Creating a website for your beauty brand is essential in today’s digital age, unless you plan to use third-party sales platforms that take a cut.
A website provides a platform to showcase your products, build brand awareness and reach a wider audience. Plus it’s an owned channel rather than something that exists on a platform that someone else owns – meaning it’s less likely to be able to change or stop without your say-so.
However, with so many website options available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming and it can be hard work deciding which one. In this blog post, we’ll take a quick look at the most popular website options for your beauty brand, along with their pros and cons.
WordPress
WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that powers over 30% of all websites on the internet. It offers a range of customisable templates and themes, making it easy to create a website that reflects your brand’s identity.
With plugins like WooCommerce, you can also set up an online store to sell your products directly to customers.
Pros:
- Flexible and highly customisable
- Wide range of themes and plugins available
- Search engine friendly
- Supports e-commerce integration
Cons:
- Requires some technical knowledge to set up and manage
- Web development, creation and maintenance comes at an additional cost
- Can be slower compared to other website builders
- Security can be a concern if not managed properly
Squarespace
Squarespace is a website builder that offers a range of beautifully designed templates that are optimised for mobile devices. It’s easy to use and offers a range of features such as e-commerce integration, blogging, and SEO optimisation.
Squarespace also offers a range of add-ons, including email marketing and appointment scheduling, so whatever products or services you’re selling you can usually find a way to do it.
Pros:
- User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
- Wide range of templates available
- SEO optimisation and blogging features built-in
- Offers 24/7 customer support
Cons:
- Limited flexibility compared to WordPress
- Limited e-commerce functionality compared to Shopify
- More expensive than some other website builders
Shopify
Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform that offers everything you need to set up an online store for your beauty brand. It offers a range of templates and themes that are optimised for sales, as well as a range of features such as payment processing, inventory management and shipping integrations.
Pros:
- Easy to set up and manage an online store
- Offers a wide range of payment options
- Wide range of apps and integrations available
- Excellent customer support
Cons:
- Limited customisation options compared to WordPress
- Can be expensive compared to other website builders
- Higher transaction fees for using third-party payment gateways
Wix
Wix is a user-friendly website builder that offers a range of customisable templates and themes. It’s a great option for beauty brands that want to create a website quickly and easily. Wix also offers a range of features such as e-commerce integration, SEO optimisation and analytics tracking.
Pros:
- User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
- Wide range of templates available
- Offers a range of integrations and add-ons
- Provides 24/7 customer support
Cons:
- Limited customisation options compared to WordPress
- Limited e-commerce functionality compared to Shopify
- Can be more expensive than other website builders
Webflow
Webflow is a website builder that offers a range of customisable templates and themes. It’s a great option for beauty brands that want to create a website with a more customised look and feel. Webflow also offers a range of features such as e-commerce integration, SEO optimisation, and analytics tracking.
Pros:
- Highly customisable
- Offers a range of integrations and add-ons
- Excellent customer support
- Generates clean and efficient code
Cons:
- Can be more difficult to use than other website builders
- Higher learning curve compared to other platforms
- Limited support for third-party integrations
Magento
Magento is a popular open-source e-commerce platform that is known for its flexibility and scalability. It offers a range of features such as multiple payment gateways, customer segmentation, and advanced SEO optimisation.
Pros:
- Allows for extensive customisation of your online store, which means you can create a unique shopping experience for your customers.
- Can handle high volumes of traffic and transactions, making it a great option for growing beauty brands.
- The platform has advanced SEO features that can help your website rank higher in search engine results.
Cons:
- Magento can be challenging for beginners to use, so it’s best suited for businesses with some technical expertise.
- Magento’s premium plans can be costly, making it a less suitable option for smaller beauty brands with limited budgets.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a cloud-based e-commerce platform that offers a range of features for creating and managing your online store. It’s known for its ease of use and user-friendly interface.
Pros:
- BigCommerce is easy to use, even for beginners with little technical knowledge.
- BigCommerce supports a range of payment gateways, which makes it easy for customers to complete transactions.
- The platform has built-in SEO features that can help your website rank higher in search engine results.
Cons:
- While it offers some customisation options, it’s not as flexible as Magento.
- BigCommerce charges transaction fees on some of its plans, which can add up and be costly for businesses with high volumes of transactions.
Weebly
Weebly is a website builder that offers e-commerce functionality, making it a suitable option for smaller beauty brands. It’s known for its ease of use and beginner-friendly interface.
Pros:
- Easy to use, even for beginners with little technical knowledge.
- One of the most affordable options for building an e-commerce website, making it a great choice for smaller beauty brands with limited budgets.
- Offers mobile-responsive templates, which means your website will look great on any device.
Cons:
- Fewer features compared to other e-commerce platforms, which means it may not be suitable for larger beauty brands.
- Weebly allows for some customisation, it’s not as flexible as Magento or even BigCommerce.
How to choose a website platform for your beauty brand
Each platform has its own set of pros and cons and choosing the right one for your beauty brand depends on your specific needs and goals. Your technical skills, goals for your brand and your budget will all play a part too.
While a DIY option can seem like a more budget-friendly option for setting up your beauty brand, this isn’t always the case. The time you spend and the end result might not live up to a professionally designed website designer. Sometimes, it makes sense to pay an expert.
Especially when it comes to something that’s as integral as your website functionality. You need to focus on what’s going to be the best experience for your customer, not what’s cheapest to set up and functions in an “ok” way. Site security is a big deal too, as is the way the user navigates through the site. It’s important to research each platform thoroughly before making a decision to ensure it meets the needs of your beauty brand.
Your beauty brand website also needs content, and this needs updated regularly to keep it fresh and ready to rank on search engines. Need help with your beauty brand copywriting or blog content?
Get in touch to find out how I can help you as a beauty copywriter and content writer.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to choose a platform that allows you to showcase your brand and products effectively, while providing a great user experience for your customers.