Thread: WordPress or Squarespace?

I am currently trying to select a platform that will allow me to setup a blog and affiliate store. I have narrowed it down to WordPress or Squarespace. This will be my first website.

I like the open source nature of WordPress and the wide selection of templates available, but given my lack of web expertise, I feel I will be better off with the apparent user friendliness of Squarespace, despite its more limited template selection.

What have been your experiences? What would you recommend to a web newbie like me? Thanks in advance. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Originally Posted by Gymjunkie

WP is not too difficult and very very universal. Use it, you will find plenty info and help on how to use it.

WP was actually my first choice for the reasons you stated. With its popularity, power, open source developers and community support, I noted the wide selection of templates to choose from (both free and paid), many usable third party applications like analytic programs and plenty of community support forums. As I did my research though, it also seemed like WPs strenght was also a weakness. A comment I saw often was that you should be prepared for stuff to break on a regular basis (after an update for example) and you are not sure why. "Quarterly hair pulling" is how one guy described it. I initialy blew these types of comments off, as I like to tinker with stuff. But it did get me to thinking that unless WP has some clear advantages, as a newbie maybe I should pass for now. The cost/benefit thing. But I don't know for sure, maybe I am reading the wrong stuff.

Originally Posted by bflbob

If you're new to website building, take a look at Thirty Day Challenge for some free help. They teach a lot about setting up that first commercial site, and provide links to products that provide free (for a while) services and products.

I started the challenge, I am almost sure it was due to your advocacy of the program in another thread on this forum. I have gone through most of the preseason, and maybe a quarter of the 30 days (I stopped watching the videos and started reading the pdfs after the first day). It was a big part in convincing me that I should give this a try, even with my lack of experience/expertise.