If you run a business, chances are you also need to have an online website to maximise your business’s growth. Wix is a popular platform for developing websites and we are sure that you have spotted their ads all around the internet. Influencers commend it as a tremendous tool that takes care of all the intricacies associated with creating a website.
However, that’s not the entire narrative.
For those just starting out with website design, Wix offers an excellent platform.
When it comes to designing a website for a business, however, Wix does not provide a comprehensive solution. Important aspects such as optimising landing pages and niche targeting are not given the attention, they warrant in Wix. At Madhouse, we offer bespoke websites built to last, so keep reading to find out more about the reasons why you shouldn’t use Wix to build your website.
- Giving Your Brand a Low-Cost Appearance
- SEO Restrictions
- Designing a Website is Made Too Easy
- Hidden Expenses
- Transferring your Website
- Service Agreements
- Low-Quality Service
- Online Payments and Selling
- Speed Restrictions
- Security Issues
Giving Your Brand a Low-Cost Appearance
Those looking for a free or low-cost website should turn to Wix, which only permits users to select from a choice of pre-made website layouts. However, the generic design and URL (business-name.wix.com) may give off an unprofessional vibe, leading customers to doubt the legitimacy of your business.
To link your website domain, an extra £4 monthly fee must be paid and if you do not pay an extra £8, your website will be bombarded with Wix’s advertising on your website.
You will also only receive 1GB of bandwidth and 500MB storage space. If 500 visitors go to your website every day and each person views just two pages, you will require a minimum of 30GB of bandwidth.
At some point, you will have to select the Unlimited Package to satisfy your web traffic requirements. The most unfortunate part? Websites powered by Wix are created from existing templates, and your customers will be able to recognise the design easily.
SEO Restrictions
Ahrefs recently compared the SEO capabilities of both Wix and WordPress. The study was conducted on 3.2 million websites built within each platform. The results indicated a significant disparity in organic traffic; 46.1 percent of WordPress sites received a least one hit a month compared to only 1.4 percent of Wix sites.
Comparing website traffic between WordPress and Wix
Even though organic traffic does not necessarily imply that Wix outperforms WordPress, Wix ended up on the losing side when it was discovered that WordPress has more referring domains than Wix.
The SEO capabilities of Wix are significantly limited, let’s look at some of the main reasons below:
- Restrictions on Post URLs. It is not possible to alter the link format of the blog posts at all. Wix always adds a ‘/post/’ prefix to the URL.
- Robots.txt and .htaccess Limitation. It is not possible to make changes to the essential files like Robots.txt and .htaccess for larger websites. The .htaccess file assists in the redirection and quickly corrects canonical URLs.
- Javascript Rendering. When using Wix, the webpages are rendered by JavaScript, which cannot be read by search engines unless it’s rendered. Also, it works only when the user has enabled JavaScript on their browser. This is the main issue with the language used by Wix. It is difficult for a business website to reach its customers when the tool it uses doesn’t allow it. Moreover, due to Javascript, the Wix sites take a long time to load.
Designing a Website is Made Too Easy
The main problem with Wix is that it implies that anyone can easily create a website.
The demand for UX specialists is growing as more and more people and organisations are looking to make their websites more user-friendly and beneficial. UX specialists rely on the User-centred design (UCD) process to come up with solutions that address any issues and heighten user experience. Wix does not offer this kind of approach.
If Wix could meet the given expectations, it would prevent companies from having to invest huge amounts to hire UX specialists and organisations to create sites. All businesses, regardless of size, would likely go for a Wix package. However, the templates given by Wix are not tailored for your final goals, with creativity in mind; they are made quickly and in bulk, to give you more options.
Most small business organisations fail because their websites do not meet their end objectives and generate profits. By using Wix, you are almost guaranteeing the same outcome for your business.
