I’ve been building and marketing websites since 1998 and from then until now, I’ve had the pleasure and pain of working with many content management systems (CMS’s) and digital experience platforms (DXP’s). I’ve also worked with many types of clients, from large enterprises, that have been around for 100 years, to start-up student entrepreneurs.
The following is based on my experience and knowing that one-size does not fit all, but WordPress with Site Catalyst™️ comes pretty close.
I have found that what 87+% of website owners normally want or need, doesn’t require a developer and is possible with WordPress. This is especially true in today’s world of AI and with Site Catalyst.
1) Affordability per Feature in WordPress
Cost is always a factor when building a website and building a business. The good news is, WordPress is open source and as such, there are no licensing fees to use it. That means you get the essential bits of a CMS at no cost. Other platforms come with significant ANNUAL fees ranging from a few thousand, to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the features you want or need. Add to that, expensive development and hosting costs, and what is being charged to medium and large enterprise clients for the most basic features like ecommerce and a blog is insane! But hey, they can afford it, right?
Another bonus is that WordPress has thousands of free add-ons, and the really good, or advanced ones, will only run you a couple hundred dollars per year.
2) Faster to Prototype in Site Catalyst
I worked with many marketers and the one main complaint they have is that it takes forever (okay weeks) for developers to build simple landing page, lead capture form, or microsite. So much for being AGILE. With WordPress and Site Catalyst you can build virtually anything without the aid of a developer…and it will automatically be mobile-friendly. No CSS, HTML, or coding skills required.
3) WordPress is Secure
Yeah, you read that correctly. WordPress has gotten a bad rap in the past as being vulnerable to attacks, but the truth is, ALL SOFTWARE SYSTEMS ARE VULNERABLE including cell phones; mine is doing an update with a security patch for July 2024 as I write this post. Because access to your software/systems is global, since the age of the internet, the key is to make sure you keep up to date with your security/software updates. Most enterprises software companies release fixes regularly (Microsoft every second Tuesday) and WordPress has their schedule too. The best part is, WordPress allows you to install updates automatically and comes with email notifications, so it’s even easier to have a safe and secure website without downtime or requiring a computer science degree to “patch your systems.”
4) Availability of Affordable Developers
In the extreme case where you need a developer to intervene or build something custom, there is no shortage of good developers who are willing to work for much less than the $100+ USD I’ve seen being charged clients for work on other platforms. Sorry to spill the tea.
5) Extensive Integrations and Free Add-ons
WordPress runs over 40% of the millions of websites on the internet so chances are someone has had or wanted the feature or connector you’re looking to implement. At the very least, you can use an open-source solution as a starting point (with proper permission) and build on it to make it match exactly what you’re after.
6) Robust and Intuitive Analytics
The goal of Site Catalyst™️ is to foster business growth and as such it comes with Google Analytics and Ads integration so you can get meaningful metrics for reporting and taking action to help your customers take the next step in their buying journey.
7) Personalization
Speaking of customer journeys, did you know that you can automatically personalize the content that visitors see based on their interactions with your website content? This is one of the main features that large, global brands spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to implement, and it’s available with Site Catalyst™️ for less than a dinner date with your significant other. Now you too can create digital experiences that rival enterprise level companies without breaking the bank.
8) Built for Marketers
Last, but not least, WordPress + Site Catalyst™️ are built for the way marketers and SME business owners think…speed and agility to get an idea into the market and in front of their ideal customers are the focus, not technical jargon and complex frameworks that take months and years to build and learn.
In Summary
WordPress + Site Catalyst™️ are a dynamic duo that I confidently put up against any CMS or DXP on the market today from a cost/feature, security, and speed to market perspective.
Need a lead generation funnel for a holiday or black Friday campaign which is only two weeks away? Sure, it’s bad planning, but when does anything innovative come with a plan? So yes, it’s possible to execute and launch a sophisticated campaign in a matter of days, even if it was unplanned.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Site Catalyst™️ allows you to build fully functioning microsites and landing pages using AI. Just add your humanized content and create a stir! Your competitors will hate you for it.