What do all business owners, entrepreneurs, bloggers and start-ups have in common?
They’ve all asked themselves the very same question: “Should I try to build my own website or should I hire a professional?”
While a website is an essential part of any business, it's only a single piece of the puzzle. If you want to build lasting relationships with your customers, you must create a stack of services that makes it easier for them to choose your business.
Many successful businesses use Customer Relationship Management systems like GrowthStack CRM to help them automate most, if not all, of their marketing efforts.
Whether you build your website on your own or hire a professional, remember the bigger picture. Building a stack of services that work together seamlessly is the key to a successful business.
I think it is extremely important to fully flesh out the pros and cons of this decision before hiring a designer/developer or tackling it solo.
Here are a few pros and cons you should take into consideration when designing a website.
Designing Your Own Website Vs. Hiring A Professional
Pros of Hiring a Pro:
1. They know what they are doing.
This isn’t their first rodeo. They know best practices, what needs to be done, how best to do it and what they need from you to be successful. Design agencies have extensive experience creating websites for all kinds of businesses.
They possess the expertise and experience needed to create a website that aligns perfectly with your vision and brand identity. Their knowledge of the latest design trends, coding languages, and user experience principles ensures that your website will not only look visually appealing but also function seamlessly.
They may also specialize in web platforms such as HubSpot, Wordpress, Wix, SquareSpace, and Shopify. This means they'll be able to set your site up right and ensure everything works the way it should be. And if something goes wrong, they'll be the ones contacting tech support, not you.
2. They have access to the tools, software and information necessary to do a good job.
A professional already has everything they need to build an amazing website.
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They have a website builder already purchased and downloaded to their computer.
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They have access to the site builders to create the graphics, illustrations and imagery necessary to make your site look professional.
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They have access to an array of people with different skill sets to make sure EVERYTHING on your site is up to snuff (content, SEO, analytics/reporting, development, etc.).
They also have a team of experts under their belt. As a result, they will be able to deal with problems more quickly and finish your project at a faster rate than you might be able to on your own.
3. The final product is going to be A+ (if you pick the right pro).
As long as you vet out and choose the right professional to do the job for you, the final product you receive is going to be on another level! No one will go to your website and think, “Hmm, looks like they built this themselves.” Which, let’s be honest, even in a world of DIY, no one wants something to look DIY.
4. It will save you a lot of time.
Building website from scratch can be a time-consuming process, especially if you lack technical skills. Moreover, professionals can guide you through the web hosting and domain registration process, ensuring that your site is accessible online with a custom domain. This is crucial, especially if you plan to sell online, as a polished and user-friendly website can significantly impact your online sales and overall success.
Cons of Hiring a Pro:
1. It’s not going to be free.
Hiring a professional is going to cost money. What you have to decide is if the money you pay is worth the value of a great-looking, functional website your customers will love. Some agencies charge more than others, but as a rule, agency that offer $100 for a fully built website are probably not going to provide you with the same quality and functionality as an agency that charges $3,000-$5,000.
2. It depends on external expertise for updates.
A true professional wants to create a professional website for your business. When you hire a professional to design your website, you may need to rely on their expertise for future updates and modifications. If you want to make simple changes to your website's content or layout, you might have to contact the web designer or agency, causing delays in implementing timely updates.
In contrast, using user-friendly website builders with drag and drop interface empowers you to make these changes yourself, ensuring you have greater autonomy over your site's content and design. Moreover, search engines reward websites that frequently update their content, and having the ability to do it swiftly with SEO tools directly impacts your site's visibility in search engine results.
3. You’ll have to weigh your options.
A big con of hiring a pro is that a lot of pros are cons. Not everyone who says they are a web designer actually knows what they are doing or has the skills and experience needed to do a good job.
Make sure you research them, ask for references, and look through their portfolio of work before getting started. Have an in-depth conversation with them to make sure their values align with yours and that the relationship will last. It’s also a good idea to ensure you have an agreement letter or a contract with a list of expectations before beginning a project with any contract worker.
Check out these tips for maintaining healthy relationships with your contract designers
4. You have limited control over the project.
While they are experts in their field, they may not fully understand your vision or the unique needs of your business. This could lead to a lack of customization and flexibility in the design, preventing you from incorporating specific elements that align with your brand identity.
