Why I changed to Squarespace from Wordpress: DEFYING guru advice!
chapters:
mini intro to WP
Wordpress for blogging
why the change?
Squarespace + do I recommend?
Just so you girls can quickly know where I started with my Blog here at in her Full Effect, I started my Blog on Wordpress (.org - more on that in first chapter!) back in April of 2024 as a complete BEGINNER, learning on my own and starting from scratch.
Since then, I have stayed with Wordpress.org, BUT made a smart decision (I believe) to change to Squarespace at the start of this year, 2025!
I go into why, the balance I have experienced of both platforms: Wordpress vs Squarespace, and what I would advise for other fellow blogger girlies; beginner or not!
mini intro to WP
WP : just code for Wordpress.
Wordpress is a blogging platform; and there are 2 versions:
Pretty much ALL bloggers recommend Wordpress.org as the superior platform, to blog on, since it is the one that allows you TO SELF-HOST, which is ESSENTIAL for you to have OWNERSHIP over your website.
For those of you girlies who, this is a complete foreign concept for, if you are still very new to the blogging world: for blogging, it is strongly advised (and is what I currently do) to:
self-host. This is your domain, and is what gives you ownership over your website domain name, for example: “inherfulleffect.com” is mine. I use Bluehost (blog post on this here!).
+ use a blogging platform. This is like the house for your self-hosted domain (website identity), it is the SPACE that allows you to create the content, and share your value through blogging, and generally have your brand be seen ONLINE. I started by using Wordpress.org, and now I am on Squarespace! These are the PLATFORMS.
Now that I have briefed you on Wordpress.org, and the basic fundamentals of blogging, let’s go onto how I personally found blogging on Wordpress.org to be like.
Wordpress for blogging
OVERALL, I spent a full 8 months blogging on Wordpress.org (yes, NOT consistent the whole time, but it was a long-enough period to get a good gist of how I felt about blogging on this platform).
From April 2024 to December 2024, to be more specific.
In that time, I have had my own learning path with the platform, finding some things hard, as any other beginner who doesn’t know what-to-do or how-to-do, BUT ALSO finding it very stimulating to take initiative and figure everything out myself, in something I personally am very PASSIONATE and dedicated to making my full-time business!
This to say that, like everyone, there will be some level of difficulty with any platform, and specially at the start with the resistance and fear that might come up with anything that is new, and that you care about.
HOWEVER, there were things with Wordpress.org that I JUST COULD.
NOT.
GET.
MY.
HEAD.
AROUND… !!!
And, I don’t mean it in a “I don’t understand how to use it” kind-of way.
I mean it in a “how are so many bloggers recommending Wordpress.org when it feels so outdated, technical and non-user-friendly?!”
My mind immediately started problem-solving, and thinking that there must be a MORE MODERN platform I could use, that could even level-up my blogging game!
At the end of the day, we want to develop in our skills and strategies as successful bloggers, and entrepreneurs, but also NEED our tools to work in OUR FAVOUR.
Otherwise, it will just take-away from our time-efficiency, patience and general progress in our blog business. WHICH IS NOT AN OPTION, specially when you are set-out on monetising your blog in 2025, like me!
I repeatedly mention, in my content across my blog posts, the CRUCIALITY of making smart choices.
THIS ONE?
Felt like an obvious and necessary one for me!
As you can see, I’d say my experience blogging on Wordpress.org wasn’t the WORST, but it was holding me back for the BIGGER GOALS and growth plan I had for my Blog!
At the end of those 8 months blogging with Wordpress.org, I came to the conclusion that I would need to change my blogging platform AWAY FROM Wordpress.org, if I wanted to do better with my Blog; I just didn’t know where-to YET.
why the change?
To SPECIFICALLY explain why, I condensed it to 3 main reasons I stopped blogging on Wordpress.org:
the platform felt too outdated : the dashboard is FILLED with all these tabs, that look very non-modernised and overwhelming to navigate - 8 months of blogging and I didn’t need MOST of the tools on the platform. For some: great, for me: too much for what I NEEDED for my blog.
