Should you use Wix and Weebly? As a business owner and web designer, I do not recommend Wix for other businesses. (Nor do I really recommend it for anyone really.)
When you’re just starting out, saving money is a top priority. DIY solutions for logos, websites, and other essentials seem like a smart way to cut costs. Wix and Weebly cater to beginners by offering an easy, drag-and-drop website builder. But should these platforms be your first choice when building a business website?
What is the downside of Wix?
1. Free websites come with strings attached
Both Wix and Weebly offer free website options, but they come with major limitations. The most noticeable drawback is the inability to use a custom domain. Instead, your website will have a subdomain like mybusiness.wix.com or mybusiness.weebly.com. This looks unprofessional and can hurt your brand credibility.
Would you hand out business cards with an unprofessional domain? It’s akin to using a personal email like mybiz123@yahoo.com on a billboard. Upgrading to a paid plan allows you to use a custom domain, but other issues remain.
2. Mobile-responsive? Not quite
With mobile usage surpassing desktop browsing, having a mobile-friendly site is essential. While both Wix and Weebly claim to offer mobile-responsive designs, the reality is less impressive:
- Wix: You’ll need to manually adjust your site using a separate mobile editor, essentially doubling your workload. Some would argue you have to do this on other platforms as well, but usually with WordPress or Squarespace, it’s more just “tweaking” not necessarily having to do the whole page.
- Weebly: Although Weebly offers responsive themes, users report frequent glitches, which can hurt user experience.
3. Wix has limitations and lacks flexibility
One of the biggest issues with Wix is its lack of flexibility. If you want to switch to a different theme or redesign your site, you’ll need to start from scratch. Additionally, Wix doesn’t offer an export feature, making it difficult to migrate your site to another platform in the future.
4. Professional usage is limited
Consider who uses these platforms:
- WordPress: TechCrunch, Sony Music, MTV News, Beyonce.
- Squarespace: Lyft, Fast Company, Refinery29, Contently.
- Wix or Weebly? Can you name any major brands using them?
The lack of professional adoption speaks volumes about their limitations.
Wix Alternatives for Your Website
If you’re serious about building a professional, scalable website, consider these alternatives:
WordPress
- Pros: Highly customizable, powerful SEO features, large community support
- Cons: Steeper learning curve, requires hosting setup
Squarespace
- Pros: Beautiful templates, built-in mobile responsiveness, good SEO capabilities
- Cons: Fewer customization options compared to WordPress
Both platforms offer robust features that are more suitable for businesses looking to grow and establish a strong online presence.
Blogging on Wix and Weebly
Wix and Weebly market themselves as beginner-friendly platforms for bloggers, but if you want a blog that grows with your business (and your ambitions), there are some real drawbacks to keep in mind.
Wix Blogging
Wix’s blog editor is visually simple and easy for beginners, but it’s missing a lot of the features that make blogging efficient and effective long-term. There’s no native way to schedule posts in advance (unless you use a paid app), categories and tagging are limited, and you can’t easily export your blog posts to another platform if you ever want to move. Customizing the design of your blog is also clunky, and you’ll find yourself hitting walls with formatting and layout options.
Weebly Blogging
Weebly does better than Wix when it comes to core blogging basics: you can schedule posts and use categories. But you’ll still face limitations if you want to scale your blog. The content editor feels dated, design flexibility is minimal, and—like Wix—you don’t have an easy way to migrate content if you ever switch to WordPress or Squarespace.
What does this mean for your business?
If your blog is just a side project, Wix or Weebly might work for a while. But if you want your blog to drive traffic, support your SEO, and help grow your brand, you’ll quickly outgrow these platforms.
WordPress and Squarespace, on the other hand, both offer powerful, scalable blogging tools. You get better organization (categories, tags, archives), flexible post scheduling, easier image handling, more control over SEO, and—most importantly—the ability to take your content with you if you ever decide to rebrand or redesign.
If blogging is a key part of your business strategy, you’ll save yourself a lot of time (and future frustration) by starting with WordPress or Squarespace.
SEO Considerations: Wix and Weebly vs. WordPress and Squarespace
SEO is one of the most critical factors for online success. While Wix and Weebly offer basic SEO tools, they fall short compared to platforms like WordPress and Squarespace.
Wix and SEO:
In 2015, there was a significant issue where Wix sites were being de-indexed by Google. Although this problem was resolved, it raised concerns about Wix’s SEO capabilities. Even today, industry experts recommend against using Wix for serious SEO efforts.
Weebly and SEO:
Weebly has improved its SEO features over the years but still lacks advanced options like customizable metadata, structured data, and comprehensive plugin support.
WordPress and SEO:
WordPress is widely regarded as the best platform for SEO. With plugins like Yoast SEO and All in One SEO Pack, you have complete control over your website’s optimization.
Squarespace and SEO:
Squarespace gets criticized for its perceived lack of SEO capabilities, but in practice, it performs well. Many users, including myself, have successfully ranked high in competitive markets using Squarespace.
FAQ About Wix and Weebly
Q: Is Wix good for SEO? A: While Wix has basic SEO tools, it lacks advanced features available on platforms like WordPress. Additionally, its past issues with Google indexing make it a risky choice for those relying heavily on search engine traffic.
Q: Can I rank on Google with a Weebly website? A: Yes, it’s possible, but you may face limitations due to fewer advanced SEO options. For better long-term results, consider WordPress or Squarespace.
Q: What is the best website platform for SEO? A: WordPress is widely regarded as the best platform for SEO due to its flexibility and plugin ecosystem. Squarespace is a good alternative for those seeking a simpler solution.
Conclusion: Choose the right platform for the job
When building a website, it’s tempting to go for the easiest and cheapest option. However, if you’re serious about your business, you need a platform that can grow with you. While Wix and Weebly are fine for personal projects or temporary sites, they fall short when it comes to professional use.
If you’re ready to build a website that works for your business, consider investing in WordPress or Squarespace. There are plenty of tutorials, courses, and professional web designers who can help you get started.
Need help choosing the right platform for your business? Contact us for a free consultation!
