Running your own business has many perks. But nobody said it would be easy. Business owners need to wear multiple hats in the early years. Particularly when it comes to marketing, things can become a little tricky. In 2024, there is no doubt that registering a domain name and getting a website online are two of the very first items on the agenda.

However, in the website department, the options are endless too. If you are unclear as to whether to use a website builder vs WordPress to build your website, then this article is for you. We share both platforms’ top benefits and focus on what types of businesses will benefit most from using each of them respectively.

What Is A Website Builder?

A website builder is a solution that helps a business owner put together a website relatively quickly with little to no technical skills required. It provides access to a digital ‘toolkit’ and lets you choose layouts, colours, and drag and drop different elements (like text, images, buttons, and menus), and then arrange everything the way you want it to look.

Website builders generally include:

• Pre-made templates to start with
• Simple editing tools for text and images
• Built-in features for things like contact forms or online stores
• Mobile-friendly design options
• Website hosting

Domains.co.za’s Site Builder Add-On, is available for an extra R49.00 per month to our cPanel Web Hosting customers. Choose from 200+ professional and responsive templates and easily Drag & Drop an unlimited amount of plugins, change colours, add your copy and make the site your own. Your website can be live in a couple of hours – it is that quick and easy.

What Is A WordPress Website?

WordPress is the world’s most loved Content Management System (CMS), with more than 60% of all CMS websites favouring this particular platform. CMS is software that allows you to create, manage and update a website easily, and without code.

What makes WordPress special is that it’s highly customisable through:

• Themes (pre-made designs you can install)
• Plugins (add-on features like contact forms or online stores)
• A user-friendly editing system

Website Builder Vs WordPress: What’s The Difference?

They sound pretty much the same, right? Both allow you to build a website without using code. However, they do differ substantially.

The main difference between a website builder and WordPress lies in their flexibility and ease of use. Website builders, like Site Builder, offer a simple drag-and-drop interface, providing a quick and easy way to build a website with limited customisation options. They are ideal for beginners who want an all-in-one solution with hosting included.

WordPress, on the other hand, is a more powerful and flexible platform. It requires a bit more technical knowledge but offers extensive customisation through themes and plugins. Unlike website builders, WordPress gives a business owner full control over their site, including hosting options, making it suitable for more complex or scalable websites.

7 Benefits Of A Website Builder For Your Startup

If you have a startup, and would say your level of technical knowledge and skill falls into the beginner department, a website builder is a great option because:

A Website Builder Is Affordable

For a minimal monthly amount, a website builder makes it possible for any business to be represented online. Unlike traditional web development, where you might need to hire a designer or a developer, website builders eliminate the need for these costs.

A Website Builder Can Be Set Up Quickly

There is no one more determined or inspired than a small business owner. A website builder supports this these qualities, by allowing you to get your website live quickly. Just choose the template you like most, and add your content. You can publish your website in a couple of hours.

There’s No Need For Any Technical Skills

Great website builders, like Site Builder, take all the guesswork out of creating a website. They feature drag-and-drop functionality, meaning you can see your website come to life in front of your eyes. Additional resources are provided for people with zero technical skills, including video tutorials, help centres, and customer support.

 Templates Are Professional And Mobile-Friendly

With a superior website builder, you have access to hundreds of professional templates that have already been optimised for mobile devices. The templates not only look professional but are designed to ensure fast loading times and great user experiences across devices.

Make Updates Whenever You Want, Effortlessly

As a small business owner, you can run promotions at a whim or decide to add a new product to your online store. A website builder’s intuitive interface allows you to make changes quickly, whether it’s updating product descriptions, adding images, or modifying prices. You don’t need to rely on a developer to make small changes, which can save time and prevent delays.

Website Builders Offer Plugins For Ecommerce, Booking Forms, Etc.

While seemingly basic, website builders can accommodate more advanced functionality like ecommerce, SEO tools, social media integration, and booking forms. Simply drag and drop the right plugin or widget to add these features. Small businesses usually don’t have a lot of employees. These tools can therefore help you do more with less.

Support And Maintenance Are Not Your Problem

If you’ve chosen a website builder backed by incredibly fast and reliable hosting like Domains.co.za’s Site Builder, the hosting infrastructure (back-end) of your website is handled by experts. This includes ensuring your website is always online, secure, and fast. Regular software updates and backups are managed by the hosting provider, allowing you to focus on running your business without worrying about technical maintenance.

7 Benefits Of Building A New Company Site On WordPress

If you have big plans for your small business and like figuring out technicalities, WordPress can complement your journey because:

WordPress Is All About Making It Your Own

Customisation is central to what makes WordPress so successful and popular. Choose from a large database of free and paid-for themes, and endless plugins. These plugins allow you to extend your website’s functionality, adding features like contact forms, social media integration, galleries, and much more.

Superior Features Including SEO And Security

WordPress offers great search engine optimization (SEO) and security features. It provides numerous plugins to help you optimise your content, meta descriptions, and keywords, giving your site better chances of ranking higher in search results. It also offers essential plugins to protect your site from malware, hacking attempts, and vulnerabilities.

