Why WordPress is Probably Not the Best Choice for Your Small Business Website
Lori Osborne • March 6, 2024
Why do I say this and what do I recommend instead? Read on...
In today's digital age, establishing a strong online presence is paramount for small businesses to succeed. However, selecting the right website platform can be a critical decision that shapes your online identity. While WordPress has long been a popular choice, it may not always be the optimal fit for small businesses. Let's delve deeper into why, and explore alternative platforms like Duda (the platform I primarily use and recommend), Wix, and Squarespace that could better suit your needs.
- Ease of Use: Small business owners typically juggle multiple responsibilities and may not have the time, resources, or desire to master a complex website platform. WordPress's learning curve can be steep for beginners, requiring understanding of how WordPress works, how to build the website within a specific WordPress theme, and familiarity with concepts such as hosting, domain management, plugin configuration, plugin functionality, and how it all works together. In contrast, platforms like Duda, Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify (for e-commerce sites) offer user-friendly interfaces and drag-and-drop editors that empower even the most novice users to create professional-looking websites with ease. By streamlining the website-building process, these platforms enable small businesses to focus on delivering value through their websites rather than grappling with technical complexities.
- Complexity and Maintenance: WordPress offers unparalleled flexibility and customization options, making it a favorite among developers and large enterprises. However, this complexity can be overwhelming for small business owners who lack technical expertise and do not want to pay someone to fully support their website. Below are some of the areas where WordPress is unique and potentially challenging for the average small business:
- Hosting: Every piece of software has to be housed on a server somewhere to function. Websites are no different. What IS different about WordPress is that it requires hosting outside of the actual platform. And though this hosting is critical for the reliability, security, support, and performance of the website, it is often the least considered factor when building a WordPress website. There are a multitude of companies that offer WordPress website hosting, ranging in starting prices from $4 per month to over $100 per month, the cost typically driving the overall performance and speed. All too often, business owners look at cost first and end up with shared hosting where multiple websites compete for resources on the same server. While shared hosting is affordable, it can often lead to slower performance and limited scalability, especially during peak traffic periods when resources are stretched thin. Popular shared hosting providers for WordPress include Bluehost, HostGator, and SiteGround. It is important to note, as I said in the beginning, that all websites requires some sort of hosting. The difference for non-WordPress sites is that the website and hosting are on the same platform; therefore, Duda sites are hosted by Duda, Wix sites are hosted by Wix, Squarespace by Squarespace, etc.
From my experience: One of the biggest issues we saw when managing WordPress sites built by other developers was lack of speed. The ideal speed for a website to load for optimal visibility is 2 seconds or less. I did not have a single website load in under 3-5 seconds, with a few taking more than 10 seconds!
- Plugins: WordPress operates using a base platform with the design typically coming from WordPress themes and the vast majority of capabilities and features coming from plugins. For every piece of functionality you want to add, there are typically multiple plugins to choose from, all from different software vendors. With this diverse selection of providers, websites can occasionally have conflicts between the plugins, affecting reliability and usability, issues that are difficult to troubleshoot. Additionally, many plugins have a one-time or annual cost, costs that can add up. And, finally, is another speed concern. Quite often WordPress websites can get bogged down with plugins that drain resources or have too many plugins, causing the website to load more slowly. Selection, payment, and management of these plugins can definitely be overwhelming, especially for a business owner or team that does not have WordPress experience. In contrast, platforms like Duda, Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify function completely on their own platform. Though there may be a few add-on options, you are not responsible for the integration, maintenance, or any of the updates with these platforms, allowing you to focus on growing your business rather than managing technical details.
- Updates: Managing a WordPress website entails regular updates to the core software, themes, and the plugins due to new versions being released to fix bugs or security holes, improve functionality, and/or add features. Failure to stay on top of these updates leaves your site vulnerable to security breaches and compatibility issues, potentially rendering your site worthless. At times, these updates can also be highly complex in nature, often requiring a highly technical WordPress expert to make sure functionality stays intact once the update is done. With platforms like Duda, Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify, no updates are required. They work as a single system with software updates done behind the scenes.
From my experience: I have talked with many business owners with WordPress websites that do not regularly update their plugins nor pay someone to do it for them. I have also taken over management of several websites that no longer functioned because they were hacked (due to a critical update being missed that left an open door) as well as websites that simply stopped working because the plugins, theme, or WordPress itself were too far out-of-date. If you already have a WordPress website, I strongly recommend you make sure all of the updates are done regularly and correctly, ideally by a WordPress professional!
- Security Concerns: WordPress's popularity also makes it a prime target for hackers. The vast ecosystem of plugins and themes introduces potential security vulnerabilities that can compromise your website's integrity. While WordPress offers security plugins and best practices, ensuring comprehensive protection requires constant vigilance and proactive measures. In contrast, platforms like Duda, Wix, and Squarespace prioritize security by implementing robust infrastructure and regular updates. By choosing a platform with built-in security features, you can mitigate risks and safeguard your business from cyber threats.