Given the range of tools and platforms we have at our disposal online, I refused to believe Wordpress.org was the ONLY way of making blogging a profitable and successful online brand and business.
it was too technical to manage : as a Blogger, I know we must wear different hats, and therefore learn various skills to run an online business that is a Blog. However, there are LIMITS!
I feel like, FOR ME, even though I got to a point where I could smoothly use WP for what I needed, it was too time-consuming to manage the technical glitches or back-end logistics of getting certain elements of posts formatted.
just not AESTHETIC! : not everyone will think this is a priority, and therefore not a main reason. And, trust me, I was the SAME! But I no longer think that way; HERE’S WHY:
Of course content quality is the NUMBER 1 priority for my blog, but to have at least a NICE-LOOKING aesthetic to me is now a minimum requirement. I mean, why am I working so hard to produce amazing quality content when my blog aesthetic gives off an unreliable and dodgy impression? Your community will not feel attracted to stay on your website for AS long, or be AS interested.
Some type of presentable aesthetic is important in creating a trustworthy, and good impression of someone who cares about the Blog’s brand image.
In other words, these were the 3 CONS I found in using WP for blogging.
To be COMPLETELY transparent, the ONE GOOD THING I did like (the one PRO) about Wordpress.org is the plugins feature.
For pretty much anything you want, you can get a plugin; such as social media interactions, use of GIFs, website security, legal policies, compliance policies, and so on!
But the DOWNSIDE of this feature goes back to CON #2. Managing the technical side of plugins was too time-consuming, since you have to constantly make sure plugins are updated regularly, not have any issues, be the most reliable version available, and so on. THAT was the reason that led me to writing the following blog post:
how to fix Wordpress blog problems (beginner blogger common problems)
All these elements really add-up and was taking away from my time on truly focusing on becoming better at the blogging CONTENT, the blogging BUSINESS and time that I could be investing in the LEARNING of blogging growth.
Clearly, in my experience, Wordpress is a platform that was NOT working in my favour.
If the platform is not HELPING me advance in my blogging journey, then it is only HINDERING my strategy in elevating my blog business to something truly amazing to share with the world!
With this being said, I HAD to look for a new blogging platform to align with my greater blogging needs and ultimate blogging goal of 2025; by prioritising a platform that promotes increased time efficiency and availability for me to funnel my creativity and mental focus into my content and nurturing a community here!
That is WHY THE CHANGE.
That CHOICE for me was Squarespace.
Squarespace + do I recommend?
Why Squarespace?
Well, from my previous ventures in online businesses, I had dabbled with blogging VERY temporarily, when it came to a complete different niche and path. ALL on that in the blog post I wrote about:
EXPOSING my hall of 'failures'🏆: side-hustle edition
In short, I had used Squarespace to start a Blog a few years back, and I just remember it FEELING so effortless, smooth, aesthetic, and relatively easy to grasp, given that I had A LOT LESS experience and knowledge back then, than I did now.
I guess it’s that typical scenario (like anything in life) that if you feel like you are having to force it, it probably ISN’T for you…That’s what it felt like, blogging on Wordpress.
FOR THAT REASON, I decided to give Squarespace a shot again, and I have not regretted it since!
I have NOW been on Squarespace for a few months, since January 2025!
And I couldn’t be HAPPIER with making such a vital decision that would UPLIFT my blogging game!
As you might predict by now, my answer is VERY OBVIOUS, to the question of “do I recommend Squarespace for blogging?” :
YES I MOST DEFINITELY DO.
Beginner, OR NOT, I truly believe that Squarespace offers the BEST OF BOTH worlds to any blogger who wants to take their blog to the next level; monetise, grow, and become their full-time career, whilst keeping it simple and not too technical (but still including all the necessary features to grow and scale your Blog)!
Not to make it sound like a romantic speech (ahaha), but Squarespace is EVERYTHING that WP is not.
modern dashboard
easy to navigate
and aesthetic!
