST TO F*** UP	How easy is it for a beginner to create a website that looks as good as the template example?			•
EASIEST TO MAINTAIN	Back-ups and updates: How much time (and money) do I have to spend maintaining the website to make sure it's running smoothly?		•	•
MOST FLEXIBLE	What are my options for adding business-specific functions, changing the layout, or customizing the look of my website?	•
MOST RELIABLE	How much "down time" do users experience on average? How fast does it run? How well does it handle traffic?		•
BEST SEO	Can a beginner figure out how to optimize pages and products without a huge headache?		•
BEST TECH SUPPORT + DOCUMENTATION	How easy is it to troubleshoot? Can I talk to someone if I have a question? Is there enough online documentation to cover most of my needs?		•
BEST FOR BLOGGING	The best platform for blogging. Period.	•
BEST FOR E-COMMERCE	The best platform for running a busy online store.		•
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS	Blogging and e-commerce combined for a reasonable price in a clean, easy-to-use format.			•

PRICE

On-going cost was the primary factor that pushed me to switch to SquareSpace. It's true that you can create a personal WordPress blog for free, but a professional WordPress site is something else entirely. At the very least, you have to pay for a domain name and hosting, but if you want your site to be in tip-top shape, you have to add security scanning, back-ups, a secondary online storage account (for those back-ups), SPAM filtering, and more. All in, we were paying about $60/month to maintain akulakreative.com. Because websites are sooo important these days, that cost in and of itself was totally fine. However, when I added Shopify to the mix, that jumped to $90/month.

SquareSpace, all in, costs $18/month. The difference was simply too big not to make the move.

TIP :: SquareSpace offers some nice freebies, including a free domain name, BUT keep in mind that you could lose your domain if you ever switch out of SquareSpace. I highly recommend purchasing your domain name independently. (I've had a good experience with NameCheap recently - and it's cheaper than GoDaddy.)

SET-UP

WordPress, Shopify, and SquareSpace are each relatively easy to set up, and it's tough to say which one is truly the easiest. It took me a while to get the hang of WordPress, but that's likely due to the fact it was my first experience with a content management system (CMS). (Note: One downside to WordPress is that you have to set up a hosting account in addition to the actual website. This part is somewhat technical and may feel overwhelming.)

TIP :: It's really important to note that the ease of set-up is also dependent on the theme you choose (particularly for WordPress). Do your homework and choose a theme with the layout and functionality that works for you. (Psst...a responsive theme is key these days.) Read reviews (if they're available) and try to determine how much support the developer offers in implementing, using, and customizing the theme. (For my favorite WordPress themes, click here.)

The reason SquareSpace wins this category is because it feels the most intuitive. Like Shopify, hosting is included so you don't have to worry about the trickiness of hosting set-up.

LOOKING PROFESH

If you're not a designer and haven't learned any CSS, SquareSpace gets you on the right track. As long as you have pretty photos, your website will look sleek and professional without much effort. Of course, you can't create a kick-ass website if a) you don't care about aesthetics or b) haven't perused the world wide web recently, but the simplicity of SquareSpace will sort of "corral" you into making better design choices.

MAINTENANCE + FLEXIBILITY

On-going maintenance was the secondary factor that pushed me to switch to SquareSpace. I had grown tired of updating WordPress, themes, and plugins on a weekly basis. I held my breath during each update, scared the site might crash due to new versions not playing nice with each other. (Yes, that's happened before, and, thanks to my back-ups, I was able to "fix" things. But a crash is never...ever...fun.) With SquareSpace, the updates are done for me, and it's not my responsibility to make sure everything works together.

For those who use and love WordPress—AND to my clients who continue to use a WordPress site I designed—let me say this: WordPress is STILL great. Here's why:

1. WordPress is extremely flexible and customizations are limitless.
2. WordPress has been around for a long time, so free and affordable themes and plugins are plentiful. Shopify and SquareSpace are much newer, so when you need something to work a different way, chances are higher that you'll have to hire a developer.*
3. YOU have complete ownership of your website. If you need to temporarily take down your site or move it to a different host company, you can do that with WordPress. You have ALL of the files needed to make the site work. With subscription-based platforms like Shopify and SquareSpace, you basically lose everything when you stop paying. All the work you did to lay out pages or customize the checkout process is gone. (This was a BIG thing to give up.)

*If you're new to this whole website thing and have no idea what a plugin is, it's basically an add-on you can upload to WordPress in order to add a specific function to your website, like a slideshow, contact form, SPAM filter, etc.

TIP :: If you're considering WordPress, ask yourself these questions:

1. Will I be diligent about keeping my website up-to-date? If I don't have the time to do it, can I afford to pay someone to do it for me?
2. Will I need flexibility in the long run? (My business needs may be changing.)
3. Is there anything complicated or unusual about the products or services I sell?