Hidden Expenses
Small users and even some small businesses can take advantage of Wix’s affordability. Starting at a mere £4 per month, even the most expensive premium plans are a relatively low price of £24 monthly. Wix does not explicitly state that all prices are for yearly subscriptions until one scrolls down and will notice the small text indicating,
“Displayed prices are for yearly subscriptions, paid in full at the time of purchase.”
The platform appears to be concealing the cost of its services. Furthermore, when you consider the applications that Wix acquires from outside sources, the total starts to rise.
The Wix app store offers plenty of helpful applications, however, using them can become a drain on your finances. Though Wix advertises itself with a single subscription fee, it doesn’t explicitly state that extra costs won’t be necessary for enhanced website features. This is a common occurrence among online subscription services, but it is important for small businesses to be aware of this potential expense.
Transferring your Website
When managing a website, transferring data can be a daunting task. If something goes wrong, it can be difficult to remedy any issues. Businesses must be mindful of this when using websites, and Wix does not make the process of migrating content easy, intentionally trapping its users on the platform. Unfortunately, if you choose to switch your website’s platform or make any significant changes, Wix will make it very difficult to do so.
To move forward, RSS must be utilised, and each image must be manually saved and then transferred to the Content Management System of your preference. Although a WordPress plugin could automate this process, there is still a risk of diminishing SEO and website traffic.
Service Agreements
It is always important to read and understand the terms and conditions that are associated with any online agreement. As failure to abide by these guidelines may result in the suspension or termination of your account.
Wix provides a beneficial service in that they give secure and free web hosting, which helps you focus on developing your own website. However, you should be aware that they can suspend your account without warning at any given time.
Any slight mistake can quickly ruin your business website, regardless of how long you’ve been a Wix customer. Without having control over the hosting, you are subject to the regulations of the company. A better option is to build a website on WordPress or other open-source software, where you have full power over the site. You can back up your data in cloud-based services, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3, in the event of any misfortune befalling your website.
Low-Quality Service
Quality customer service is an integral part of any business, making customers feel respected and appreciated. Although investing in a good service might involve extra money, it can pay off in the end as customers can be a source of free, positive marketing.
A review of Wix on Trustpilot shows that approximately 64% of the reviews were rated 1-star. An alarming 1402 1-star reviews exist of Wix, indicating that many users have had negative experiences.
Online Payments and Selling
The Wix Payment Gateway for eCommerce has seen numerous negative reviews on Trustpilot. This service facilitates the credit card transactions of a customer’s credit card supplier and establishes a link between the bank and a website.
Wix keeps your earnings on hold for a longer period of time for confirmation, and in some cases, your account may be suspended by Wix where you will receive no payments!
Speed Restrictions
The speed of a site is a major component in its success, as it influences user interaction, search engine rankings, and conversions. However, Wix’s website builder can sometimes be slow to access, which could harm your business in numerous ways.
Users may become frustrated and abandon your website if the speed is slow, which can harm the search engine rankings. Also, slow page loading can be detrimental on mobile devices since most people access websites through them.
Security Issues
Wix takes website security threats seriously and uses industry-standard security protocols to protect customers and their websites. All websites are SSL encrypted, including custom domains, to help protect against cyber-attacks. Despite this, there are certain drawbacks to their website builder. For example, third-party security plugins are not allowed, and security settings may be limited for those seeking more advanced security features.
If you require a website backup on all pricing plans or direct access to server files, then Wix might not be the right choice for you. For users who need more control over their website’s security, other website builders or working with a web developer to create a customised website with improved security features might be beneficial.
Concluding Remarks
All-in-one website builders, like Wix, have made it easier for consumers with limited tech knowledge to make sites in a couple of hours. However, Wix does not meet the criteria that many modern-day small business owners require in terms of price tag, SEO, flexibility, and other requirements. It may be alright for casual bloggers and amateurs, but for business demands, it has some flaws which can’t be overlooked.
We hope you have found this article useful and informative, if you are looking for a website company you can trust, then visit our website today.
