First published: January 8, 2021 @ 6:00 pm
If you are an online business owner, you are probably wondering if your website is a platform or a website. The answer to this question is simple: Your website is a platform for your business; a place to host all your customers.
There are many differences between a website and a platform, but there are also many similarities between the two.
In this article, we will discuss what it means to be a platform or a website and how you use these terms in your business.
First: Let’s Get the Basics
What is a Website?
A “website” is a website for users to visit regularly. In this sense, the term refers to a single site that may or may not have other websites linked to it.
A website can be any website, for example, a social networking site like Facebook, a blog site like WordPress or Tumblr, a news site like CNN or Reuters, an online marketplace like Amazon or eBay, an online dating site like OkCupid or Match.com.
For example, there is a website within this very article on this page – namely, our blog, WorkDeputy, which we designed and managed to provide you with information about startups, business development, and networking, among others.
What is a Platform?
This concept of the “platform” also allows users of these networks to interact with each other easily by sharing links, comments and posts.
We also refer to platforms as “ecosystems” because they allow users to connect with each other and create an environment where businesses or communication can grow.
A “platform” is a term describing a collection of software applications that allow users to create and host websites.
This can include content management systems (like WordPress), blogging platforms (like Blogger), blogging services (like TypePad), e-commerce platforms (like Shopify), and more.
They host the vast majority of platforms on web servers owned by large companies such as Automattic and Amazon, which provide web hosting services for their customers to use.
WordPress, for example, hosts millions of blogs and posts daily. Other examples include Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Pinterest, and others that host millions of websites created by their users.
The term can also apply to a web-based software that allows people or businesses to share information and connect easily with their customers on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.
The reason why companies use platforms is because they allow them to share information quickly and easily without the need for them to develop their own websites.
The Differences Between a Platform and a Website
1. Purpose
A possible difference between a platform and a website is in their business goals. A website’s purpose is usually pretty clear and well defined. You use it as an online store, or an online way for people to communicate with you.
On the other hand, a platform’s purpose may be less obvious and its users or its developers could define it in different ways.
In this sense, a platform’s purpose can be very flexible and adaptable as long as it still fulfills its original function: making content accessible for users on your site (or another site).
2. Static vs. Dynamic
A website can simply a static document, with information that is often equally static.
A platform, on the other hand, allows active users to create dynamics websites. A platform has code that a group of developers constantly updates.
This means that all of the content on a platform is dynamic and changing over time. The content can be changed in many different ways, such as by adding new pages, adding new widgets to the site, changing widgets or pages within a page, adding new features to the site, and more.
3. Web Hosting Requirements
A website does not need web hosting or maintenance. It is possible to run a website that is completely static and does not need web hosting or maintenance.
A website can be hosted on a single computer, on a single computer that has multiple websites running on it, or on multiple computers that are connected together.
For example, many small businesses choose to host their websites on their own personal computers rather than paying for web hosting services.
This allows them to be completely independent of the services provided by the companies that provide web hosting services for other websites.
A platform requires a web hosting service in order to run properly and allow users to create dynamic websites which can be updated over time.
The majority of platforms such as WordPress are hosted by large companies such as Automattic and Amazon who provide web hosting services for their customers to use.
4. Type of Content
A website is content driven. A platform is a more abstract concept that can be used to support content-driven businesses.
A platform will often have a high level of user interaction and engagement, but it won’t necessarily require any sort of quality content to operate.
The main purpose of a website is to create and maintain the information your visitors need to know about your business. The purpose of a platform is to make the relevant content you provide more accessible to your visitors and easier for them to interact with.
Key Takeaways
Both options are viable depending on what you need and what your budget is. If you need a platform to support a content-driven business, then a platform is probably best for you.
In the case you need a website to support your business and allow your potential customers to access it an online store, then a website is probably best for you.
If you are just starting out and have no idea what type of website to build, or what kind of platform to use, then we would recommend choosing one option over the other. That way, you can use your experience and knowledge of both options to choose the right one for your needs.
WorkDeputy is a site that offers insight to business analytics, how to optimize your startup online service, tips to increase the satisfaction of your customers, and many more. Visit us now!
