Why DIY Site Builders are Bad for Small Businesses
May 2023
By Digital Web Chef Staff
Do you need to build a website for your small business and are considering making one yourself?
Building a small business website is very important if you don't yet have one. Unfortunately, many people think that it's something that they can build on their own. Only after making a low-quality website do they realize they would have been better off leaving it to the professionals.
If you want to discover why building a DIY website is bad for your small business, read on, and we'll tell you what you need to know.
1. It's Not as Easy as It Appears
There are many programs and platforms whose marketing suggests that building your website is easy. They promise you you can make your website in a day or less without technical knowledge. This is why so many people who do not know how to build a business website choose to take it upon themselves to make one.
Unfortunately, only after investing in software and programs do people realize that it's not as easy to build a small business website as they thought. They get stuck with a half-built webpage they don't know how to finish.
2. There Are Always Hidden Fees
You will face hidden fees no matter what platform you use to build your DIY website. One of the most frustrating things people face when trying to design a business website on their own is the expenses they don't realize they have to pay.
It's easy to get excited when you find a website platform that advertises itself as an easy all-in-one solution for building a business website. But many people don't realize until after buying a subscription that they also have to invest in domain names, hosting, and SSL certificates.
Many people don't realize they must renew their subscriptions yearly to keep their websites live. And if they help with updates, the fees are considerably high.
These hidden costs add up. In the long run, it's more affordable for most businesses to have hired professional help to build their website.
3. You Get What You Pay For
Your business will not stand out from the competition if it doesn't have an effective brand. It's hard to have a brand that stands out on your business' website when you build it on your own.
The reason for this is that most people who choose to build their website for their small business are not experienced designers. Ensuring your brand website looks professional and stands out is nearly impossible when you do this.
It's also easy to fall for low prices. Building a website might be slightly less expensive than hiring a professional, but you get what you pay for. Those low prices come with essential features and capabilities that won't deliver the desired results to grow your business online.
4. It's Easy to Waste Time Learning to Navigate New Platforms
Even if tools such as website builders make it easy to drag and drop your needed elements onto a digital canvas to construct aspects of your site, there are still many important things that you need to know how to do.
For example, if you build a website on WordPress by investing in a costly theme, you still have to know how to download and install the theme. You must also know how to navigate the WordPress platform to install add-ons, such as spam blockers and contact forms.
You need training to do these kinds of things. If you don't yet have the training, you'll have to spend valuable time learning how to do them before you can start building your website.
5. You Won't Create the Right First Impression
As your business' most important tool for advertising, you want to ensure that your website is the best it can be. It's where your potential customers will learn about important things, such as your stories, services, products, and where you're located.
This is why, when it comes to your website, first impressions are more important than ever. Before navigating beyond your website's homepage, they will form an opinion about your brand. And this is why you must grab their attention within the first few seconds on your website.
Professional website designers know exactly how to do this. On the other hand, those who choose to build their websites will have to find out how to do this through trial and error. In the meantime, they'll probably lose many valuable leads.
6. You Won't Have Search Visibility
Most people trying to design a business website think that the actual design of the website is all that matters. They don't realize that this is only one of many essential things you need to know how to do to build the best website.
Something equally important as designing a website is search engine optimization (SEO). Though some website builders claim to have SEO tools, these tools are usually fundamental. They do not offer the types of features that a small business needs.
Skilled professionals know how to do things, such as writing search-friendly content for the websites they're building. This will make sure that potential customers can find your business online.
7. You Won't Have Support While Building a Small Business Website
Did you know that those who design their websites spend less than a quarter of their time creating them and more than three-quarters of their time troubleshooting problems? Small business owners who decide to build their websites don't consider this.
Only afterward, when it's too late, do they realize how difficult it is to find the support they need when technical issues arise. If you're building your website on your own, expect glitches. And be ready to spend endless hours trying to figure things out that go wrong.
8. Your Site Won't Be Optimized
Small businesses need secure websites with performance speeds that are fast enough to handle high traffic volumes. One of the worst things that can happen to your website is that it crashes at a critical moment when you need it the most.
This is why professionals offer technical solutions to these problems by optimizing your website. By hiring a pro, you'll have peace of mind in knowing that your website will be dependable. You'll also have to figure out confusing details, such as SSL certificates.
9. The Site Will Be Costly to Make Changes To
Those trying to build their website only realize afterward how difficult it is to make changes to the site they've made. They make the mistake of thinking that they'll improve their place later on by hiring a web designer. Most web designers will insist that you rebuild your site on their platform.
If they had had their website designed by professionals from the start, it would have saved them lots of money.
10. Your Time Is Better Spent on Other Things
Chances are you've got a long list of things you must accomplish daily that you show up for work. If you're a small business owner, you should focus on growing your business.
If you decide to build your website, you'll be distracting yourself from the things that matter most to you and your business. If you're not trained as a web designer, why spend time trying to be one?
11. The Pros Do It Better
A web designer who knows what they're doing can take the burden off your shoulders. You'll have less to worry about since you can put your trust in somebody who has many years of training and experience in building websites.
You'll also save money in the long run because professionals know how to build a website that can convert visitors into paying customers.
Don't Waste Time Building Your Website
If you've been thinking about building a small business website, remember it's not as easy as it might seem. You'll have to pay hidden fees and will probably have to spend many hours troubleshooting problems that will come up. Why not hire professional help to build your website instead?
Contact us to learn more about the advantages of hiring our web design firm. We're here for anything you need.
