Webflow, who is it for?
Do you know anyone who says, “I’m extremely happy that I switched to WordPress from Webflow?” I know there are lots of happy WordPress users out there and I’m happy for them. And I know there is more and more former WordPress users content with Webflow. But I’ve never heard of the other way around.
Since I get asked by people which platform is better, I thought it’s time to revisit my old article. Tell you the truth, all I know is Webflow. So, I’m not a super expert on comparing hundreds of website-making services. Also, we definitely have to take into account our purpose of needing a website. Do you want to sell tons of physical products and need a full range of warehouse-like capabilities? Maybe Shopify is better suited for you in this case.
Now having passed all the disclaimers, let’s take a look at what you get from 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:
- Redirecting visitors to other unknown sites.
- Injecting spam ads and content on your site.
- Installing malware on your site to further their attacks.
- Creating rogue admin accounts.
- Using your server resources to launch DDoS attacks and send spam emails.
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 wrap it up, it really depends on what you want. What’s most important to YOU? What are you selling? What do you want to be doing better by using a website? Oh, and if you happen to meet somebody who is super happy about switching AWAY from Webflow, do let me know! I’d love to hear about their experience!
