DIY Websites vs Professional Web Design
Choosing between a DIY website and a professional web designer depends on your budget, skills, and desired outcome.
Pros of DIY Websites
- Cheaper
- More control
- Can learn new skills
Cons of DIY Websites
- Lower quality and may look unprofessional
- Time consuming
- Limited support
Pros of Professional Designers
- High-quality, user-friendly website
- Saves time and effort
- Expertise in SEO and online visibility
- Ongoing support and maintenance
Cons of Professional Designers
- More expensive
- Less control
- May not meet your expectations
- Communicating your vision may be difficult
Deciding Between DIY & Professionals
So, you’re thinking about creating a brand-new website for your business. This is a massive step in the right direction if you want an online presence and to boost your visibility for potential customers. But the big question is: do you do it yourself or hire professional web designers to do it for you?
With so many website builders available, we would not be surprised if you wanted to do it yourself. However, there is no right or wrong answer to deciding whether you should DIY your own website or hire a professional. This decision is entirely yours to make and will depend on what your business needs.
Hiring Professional Web Designers
Why should you consider hiring a web designer? Below are some key benefits, as well as disadvantages, of hiring professional website designers. If you have decided to take the plunge and opt for a professional, feel free to check out our blog posts: What Are the Different Types of Web Designers?, Hiring a Web Designer: Reasons to Choose & Common Mistakes to Avoid, and Finding a Website Designer for Your Trades Business.
Benefits of Professional Web Designers
Saves You Time and Effort
Hiring professional web designers will save you countless hours and energy (and maybe a few tears!) that would otherwise be spent grappling with the complexities of website design. This allows you to channel your efforts into your work and manage your business while they create a tailored and effective website for you.
Experts in Web Design
Professional website designers are highly skilled and experienced in web design and can efficiently create a high-quality, professional-looking website. You can rely on their expertise to deliver a user-friendly and easy-to-navigate website, giving you peace of mind and assurance that your online presence is in good hands.
Additionally, they can design a truly unique website tailored specifically to your business, ensuring your brand stands out from the competition. They can also add special features and plug-ins, such as widgets for your reviews or quotation tools.
Enhanced Visibility & SEO
Furthermore, their proficiency in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) can significantly enhance your online visibility, aiding in the growth of your business and potentially leading to your website appearing on the first page of search engine results. Without SEO, your website might as well be a house without an address, and no one will be able to find you.
With their expertise and skills, they can allow your website to stand out from your competitors while effectively conveying your services, products, and branding.
Ongoing Support & Maintenance
What’s more, if something goes wrong with your website (which seems inevitable with modern technology!), you’ll have the support of professionals to update your website, ensuring it remains fully functional. Plus, you won’t have to worry about the frustration of encountering a “404 Error – Page Not Found” and not knowing how to fix it!
Disadvantages of Professional Web Designers
On the other hand, when hiring professional web designers, it’ll come as no surprise that they are more expensive than doing it yourself. If you can’t afford their prices, there’s no point in putting your business into debt that you can’t keep on top of – end of discussion. Want to learn more about the costs of a website? Check out our guide: How Much Does a Trades Website Cost?
In addition, you might have a vision for your website, but if you struggle to effectively communicate what you want, you may be left feeling disappointed if they haven’t hit the brief you were hoping for. They’ll also be working for other people, so if you have a tight timeframe in mind, they may not hit your desired deadline.
Building a Website Yourself
If you’re feeling brave and want to build your own website, there are plenty of advantages to doing so. However, there are also a few pitfalls to look out for. If you would like some tips and tricks for creating an exceptional website, feel free to check out our guide on What Makes a Good Website for Small Businesses & Trades.
Advantages of DIYing Your Website
Suitable for Low Budgets
The biggest advantage of DIYing your own website is the cost savings involved. Whilst you’ll still have to pay for hosting, your domain name, the website builder, and a content management system, it is significantly cheaper for you to build your website yourself. If your business doesn’t have the budget to hire professional web designers, it makes complete sense to do it in your own time.
On Your Terms
By building a website yourself, you don’t have to worry about miscommunicating your design ideas or expectations. You can have complete control over everything without relying on anyone else to fit your timeline. Additionally, you’ll be able to fully customise your website to exactly how you would like it, from the colours to the font to the design layout. This is a great way to get your creativity flowing! You can also pick from a range of templates to help you along the way.
Pitfalls of DIY Websites
Lack of Quality
Unfortunately, it goes without saying that professional web designers know what they are doing, and there is fine art in creating a beautifully functional, easy-to-use, and top-quality website. You might not have the levels of skills, expertise or tools required to design a stand-out website. With a DIY site, your website could easily just look like everyone else’s, and your potential clients won’t differentiate you from your competition.
There may be numerous aspects that you might not even be aware of, such as site loading speeds, website architecture, Schema.org text (to help Google understand your pages and posts more easily), Conversion Rate Optimisation (to maximise enquiries or sales), on-page, off-page and technical Search Engine Optimisation, etc.
Time Commitment
The old saying “time is money” rings true when it comes to building a new website yourself. It can be very time-consuming, especially if you are unfamiliar with the process. How much time are you willing to spend?
If you are busy running your business, you might not have the time or energy to spend hours creating a website that meets your needs. Additionally, it could take a while to learn how to use a complex website builder, especially if you want to make unique customisations or add-ons.
Minimal Support
If something goes wrong with your website, you won’t have anyone there to help get it back up and running. Some website builders have a support line, but you may be waiting a while, and they may charge you! The longer your website is down, the fewer potential customers visit your website, and you won’t be generating any leads or revenue.
Need a Professional Website for Your Business?
If you are looking for professional web designers, the Web Design and SEO Company can help you with your needs. Or, if you want or need to do it yourself, that’s fine and we wish you all the best for the future. This decision is entirely yours to make. We often encounter clients who have attempted to build a website themselves (or a family member or friend has helped out) but then, later down the line, decided it wasn’t for them or found that it was more complicated than they expected!
Contact Us
At the Web Design and SEO Company, we specialise in providing New Websites and SEO Services for tradespeople and service-related businesses. Feel free to contact us for a free quote or to request a callback at your convenience. You can also reach out to us via email. We will gladly assist you with your professional website and SEO needs. In addition, we offer payment plans for new websites.