What platform is right for your ecommerce business, service or blog? Depending on your business, the CMS system you choose will differ.

Shopify

Shopify is great for ecommerce businesses. We have worked with multiple businesses from skincare to used-medical equipment, and Shopify templates are easy to apply to any online store. They have intricate inventory management systems as well as multiple payment providers and shipping options for both domestic and international customers. Shopify provides shop owners with the ability to add apps, many of which are free, while others require a monthly fee. Popular apps include those that focus on email marketing, language translation and inventory management.

WordPress

WordPress has over 35% of the market share. It's a platform that emphasizes Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Built-in SEO features make it great for blogs. Adding copy helps raise your blog and/or website in Google rankings. WordPress also has a built-in Search Engine Management (SEM) feature that makes it easy to tag and categorize articles, making site search very user friendly.

Squarespace

Squarespace is a bit of a hybrid of both Shopify and WordPress, featuring both online stores and blogs. But the best feature is the visually focused templates that emphasize great photography, making it perfect for creative portfolios. Squarespace caters to creative businesses such as restaurants, fashion designers and photographers.

When choosing a CMS system, it's important to consider how helpful and friendly the customer service department is. Both Shopify and Squarespace offer 24/7 support, which comes in handy for online stores that have customers shopping at all times of the day or night. But I must say Shopify customer service is exemplary. Shopify experts are very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. It is always a joy to communicate with them. They are also very thorough, even sending follow-up emails. Most importantly, they are the only CMS platform that offers phone support. One amazing thing about SquareSpace is their round-the-clock IT. Not only are they always available, they are also very detailed in their responses, which makes it easy to follow and update. Unfortunately, WordPress customer service is not as helpful as Squarespace and Shopify. You almost have to teach yourself as you go.

Each platform has pros and cons. Ultimately, we assist our clients in choosing the right platform for their long and short-term business goals. The digital landscape is always evolving. At The Hyacinth Group, we help our clients succeed in the wake of the digital evolution, teaching them to incorporate the latest innovation and technology throughout.