Choosing a platform before hiring a web designer - pros & cons
How your platform choice can shape your site's growth, design freedom, and ease of use.
You’ve decided it’s time for a new website.
Maybe you’ve been scrolling through templates late at night, trying out free trials, or feeling that pull towards finally giving your business the online home it deserves.
It’s tempting to jump straight in - to choose a platform, subscribe, and start tinkering.
But here’s the quiet truth: the platform you choose now will shape how your website works, feels, and grows for years to come.
I’ve had countless first calls with clients that start with, “So, I’ve already signed up for…” Sometimes it’s a dream fit. Other times, I can hear the hesitation in their voice before they even tell me the platform name.
Why Your Website Platform Matters
Your website platform isn’t just where your site “lives”.
It’s the frame, the foundation, and the scaffolding all at once. It determines how easily your vision can take shape, and how effortlessly it can evolve.
It affects:
Functionality: e-commerce, booking systems, memberships, integrations
Accessibility: how easily people can navigate and use your site
Scalability: whether it can grow alongside your business
Ease of use: for you, your team, and anyone making updates
Support: who you can turn to when you need help
Choosing without guidance is a bit like picking the frame before you know what the painting will look like. It might work beautifully, or it might limit what you can create.
The Emotional Side of Choosing Too Soon
The right platform feels like a home you can’t wait to invite people into. Light-filled, functional, and fully yours.
“The wrong platform can feel like a house with doors that won’t open.
The right one? A place you’re proud to grow in.”
The wrong one can feel like moving into a house with rooms you’ll never use and doors that won’t open.
I’ve seen both. And while I can always work with what’s there, I want my clients to start with a foundation that feels aligned, not one that makes the journey harder than it needs to be.
The Pros of Choosing Before You Hire a Designer
Speed: You can start experimenting right away
Familiarity: You might already know a platform from past projects
Control: You feel ownership over the decision
For some business owners, these are genuine benefits, especially if you’re tech-confident and have a clear sense of your site’s needs.
The Cons of Choosing Too Soon
Limited options: You might miss a platform that’s better suited to your goals
Extra costs: Switching later means paying twice (in time and money)
Design constraints: Some platforms make certain features harder or impossible to achieve
In truth, only a few clients I’ve worked with so far have come to me without a platform already chosen. It’s common, and it’s never “wrong”. It simply means we start by meeting your website where it is, and shaping it into what it can be.
One client had been wrestling with WordPress for months - plugins, updates, and layouts that never looked quite right - before I moved them to NZ based web platform Rocketspark for a simpler, more intuitive design and user experience. Another had committed to a platform during a trial period, only to realise later that her business needed features that a platform couldn’t offer longer term.
Backend of the Wordpress User-Interface
Backend of the Rocketspark User-Interface
My Honest Take on Squarespace, Wix & Rocketspark
When I choose a platform for a client, I don’t start with what’s trendy. I start with their business rhythms, their future plans, and how hands-on (or hands-off) they want to be with their site.
A Better Way to Choose
Before you commit to a platform it is important to:
Clarify your needs – do you need e-commerce? memberships? bookings?
Think long-term – what will you need your site to do for you a year from now?
Ask for guidance – a designer can match you with a platform that supports both your current vision and future growth.
Before you commit, ask yourself: Will this platform still feel like a good fit when my business grows?
If you’re not sure, that’s the perfect time to reach out.
Final Thoughts
Every platform has its strengths and limitations. The key is aligning those with your business goals and the way you like to work.
That’s where a thoughtful, collaborative process can make all the difference.
I’m always happy to work with the platform you’ve chosen, and equally happy to guide you toward the one that will serve you best.
Even if you’ve already subscribed to something, we can work with it. Let’s talk about where you are now and where you’d like your site to take you, and we’ll make sure the path is clear.
If you’re wondering whether Squarespace, Wix, or Rocketspark is right for you, let’s explore together.
We’ll look at your needs, your vision, and the story you want your website to tell… before you commit to the frame.
Ready to feel confident in your choice of platform?
Send me a message to book your a free platform planning session with me here, so your website’s foundation is beautifully built to grow with you.
