...someone elses playground

Today, I was asked why we love WordPress.?? The easy answer is that it does 99% of what most business owners need, and it keeps the need for costly custom development down, but there’s more to it than that.?

One of the biggest reasons I’ve always used WordPress is it’s open. ?This means not only is it free at point of use, its open-sourced, meaning it’s not owned by any company who can change the rules at any time on how you use it – a potential disaster for businesses.?

Closed platforms will attract customers with promises of simple, self-service websites, saving you time and money. ?Often neither of these statements are true, especially for a business owner who is now wrestling with a website application rather than running their website.?

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1. You Are Renting Space, Not Owning a Business Asset?

When you build your website on a closed platform, you are essentially renting space on someone else’s digital real estate. While this may seem convenient, it comes with significant drawbacks. Unlike owning a website built on WordPress, where you have full control over your content, design, and data, a closed platform means you’re at the mercy of the provider’s terms, conditions, and limitations.?

This lack of ownership can be particularly problematic if you ever decide to move your website to another platform. Migrating content from a closed platform can be difficult, and in some cases, you might lose access to your website entirely if you stop using their service. With WordPress, you have complete ownership of your website files and data, giving you the freedom to move, modify, or grow your digital presence as your business evolves.?

2. Other people can take it down

Closed platforms can pose significant risks if the provider experiences technical issues, changes its business model, or even ceases trading altogether. If the platform goes down, your website goes with it. This can lead to extended periods of downtime, resulting in lost revenue, damaged reputation, and frustrated customers.?

In contrast, WordPress is an open-source platform with a vast global community and thousands of hosting options. Even if one hosting provider experiences issues, you can easily switch to another without losing your site. WordPress gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your website is not tied to the fate of a single company.?

This is a particular risk if you choose a smaller organisation’s platform for your website. ?Some years ago, we were contacted by a business owner who had received an email telling him they were ceasing trading and he had 14 days to find an alternative for his business. ?Unlike WordPress, with no “site” to package and move, we were forced to scrape what we could into a very rough website to keep him online while a new site was built – stressful for him and unnecessary.?

3. Limited Flexibility

Closed platforms often have significant limitations when it comes to expanding or customising your website. Many businesses find that as they grow, their needs outstrip the capabilities of their chosen platform. Whether you want to add new functionalities, integrate third-party tools, or customize the user experience, closed platforms can be restrictive or costly, as there are no alternatives.?

WordPress, on the other hand, is highly flexible and can be tailored to meet virtually any business requirement. With over 60,000 plugins available, you can add e-commerce capabilities, integrate CRM systems, optimize for SEO, and much more—often without needing to write a single line of code. This level of customisation is essential for businesses that need their website to evolve alongside their growth – and, most importantly, it reduces the need for costly custom development.?

4. Security Concerns: The Lack of Public Scrutiny?

Security is a major concern for any business with an online presence. Closed platforms, while they may claim to offer secure environments, do not benefit from the same level of public scrutiny as open-source platforms like WordPress. The security of closed platforms is entirely dependent on the provider, and users have limited visibility into the security measures in place.?

WordPress, as an open-source platform, benefits from continuous security audits and improvements by a global community of developers. Vulnerabilities are quickly identified and patched, making it a highly secure option when properly managed. Additionally, numerous security plugins are available to enhance your website’s protection against threats further.?

Have I convinced you yet??

While closed website platforms might offer convenience, they come with significant risks that can impact your business’s long-term success. From the lack of ownership and control to the dangers of downtime, limited flexibility, and security concerns, these platforms often fall short when compared to the open-source powerhouse that is WordPress.?

By choosing WordPress for your website, you gain full ownership of a valuable business asset, greater control over your website’s future, the ability to expand and customise as your business grows, and the confidence that comes with using a platform backed by a global community committed to security and innovation.?

If you are looking for a new site, or you’ve outgrown Squarespace, Yell, GoDaddy, Wix and countless web agency variations, drop me a message, and we can chat about your options.?