A story featured on “A Current Affair” prompted me to write this article. In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, having an online presence is crucial for any business particularly trades and construction related businesses. When it comes to building and managing websites, many businesses opt for proprietary website builders for their ease of use. However, one should consider the potential risks and limitations associated with these builders.

In this blog post, we will explore the undeniable advantages of having complete control over your website files, unlike proprietary website builders that can shut you down and delete your website at any time. That’s one of the many reasons why we use self-hosted WordPress, which gives us full control over our clients website files.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a powerful and versatile content management system (CMS) that is widely used for creating websites and blogs. It is an open-source platform, which means that it is free to use and can be customised to suit the specific needs of your business.

WordPress offers a user-friendly interface, making it easy for even those with limited technical knowledge to create and manage their own website. It provides a wide range of themes and templates that can be customised to match your brand’s unique style and personality.

One of the key features of WordPress is its extensive plugin library. With thousands of plugins available, you can enhance the functionality of your website with just a few clicks. Whether you need to add a contact form, an e-commerce store, or a search engine optimisation tool, there is likely a plugin available to meet your needs.

In addition to its flexibility and ease of use, WordPress is also highly scalable. Whether your business is just starting out or already established, WordPress can accommodate your needs. As your business grows, you can easily add more pages, features, and functionality to your website without the need for extensive coding or technical knowledge.

Furthermore, WordPress is search engine friendly. It is built with clean and semantic code, which makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your website. This can help improve your website’s visibility in search engine results, driving more organic traffic to your site. For trades and construction related businesses, WordPress can be a valuable tool for showcasing your work, generating leads, and establishing

Security and Control

With self-hosted WordPress, you have complete control over your website files. This means that you are not dependent on a third-party platform that can shut down your website or limit your access to your own content. You can choose your own hosting provider and implement robust security measures to protect your website from hacking attempts. This level of control ensures that your business and customer data are safe and secure.

Flexibility and Customisation

Proprietary website builders often have limitations when it comes to customisation. With self-hosted WordPress, you have the freedom to customise your website to your heart’s content. You can fully customise the design and choose plugins to create a unique and tailored website that reflects your brand identity. Having full control over your website files allows you to make any changes or modifications you need without any restrictions.

SEO Benefits

Search engine optimisation (SEO) plays a vital role in driving organic traffic to your website. With self-hosted WordPress, you have access to a wide range of SEO plugins and tools that can help you optimise your website for search engines. You can easily implement on-page SEO strategies, such as adding meta tags, optimising your content, and improving page load speed. These SEO benefits can greatly enhance your website’s visibility and rankings in search engine results.

Scalability and Growth

As your business grows, your website needs may change. With self-hosted WordPress, you are in the driver’s seat. Unlike proprietary website builders, you have the power to customise every aspect of your website. From the design and layout to the functionality and features, you can tailor your website to perfectly match your brand identity and business goals. This level of control allows you to create a unique and captivating online experience for your visitors.

Protection against Unexpected Shutdowns

One of the biggest concerns with proprietary website builders is their ability to shut down websites without warning. This can be devastating for businesses that rely heavily on their online presence.

The Australian television program “A Current Affair” featured a story regarding a looming threat that hangs over a small business owner as Christmas approaches. A ban imposed by shopping giant Shopify on wholesalers selling her product, she fears the grim reality of being forced to shut down her business by the year-end.

By using WordPress you have control over your website files and you eliminate the risk of sudden shutdowns. You have the freedom to choose your hosting provider, ensuring that your website remains accessible and operational at all times.

Safeguarding Your Website from Deletion

Imagine waking up one day to find that your website has been deleted by the proprietary website builder you were using. This nightmare scenario can be avoided by opting for WordPress. You can have a full backup of your website files saved to your PC for safe keeping. When you have control over your website files, you are the sole decision-maker regarding its fate. You can rest easy knowing that your hard work, content, and digital assets wont be lost even if your hosting company shut down your website.

Flexibility and Scalability

WordPress offers unparalleled flexibility and scalability compared to proprietary website builders. As your business grows and evolves, you may need to expand your website’s functionality or accommodate increasing traffic. With WordPress, you have access to an extensive library of plugins that can be easily integrated into your website, providing the flexibility to adapt and scale your online presence without any restrictions. You can also have custom created solutions developed specifically for your business needs, ensuring that your website can handle any future growth.

Additionally, WordPress allows you to customise the design and layout of your website to match your brand identity and business goals that may evolve over the years. This level of customisation is crucial for trades and construction related businesses, as it allows you to showcase your work and attract potential clients.

Control and Management

Having control over your WordPress website files means that you have control of your online presence. You are not tied to any particular platform or forced to adhere to restrictive terms and conditions. This level of ownership empowers you to make strategic decisions, implement marketing strategies, and optimize your website for search engines, ensuring that you have full control over your online success.

The benefits of having full control over your website files cannot be overstated. The flexibility, freedom to customise, protection against unexpected shutdowns, safeguarding against deletion, and overall control provided by WordPress offer a level of empowerment that proprietary website builders simply cannot match. By choosing WordPress, you seize control of your digital destiny, securing the future growth and success of your online presence. So, unlock your power and embark on the journey to WordPress with c

Take action now and contact Uplift 360 to discuss how we can help you with your website. Don’t let your business be at risk – reach out to Uplift 360 today and discover the solutions we have in store for you!