Wix, Wordpress, SquareSpace, Facebook, or...???

Question

I want my rental listings, photos and applications online. Who else is doing this? Which platform do you love and why?

Rachel Stewart · Answer

Hi @Brandon Sok! I do website design as a side gig and I often recommend all in one platforms (like WIX) for something like this. It sounds like you basically want a landing page with some extra call-to-action options such as filling out an application or getting into contact with you. WordPress is good too it's kind of the OG it was originally meant for blogging so sometimes you'll see wordpress sites that look a little too much like a blog. It's not quite as easy as the all in ones, but it's more flexible. The other thing you have to consider is premium themes can start to get $$$.

For reference I can build and set up a full WIX site in about 10 hours complete with testing and email set up and the same thing would take 20-40 hours for the same look and feel on Wordpress.

Both are relatively easy for someone managing their website themselves (adding pictures, changing wording etc.), but I would suggest an all-in one every time to someone without a technical background.

One other note, IMO you want to make sure YOU own your website and any of the ranking SEO work that goes into it. If you choose one and then later decide you want to move platforms, it's possible to port everything over. There are some services out there that make it very hard or impossible to port it over if you decide to change. Ideally, your website is an asset, IP that you own, not a liability that you pay someone else for.

Mark Shaver · Answer

@Brandon Sok, I avoid recommending website builders such as Wix and Squarespace.

@Rachel Stewart was right to point out: "There are some services out there that make it very hard or impossible to port it over if you decide to change. Ideally, your website is an asset, IP that you own, not a liability that you pay someone else for." Unfortunately, website builders like Wix and Squarespace do not allow access to files. A website builder's site cannot be moved over another hosting.

Website download speed

Another important point is the website download speed.

Search engine pages are loaded in a split second. The allowable time to load the business website is 3 seconds. If the load time is more than 3 seconds, visitors begin to leave the site.

Website builders are very slow. They generate a page 30-60 seconds. Only 10-20% of visitors are waiting for the end of the download. If they need to view several pages, the remaining visitors have the impression that the entire business owner of the site is also slow.

SEO loses its meaning for site designers. The first page of the search shows the fastest sites with a load of about 3 seconds. Website builder's sites are shown on the last pages of the issue.

Website builders are great for non-commercial or personal sites. But they are a bit unsuitable for lead generation sites.

Brandon, if your website budget allows you to hire a website professional, use some fast CMS.

Brandon Sok · Answer

Finally circling back to this. Thanks for all the feedback and insight!

All my properties are in a small college town and I only want to advertise to the college and its students/staff. They have classifieds but I want to be able to showcase my properties digitally beyond the classified listing. Zillow and other platforms open me up to lots of calls, emails, and apps that I don't want.

I'll likely go Wix or Squarespace.

John Underwood · Answer

Zillow will do all this. I use it for applications now too.

Todd Snyder · Answer

We post our listings on Facebook and Zillow we get crazy responses fast. We also use Cozy for applications and background/credit checks. You might even be able to put the link to your Cozy application form in your Facebook/Zillow post (not sure, but its got me thinking). This could work great especially if you have upgraded to virtual tours of your property!

Kenny Dahill · Answer

Hi @Brandon Sok.  There are other solutions to building a website for your rental without doing the extra work.  Several landlord software sites create a property page that you can utilize the URL.

Unless you're talking about a bigger property with a lot of units.  And looking to gain an SEO advantage.

I've used WordPress a lot, I built our website.  If you use WP then definitely get the DiviBuilder!  I have heard SquareSpace is easy to get a site up and running, but they don't have the same capacity as WordPress.  But you might not be looking for anything too crazy.

Wix, Wordpress, SquareSpace, Facebook, or...???

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