Showit vs WordPress: Why I Wouldn’t Recommend Showit for Your Food Blogs

I’ve been receiving quite a few messages asking for a Showit version of some of my themes. I have since spent the past month working on converting some of my WordPress themes. Initially, I was all set to make a compatible version of our food blog themes as well, like Scrumptious and Dolce Vita. However, after going deep into Showit’s system and careful consideration, I changed my mind. I realized and firmly believe that self-hosted WordPress is currently the unmatched solution for food blogs, especially for those looking to monetize their content down the line. There’s undeniable evidence why the crème de la crème of food bloggers opt for WordPress over any other platform.

I recognize the unique value and appeal that Showit themes offer to certain users, which is why I decided to use the platform too—just not for bloggers, especially food bloggers. Staying true to my opinions as a web developer and observing things from a technical standpoint, I believe it’s essential to share my genuine perspective on what I think works best for recipe blogs or food blogs, especially those focused on growth and monetization.

Important: Before we continue, please note that this article is mainly for those planning to create a recipe-focused blog, especially with the intention to monetize it through ads. If you have an existing Showit website, like one for a restaurant, F & B services, dietician, etc. and are considering adding recipes as an extra feature, that’s a different topic I will cover in a separate article. The advice given here is mainly focused on recipe-centered blogs.

Do You Really Need a Separate Building Tool for Recipe Blogs?

Showit operates using two separate back end interfaces: a drag-and-drop editor where you build your static pages and your WordPress blog layout, and a WordPress dashboard where you write and manage your blog posts. This separation can be inefficient and not worth the hassle, especially when you mostly only need the WordPress part. Using separate builders can also introduce unnecessary bloat and extra code, which can slow down your site.

A significant reason people are drawn to drag-and-drop building tool is because they make it easy to build static pages exactly as imagined. These tools allow users to quickly put together a site design without touching any code, making it an attractive option for creating visually appealing static pages.

However, for a recipe blog, the main action happens within the post editor rather than on complex static pages. Most of your content will consist of individual posts for each recipe. In this context, the need for a page builder becomes less important. WordPress’s robust post editor is more than enough for crafting detailed recipe posts, complete with images, instructions, and ingredients. The simplicity and efficiency of using just the post editor mean you can focus more on the quality of your content rather than on figuring out a complex page layout.

The WordPress We Know Now Is So Much Different Than the Old Days

Gone are the days when WordPress was all about coding, where you needed to contact your web developer just to move an element on the page. Today, WordPress is much more user-friendly and accessible. With the introduction of the Gutenberg editor, WordPress now uses a semi drag-and-drop system, making it easier for users to design and manage their sites without needing deep technical knowledge. While WordPress isn’t a full “Canva-like” visual builder, the Gutenberg editor allows users to visualize their posts easily without compromising performance, functionality or control.

For example, themes like Kadence let you take advantage of Gutenberg’s features, allowing you to easily move elements to customize your pages. This modern approach means you can create dynamic, visually appealing layouts right within WordPress, without constantly needing a developer’s help. Unlike Showit, which operates with two separate back end interfaces, Gutenberg and Kadence use only one backend and one editor, meaning everything is edited within the same environment. More importantly, the framework is lightweight and doesn’t cause bloat, which is crucial for maintaining fast performance—something that is especially important for running a monetized website where ads need to be displayed efficiently.

Clarifying Common Misconception

Showit’s WordPress and Self-Hosted WordPress Are (Not) the Same

Saying that Showit’s integration with WordPress is the same as self-hosted WordPress is like saying WordPress.com and WordPress.org are the same. They are not. WordPress.org lets you host your own site, giving you full control over customization, functionality, and monetization. However, Showit is a hosted solution that uses WordPress for blogging but doesn’t offer the same level of control and scalability. This difference is crucial for recipe bloggers who need the advanced features and flexibility that only a self-hosted WordPress.org site can provide.

Table of Comparison

Here is a comparison table highlighting the main differences between Showit’s version of WordPress vs self-hosted WordPress:

Why Performance Optimization Matters

Website optimization involves more than just SEO. It includes adherence to best practices, accessibility improvements, and performance optimization as well. Have you ever tried to read a recipe on a website, only to discover it taking ages to load, testing your patience with each passing second? Right. That’s why performance optimization is crucial, especially for recipe blogs and food blogs. When your site loads quickly and operates smoothly, it enhances how users engage with your content, keeping them interested and aiding in better search engine rankings.

To assess your site’s performance and identify areas for enhancement, tools like Google’s Pagespeed Insights can analyze your live website and provide valuable feedback on speed. You can enter the URL of the website you want to check and hit “analyze.” It will then give you reports on your site’s performance and what you can do to improve.

Conclusion

WordPress is not just a page builder; it is a powerful content management system. While Showit offers wonderful design capabilities and drag-and-drop features, when it comes to running a dynamic and potentially large-scale recipe blog, WordPress’s advantages far outweigh those of Showit and similar platforms. The ability to efficiently manage content, along with WordPress’s flexibility for growth and monetization, makes it the superior choice for serious food bloggers.

My decision to stick with WordPress for recipe or food blogs and share this perspective stems from my experiences and technical evaluation. While I recognize Showit’s unique design appeal and value, my commitment remains in guiding fellow bloggers towards the most effective and scalable solutions for their work. WordPress, with its robust content management, scalability, site speed, and monetization capabilities, stands as the best platform for those looking to start or grow their recipe blog. The appeal of easy design options on platforms like Showit is understandable, but the long-term benefits and proven success stories of WordPress for a recipe blog are unmatched.