With so many different industries, StoryBrand Guides, and client needs, there are many different platforms that one can choose to build their website on. Some are better than others.
Having built dozens (if not hundreds) of StoryBrand websites ourselves, we want to share some of the best platforms we’ve come across for web design and development.
In this post, we’ll look at several web development platforms you can use to build your StoryBrand website. We’ll also offer some basics about those platforms as well as pros and cons.
Let’s jump in!
WordPress for StoryBrand Websites
Dan Cremons – The Executive Catalyst – came to us in need of a simple yet effective StoryBrand website.
As a consultant and author, he needed an online platform to not only direct users to so they could purchase his services but also a place where he could voice his ideas.
WordPress was certainly the platform for him.
WordPress tends to be the industry standard for StoryBrand websites. Paired with the Divi Builder, this platform provides clients with a beautiful website without a cumbersome backend. It also performs well on search engines.
If you’re looking to build a StoryBrand website, then the first platform we’d recommend is WordPress. We build approximately 90% of our client’s websites on WordPress because it’s flexible, beautiful, and has tons of features.
WordPress doesn’t come without its downsides, however.
Some clients can find the backend intimidating if they’ve never worked with a development platform before.
The Divi Builder and Theme can sometimes add a bit more load time to websites too. So, if you or your team don’t know how to compress images or reduce load speed, then it can hurt your SEO.
WordPress also might not be the best platform for eCommerce businesses. We’ll get into that in a bit but if you run an eCommerce business, you might want to weigh your options.
This platform, however, was perfect for our friend, Dan Cremons.
We were able to successfully design and develop the site to his liking and launch the site.
He was incredibly happy with his site and uses it to sell his services and voice his unique perspective on leadership.
Squarespace for StoryBrand Websites
Annie Glenn of Daffodils from Heaven came to us because she needed to integrate a donation platform into her Squarespace website.
We were able to help her and add a little StoryBrand pizazz to her website.
Although Squarespace isn’t typically our go-to when designing StoryBrand websites, it’s certainly a fine platform if you’re a solopreneur or DIY-er.
Some of the benefits of building your StoryBrand website on Squarespace include:
- Beautiful designs right out of the box
- Search engine optimized
- Ability to customize almost anything with no coding knowledge
So, if you’re looking to get a StoryBrand website live quickly, Squarespace might be a great option for you.
However, we think you should be mindful of these drawbacks:
- The website editor can be confusing if you can’t differentiate between the design and content aspects of your site
- It’s not very conducive to larger websites
- It doesn’t perform that well on Google page speed tests
Again, you will need to weigh the pros and cons of this platform, but if you’ve done that and determined Squarespace is the platform for you, then more power to you!
Since Annie already had her website on Squarespace, we needed to integrate the software with the platform she was currently on.
Despite favoring WordPress, Squarespace was simple to work with and we would recommend it. ????
Shopify for StoryBrand Websites
Our friends at Tie Boss came to us with a unique website challenge. They needed an eCommerce site that they could use to sell across countries. So, different taxes, shipping costs, and different customers.
We were up for it! And we thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to build a StoryBrand website on Shopify.
That’s exactly what we did. ????
Like we said earlier, eCommerce websites sometimes require different platforms because of their unique needs. If you’re an eCommerce website looking to implement the StoryBrand framework, then give Shopify a look. It worked great for Tie Boss!
Some of the positives of working with Shopify include:
- It handles the intricacies of an eCommerce business (taxes, shipping, etc.)
- The end design looks BEAUTIFUL
- Their support center is amazing
But also keep in mind some of the drawbacks from a StoryBrand perspective:
- Design is not as flexible as other platforms
- Emphasis on products instead of copywriting
- It can be ultra-intimidating for clients who are inexperienced with web design/development
Again, you’ll have to be the one to judge if Shopify is the right platform.
But in Tie Boss’ case, it was certainly the right choice. They couldn’t be happier with their new eCommerce site!
Wix for StoryBrand Websites
To be honest, we don’t have a lot of experience designing and developing StoryBrand websites on Wix. It’s not our thing.
But there are a ton of StoryBrand Guides and business owners who choose Wix for their web design needs. Angela Chapman is one of those business owners.
She came to us because she had built her website on Wix and wanted to transition to something a bit heavier (ala WordPress).
We were able to help her out with a redesign and re-development.
So, if you’re a business owner, solopreneur, or DIY-er, Wix might be an excellent choice for you to build your StoryBrand website on.
Here are some pros to keep in mind:
- Automatic site backup so you never lose your content or designs
- Wix uses artificial intelligence to help users create sleek websites
- Extensive library of templates and apps to integrate
Here are some cons to think of as well:
- The pricing tends to be higher when compared with the competition
- Templates don’t allow for a lot of customization
- Websites tend to load a bit slower than the competition
However, if you’ve weighed the pros and cons and decided Wix will work for you, then be our guest and try out the platform!
As long as you’re following the StoryBrand methodology. ????
The Method > The Mode
While the platform you build on does matter quite a bit, you’ll want to also ensure that you’re using a proven methodology when you design your website.
That’s right – we’re talking about StoryBrand.
We’ve seen it repeatedly. A client comes to us with an outdated website or no website at all.
Their website isn’t very appealing to the eye and it doesn’t result in any business. The website is an afterthought. And since the pandemic hit, more business owners are realizing they need a pristine website.
Our ideal outcome for you as a business owner is that you’d have a beautiful website that allows you to feel safe and secure (especially in a pandemic) with your online presence. We also hope that this website would allow you to win in the marketplace and avoid potential setbacks (again, see the pandemic).
How can you do all that? By setting yourself up for success by investing in a StoryBrand website built on the platform of your choosing (although we’d love it if you built it on WordPress ????).
Here’s a review from Claire who had a grand vision for her site but was unsure of the right team to pull it off. She came to us with her business needs and the rest is history.
I was worried about finding a developer who truly would be able to pull off my vision for a newly branded ClaireDiazOrtiz.com. In the end, I was blown away by Agency Boon. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and speed were so impressive.
Claire Diaz-Ortiz, best-selling author
We have tons of reviews like this one, but we wanted to highlight this one because we assume:
- You’ve bought into StoryBrand but haven’t the slightest clue how to bring it to life on your website
- You’re so busy that you simply don’t have time to design and build the website yourself
Claire represents #2 but if either of those is true for you, we can certainly help you out.
Not only did Claire love her new StoryBrand website, but she also signed on to have us maintain it as well!
For busy business owners, we also offer a monthly support package so you can take the stress of maintaining the site off your plate.
Some Final Thoughts
We’ve had the privilege of designing and developing dozens and dozens and dozens of StoryBrand websites. And while we tend to prefer WordPress for designing and developing websites, we’d encourage you to use whatever platform suits your needs and you’re comfortable with.
We’ve observed that that tends to lead to the best results. No need to force a square peg into a round hole.
If you want us to offer feedback on your StoryBrand website, you can submit a request to have one of our Certified StoryBrand Guides give you personalized feedback. No strings attached.
But if you’re further in the process and you want a team of StoryBrand experts to bring your vision to life, speak with our Business Development Manager. His name is Mike and he’s cool and laid back.
Ciao for now.