WordPress or Squarespace – which one should you choose for your family law website?
We will break down the pros and cons of each
Are you looking to increase your caseload or target a new type of client? Chances are your current website is not meeting the mark. To build a site that produces results and uniquely communicates your brand will take some time and a bit of technical aptitude. WordPress and Squarespace are two of the top contenders for website building programs and it can be hard to decide which one to use when first venturing out into the world of website creation.
There are two different camps that each platform is generally geared towards. WordPress appeals more to the open source community while Squarespace to those who want a simple click and publish site.
Both have advantages and disadvantages depending on what you want the website to do, your budget, and skill set.
Ease of set up
Squarespace offers the simplest way to build a basic family law website. Once you have created an account, all you have to do is choose a legal template, answer a few questions, and your website will be up and running.
With WordPress, you need to sign up for a hosting account, and purchase a domain. Once the hosting is up, you will need to install WordPress, create a database, and proceed with the WordPress setup wizard. Luckily, the wizard is pretty straight forward, and some shared hosting accounts come with one-click WordPress installation wizards. The benefit of going through these extra steps is that you will have more control over the final product.
The setup process for both Squarespace and WordPress is beginner friendly, WordPress just takes a little more time.
“Are functionality, ownership, and flexibility your top priorities? WordPress might be the best choice for you.“
Customization and flexibility
WordPress is an open source platform, so it offers thousands of third-party plugins and themes to choose from to customize the look and functionality of your website. The WordPress developer community is huge, offering endless options and support. There are thousands of designs to fit any style preference. All you have to do is install and activate, and your website’s appearance changes immediately.
With Squarespace, you are limited to the set of integrations that it supports. Basically, Squarespace provides a single interface that allows you to change content, templates, add custom CSS, control basic SEO settings, setup analytics, and a drag and drop option to create designs based on content blocks.
WordPress has everything that Squarespace offers and is the clear winner for someone who is a little tech savvy or willing to learn some new skills.
Costs for using WordPress or Squarespace
Squarespace has four packages to choose from: a personal website for $16, a business website for $26, a basic e-commerce site for $30, and an advanced commerce site for $46 – charged monthly. They offer nice discounts if you pay annually. The difference in the packages is in the number of pages you can create, transaction costs for e-commerce, and whether you can add custom CSS.
WordPress by itself is free, but it involves certain charges that may vary depending on what you need, and whether you choose to go with paid or free plugins and themes. You will need to pay for hosting which starts at about $24 annually, and a domain name that costs roughly $12 a year. There are thousands of free themes, however some require you to pay to enjoy certain features, similarly with plugins. If you choose to hire a developer to setup and maintain your site, then you will incur costs which will vary depending on their rates.
Final Thoughts
So, which one should you go with? Do you want to set up a basic website with no fuss over specialized customization options? Then Squarespace is your platform.
Are functionality, ownership, and flexibility your top priorities? WordPress might be the best choice for you.
Carefully consider the time you want to spend on getting an operative website up, and how much control you need over design and the choice should be simple.
If thinking about websites gives you a headache, and you just want a professional to handle it for you, Cascade Digital Marketing can help. We’ll design a beautiful and effective new family law website that attracts new clients and ultimately improves your firm’s bottom line.
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