At some point, every business owner is faced with the question of “Should I try to make my own website and save money or should I hire a pro?” Deciding how to create your business website can be an overwhelming thought. You’ll need to consider what website platform to use, what your website should look like, what you want your website to communicate and what actions do you want people to take when visiting your site. There’s a lot to consider.

The first step is deciding if you are going to DIY your own website or if you should hire a pro. I’ll walk you through what you can expect if you decide to make your own website and compare that with hiring a professional website designer.

What are the pros and cons of DIY your own website?

If you’re thinking about taking on the task of making a website for your business, there’s some pros and cons you’ll want to be aware of before you start.

Pros

• You don’t have to pay a designer/developer
• You have total control over your design (no design revision limitations)
• You don’t have to be on a designer’s waitlist

Cons

• You’ll need to do a lot of research before choosing the platform that’s right for you
• It will take you longer to create a website than it will for a professional
• Depending on your skill level, you may not be happy with the results

What are the pros and cons of hiring a website designer?

Hiring a website designer can be a really beneficial experience for your business. There are some pros and cons to consider before making the commitment.

Pros

• You can focus on your business and let a professional handle your website
• You’ll likely end up with a better website than you imagined
• No tech headaches or late nights trying to figure out how to make a website
• A pro will teach you how to update and maintain your website

Cons

• A professional website designer can be very expensive
• You may have to wait for availability
• You may need to pay for maintenance and upkeep if you don’t know how to update your own website

What exactly does a website designer do?

A professional website designer should create a website that fits the needs of your business and in the end, attracts clients and increases sales. Professional website designers will strategize with you on the goals for your website and create page designs for you to approve before creating a live website.

Some designers prefer to create prototypes (sometimes called wireframes) of each page before the design phase. The designer may collaborate with a developer to handle the development of the website or they may have the skills to develop the site themselves.

You should end up with a live, fully working website that shows your business in the best way possible and allows clients to reach out to you using a contact form.

Website designers typically do not offer copywriting or SEO (search engine optimization) unless they have partners they work with to offer those services to you.

A website designer may be available to make updates to your website for you after your project is over.

How much does a website designer or developer cost?

While rates vary based on skill level, demand and experience, you can expect to pay in the thousands and sometimes depending on the complexity of your project, into the tens of thousands for a professionally designed and developed website. This is where creating your own website using a template can save your business a lot of money.

Is it easy to DIY your own website?

One thing that really annoys me as a professional website designer is when companies mislead business owners into believing it’s “easy” to DIY their own website. There’s a learning curve to even the most basic website platforms, so expect to invest some time getting used to a new website creator.

Another very important aspect of creating your own website is organizing and writing the content. You’ll need to research what makes for a compelling website not just visually, but with impactful content that convinces clients to hire you.

Read 5 Things To Know Before You Buy a Showit Website Template

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you with deciding if you should DIY your website or hire a pro. If you can afford to hire a professional website designer and you dread the idea of having to create your own website, then hiring out is for you!

If you’re on a budget and you’re willing to take on the challenge of making your own website, start with a ready to go Showit website template.

What did you think of this article? Do you have any questions for me? Ask me in the comments section below!