You’ve Got Access To An Entire Community For Help

One of the major advantages of WordPress is its massive, global community of developers, designers, and users. Whether you need help troubleshooting issues or are looking for design inspiration, there are forums, online tutorials, and blog posts dedicated to just about every aspect of WordPress. The support system is unmatched because of how widely WordPress is used, so you are never alone when facing technical challenges or exploring new features.

WooCommerce Is One Of The Best Ecommerce Plugins

For businesses looking to sell products or services online, WooCommerce, a plugin specifically designed for WordPress, is a top choice. It turns your WordPress site into a full-fledged online store with customisable options for managing inventory, handling payments, setting up shipping, and even adding special offers.

Managing Content Is Easy

While setting up a WordPress website can become very technical, the management of your content is easy as pie. Uploading blogs, adding images and making edits to current pages are very simple to do. The platform is designed so that you don’t need to be a developer to make updates.

Made To Grow With You

Your business might start out small, but you know it is going to grow into an empire. WordPress can help take your business from basic all the way through to the big leagues. WordPress is designed to scale as your business grows. As your business expands, you can add more features and content without needing to start from scratch.

Advanced WordPress Hosting Solutions

WordPress is huge! And as a result some hosting companies have developed specialised WordPress hosting that has hardware and operating software fully optimised, and specifically for WordPress sites. Domains.co.za WordPress Hosting is superior on this front, boasting extreme speeds, security and stability.

A Website Builder Is Best If You Are A…

… Small Business Owner

• Perfect for creating a professional web presence on a budget
• Easy to manage product listings and business hours
• Simple to update contact details and location info
• Ideal for showcasing services and customer testimonials
• No tech team needed for basic updates

… First-Time Website Creator

• No coding knowledge required
• Step-by-step tutorials are usually provided
• Templates make design decisions easier
• Customer support available if you get stuck
• Lower risk than hiring expensive developers

… Creative Professional/Freelancer

• Great for portfolio websites
• Easy to showcase work samples and projects
• Professional templates designed for creatives
• Simple to add client testimonials
• Quick to update with new work examples

… Blogger/Content Creator

• Ready-made blog layouts available
• Easy content management systems
• Built-in social media integration
• Simple media uploads for photos and videos
• SEO tools included for better visibility

… Non-Profit Organization

• Cost-effective solution for tight budgets
• Donation button integration
• Event calendar features
• Volunteer sign-up forms
• Easy to share success stories and updates

… Restaurant Owner

• Menu display features
• Online booking systems
• Food photo galleries
• Location maps integration
• Mobile-friendly designs for on-the-go customers

… Solo Consultant/Coach

• Professional booking systems
• Client testimonial sections
• Service package displays
• Contact forms
• Calendar integration for appointments

… Local Service Provider

• Easy location-based features
• Service area maps
• Quote request forms
• Mobile-friendly for local searches
• Simple contact options

A WordPress Website Is Best If You Are A…

… Growing Business Owner

• Need more customisation than basic website builders
• Want to scale features over time
• Require complex functionality
• Need integration with multiple business tools
• Want full control over your website’s future

… Professional Blogger/Content Creator

• Need advanced blogging features
• Want multiple author management
• Require content scheduling
• Need categorisation and tagging systems
• Want RSS feeds and content syndication

… eCommerce Entrepreneur

• Need a robust online shop (WooCommerce)
• Want multiple payment gateway options
• Require inventory management
• Need shipping integration
• Want customer account systems

… Digital Magazine/News Site

• Need content management for multiple writers
• Want subscriber management
• Require content categorisation
• Need advertising management
• Want social sharing features

… Educational Institution

• Need course management systems
• Want student portals
• Require event management
• Need document sharing capabilities
• Want multi-user access levels

… Large Restaurant Chain/Franchise

• Need multiple location management
• Want centralised menu updates
• Require online ordering systems
• Need franchise-specific pages
• Want booking system integration

… Event Organiser

• Need ticket selling capabilities
• Want event calendar management
• Require attendee registration
• Need email notification systems
• Want event photo galleries

… Digital Marketing Agency

• Need client management systems
• Want white-label solutions
• Require analytics integration
• Need multiple website management
• Want SEO tool integration

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Choosing between a website builder vs WordPress is an important early-on decision many small business owners need to make.
• A website builder is a user-friendly, drag-and-drop tool that lets non-technical users create professional websites quickly using pre-made templates and features.
• Domains.co.za’s Site Builder Add-On offers 200+ professional and responsive templates and numerous plugins.
• WordPress is a powerful, highly customisable CMS platform that offers more flexibility than website builders but requires more technical knowledge.
• Domains.co.za’s WordPress Hosting is specifically optimised for WordPress sites, guaranteeing next-level speeds, security and stability.
• Website builders are ideal for small business owners seeking simplicity, first-time website creators needing guidance, and creative professionals wanting an easy portfolio solution.
• WordPress is suitable for small business owners that enjoy a challenge, want to run an extensive ecommerce store or need advanced functionality and scalability.

FAQs

Other Blogs of Interest:

– 4 Good Reasons To Build Your Own Website using our Website Builder

– Choosing The Best Website Builder In South Africa: 10 Point Checklist

– Site Builder — Website Content Tips to Improve the Success of Your Site

– 8 Things you can do to Improve the Security of Your Website

– Top On-page SEO Factors to Include when Building your Website