By Digital Web Chef Staff
Do you need to build a website for your small business and are considering making one yourself?
Building a small business website is very important if you don't yet have one. Unfortunately, many people think that it's something that they can build on their own. Only after making a low-quality website do they realize they would have been better off leaving it to the professionals.
If you want to discover why building a DIY website is bad for your small business, read on, and we'll tell you what you need to know.
1. It's Not as Easy as It Appears
There are many programs and platforms whose marketing suggests that building your website is easy. They promise you you can make your website in a day or less without technical knowledge. This is why so many people who do not know how to build a business website choose to take it upon themselves to make one.
Unfortunately, only after investing in software and programs do people realize that it's not as easy to build a small business website as they thought. They get stuck with a half-built webpage they don't know how to finish.
2. There Are Always Hidden Fees
You will face hidden fees no matter what platform you use to build your DIY website. One of the most frustrating things people face when trying to design a business website on their own is the expenses they don't realize they have to pay.
It's easy to get excited when you find a website platform that advertises itself as an easy all-in-one solution for building a business website. But many people don't realize until after buying a subscription that they also have to invest in domain names, hosting, and SSL certificates.
Many people don't realize they must renew their subscriptions yearly to keep their websites live. And if they help with updates, the fees are considerably high.
These hidden costs add up. In the long run, it's more affordable for most businesses to have hired professional help to build their website.
3. You Get What You Pay For
Your business will not stand out from the competition if it doesn't have an effective brand. It's hard to have a brand that stands out on your business' website when you build it on your own.
The reason for this is that most people who choose to build their website for their small business are not experienced designers. Ensuring your brand website looks professional and stands out is nearly impossible when you do this.
It's also easy to fall for low prices. Building a website might be slightly less expensive than hiring a professional, but you get what you pay for. Those low prices come with essential features and capabilities that won't deliver the desired results to grow your business online.
4. It's Easy to Waste Time Learning to Navigate New Platforms
Even if tools such as website builders make it easy to drag and drop your needed elements onto a digital canvas to construct aspects of your site, there are still many important things that you need to know how to do.
For example, if you build a website on WordPress by investing in a costly theme, you still have to know how to download and install the theme. You must also know how to navigate the WordPress platform to install add-ons, such as spam blockers and contact forms.
You need training to do these kinds of things. If you don't yet have the training, you'll have to spend valuable time learning how to do them before you can start building your website.
5. You Won't Create the Right First Impression
As your business' most important tool for advertising, you want to ensure that your website is the best it can be. It's where your potential customers will learn about important things, such as your stories, services, products, and where you're located.
This is why, when it comes to your website, first impressions are more important than ever. Before navigating beyond your website's homepage, they will form an opinion about your brand. And this is why you must grab their attention within the first few seconds on your website.
Professional website designers know exactly how to do this. On the other hand, those who choose to build their websites will have to find out how to do this through trial and error. In the meantime, they'll probably lose many valuable leads.
6. You Won't Have Search Visibility
Most people trying to design a business website think that the actual design of the website is all that matters. They don't realize that this is only one of many essential things you need to know how to do to build the best website.
Something equally important as designing a website is search engine optimization (SEO). Though some website builders claim to have SEO tools, these tools are usually fundamental. They do not offer the types of features that a small business needs.
Skilled professionals know how to do things, such as writing search-friendly content for the websites they're building. This will make sure that potential customers can find your business online.
7. You Won't Have Support While Building a Small Business Website
Did you know that those who design their websites spend less than a quarter of their time creating them and more than three-quarters of their time troubleshooting problems? Small business owners who decide to build their websites don't consider this.
Only afterward, when it's too late, do they realize how difficult it is to find the support they need when technical issues arise. If you're building your website on your own, expect glitches. And be ready to spend endless hours trying to figure things out that go wrong.
8. Your Site Won't Be Optimized
Small businesses need secure websites with performance speeds that are fast enough to handle high traffic volumes. One of the worst things that can happen to your website is that it crashes at a critical moment when you need it the most.
This is why professionals offer technical solutions to these problems by optimizing your website. By hiring a pro, you'll have peace of mind in knowing that your website will be dependable. You'll also have to figure out confusing details, such as SSL certificates.
9. The Site Will Be Costly to Make Changes To
Those trying to build their website only realize afterward how difficult it is to make changes to the site they've made. They make the mistake of thinking that they'll improve their place later on by hiring a web designer. Most web designers will insist that you rebuild your site on their platform.
If they had had their website designed by professionals from the start, it would have saved them lots of money.
10. Your Time Is Better Spent on Other Things
Chances are you've got a long list of things you must accomplish daily that you show up for work. If you're a small business owner, you should focus on growing your business.
If you decide to build your website, you'll be distracting yourself from the things that matter most to you and your business. If you're not trained as a web designer, why spend time trying to be one?
11. The Pros Do It Better
A web designer who knows what they're doing can take the burden off your shoulders. You'll have less to worry about since you can put your trust in somebody who has many years of training and experience in building websites.
You'll also save money in the long run because professionals know how to build a website that can convert visitors into paying customers.
Don't Waste Time Building Your Website
If you've been thinking about building a small business website, remember it's not as easy as it might seem. You'll have to pay hidden fees and will probably have to spend many hours troubleshooting problems that will come up. Why not hire professional help to build your website instead?
Contact us to learn more about the advantages of hiring our web design firm. We're here for anything you need.