If you answered yes to any of these, I'd definitely give WordPress some thought.

RELIABILITY

For me, Shopify wins this category. If your primary business involves selling product online, Shopify is awesome. It handles traffic like a pro, it isn't glitchy, and it's designed to SELL. If, however, only a small-ish percentage of your business is based on online sales (like mine), Shopify's $30+/month price is kind of steep.

On the other hand...

SquareSpace can be sluggish when uploading images (and sometimes the button hovering drives me nuts).

AND

If you don't know what you're doing, WordPress sites can "break" quite easily because they're made of many different parts designed by different people.*

*The speed of a WordPress site depends on a few factors, but it's mainly your hosting account. If you want it to be zippy ALL the time, you'll have to pay extra.

SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION

Most business owners are familiar with SEO, but not many people understand it. (I don't. I mean, I know some basic best practices, but the second you mention "algorithms" I'm going to run.) After trying various SEO plugins for WordPress, I eventually gave up. Shopify, however, made SEO easy-peasy. It automatically generated keywords and descriptions for each page and product, then allowed me to edit. I haven't mastered this in SquareSpace yet, but the fact it wasn't as easy as editing words in a little box, I'm putting it behind Shopify.

HELP! HOW DO I DO THIS?!

WordPress, Shopify, and SquareSpace each have plenty of documents and tutorials to help you create a website. Keep in mind, however, that it's the developer of your WordPress THEME that makes or breaks your experience. From what I've read, quite a few people complain they've had trouble getting a hold of SquareSpace customer service, so that's why Shopify beats it. (I never said this was a scientific comparison!)

Understand that patience WILL be required when trying anything for the first time, so prepare to buckle down and do a lot of googling. Sometimes it's faster to find the answer yourself than wait for a company to return your email.

SOOO...WHICH IS BEST?

If you're a blogger, I'd recommend WordPress, hands-down. If you want to open a LEGIT online store, I'd recommend Shopify. If you want to create a simple, beautiful website that also has a blog and shop, my new fave is SquareSpace. Yes, it definitely has its limitations...but the fact that is simplifies my life is pretty darn great.

BONUS!

OH!...and, not to be underestimated is the fact that I could move all of my WordPress blog posts to SquareSpace in a matter of 10-15 minutes. Comments, tags, and categories stayed intact, making my move much, much less painful. I haven't finished refining all of my moved posts (some of the formatting is a little wonky) but I'll take care of that over time.

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If you've gotten this far and decided you'd prefer someone else to do everything for you, drop us a line. :)

Or, if you're just here for the prize, click the button below for a free download of my hand drawn cactus wallpaper!

insight into the logo development process | B&L

Here's a sneak peek at the logo development process for the Big & Little! Please note that the animated .GIF below shows screen shots of the major steps—not all of the detail work in between—for ONE concept.

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I always begin the process by doodling. (The paper on the left is actually the back of an opened envelope. You never know when inspiration will hit!) If you "read" this from top to bottom, left to right, you might notice the progression.

If you're prepping for your branding project, keep in mind that your doodles don't have to perfect. (Mine are far from it.) Sketching exercises are meant to spark an idea, not serve as a final draft.

I normally don't have an ah-HA! moment this quickly, but inspiration was on my side last night and I landed on my first concept within 2 sheets.

After I was happy with the doodle, I took a photo of it. (Most of the time, I do a hi-res scan, but this drawing was simple enough that a photo sufficed.) I also took a photo of Nani's silhouette so I could make the dog more realistic. Next, I mapped out the shape using circles (as you would when you're drawing figures). The most time-consuming part of the process was drawing the actual mark using the pen tool in Illustrator. Once I finalized the lines, I played around with the stroke to add the finishing touches.

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Note :: I normally can't share the early stages of a branding project but this one is for me! The Big & Little Ranch is where I plan to put ALL of the profits of Akula Kreative. My goal is to one day—with the help of my family—build a short- and long-term sanctuary for dogs in need of homes, whether they're in line to be euthanized or waiting for their military families to return home.

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UPDATE as of 4.9.15 :: We have a landing page for The Big & Little!

web design | Define Bottle

DefineBottle.com officially launched last week, and orders have been piling in ever since! E-commerce is by no means our specialty, but thankfully the checkout process has been smooth sailing thus far. In case you're unfamiliar with Define Bottle, you can read the inspiring back story to this innovative, healthy-habit-forming water bottle right HERE.

Carter, Carla, and Mark have been amazing clients, and we can't be more appreciative of their patience, flexibility, and gratitude throughout the design process. We hope their clean, fresh, and vibrant design is everything they hoped for (and more).

Here's a quick look back at Define Bottle's branding, from logo to letterhead to website:

[threecol_one][/threecol_one] [threecol_one][/threecol_one] [threecol_one_last][/threecol_one_last]

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It's pretty fun to see how a brand can translate from screen to paper and back to screen again.

