Squarespace vs. Wix: Which Platform is Best for Your Author Website?
Squarespace vs. Wix: Which Platform is Best for Your Author Website?
Are you ready to share your work and create your author website? If so, you've come to the right place. In today's blog post, we'll explore two different website platform options for authors like you. By the end of this post, you'll better understand each platform's features, pricing, and ease of use, which will help you make an informed decision when building your author website.
Yes, you still need a website!
In today's digital age, a killer author website is essential for authors looking to make their mark on the world. An author website provides an ideal platform for showcasing your work and connecting with readers, allowing you to establish your brand and take control of your online reputation. Think of it as a home base for promoting your books, sharing updates, and engaging with fans on a personal level. And with the ability to directly communicate with your readers and grow your email lists, you can't afford not to have a website. Plus, let's remember the networking potential! By building relationships with industry pros and like-minded writers, your website can open up new and exciting opportunities you never thought possible.
Here's an article about why you need an author website and the secrets to building a fabulous one.
Need some inspiration for your author website?
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What’s a website platform?!
First, what even is a website platform?! These bad boys are like your trusty sidekick when creating your online author presence. Think of them as your very own web wizard - they help you create, design, and manage a website without needing to be a coding genius. With their drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built templates, these platforms let you quickly build a professional-looking website. Plus, they come with nifty features like SEO tools and e-commerce functionality, making it easy to show off your author brand in all its glory. By choosing the right platform, you can look great online, build a loyal following, and catch the eye of a literary agent or two.
Factors to consider when picking your website platform
Picking the right website platform is like choosing the perfect pair of shoes - it has to be comfortable, stylish, and fit just right. So, when choosing your platform, it's essential to consider factors like ease of use, pricing, and integrations with other vital software for your author career. Think of it as a puzzle - finding the right pieces will result in a stunning and effective finished product. So, with that in mind, let's dig into the world of website platforms and find the perfect fit for your author website.
Wix vs. Squarespace Overview – Squarespace is easier to use and more feature rich but is more expensive
Squarespace and Wix are similar popular website builders that offer user-friendly interfaces and a variety of customizable templates to help you create a stunning website quickly and relatively easily without coding knowledge.
Squarespace is known for its sleek and minimalist templates, all-in-one platform, and premium pricing, while Wix is renowned for its drag-and-drop interface, affordable pricing, and vast selection of templates. Wix is generally better for DIY-ers, while Squarespace is often used more by professionals.
While both platforms offer customization options, Squarespace's templates are usually nicer, easier to use, and pricier, while Wix's templates are often cheaper. Both platforms provide built-in SEO tools to help improve your website's visibility in search results, making it easier for readers to find you online.
Ultimately, the choice between Squarespace and Wix comes down to your specific needs and preferences. If you're looking for a user-friendly, all-in-one solution with elegant designs, Squarespace may be the better option. However, Wix might be the way to go if you prioritize a lower price point.
Wix – The most affordable website platform for authors
If you want a stunning author website without coding knowledge, Wix might be your platform. With its drag-and-drop interface and many templates and features explicitly tailored to authors, building an eye-catching site has never been easier. Plus, with built-in SEO tools, social media integration, and an intuitive editor, you can customize your site to showcase your work and engage your audience.
Wix App Market has helpful integrations
And let's not forget about the Wix App Market, which offers a variety of apps and integrations to enhance your site even further. From scheduling appointments to selling your books directly from your site, Wix has got you covered. Popular apps include the Wix Bookings app for scheduling appointments or events, the Wix Forum app for creating a community around your author brand and the Wix Stores app for selling your books directly from your site. With its extensive features and user-friendly interface, Wix has become a go-to choice for many authors looking to build a comprehensive online presence that caters to their specific needs.
Wix has templates for authors
Wix also offers many templates tailored specifically to authors, making it easy to show off your work. And the built-in features don't stop there - Wix also has SEO tools to help your website rank higher in search results and social media integration so you can easily share your content across all your platforms. Plus, with Wix's intuitive editor, you can easily customize your site to make it your own.
Wix is more affordable but less user friendly and less feature rich
However, when you compare Wix and Squarespace, you'll notice that Squarespace is generally more user-friendly than Wix. Moreover, updating the mobile layout on Wix can be more challenging than on Squarespace.
Mobile responsiveness is essential for websites as more and more people are using their mobile devices to browse the internet. In fact, according to Statista, mobile devices accounted for over 50% of global website traffic in 2020. This means that if your website is not mobile-friendly because you’re using Wix, you could potentially miss out on reaching a significant portion of your audience. Having a mobile-responsive website ensures that your content is accessible and engaging to your audience, regardless of the device they're using.
Pros of using Wix:
• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface
• Cheaper than many other platform options
• Offers author-specific templates
Cons of using Wix:
• Technically more difficult to use
• Harder to optimize for mobile
• Limited customization compared to other platform options
• Limited third-party integrations, so this is not an all-in-one solution
Price: Free plan available; premium plans start at $14/month
Squarespace – The Easy All-in-One Solution for Author Websites
Squarespace is an excellent choice for authors who want an attractive website without the hassle of managing multiple tools and services. With its user-friendly interface and built-in features, Squarespace offers stunning templates tailored for authors and writers. The platform's clean, minimalist designs allow your content to take center stage, while its user-friendly interface makes it easy to customize your site without any coding knowledge.
One unique feature of Squarespace is that Squarespace is a one-stop shop for website maintenance, offering a centralized platform for updating your website, managing SEO, and handling email marketing. Squarespace offers a range of integrations with third-party tools and services to help you streamline your author business operations.
