If you’re building a new website for your business in Berkshire, one of the first decisions you’ll face is choosing a content management system (CMS). The CMS you choose will affect how your site looks, functions, and grows over time. And while there are plenty of options out there — not all of them are created equal.

Here’s a breakdown of the most popular CMS platforms, and why WordPress and Shopify are usually the best choices for most businesses.

WordPress – Best for Standard Business Websites

For most brochure-style websites — think service-based businesses, portfolios, or blogs — WordPress is hands-down the best option.

Why?

• It’s flexible and fully customisable
• Great for SEO with plugins like Yoast or Rank Math
• You own your site and can host it anywhere
• Thousands of themes and plugins
• Ideal for local Berkshire businesses that want to grow long-term

While it does require some technical knowledge or help to set up properly, WordPress gives you full control over your website’s design, functionality, and performance — without being locked into a specific platform.

Shopify – Best for Ecommerce Stores

If you’re launching an online shop, Shopify is the clear winner.

Why Shopify?

• Built specifically for ecommerce
• Simple, clean admin dashboard for managing products and orders
• Secure and fast hosting included
• Integrated payment gateways and checkout
• Scalable, even as your store grows

Unlike WooCommerce (WordPress’s ecommerce plugin), Shopify handles the hosting, security, and updates for you — making it easier for non-technical users.

What About Wix or Squarespace?

Wix and Squarespace may seem appealing at first — they’re heavily advertised and offer drag-and-drop tools. But here’s the reality:

• Limited design flexibility
• Weak SEO capabilities compared to WordPress
• Hard to scale or customise
• You’re locked into their ecosystem — it’s hard to migrate or expand your site later

For Berkshire businesses serious about long-term success, these platforms often become a frustrating limitation.

And what about the new AI website generators?

AI is great, we use it all the time to generate compelling imagery, streamline user journeys and even generating articles like this one. But AI (right now) is only as good as the prompts that are inputted. It acts as a great assistant for you if you know what you are doing, but without a bit of knowledge in what it is you are trying to achieve it doesn’t go that far.

Final Thoughts

If you need a custom-designed website for your business or service, WordPress is the best all-around choice. For ecommerce, Shopify offers a streamlined, powerful solution.

Still unsure which one suits your goals? If you’re in Berkshire and thinking about a new website, get in touch — We’ll help you choose the right platform and build something that works for you, not against you.