Technology
Choosing the right platform: TBCS’s Take on WordPress vs. HubSpot
The Boys CS • November 20, 2023
Navigating the city can be a bit like solving a puzzle—there’s the regular getting lost, and then there’s the full-blown, “Am I even in the right city?” kind of lost. If you’ve been through both, you understand the annoyance and time-wasting that comes with it. Well, that frustration is similar to what customers experience when your website’s design becomes a roadblock, making it a hassle for them to find what they’re looking for.
If you’ve had a bad experience in a city, you won’t be keen to come back – just as customers won’t on a poorly designed website. So if you’re trying to avoid that by figuring out which Content Management System (CMS) to go with for your website, you’re in the right place.
We asked Anup, our web developer, to share a bit of his opinion about two popular platforms in the market today: WordPress and Hubspot. He’s got nearly a decade of experience in building websites and working with CMS, so sit back and relax as he breaks down each platform for us, their best uses, and how they might fit your goals and needs.
WordPress: The Cost-Effective Creative
WordPress is an open-source CMS. With a user-friendly interface and a vibrant community of themes and plugin developers, it’s a great CMS to build and maintain websites that need a lot of flexibility. Think of it like a city with an artsy vibe, the Melbourne of website development.
It’s a great fit for you if:
- Cost efficiency is a consideration. WordPress (the full-powered version) is free. All you need to really budget for is your domain name, web hosting, maybe a premium pre-built theme if you want it, and the web design services to make it all work together seamlessly.
- You want to launch quickly. WordPress has marketplaces full of ready-to-go plugins and themes, both free and paid, that we can dip into so we can make your site look and do exactly what you want and enable you to launch quickly.
- Customisation is a priority. WordPress supports drag-and-drop page builders like Elementor and WPBakery Page Builder. If you want something custom-made but fast, we can also build everything from scratch.
- An online store is your goal. If you’re after e-commerce capabilities, you can’t go wrong with WordPress. We can install the WooCommerce plugin on your site to get your business up and running.
- You can commit to regular updates. Themes, plugins, and the software need to be updated regularly and that’s also something we can do for you if you pick WordPress as your CMS.
HubSpot: The All-in-One Pro
HubSpot is an all-in-one inbound marketing, sales, and customer relationship management (CRM) platform that offers a suite of integrated tools and features, including marketing automation, email marketing, website management, lead nurturing, analytics, and more. If Sydney is a CMS platform, it would be Hubspot.
It’s great match for you if:
- Security is a priority. If your site’s hosted by HubSpot, you get SSL certificates and all the security bells and whistles so there is no chance for someone to mess up your security settings.
- Analytics and site performance are a must. Like security, HubSpot optimises your site’s performance so everything works as expected. They offer Content Delivery Network (CDN), image optimisation, and other performance features. HubSpot also offers built-in analytics, so you can check out your website’s performance without needing to install extra plugins.
- Automation is your goal. HubSpot has a whole suite of integrated software, making it a top pick if you’re all about automating your marketing and sales. When a visitor to your site downloads something or signs up for a newsletter, their contact information is captured and can be seamlessly synced to your CRM as a new lead.
- You want customisation. Hubspot offers you the flexibility to customise with its HubSpot Template Marketplace. With its built-in page builder, we can build your website with the design and functionalities you want.
- You have a bigger budget. HubSpot implements a subscription-based model which might not sit well with small businesses trying to keep a tight budget.
In a Nutshell: What's Right for You?
So, which one should you choose? Well, As Anup said (and we agree!), it really depends on your needs and budget. Your choice between WordPress and HubSpot should align with what your business needs.
Still unsure which CMS to use? Whether you’re leaning towards the artistic charm of WordPress or the integrated power of HubSpot, we’re here to help you. Drop us a message, and let’s delve into your goals, requirements, and how we can tailor a web design solution that exceeds your expectations. Let’s make your customers’ online experiences a walk in the park – we’re here to make it happen.