Squarespace email campaigns makes sending emails to your readers super easy
For example, integrating Squarespace Email Campaigns makes creating and sending beautiful emails easy. Squarespace Email Campaigns is a powerful email marketing tool that allows you to create and send beautiful emails easily. With pre-designed templates and a user-friendly interface, you can create professional-looking newsletters and promotional emails quickly. This integration with Squarespace's all-in-one platform makes managing your email campaigns seamless and straightforward, saving you time and effort.
Additionally, with Squarespace Email Campaigns, you can segment your audience and personalize your emails to increase engagement and conversions. The platform also provides robust analytics, allowing you to track the success of your email campaigns and make data-driven decisions to optimize your marketing efforts. Squarespace Email Campaigns is an excellent tool for authors looking to increase their online presence and reach their audience effectively.
Squarespace Email Campaigns offers a variety of pricing plans, including a free plan for up to 3 campaigns per month with a maximum of 50 recipients per campaign. Paid plans start at $6 per month, allowing unlimited campaigns and up to 500 recipients per campaign, with pricing increasing based on the number of subscribers.
Acuity scheduling helps connect with potential partners
Another notable Squarespace integration is with Acuity Scheduling, a powerful scheduling software that simplifies appointment booking and management. By integrating Acuity Scheduling, which Squarespace owns, you can seamlessly schedule appointments directly from your website, eliminating the need for back-and-forth emails or phone calls.
With features like automatic reminders and calendar sync, Acuity Scheduling helps you save time and reduce the risk of missed appointments. Plus, Squarespace's intuitive interface makes it easy to set up and customize your scheduling page, so you can ensure a seamless booking experience for your clients. Whether you're scheduling consultations, book signings, or other events, Squarespace and Acuity Scheduling can make the process much smoother.
Acuity Scheduling offers several pricing plans starting at $14 monthly for a single calendar and up to 1 user. The most popular plan is the Growing Business plan, which costs $23 per month and allows up to 6 calendars and 6 users. The pricing increases based on the number of calendars and users needed, with a maximum of 36 calendars and 36 users available on the highest plan.
Squarespace has more features but is more expensive than Wix
However, Squarespace is more expensive. Squarespace does not offer a free plan, which may not be ideal for authors on a budget. Additionally, you can add to your bill by taking advantage of Squarespace’s third-party integrations, such as Acuity and Squarespace Email campaigns. Nonetheless, Squarespace's convenience and ease of use make it a popular choice for many writers and content creators.
Pros of using Squarespace:
• All-in-one platform, including hosting, email campaigns, scheduling, and e-commerce
• Easy-to-use interface
• Beautiful templates with a clean, minimalist design
Cons of using Squarespace:
• No drag-and-drop builder
• No free plan available
• Overrall more expensive
Price: Plans start at $12/month
You can excel at SEO regardless of platform
People often ask if one platform is better or worse for SEO (search engine optimization). While different website platforms offer varying degrees of SEO features, the bulk of your website's SEO success comes from the quality of your content rather than the platform itself. Search engines like Google prioritize relevant, informative, and engaging content, so focus on creating quality content that resonates with your readers.
Both Wix and Squarespace offer built-in SEO tools to help you optimize your content, including meta tags, titles, and descriptions. With a solid content strategy, you can ensure your website is discoverable and easily accessible to your target audience, regardless of your chosen platform.
You can buy templates for both Squarespace and Wix to make website building much easier
Third-party templates, i.e., pre-designed websites for specific businesses, can be a great option for users of both Wix and Squarespace, offering a wider variety of design options beyond the built-in templates. Many third-party templates are created by professional designers and developers, providing high quality and functionality. These templates are typically available for purchase or download from online marketplaces or individual designers' websites.
Here are a few of my favorite Squarespace template shops: GoLiveHQ, 23&9 Creative, and Big Cat Creative.
With the right third-party template, you can take your Wix or Squarespace website to the next level, adding a unique touch and personality to your online presence.
When choosing a third-party template, it's important to ensure that it is compatible with your platform and your platform’s latest version. You also need the technical expertise to install and customize it properly.
Wix templates are typically less expensive than Squarespace templates, which can be a factor to consider for authors on a budget.
Both Squarespace and Wix have e-commerce tools to help you sell books, products, or other services directly from your website.
Whether you're an author looking to sell your books or a content creator wanting to offer other products or services, both Squarespace and Wix offer e-commerce solutions to help you sell directly from your website. With built-in payment processing, shipping, and inventory management tools, you can create a professional online store and manage all aspects of your business in one place.
Both platforms also offer customization options to match the look and feel of your brand, from custom product pages to checkout flows. Whether you're selling physical or digital products, or even subscriptions, both Squarespace and Wix have got you covered. You can create a seamless online store experience and monetize your content or products by choosing the platform that best aligns with your specific needs and budget.
Summarizing and comparing each platform
Each website platform has its unique strengths and limitations. Squarespace offers a user-friendly all-in-one solution that simplifies website building and maintenance, while Wix is cost-effective and offers an easy drag-and-drop builder. Ultimately, the choice between Squarespace and Wix will depend on your specific needs and priorities as an author.
You should pick the website platform that aligns with your budget.
It's important to weigh each platform's advantages and disadvantages to determine the best fit for you. By considering your preferences and budget, you can make an informed decision and choose the platform that aligns with your goals as an author. Remember, the right platform will help you showcase your work and engage and connect with your readers effectively.
Happy website building!
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