Squarespace vs Wordpress for blogging: Why I’m happy I built my website on Squarespace

I read in one post that Squarespace is worse for SEO because you don’t have the same SEO plugins that are available on Wordpress.

This is borderline nonsensical. A plugin isn’t going to magically improve your SEO, in fact it can slow down your site and make your SEO worse.

SEO tactics like inserting an exact number of keywords — and putting keywords in templated places like H2s — aren’t ideal anyway.

A lot of the bloggers who followed this kind of rigid SEO advice have been penalised by Google, who identified the patterns between overly optimised websites.

My view: I wouldn’t tell you to categorically not use WordPress, because it might be perfect for you and your needs. But I am here to tell you that Squarespace might also be perfect for your needs, if you would prefer to focus on writing and pretty designs, rather than a technically heavy site.

I am here to tell you to ignore the naysayers — there is no reason at all that you should avoid Squarespace for blogging and choose WordPress instead.

Squarespace is easy to use and can build beautiful sites

I tried to start several websites on WordPress and they all failed. I just couldn’t get past the initial set up stage to get a blog off the ground (everyone who says you can set up a blog in a day is wildly exaggerating. There is a lot of work that goes into a blog — they are just trying to get you to click on their affiliate link).

The drag and drop, template approach of Squarespace means you can get around the technical aspects of blogging.

Squarespace is just as good for SEO as WordPress

I truly do not understand this idea that Squarespace is bad for SEO.

My travel blog ranks first in Google for some highly competitive keywords. How would that be possible if Squarespace is as bad as other bloggers like to make out?

I would like to point out at this point that there are dozens of different platforms on which you can build a website. In my career as a content manager, I have used WordPress, Silverstripe, and XX, just to name a few.

The platform doesn’t really matter — what matters is your on-page SEO, and other performance details like broken links, as well as off page signals like backlinks.

Yes, site speed is important, but having a website on Squarespace doesn’t mean you will have a slow site — and having a blog on Wordpress doesn’t mean you will have a fast site.

So, which should you choose? Squarespace or Wordpress?

The answer, as with all things, is — it depends.

I personally recommend Squarespace as an all-in-one platform that will help you get a beautiful website up and running quickly, which you can monetise further down the line.

But, if you want to go with Wordpress, go for it. You can always migrate between platforms later (The Common Wanderer migrated from Wordpress to Squarespace, and in their own words never looked back).

Nothing is irreversible, the most important thing is you just start.

Squarespace provides hosting, domain registration, and website building tools all in one package. This streamlined approach simplifies the setup process and ensures that everything is seamlessly integrated, allowing bloggers to focus on creating content rather than managing multiple services.

Built-in Features: Squarespace includes built-in features such as blogging tools, social media integration, SEO optimization, and analytics, which are essential for travel bloggers looking to grow their audience and reach. These features eliminate the need for third-party plugins or additional software, saving time and effort.

Customer Support: Squarespace offers 24/7 customer support via email and live chat, ensuring that travel bloggers can quickly resolve any issues or questions they may have during the website creation process or afterwards.

Common misperceptions about Squarespace:

• it’s bad for SEO

• Squarespace websites are slower

WordPress might offer more flexibility and customisation options, but that means you need to be more technical

One of the main arguments for Wordpress is that it is more flexible; which it is, if you don’t mind playing around with code.

Wordpress is more susceptible to hacks and breaking

Open-Source Platform: WordPress is an open-source platform, meaning that users have access to the underlying code and can modify it to suit their requirements. This level of freedom enables advanced users to implement custom features, integrations, and optimizations, giving them more control over their website's performance and functionality.

Community Support: WordPress has a vast and active community of developers, designers, and users who contribute themes, plugins, tutorials, and support forums. This extensive community support network provides valuable resources and assistance to travel bloggers, whether they're troubleshooting issues, seeking advice, or looking for inspiration.

Scalability: WordPress is scalable and can accommodate the growth of a travel blog over time. Whether bloggers are starting small or aiming for global reach, WordPress can scale to meet their needs, whether it's handling increased traffic, adding new features, or expanding into e-commerce.

Cost: While WordPress itself is free to use, travel bloggers may incur additional costs for domain registration, hosting, premium themes, and plugins. The overall cost of running a WordPress website can vary depending on the chosen hosting provider, theme, and plugins selected, making it important for bloggers to budget accordingly.