- SEO Performance: Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a crucial role in driving organic traffic to your website and increasing your online visibility. While WordPress offers numerous SEO plugins and customization options, optimizing your site for search engines requires ongoing effort and expertise. Moreover, the performance of WordPress websites in terms of SEO can vary depending on factors like hosting quality, plugin compatibility, and code optimization. In contrast, platforms like Duda, Wix, and Squarespace prioritize SEO by providing built-in tools and features that streamline the optimization process. From customizable meta tags and structured data to mobile-friendly designs and fast page load times, these platforms offer the essential elements for achieving higher search engine rankings and attracting more organic traffic.
Final Word
In conclusion, while WordPress remains a powerful and versatile platform, it may not be the most suitable choice for small businesses seeking simplicity, security, and ease of use. Platforms like Duda, Wix, and Squarespace offer compelling alternatives that cater to the unique needs of small business owners. By prioritizing factors like user-friendliness, maintenance requirements, and SEO capabilities, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals and resources.
If you currently have a WordPress website that you would like moved to the Duda platform or you need a new website, let's chat! Click here to set up a free Discovery Call.
Over the past month, I’ve been navigating something I never expected to deal with. Phishers have been impersonating me. They created fake accounts. They reached out to my clients. They tried to look like me - using my name and reputation to exploit the trust I’ve spent years building. It was unsettling. Not because I don’t understand that scammers exist. But because it was a stark reminder of something every Thought Leader needs to understand: Visibility without protection is vulnerability. And in today’s digital world, authority is an asset worth protecting. The Reality of Modern Visibility As business owners, coaches, consultants, and speakers, we are constantly told to: Be visible. Show up consistently. Put yourself out there. Build your brand. And yes - visibility matters. But here’s what doesn’t get talked about enough: The more visible you become, the more attractive you are to bad actors. Hackers, phishers, impersonators, and spammers are getting smarter. They don’t need access to your systems to cause damage. They only need access to your public presence. Your name. Your photo. Your brand. Your email. Your clients. And once someone is pretending to be you, your authority is on the line. Your reputation is your digital currency. How This Impacts Your Authority Authority isn’t just about expertise. It’s about trust. When someone receives a suspicious message that appears to come from you, even if they later realize it’s fake, something subtle happens: Doubt enters the equation. And doubt erodes authority. You can spend years building credibility, and one impersonation attempt can create confusion in seconds. That’s why protecting your brand is no longer optional. It’s leadership. The Lesson This Reinforced for Me One of the biggest takeaways from this experience was how easily publicly listed email addresses - anywhere online - can be scraped, spoofed, and misused. Bots scrape websites and social media constantly. If an email address is publicly visible, it can be harvested. Once harvested, it can be used in spoofing attempts or impersonation schemes. Please know - this isn’t fear-based marketing. It’s reality. And while we cannot eliminate risk entirely, we can dramatically reduce exposure. What I Strongly Recommend If your goal is to build authority online, I encourage you to rethink how accessible your email address is. Instead of posting your email address directly on: Your website Your speaker page Your social media profiles Your client galleries Public PDFs or downloads Consider: Using secure contact forms on your website Encouraging direct messages on social platforms Creating structured inquiry forms for speaking or consulting Limiting publicly displayed email addresses wherever possible Contact forms create a protective layer. They reduce automated scraping. They give you more control. They create intentional boundaries. And boundaries build trust. Authority Requires Boundaries We often think authority is about: Confidence. Expertise. Visibility. Positioning. But mature authority includes protection. It includes systems. It includes security. It includes intentional design. Your online presence should not just attract clients. It should protect your reputation. Because here’s the truth: If someone can easily impersonate you, your digital foundation needs strengthening. And that’s not about paranoia. It’s about professionalism. This Is Bigger Than Email This experience wasn’t just about phishing. It was a reminder of something I talk about often: Most Thought Leaders focus on looking credible online. Very few focus on being structurally secure. There’s a difference. A polished website is not the same as a protected authority platform. A beautiful LinkedIn profile is not the same as a safeguarded digital presence. Authority is not just branding. It’s infrastructure. And infrastructure must be built intentionally. The New Standard for Thought Leaders If you are building a brand that positions you as the go-to expert in your space, ask yourself: Is my online presence just visible — or is it protected? Is my contact information structured strategically? Have I created boundaries between public visibility and direct access? Have I thought about how someone could misuse my brand assets? These are not dramatic questions. They are responsible ones. Because the more impact you create, the more valuable your name becomes. And valuable assets deserve protection. Final Thoughts Over the past month, I’ve been reminded that authority is something you build - and something you guard. We cannot control the existence of scammers. But we can control how exposed we make our digital front door. Stay visible. But stay strategic. Because in today’s landscape, protecting your brand isn’t just smart. It’s part of being a modern Thought Leader.
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