CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLATFORM FOR YOUR WEBSITE

TIPS ON FINDING YOUR PLATFORM & BUILDING YOUR VISIONS ONLINE

Google Sites—Free Basic Template

G-sites is a basic template that offers you the chance to get online for free. This isn’t like other paid sites, but it’s a great starting point if you’re not sure what you want out of your website. Google Sites allows you to design a website with basic skills and without the expense. If you just want a basic site with a homepage, an about page and somewhere people can contact you, G-sites can provide you with just that. All you have to do is link your domain name, and you can have a site for your ministry in 24 hours.

Pros & Cons—GoogleSites.com

Limited design features
User friendly (you don’t need to be an expert to use G-sites).
Simple and customisable templates
Links to your Google account
Free to use (until you have the funds and need to upgrade to a paid platform).
No SEO
No build-in analytics (have to use Google analytic or Console)

Wix—Beginner Friendly

Wix is an affordable option if you’re wanting to upgrade your site from free to paid. It offers the right amount of features to build out a site using the elements they provide. You can either build it from scratch or use their AI feature. Depending on your design preference, Wix style options can give you a professional site without breaking the bank. But I would, from a design perspective, try to make your site stand out and not just use the basic setting when it comes to the theme you use to launch your ministry.

Pros & Cons—Wix.com

Unlimited library of customisable templates
It’s function is limited (templates can be inflexible, switching between sites can be challenging and site can be slow)
Affordable for your first paid site
Hidden fees
Lack of SEO features
AI Features
Great for beginners.

Squarespace—Professional looking

Squarespace is an upgrade from platforms like Wix or Google Sites. It has more features and looks more professional—if you like that look. Using a platform like Squarespace can give you a better-looking site at a cost. While it’s not cheap, you can start with the lowest plan as a blogger and upgrade as and when you need to. For example, if you’re just building a blog, start with their personal plan, and when you’re ready to add a membership area or sell products or services, you can upgrade to their business plan.

Pros & Cons—Squarespace.com

Access to AI tools and features
Expensive compared to other sites
Tools and features you need in one place (excluding things you may need to coding or external parties for)
Limited customisability
Easy to set up and navigate
Professional aesthetic
Don’t need coding experience (but it's good to have)

WordPress—Scalable and SEO friendly

WordPress is more advanced, as it requires you to have some coding experience or the budget to hire someone or the funds to outsource things like a website theme or the additional add-ons to run your site. Upfront platforms like Wix or Squarespace have this built in with the option of add-ons depending on how you need your site to function.

Pros & Cons—WordPress.org

Cost-effective compared to squarespace, but can get expensive with all the plug-ins
Need technical and coding knowledge/experience (learn it yourself, buy a template or hire out help)
More complex to use and set up (in the beginning—if you have no experience in build a site from scratch)
SEO friendly
Performance is dependant on plug-ins and website theme
Scalable—this is great as your ministry grows
Frequent maintenance and updating is required
Multiple steps to set up and run site (not for beginners)
Purchase an external WEBSITE THEME—depending on your budget, find one that fits your style—like BluChic. This will help you build out your site without having to do it from scratch.
Learn how to use hosting platforms like wordpress.org and BlueHost.

Finding Your Ministry Website Platform

As you choose your website, take the time to ensure that it truly works for you and the unique mission of your ministry. Make sure it meets not only your specific needs but also your wants and aspirations, providing a platform for your message to thrive. Most importantly, as you embark on this important decision, remember to count the costs carefully—both in terms of finances and time—so you can make a choice that aligns with the wisdom found in Luke 14:28.

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