
I designed my first business website in 1998. Let me tell you, it’s much simpler & quicker to design a website today using the updated software and apps! If you can write an email, you can create a website.
I’ll share some of my favorite programs available on the market, so you can do the “apples and oranges and peaches” comparison of web-building software.
- WordPress
- Joomla
- Wix
- Square Space
My favorite web-building platform is WordPress. It was originally released in 2003 and is simple to use. It can be scaled up or down to meet the needs of your business website. WordPress is open-source, so there are lots of plugins that you can add to your site to customize to your liking.
There are many “themes” you can use in WordPress. Themes allow you to easily create a mood for your website including color schemes, text sizes, and photo display capabilities.
Themes & plugins are similar to apps on your phone. Many are free and some you can pay for. There are many themes with free “child” versions and available upgraded options in the paid-for “parent” version. I’m happy to pay for my favorite themes because they make web design a cinch, but as you search for your favorite theme, feel free to use the free version until you find one you love.
Joomla was released in 2005 and like WordPress is very simple to use. Joomla has more flexibility in its functionality, and because of this, it has its own cult following. Honestly, between both of these, it comes down to preference. Both can deliver excellent results for even the novice user.
In the beginning, when you’re just getting started, take advantage of the FREE options available to you before you pluck down a chunk of change. For reference, this website was created with a free theme using WordPress.
Have fun creating your website. Remember, Done is Better than Perfect!
Get started with Step 1!