Of course, for full transparency once again, with Squarespace I do pay a monthly fee (of around £20 per month), which with Wordpress you don’t have to because it’s free.
HOWEVER, I did end up paying more with Wordpress because I bought a theme and then paid for Elementor Pro to supply me that theme, to have a somewhat presentable aesthetic (I wrote about these blogging expenses with WP in the blog post here!).
So:
Even though the platform of Wordpress.org is free, I still paid in other ways to compensate for the LACK OF, with Wordpress.
It’s an individual choice we all need to make as bloggers, figuring it out on our own, but FOR ME, I am happier paying an affordable monthly fee with Squarespace, but GETTING THE VALUE I need and want DIRECTLY from the platform that is Squarespace.
I share my thought process above with making decisions like these, for my blog business, so it can help give YOU some clarity in some aspects of your blogging business that you may have not considered or weighed out before - whether it’s the front-end LOOKS of your blog or the back-end GRIND and progress in the constant showing up for your blog - so I hope that helps!
As you can see, it wasn’t a TOTAL LEAP of faith moving to Squarespace, since I had some idea it would work out better for me, but it was more than WORTH IT.
My experience blogging on Squarespace, in a nutshell, so far:
I have had no problems or technical issues to try manage myself on the platform or dashboard
I have had MORE TIME to CREATE; to dedicate to my blogging content, and improving the website branding
I have quick customer service replies if I ever need, from Squarespace support team
There are super cool integrated features like email marketing, which I am very excited about! (and is a good move for any blogger at some point in their journeys)
I customised my blog aesthetic EXACTLY to how I wanted it, and am super proud of how it is currently branded (all in one day / two or so hours in-all)
The SEO is very easy to manage (which is important to boost our blog’s organic traffic!)
It’s been a much EASIER experience to blog on Squarespace
Of course, one question you MIGHT have, and I know I did, was:
“Will my chances of monetising reduce if I don’t use Wordpress for blogging?” or “can I still make money blogging as easily if I am NOT on Wordpress?”
This is all because online GURUS will have you thinking you HAVE to be on Wordpress.org, blogging, if you want to make money or make your blog a successful online business.
But, this is ONLY BECAUSE most bloggers who we read about started a decade-plus ago, where there weren’t as many options in platforms, but also since it is free and allows for self-hosted domain.
HOWEVER, you can get all of this and MORE from other platforms, such as Squarespace, that will actually facilitate and LEVEL-UP our blogging brand!
I just HAD to quickly answer that dilemma that might have you feel scared to venture away from Wordpress, with blogging, but honestly, monetising your Blog is all about having quality content and good SEO so that Google can rank you, which Wordpress is not the only option for!
FEEL FREE to do your own research, and assess what best suits your own unique blogging goals and ideals, and if anything, just know Squarespace is one I recommend and you could check-out if you like the sounds of what you’ve read so far!
♡
I’m sure there will be more:
updates of my blogging journey,
changes,
new lessons learnt,
and decisions made to constantly keep elevating the style and quality of my Blog brand
as I evolve as a Blogger, and woman, in the process.
You will be KNOWING IT ALL to the very detail, as I will be sharing my every step of the journey with you girlies!
A very blogger-intensive post, this one was, but I hope it was as packed with value and tips, as humanly possible!
And as always, before we go, our mantra…
Own your Womanhood. Own your Time.
♡
I’ll be logging updates throughout this whole journey as a mother-to-be, working to be an entrepreneur, but to also still preserve the girlhood within, to try and be her best self, and live her happiest life, so keep-up with me through the blog!
I release a new blog post every Friday at 1pm! (UK-time)
Let me know if you’re in a similar headspace (pregnant or not), being in our 20s is confusing, and taking control of our story is the only way we can take ownership of our happiness and live out our dream life.
I document my unwanted pregnancy journey at 25, taking control of my narrative, figuring out being a girl in my 20s, chasing my dream life, and conquering my boss babe dream of becoming a self-employed, entrepreneur / Blogger!
