Choosing the right WordPress Platform: Managed vs. self-hosted vs. WordPress.com and other managed websites and what it all means.
Navagating Websites + Their Platforms
When I first delved into the world of WordPress websites, it felt like I was Alice in Wonderland and had fallen down the rabbit hole.
Self-hosted, managed WordPress, and the website builders offered by hosting providers. The confusion was real, and many of my clients were bewildered as I tried to explain the difference.
To explain these options in simpler terms, I quickly realised that there was so much to cover that it could easily fill multiple web pages.
So I have tried to break down the jargon in a blog post about understanding WordPress Platforms, the differences on offer and how other websites fit into these managed website we hear of, that are popular solutions for many. Let’s explore and I will explain how WordPress works and where it sits in the landscape.
I am a visual learner, so let’s start understanding WordPress platforms with a diagram that illustrates where everything lives. I have added a downloadable PDF so you can save a copy.
You can download a copy of this PDF infographic for your own reference here.
- WordPress.org provides “open-sourced” (a fancy word for free) WordPress software that you can download and install on your own web hosting server – check out this post I added to instagram on the left.
- What WordPress does, is gives you full control over your website. You can’t be shut down by another party – say Shopify – and loose all your info.
- You choose your web hosting provider, and you’re responsible for managing your website’s security, updates, backups, and performance.
- You have the flexibility to install custom themes which are predesigned templates or general layouts and plugins, making it highly customisable.
- It’s really ideal for those who want complete control over their website and have some technical knowledge.
Whats a plugin? Plugins are extensions or add-ons for your website or content management system (CMS), such as WordPress. So think of your iphone, and you add apps to customise what you want your phone to do.
Plugins are similar in that they enhance the functionality and features of your website by adding new capabilities or modifying existing ones. Plugins are the same as adding an app, but for your website. It works by allowing you to customise and extend its functionality without needing to write code – yuck – I am not a fan of code!
These are some examples of types of plugins and what they can do.
- SEO Plugins: Improve search engine optimisation by adding meta tags, sitemaps, and other SEO features.
- Contact Form Plugins: Create and manage contact forms for your website.
- E-commerce Plugins: Transform your website into an online store with features like product listings, shopping carts, and payment gateways.
- Security Plugins: Enhance website security by monitoring for threats, implementing firewalls, or providing login protection.
- Social Media Sharing Plugins: Add social media sharing buttons to your content.
- Backup Plugins: Automatically back up your website’s content and data.
- Performance Optimisation Plugins: Enhance website speed and performance by caching, optimising images, and minimising code.
- Analytics Plugins: Integrate tools like Google Analytics to track website traffic and user behaviour.
Page builders - they are plugins
Ok so the same way you use say WIX for example. That software Wix provides for your to design a website, is essentially, a page builder. It’s easy to drag and drop parts to your site. But you don’t have any control in the elements that add functionality. For example – Wix has some guided SEO functions – but your using their software – you can’t use a different plugin to get better results. With WordPress, you can choose from a massive amount of options, to achieve the goal you want to achieve.
So this is where Elementor and Divi come in. There are many choices for building software, these are popular WordPress page builder plugins that are used. So you have the plans for your house – which is like the free WordPress software. You can build your own house – or you can get a builder to do it for you or with you – this is what Elementor + Divi do. You can pick a fancier bathroom than the one on your plans – so you grab a plugin to do that. Clear as mud?
Here’s how Elementor and Divi fit into the framework.
divi page builder
- Elementor is a powerful page builder plugin for WordPress that allows you to create highly customised, responsive web pages without requiring extensive coding knowledge.
- It’s used with self-hosted WordPress websites created using WordPress.org, giving you full control and flexibility.
- You can install Elementor on your WordPress site and use it to design and customise pages and posts, adding advanced features and layouts.
- Elementor provides a drag-and-drop interface, (but its very different to something like WIX) and there are pre-designed templates to chose from, or build your own with blocks, and a wide range of widgets for creating content.
- Divi is another popular page builder plugin and theme for WordPress, similar to Elementor.
- Like Elementor, Divi is used with self-hosted WordPress websites, offering extensive design and customisation options.
- It provides a user-friendly interface for building custom layouts, pages, and posts without the need for coding.
- Divi comes with its own set of pre-designed layouts and modules to enhance your website’s appearance and functionality.
Both Elementor and Divi enhance the functionality of self-hosted WordPress websites, providing a more user-friendly and visually appealing way to design and customise your site’s content. They are well-suited for users who want to take advantage of the flexibility and control offered by WordPress.org but may not have extensive technical expertise in web development. These page builders complement the self-hosted WordPress environment by making it easier to create and design pages.
Both Elementor and Divi help you build a website with the functionality of self-hosted WordPress websites, providing a more user-friendly and visually appealing way to design and customise your site’s content.
They are not the only solutions, but are two popular choices.
They are not for technically challenged individuals, but well-suited for users who want to take advantage of the flexibility and control that you get by using WordPress.
