WIX versus Wordpress

I bit the bullet for EEA211 Navigating the Visual World and explored Wix as the host for my online journal.

I had a brief dabble with Wix once before, but opted for Wordpress as it seemed more comprehensive.

I not have a number of Wordpress sites, manage a couple more, and have de​​signed one for the local angling club, so I have a fair grasp on the program.

Wordpress and Wix both allow:

• multiple pages

• multiple templates

• a number of ways to add information

• the ability to add documents, pictures and video (free for You Tube, for a fee to upload directly)

• customised colours and backgrounds

Advantages of Wix

• all images in one place regardless of how many sites you have (images can be put into folders)

• ability to change font size easily

• very easy to use for a new user

• Choice of page styles - e.g. gallery, text

• Links open in a new window by default.

• Editing of pages is WYSIWYG - so you can see the result as you edit.

Drawbacks of Wix

• Slow to load sites, slow to load editing tools

• no spell check!

• text is small font by default, with no space between paragraphs. Looks crowded and uninviting.

• Very limited editing tools

• no history to revert to a previous version if you lose work etc.

• a limited number of menu items on the top of the page - the rest all come in under 'more'

• difficult to add, find and edit blog posts.

• Difficult navigation, and options quite limited.

• Saving takes two steps - one to save draft, another to make live. Also extra, unwanted pop-ups with messages and social media inclusions.

• Does not carry formatting from copied word document, or support tables.

• Formatting posts difficult - menu not always accessbile.

• Links need to be added manually.

• some features (e.g. tailoring colours and fonts) only available with premium upgrade

• Images tend to move around the page - after saving - leading to lost time fixing

• Very easy to delete information - without realising it

• Cannot add a picture from URL

Advantages of Wordpress

• a separate allocation of data (3gigabytes for free sites) for each site you manage

• pictures are separate for each site - but can be a drawback if you want to use the same picture in several places

• All media - pictures, documents, video etc. on one place, easily accessed with one button while editing.

• more flexible - e.g. you have access to html code if you wish to use it

• multiple places to put extra information on the one page - via widgets on side bar, header, footer.

• more intuitive for beginning users, and more comprehensive for the more advanced, up to relatively easy tailoring of templates to own use, and devising new ones.

• No hard sell to upgrade.

• Options to add contact forms etc. to pages e.g. The Choral Grapevine Calendar has a form for visitors to add items to the calendar.

• Security features for some operations (via a security code on a mobile phone)

• Ability to invite multiple users at various levels - e.g. editor, administrator

• Reasonably comprehensive set of editing tools.

• Carries over some formating from word processed documents - including tables.

• Easy switch from visual to html editor.

• Statistics available on site usage etc.

• A comprehensive dashboard

• Featured headers available for posts and pages.

• web address (without Wordpress) available for about $20 annually. e.g. http://geelongbybike.com/ and http://cyclinggeelong.com.au/

• Links added automatically when copied from word processor.

• Comprehensive support network for users' problems.

• Photos can be added from elsewhere on the internet.

Drawbacks of Wordpress

• some features (e.g. tailoring colours and fonts) only available with premium upgrade

• links open in same window by default - which means visitors are taken away from the site.

• Some features need more expertise (but there are helpful tutorials, and help sites)

• Pages are edited from the dashboard - you can't see the 'live' page till you preview.