Are You Trying to Make a Choice?

WordPress vs other options – obviously, WordPress is not your only choice; but, it is by far the easiest to use. It seems only fair to review the others so that you have some idea of the differences. The primary difference (and the most important one in my opinion) is that all the other programs have a long learning curve and consequently the building process takes more time – unless you are very technically adept.

Let’s look at them one by one:

• Textpattern – This is a powerful free open source CMS (Content Management System) similar to WordPress. However, you must understand PHP and have at least a basic knowledge of what a powerful CMS can do in order to use it effectively. A plus is that it interfaces with over 40 languages.

• Adobe Dreamweaver – This website building software has been around for a very long time. One big downside is that you must purchase the program and download it onto your computer. In order to produce a more cloud-like feeling, they introduced a creative suite with updated software. Their marketing materials state that “you can build a dynamic site without understanding code.” My recommendation is don’t try it. It usually ends up being a frustrating experience – even for developers.

• Yahoo! SiteBuilder – This is a popular website builder, but not very intuitive. The second problem is that the finished product (website) lacks a professional appearance unless you know code and can code the site yourself. If you do not know code, you may end up tearing out your hair. Another issue is that when you use a Yahoo site, it is difficult to improve your site rank on Google.

• GoDaddy WebsiteBuilder – GoDaddy is a good company and they offer excellent domain and hosting services, but I do not recommend their Website Builder.  It is confusing and difficult to use. Even though the marketing promises that you can build a website “tonight,” that is unlikely to be the case. The only feedback I have heard has not been positive.  Another problem is that it is much more difficult to update than WordPress.

The bottom line is that when it comes to simplicity and effectiveness, none of them compare favorably against WordPress.

Depending on the software you use, it may be possible to create a great-looking website, but have it lacking on the back end. The back end is what makes it possible for your site to be found through the search engines and is equally, if not more important, than the way the website looks.  Functionality is just as important as beauty when it comes to websites.

As I have said before, WordPress offers everything you need to create professional-looking, attractive websites that are user friendly and provide great functionality – and people will be able to find them.  Search engine optimization (SEO) is critical and WordPress is designed for exactly that. It fact, that is one of its defining characteristics. All you have to do is use the dashboard correctly to set up each area properly and blog regularly. As a result, I promise you will have more visitors with your WordPress website than you would with any other type of site.

Sound good?  If so, join me for the next post that will explain how to set up your WordPress site. 

See you next time.

Nancy

Related posts:

Benefits of Using WordPress Researching Your Market for an Online Business Levels of Good Deeds for Your List A Healthy Work-at-home Lifestyle (WAH Series)