If you're interested in ordering an eco-chic bottle for fruit-infused water on the go, Define Bottle is now accepting orders for the Sport version in the US and Canada! The first production run is limited, so be sure to grab one before they run out!!!

www.definebottle.com

website in a day

First, let's clarify: we do NOT specialize in building websites in a day. However, it IS possible, and we have done it. We do not condone the practice, but we admit we're a little proud of ourselves right now.

It took about a week to get hosting and a few domain transfers in order, but as of this morning, none of these web files (or photos) existed. Thanks go to WordPress for building an excellent platform, and Rebecca for taking these photos with her iPhone as we moved furniture out of our studio. (This website is for the building in Del Mar we're just moving out of in preparation for Austin.)

Check out the before and after screenshots below: our landlord built the first himself using Website Builder software from his former hosting company, and the second we built today. Our goal was to transform the same information into something cleaner, fresher, and easier to understand. The solution? Communicate the point of the website in the header, increase the white space, use larger photos, and add a call to action.

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web design | KidsFest San Diego

We first heard about KidsFest San Diego through our friend, the one-and-only Fairytale Fashionista. I attended the family-friendly festival this year to check out the Fashionista's dress-up tent, and ended up having a great time (despite the fact I have no kiddies yet). Truth be told, I'm a little nervous for when I DO have kids and I take them to places like this. Not because they won't have a good time, but because they'll probably have to wait for me to finish craft projects designed for them. :)

Anyway, I loved everything about the KidsFest scene: the food trucks, the creative, outdoor activities, and the generally chill, clean environment. (I used to LOVE the fair in middle and high school, but it's not a place where you can just plop down on the grass with a snack. This place IS.) Before heading to the event, I checked the website to confirm the location. I got the info I needed, but one of my first thoughts was, "This would be such a fun site to build. I wonder if they're ready for a re-design..." After seeing all of the wonderfully-painted signage at the event, I knew the people behind it were going to be awesome. I contacted Robin, the supermom behind KidsFest, and the rest is history!

The KidsFest crew was a delight to work with, not to mention extremely organized! They provided a vector logo, color palette, font suggestions, professional photos, and dozens of icon illustrations, so they really made our job easy. We simply took their request for a "clean, kid-friendly website with big photos and a lot of white space" and made it a reality. The best part is, it's a WordPress site, so they can easily update it on their own. We love the simple, bright layout, and hope your families do, too.

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For more info about KidsFest, head over to their new site! www.kidsfestsandiego.com

web design | Rachel Joyce

We're excited to announce the official launch of Rachel Joyce's new website! A British lawyer-turned-professional-triathlete, Rachel is an over-achiever in every sense of the word; lucky for us, her easy-going personality made the design process a fun and rewarding experience.

When Rachel approached us a couple months ago, she asked us to "keep the colours simple, the layout simple, and put [large] photos on the homepage." (BTW // Can I add how gleefully entertained I was by her British spellings?!) Using her race kit by Betty Designs as inspiration, we went to work building her a simple, slightly feminine WordPress site she could easily and readily update on her own. Check it out...

To visit the website, go to www.racheljoyce.org.

[typography font="Dancing Script" size="18" size_format="px"]Best of luck, Rachel, in all of your future athletic endeavors!![/typography]

Butterfield Racing | web design

What better way to celebrate the official launch of Butterfield Racing than with Nikki Butterfield's win in the United Arab Emirates on March 3rd!? That's right...Supermom Nikki took first place in the Abu Dhabi Triathlon just hours after she was emailing us final edits.

Congratulations to our amazingly talented and determined clients! (Yes, that is athletes, plural. Tyler Butterfield ALSO won his first race in 2012 on January 13th.)

Butterfield Racing is composed of a husband-and-wife team: Tyler and Nikki. Both stellar professional triathletes represented by Wattie Ink., they needed a new website to share their training updates, schedules, photos, and press releases with current and potential sponsors, friends, and fans. As a busy couple juggling training, racing, and raising a baby, the couple wanted to parallel the Wattie Ink. WordPress site so that press releases and news updates could be easily—and readily—updated by their writer Holly, assistant Aspen, and agent Sean. The solution? Use the platform of Wattie Ink., but customize it to Butterfield specifications.

Butterfield Racing provides a massive amount of information: biographies, schedules, race results, photos, press releases, detailed sponsor information, contact information, and more. It's a dynamic website that keeps the Butterfield following informed and up-to-date. Above is a screen shot of one of many features: a lightbox pop-up window of a YouTube video. Check out their gallery by clicking HERE - simply click on a thumbnail to view photo slideshows and watch video!

One of Nikki's priorities throughout the process was to give proper credit to their sponsors. In addition to creating pages for them, we built a custom html footer complete with sponsor logos that change color on rollover and link directly to external websites.

To check out the site and read more about these amazing athletes, click HERE.