For instance, you might prefer to integrate specific integrated marketing tools or have a particular layout in mind for your own online store. A hired professional may not be able to execute these ideas exactly as you envision, leaving you somewhat dissatisfied with the end result.
Pros of a DIY Website:
1. You save money... sort of.
Building and designing your own website can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars. But make sure you ask for your customers, employees, and friends' input on the website instead of just doing what YOU think looks good or functions the best.
If a website was cheap but doesn’t perform well, it ends up costing you more money than it saves. Nobody wants to visit a slow, unattractive, unmobile-friendly website that doesn't work. And if people can't navigate your website, they won't purchase your product or service.
2. You get to work at your own pace.
If you decide to become a DIY website designer, you can do so at your own pace, which is nice! Being able to work on a project when you have the time is convenient, but make sure you are giving it the time it deserves. Building a website in the spare 15 minutes you have every once in awhile will end up taking FOREVER and may cause your site to look disjointed or thrown together.
Another benefit of working at your own pace is you decide what's a priority. You won't have to wait as long for task turnaround. Unless, of course, you get super busy. But at least you're your own boss!
3. You know your business best.
This is your baby. You know your business better than anyone else. So when you make your website yourself, you can skip the learning process that you have to go through with agencies. You don't have to spend weeks explaining what your business does. You already know that. And you know what your customers need, so you can make strategic decisions to help them as much as possible.
4. You have the flexibility.
When you handle your website's maintenance, you have the liberty to make changes whenever you want, without having to rely on a third-party agency's schedule. This agility can be particularly beneficial when you need to update content, add new products or services, or incorporate time-sensitive promotions.
Cons of a DIY Website:
1. You know TOO much (you are too close to see the big picture).
Like I said above, you know your business and industry better than anyone else! Which is great, BUT this knowledge can cause you to communicate over the heads of your audience, leaving them confused and uninterested in your business.
There is a concept called the Curse of the Knowledge that my favorite author, Donald Miller, frequently references. You can learn more about the Curse of Knowledge and how it to bridge the knowledge gap, here.
2. Let’s be honest; you aren’t a pro.
You may be a pro at a lot of things, but most likely marketing, website design, content creation and web development are probably not all on that list. And to build a truly fantastic website, you need to be well-versed in all of those areas.
If your viewers are going to a website that looks or sounds amateur, it will remove credibility from where you actually deserve it — with your products and/or services.
3. Making a website on your own takes a lot of time (and time is money!).
Building your own website that does not suck is going to be a project that will cost you quite a bit of time. Even if you use a builder like Wix or Wordpress, you'll likely spend 2-5 hours per page. That adds up fast.
What you need to decide beforehand is what is your time is worth? If your time is worth $50 an hour, then how many hours can you spend on this project (not running your business) before you have actually wasted money on what was supposed to be a cheap solution?
4. You may suffer from performance issues.
Without a deep understanding of web development, you might inadvertently introduce bugs or overlook essential elements like mobile responsiveness, leading to a frustrating user experience. Slow-loading pages and broken links can drive visitors away and harm your website's search engine rankings. These technical shortcomings can hinder your website's ability to attract and retain visitors, ultimately affecting your business's online presence and growth.
Build Your Website. Grow Your Business.
While DIY website builders offer convenience and cost-effectiveness, they may lack the customization and functionality that a business needs to succeed. On the other hand, hiring a professional web developer or agency provides expertise, a polished final product, and time savings. As you weigh the pros and cons, remember that the key to a successful business lies in creating a stack of services that work together seamlessly.
So what’s it going to be? Are you going to be a DIYer or will you hire a pro to build your website? I suggest you read over this article a few times, make notes, and come up with your own pros and cons before making a final decision.'
If you decide that hiring a professional is the best route for your website, consider using GrowthStack CRM, a powerful CRM system that can automate your marketing efforts and help build lasting relationships with your customers.
As an added bonus, sign up now, and you'll receive 20 free leads if you're looking to expand your business further. Remember, building a stack of services that work together seamlessly is the key to success, and GrowthStack CRM can be an integral part of that stack. Take the next step towards improving your online presence and driving business growth by signing up today!
