Website Builder v Hiring a Professional. What Should I Do?
I am sure there are many of you that ponder the question of whether or not to use a website builder or hire a professional website designer or website developer.
Although a lot of the current website builders have come a long way in the past few years you still have to ask yourself if it’s the right choice for your business and overall online or Digital Marketing goals.
DIY website builders may be the right choice for small businesses or startups that do not yet have a Marketing budget. You probably did not expect a professional Digital Marketing and Web Development company to say that, but it is true.
What’s Best?
If you’re a more established business, brand, franchise or multi-location business then you probably want to have something professionally developed that will not only showcase your brand but host the right tools for a powerful SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and Digital Marketing Strategy.
Most do it yourself website builders can not offer the full scope of SEO or Digital Marketing tools needed for a successful strategy or campaign. If they do, it’s most likely an extra cost and has limitations.
While having a bad website is worse than having no website, having a basic website is better than having no website. If your choices are basic or none, go with basic. You can always upgrade later.
However, if you want to grow your business, you want a website that reflects your brand. If you have the time and skill necessary, it is possible to do that with a DIY website builder. For most people, it is not only easier, but also faster and less expensive to go with the pros.
What Are The Downsides?
Some do have downsides but that doesn’t mean they are bad platforms. Again, going back to the above statement, it all depends what you are looking to get out of your website and what stage your business is in. If you don’t care about Digital Marketing, Data Tracking, SEO, Lead Generation, etc. than a builder may work. If you want to create a strong Digital footprint then a Website Builder is prob not for you.
- Website Builders add unnecessary bloat
- Website Builders will bot add SEO value
- Website Builder templates limit what can be done
- Website Builders aren’t mobile friendly
- Website Builders do not provide support like an agency can
- You do not own the site or anything on the site
What Are The Upsides?
- Website Builders are quick to setup
- Website Builders are budget friendly for startups or new business
- Website Builders require NO design skills
One of the main reasons businesses are drawn to the idea of the DIY website builders is that they are fairly inexpensive. In terms of cash-output, they are the lowest-priced option but come with a lot of limitations. You may be surprised to learn that, despite their inexpensive price tags, they can actually cost you more money. Imagine that you bring in $50 an hour at your business. For every 10 hours you take away from your business, you are “spending” $500. Plus, because of a lack of experience, you probably take longer to do things than the pros do. Time is money, and at some point, you are wasting money when you do things yourself.
Another reason people like the DIY concept are that you can set up a functioning website in a day if you are in a hurry. You are unlikely to find a pro who will offer you those kinds of turn-around times. Instead, when a professional Website Developer builds out your website, they are going to do market research, SEO analysis, and factor in local market conditions. It is not going to be overnight. However, professionals often have a team that can handle quicker turnaround times if needed. You are also going to have an end result that works with your branding.
Choosing the right Marketing expert for your website design or website development also helps you increase your functionality. It is not enough to have a website; you need potential customers to see your website. Our team puts focus on SEO (Search Engine Optimization), to increase your rankings, and target your advertising to your potential customers. We make the most of your marketing budget, to grow your business in a smarter way. That means you get a greater return on investment than if you are trying to establish your own marketing strategy with a DIY builder.
Categorised in: The Shoreline Blog
This post was written by Shoreline Content Team
