August 4, 2021 5 minutes readEntrepreneur contributors do not necessarily agree with the opinions expressed.Every business requires a website. Each business has unique needs, such as different online goals, products, and services. There is no one-size-fits all website platform that will work for everyone.We hear more about certain platforms than others. WordPress is great for small businesses and blogs, and Shopify is great for all things eCommerce. Other players are also available, as well as fully customized builds.You don't have to choose a website platform blindly. There are many things to think about before you make a decision.Related: 12 Steps to Building an Ecommerce Website that Sells in 12 MonthsThese are five things you should consider when selecting a website platform to support your business.1. Your intended use of the websiteWhat is your website supposed to do? Do you want to showcase your products, services, and company information on your website, or do you want to sell directly from it? A WordPress website with a blog is the best option if you're looking to establish an online presence for your company.Shopify allows brands to sell directly to consumers. It is an easy-to-use platform that provides low-cost options and low barriers to entry. A fully customized build might be necessary if you have specific needs.A simple HTML website with one page can also be used if you don't intend to blog or use SEO. Too often, businesses end up on platforms that aren't appropriate for their needs or that have too much to offer.2. 2. Your technical expertiseDifferent platforms require different technical skills. It is worth the effort to learn the platform. This is something many people don't consider. While having a website is an important step in your journey, it's also a great tool for your business.It can make a huge difference in your business' success if you understand how to maximize a website's potential. A Shopify store that simply connects to a domain and uploads products, then leaves it there, is unlikely to grow fast, if ever.Someone with technical expertise can use the tracking and insights to drive additional sales. They can then use abandonment recovery or upselling to increase sales.Related: 10 Tips to Drive Sales with Web Design3. Your budgetA WordPress website can be downloaded, installed and set up for free. It will cost about $12 to purchase a domain. You can also get shared hosting at $5 per month. Shopify offers ecommerce. You can create a website using a free template, and get it up and running in just $29 per month.A fully customized build is on the opposite end of this spectrum. It comes with custom databases and functionality, as well as other customizations. A fully customized, elaborate build could cost you a quarter million dollars.They can handle large companies at a lower cost, so don't discount them. Shopify is used by some of the most successful ecommerce companies in the world. They generate millions of dollars every day using the same tech stack as you.4. 4.How customizable do your websites need to be? There are many themes available that can be customized to suit your needs if you don't have any particular requirements. There are many themes available that can be used for Shopify and WordPress. They are very useful and allow you to customize.You can also find thousands of premium themes, starting at $39 and going up to $200. These themes give you access to professional website designs with customizable features and are affordable.You will need to hire both a front-end or back-end team to create custom animation. For some businesses, this type of customization is worthwhile.Related: 5 Ways To Boost Your Conversion Rates And Supercharge Your Web Sales5. Easy updating and readily available resourcesMany popular DIY platforms, such as Squarespace, WordPress, BigCommerce and Wix, offer plenty of online resources to assist you. This includes the blog and video content they create and user-created content.If you don't have the resources to hire an onsite team of developers to maintain and update your website regularly, you can find a platform you are comfortable learning on. YouTube is the best place to find almost any topic related to development.
