Most people don’t need a website.
Fair enough. But let’s say that you do want one. Then, where should you start? There are so many options. There are so many explainer videos and paid articles on which website builders are the best.
I believe they are missing the point because they are talking about websites.
I believe a website is not about domains, hostings, and SEOs. I believe the website is about our personal brands. That’s the reason why 99% of people don’t need a custom-made website.
Just answer these 2 questions. You will know which web solution is right for you. Ready?
Question 1: Do you have or want to have your personal brand?
NO: Go with what comes up on top of your search. WordPress, Squarespace, etc. Whatever. They are a dime a dozen.
YES: Go to the next question.
Question 2: Do you have or want to have your personal brand?
NO: Again, whatever is fine. They all work. Your customers don’t care how you look.
YES: Consider working with a designer to build a Webflow site and build your online empire.
My 2 questions and answers seem too short so let me explain further.
With the question, “Do you have or want to have your personal/corporate brand?” I’m directing probably 80% of people to a low cost, template-based web solutions. If you are fresh out of college with little professional experience, it would be a waste of money to do something that you can do it for free or at a minimal cost. Sticking with IG or SS won’t hurt. You could be a part-time blogger or artist with something to sell online. Again, if you don’t have a personal brand, that means you are not wildly successful (yet). Sorry to put it so bluntly, but I just don’t want you to lose your money by spending on something you’re not even sure about. Even if you are doing OK selling something online, if you are offering something commoditized, there is no need to have a personal brand.
But every once a while, I encounter a small group of people who do have a personal brand. But that doesn’t mean they need a custom-made website.
That’s why I asked, “Do your customers care about your personal brand?” For example, I know a very successful financial blogger with a strong and growing personal brand. His websites and visual branding totally suck (Sorry!), but it’s perfectly fine because his audience doesn’t care. What his niche audience cares about is a deep dive into rare investment opportunities. The quality of ideas in writing is what matters. Everything else is just fluff. So he uses a home-made logo with a DIY website you can build in less than 30 minutes. His explanation of why you need a personal brand is convincing, but that doesn’t mean he needs a differentiated look and feel from his website. If his niche customers want everything in text-only format, that’s all he needs. Just pick whatever website builder, and you won’t notice the difference.
Now, let’s say that you have a strong personal brand or want to establish one. And your customers also happen to care about your personal brand and come from not a niche but from diverse backgrounds, then, you may want to consider the option of working with a designer to build a Webflow-based website. This is probably less than 1% of the online population and if you fit in this category, congrats! You’re in the right place! Even if you are not there yet, read on, because you might need this in the future ;)
So, what do you get if you work with a designer like me to develop a Webflow site? You will get the 4Ss. Speed. SEO. Security. Style.
Speed
Webflow site is fast. Fast is good because it saves your time and your customer’s time. How does Webflow achieve that? By creating a simple code. Like this.
The same thing is expressed in WordPress like this.
Source: https://www.creativenurds.com.au/blog/why-webflow-wordpress
Can you imagine the difference compounding for page after page? No wonder WordPress sites tend to have a slower loading time. And imagine again working with someone who is always late for appointments and never honors your time as much as you do to your customers. You need a web solution that respects your customers’ time as much as you do.
SEO
The clean code of Webflow is appreciated by Google too. Here’s an example of how moving from a WordPress site to Webflow affected Google’s rating.
In terms of visitor increase, they had a 25% increase in visitors only after one week of publishing.
Source: https://stories.fylehq.com/posts/bye-bye-wordpress-welcome-webflow
Needless to say, there are numerous factors involved in the search algorithm but this one and many other examples point to Webflow as a powerful edge in the SEO game.
Security
WordPress is a massively popular solution making up about 30% of the entire Internet. Their popularity comes from their open-source nature with thousands of plugins. According to Securityboulevard.com, “There are over 50,000 WordPress plugins in existence and there are more created every day.” Basically, WordPress is a stack of plugins. That’s their source of popularity and that’s their source of vulnerabilities. That is because, “third-party developers create WordPress plugins, not the WordPress team of developers.” Unfortunately, not all developers can adhere to security guidelines all the time. That open up windows of opportunities for hackers doing some nasty stuff like these:
Source: https://securityboulevard.com/2020/05/8-vulnerable-wordpress-plugins-attacked-recently/
With Webflow, they are the ones that make sure that your website is secure. It’s that simple.
Style
This is obvious. WordPress and other website builders are template-based services. But Webflow allows you to design a site from scratch, completely customized for you in mind. Maybe it’s a matter of personal preference but don’t you want YOUR website made for YOU, not for everyone else? It’s like a tailor-made jacket. It’s either you try hard fitting in, or it fits you, perfectly.
To recap, not everyone needs a website. Even if you need one, 99% of people are fine with template-based websites because they don’t have a personal brand nor their customers care about your personal brand. But if you happen to be in the 1% group, you should consider working with a designer to build your Webflow site. With Webflow, you’ll get speed, SEO, security, and style to match your personal brand and ambition.
You are on your path to building your online empire. Webflow site is the fastest path to build your empire. Choose your path wisely.
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