We are initiating a three-part blog series that will undertake a comparative analysis of HubSpot CMS and WordPress, examining the pros and cons of each, with the ultimate goal of determining which platform may be the optimal choice for you and your organization.
What is a CMS?
HubSpot CMS and WordPress are popular content management systems (CMS) used by businesses and organizations to create and manage their websites. Both platforms offer a wide range of features, but there are some key differences that make HubSpot CMS the better option for many users.
When it comes to website creation, both HubSpot CMS and WordPress offer a variety of design templates and customization options to choose from.
In short, a CMS is a tool used to house, manage, organize, and display your website content and pages in a user-friendly way, ideally without the need of a developer every time you want to make a change.
Website Development and Design
HubSpot
HubSpot CMS offers an array of inbound marketing-specific themes, templates, and design elements that can be used to quickly and easily to create professional-looking websites.
The HubSpot Asset Marketplace is filled with free and paid website themes and templates that can be used right out of the box, in the HubSpot CMS drag-and-drop editor, without needing a developer. Themes contain all the page templates, features, and settings you need to build and customize an entire website, which can save businesses significant time and effort. We even have several themes that we've developed available in the marketplace. Check them out here: Cell Theme, Drop Theme, Buzz Theme.
One of the main advantages of HubSpot CMS is its integration with HubSpot's suite of marketing, sales, service, and operations tools. This allows businesses to seamlessly manage their website, lead generation, email marketing, and customer service all in one place.
WordPress
In contrast, WordPress is more of a general-purpose CMS. With WordPress, you can create text-based content, but if you need additional layout changes, it requires additional resources or templates. Features like A/B testing or live chat require plugins or additional subscriptions.
These additional costs can add up quickly if you want to ensure your website has the functionality you need. Many of WordPress's design and template options require more technical expertise. This can be a significant disadvantage for businesses and organizations that do not have an in-house developer or do not want to invest in hiring one.
Website Management
A website isn't a one-time build, and it's done. Traffic will die off the way prehistoric dinosaurs did if you don't make continual updates based on analytics and customer needs. When it comes to website management, both HubSpot CMS and WordPress offer a variety of options.
HubSpot
HubSpot CMS offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface that makes it easy to manage website content, design, and analytics. With HubSpot, businesses can easily create, publish, and update website pages, blog posts, and landing pages, all while tracking website visitors, leads, and conversions. HubSpot's analytics tools provide valuable insights into how visitors interact with a website through dashboards and reports that are easily accessible and have the ability to talk to each other to provide an accurate, detailed analysis of your website analytics. Improving the overall user experience with data-driven decisions will supercharge your marketing strategy and boost conversion rates.
WordPress
In contrast, WordPress requires more technical expertise, making it harder for businesses to manage their website effectively. WordPress does not offer the same level of integration with other marketing and sales tools as HubSpot CMS, making it more time-consuming and difficult for businesses to manage their website and marketing efforts. Some versions of WordPress offer limited reporting on website traffic. This requires additional paid tools that are managed separately. Data is housed in different technologies, requiring extra work to bring the data together for comparison.
Customer Service and Support
It's inevitable when working with digital technology that eventually you're going to hit a roadblock. If you haven't ever had to contact customer support, consider yourself an anomaly. The level and quality of customer service can often be a deciding factor when deciding on your tech stack.
HubSpot
Another area where HubSpot CMS excels is in its customer service and support. The platform offers a wide range of resources, including a knowledge base, a user community, an online academy, and a dedicated support team. This makes it easy to find answers to any questions that may arise while using the platform. HubSpot's customer service team is available 24/7, so businesses can get help whenever needed. If you are ambitious and like to find answers on your own, HubSpot Academy is free and provides a deep dive into all the hubs and inbound marketing concepts, easily accessible right from your HubSpot portal. The courses are taught by HubSpot Academy Professors who are experts in everything HubSpot and inbound marketing related. You don't have to be a subscriber to take advantage of many of the certifications and lessons.
WordPress
In contrast, WordPress has a large community of users and developers, but the support options are limited. The WordPress community offers many resources and tutorials, but businesses may have to rely on third-party developers for more advanced support. The WordPress community support is not as organized as HubSpot's, making it harder for businesses to find the answers they need. WordPress offers a scant four online intro courses and points you to their support site for documentation on questions about the platform. Their courses are also free, but leave a lot to be desired if you want to learn about anything.
Inbound Marketing Focus
Another major benefit of HubSpot CMS is its in-depth focus on inbound marketing. The platform includes built-in SEO tools, analytics, and lead generation forms that make it easy to attract, convert, and close leads. HubSpot's SEO tools are designed to help businesses optimize their website for search engines and improve their search engine rankings. Businesses can also create and publish blog posts, landing pages, and other high-value content pieces that can be used to attract and convert leads.
Both HubSpot CMS and WordPress are powerful content management systems that offer a wide range of features and customization options. However, HubSpot CMS is the better choice for businesses and organizations focused on the inbound marketing methodology. The platform is specifically designed to help businesses attract, convert, and close leads. Its integration with the rest of the HubSpot platform, as well as its robust customer service and support, make it a more attractive option than WordPress for many organizations.
While WordPress is a powerful platform that can be used for a variety of purposes, it is not as well-suited to businesses and organizations that are focused on inbound marketing and require a more user-friendly and intuitive platform.
To learn more about which platform is right for your business, check out these resources!
Stay tuned for part II, where we take a deep dive into the code stacks of HubSpot and WordPress. Subscribe below to our sales and marketing insights, so you don't miss it!
