If you’re a service-based business owner looking for a website platform that’s beautiful, strategic, and doesn’t require a computer science degree to edit — you’ve probably stumbled across Showit. But what makes a Showit website different from Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress? And is it really the best option for your business?
As a brand and web designer who has worked with dozens of therapists, creatives, and coaches, I get this question a lot. I’m Jordin Brinn — the designer and strategist behind Unica Formo, and I use Showit exclusively for all of my custom website design and template customization projects. Here’s why — and what makes Showit worth considering if you’re building (or rebuilding) your online presence.
What Is Showit?
Showit is a drag-and-drop website platform that lets you design completely custom layouts — no code required. It’s especially popular with photographers, creatives, therapists, coaches, and service-based business owners who want their websites to look and feel unique — not like a template from 2015.
What makes Showit especially powerful is that it pairs with WordPress for blogging. So you get the best of both worlds: visual design freedom and rock-solid SEO capabilities.
👉 Want to see Showit in action? Explore my custom website projects and my template customization process to see how I make Showit work for real businesses.
Why I Use Showit for My Clients
There are lots of website builders out there. So why do I choose Showit for every single one of my clients?
Because it gives us complete design control, without making the backend overwhelming.
With most website builders, you’re forced to work within a theme or layout. Showit doesn’t work that way. It lets us build pages from the ground up — which means we can design based on your strategy, not a template’s limitations.
For example, if you’re a therapist who needs clear service pages, calming visuals, and built-in inquiry forms, we can design exactly that — with zero compromise. If you’re a coach who runs group programs and needs opt-ins, sales pages, and email integration, we can build those custom flows into your site from the beginning.
And once the site is launched, my clients can confidently update photos, swap text, or publish blog posts without needing me to do it for them (or worrying about breaking the site). I walk every client through their site with a custom video — and every time, they’re surprised by how intuitive Showit is.
Want to understand the full difference between my custom design and template customization options? Check out this post: Custom Website vs. Template Customization: Which One Is Right for You?
Showit vs Squarespace vs Wix vs WordPress
Let’s break down how Showit stacks up against some of the most popular website platforms for small businesses:
Showit vs Squarespace
Squarespace is sleek and user-friendly, but it can feel limiting when it comes to layout design and mobile customization. You’re often stuck within a rigid template structure.
Showit, on the other hand, gives us pixel-level freedom. For my clients, this means:
- No fighting with built-in margins or column widths
- No limitations on typeface size or color
- No guessing how it will look on mobile (Showit lets us fully design mobile separately)
It also means you can add strategically placed CTAs, social proof, or trust-building elements wherever they matter most — not just where a theme allows.
Showit vs Wix
Wix has improved in recent years, but I’ve found its builder to be glitchy, especially when clients try to edit it themselves. Sites can break, spacing can shift, and mobile responsiveness is inconsistent.
With Showit, everything is stable. More importantly, the designs hold their shape — which is crucial when you’ve invested in strategy and brand-aligned visuals. And because you’re not forced into a theme, we can create a truly branded experience that supports your marketing goals.
Showit vs WordPress
Traditional WordPress sites are powerful, but they’re often overkill for small service-based businesses — and they tend to break more easily when plugins or themes update. I’ve had many clients come to me with broken WordPress sites they were afraid to touch.
Showit solves that by handling the visual side of the site, while keeping your blog on WordPress’s proven system. You get the blog functionality without the tech headaches.
Pros and Cons of Using Showit
Here’s a quick breakdown of what you get (and what to keep in mind) with Showit:
✅ Pros:
- 100% custom drag-and-drop design
- No code required
- Separate control over mobile and desktop layouts
- Integrates with WordPress for powerful blogging
- Built-in SEO fields for every page
- Easy to embed third-party tools (HoneyBook, ConvertKit, Thrivecart, etc.)
- Fast, responsive support from a real human (not a chatbot!)
❌ Cons:
- Slight learning curve if you’ve never used a drag-and-drop tool
- Not ideal for full eCommerce websites
- Blog and website are managed in two places (Showit + WordPress), which I walk you through post-launch
Still unsure? This post explains why the blog side of things is worth setting up for SEO — even if it feels like a lot up front.
Is Showit Good for SEO?
Short answer: yes — if you use it well.
Because Showit pairs with WordPress, your blog posts have access to the same SEO power as any traditional WordPress site. And the pages you design in Showit can be optimized with:
- Custom title tags and meta descriptions
- Alt text for all images
- H1/H2 hierarchy
- Fast loading times (if your images are optimized — I teach you how to do that here)
More importantly, Showit gives you full control over how your content is structured — which matters a lot for SEO. Instead of cramming your most important copy into a narrow theme section, we can:
- Place your headline and value proposition above the fold
- Add testimonial carousels mid-page to reduce bounce rate
- Use internal linking to strengthen your topic authority (you’ll notice I’m doing that in this very post!)
For more on SEO basics for therapists, check out my guide: SEO for Therapists: What You Actually Need to Know
What My Showit Clients Say
Every single one of my clients has said the same thing: “This is the first time I’ve actually felt confident using my website.”
Therapists, coaches, photographers, and creatives all love that:
- The site reflects their actual voice and style
- They can log in and update it with ease
- They aren’t locked into a theme or boxed-in template
And because Showit plays nicely with tools like Calendly, Practice Better, and contact forms, we can build a full client journey — from first impression to paid booking — all in one place.
Who Showit Is Best For
Showit is ideal for:
- Creative entrepreneurs
- Therapists and coaches
- Service providers who value personality-driven branding
- Business owners who want a custom site without hiring a developer
I’ve built Showit sites for:
- A multilingual therapy practice with layered cultural messaging
- A nutritionist who needed a custom blog layout to support long-form content
- A photographer who wanted a high-end, editorial look with lightning-fast load times
Because Showit gives us full creative control, each of these sites looked completely different — and completely aligned with each brand.
Ready to Build a Site with Showit?
If you’re feeling inspired to dive into Showit, I offer two ways to help:
- 🎨 Custom Website Design — strategic, from-scratch builds designed around your business goals.
- 🧩 Template Customization — I take a vetted Showit template and customize it for your brand, visuals, and messaging.
Both include strategic planning, SEO foundations, and a personalized walkthrough video so you can confidently update your site long after launch.
📬 Not sure which one you need? Reach out here — I’m happy to point you in the right direction.
Whether you’re starting fresh or leveling up an existing brand, Showit is the most flexible, intuitive, and design-forward platform I’ve found — and I’d love to help you make the most of it.
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