The learning curve is step – but not impossible.
2. WordPress.com (Hosted WordPress):
- WordPress.com offers a hosted WordPress solution, where they manage the technical aspects of your website, such as hosting, security, and backups.
- There are free and paid plans available, with varying levels of customisation and features. You do need to purchase the upgrade to customise any part of the website. This can add up very quickly!
- In theory, it is user-friendly and suitable for beginners who want a hassle-free way to create a website. But from personal experience, it is expensive and challenging to use compared to the .org version with a builder like Elementor.
- Your website’s domain will include “wordpress.com” unless you upgrade to a custom domain (e.g., yourdomain.com), however, you can only use a .com domain name, so if you want a .com.au, wordpress.com doesn’t allow this.
- WordPress.org is the most flexible but requires more technical skills.
- WordPress.com offers convenience but comes with some limitations, particularly on the free plans and only .com websites can be created.
- Managed Website builders can be user-friendly for the end user but still require website-building knowledge, understanding of SEOs and performance of websites.
KEY POINTS
The choice depends on your specific needs, technical proficiency, and how much control and flexibility you want over your website.
If you’re comfortable with handling technical aspects and want maximum control, self-hosted WordPress is a great choice. If you prefer a more straightforward approach, other options are available like managed website builders.
3. Managed Website Builders
Website builders like GoDaddy offer an all-in-one solution for creating websites, which may include WordPress but often use their proprietary website building software – which means – you don’t get the full control you do in WordPress.
They provide website templates and a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for beginners to create a website without technical knowledge. But they can be clunky and hard to navigate too.
Typically, you don’t need to worry about hosting, security, or updates.
While you have less flexibility compared to self-hosted WordPress, it’s a user-friendly option for those who prioritise ease of use but more expensive.
EXAMPLES OF MANAGED WEBSITE BUILDERS
WIX
WEBFLOW
SHOWIT
WEB.COM
ELEMENTOR
(NOW INCLUDE HOSTING)
SHOPIFY
SQUARESPACE
WEEBLY
GODADDY WEBSITE BUILDER
The top 5 managed website builders are:
NO 1 :WIX
“Wix is the best website builder, offering a great range of designs, features, and support for people looking to build a website and grow online. Wix takes the top position in our website builder research for the ninth year in a row, scoring a near-perfect rating of 4.9 out of 5.”
Used by over 200 million people
2: squarespace
Trusted by millions and considered ideal for portfolio websites and small businesses.
3: SHOPIFY
With over a million businesses, Shopify dominates the e-commerce landscape.
4:GODADDY
“Not only does it offer a free plan, but GoDaddy’s premium plans are very affordable, especially for beginners or businesses working with a limited budget. Is it the right website builder for you?” (see source)
5: HOSTINGER
Hostinger is another easy website builder to use, sitting just behind Squarespace in our user experience tests. Hostinger offers a plethora of AI tools, including an AI website builder, to help users get online quickly and easily. Plus, Hostinger’s pricing is the most affordable of the bunch, starting from just $2.99 per month.
*** You can look at 10 different websites and get 10 different results for who are the top 5 or top 10 for managed website builders. Three that you will always find are consistently ind the top are Wix, Squarespace and Shopfiy. Keep in mind that everyone has their own preference. There are a few truths however:
1. Your website isn’t going to rank by itself. You need to work on a lot of backend items and post on socials and do marketing. You need to prove Google, Firefox and Safari why you deserve their attention
2. If you use a template – do not assume that the template is 100% fool proof. A template will not show you how to do SEO’s and just because the template uses centred text DOES NOT mean its ok to use.
3. Type Matters: Keep you headings and body copy consistent. Minimum recommendations are .12 letter spacing, 1.5 for line spacing and keep text above 16 pts for body copy on desktop on no smaller than 16 pts on mobile.
4. Always always check your websites view on mobile + desktop. You WILL need to make adjustments for 100% responsive design.
5. Readability is mandatory. You website needs to keep jargon to a minimum and keep your contrast of your text strong. Don’t use a very light colour on a white background and vica-versa.
WORDPRESS.ORG
Powers over 40% of all websites, making it the most widely used content management system (CMS) worldwide,
The most important thing when deciding on a website solution is to “measure twice and cut once”. There is such a huge selection of options available, that I have explored. Everyone has their own opinion of what the best is to use for their business.
WordPress has a large hold on the market, Website builders themselves don’t inherently impact your website’s ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). Search engine rankings depend on a wide range of factors, including the quality of your content, amount of content, images, on-page optimisation, backlinks, user experience, and site performance and readability.
It’s important to note that while the choice of a website builder can influence SEO indirectly, the most significant factors for SEO success are the quality of your content, the relevance of your keywords, and your ability to attract high-quality backlinks. Therefore, your website’s content, user experience, and marketing efforts play a more central role in determining its search engine rankings.
No matter which website builder you choose, focusing on high-quality content, optimising for user experience, and implementing ethical SEO practices will be key to improving your website’s search engine rankings.
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