Time is money. But when it comes to DIY website services like Squarespace, Wix or Shopify it seems most people forget that. Add to the time cost, think about the frustration and commitment required to learn each services page editing tools, some even lacking key features required for building a feature-rich and professional business website.
In this post we cover five key reasons why DIY websites, while initially seeming like a cheaper and easier option can often end up being a lot more expensive and stressful than just having an affordable website built for you, even if you’re a budget-conscious business.
There’s no question you need a website these days. It’s critical for any business to have a strong online presence, and that should include a website you own, not just having a page on some social media platform.
One popular method of getting your business a website is using a DIY service like Squarespace, Wix, or Shopify. While the DIY approach may seem cost-effective at first glance, there are compelling reasons why getting a website built for you can be more economical in the long run.
1 – Time is Money
Building a website from scratch, especially if you lack technical expertise, can be a time-consuming experience. Time spent learning the ins and outs of web development is time that could be spent doing other things in your business or personal life. Professional web developers are well-versed in the latest technologies and can efficiently create a website tailored to your needs, saving you valuable time that can be better invested elsewhere.
2 – Quality Matters
A professionally built website is likely to be of higher quality than its DIY equivalent. Experienced web developers have a deep understanding of design principles, user experience, and coding best practices. They can create a website that not only looks visually appealing but also functions seamlessly across different devices and browsers (mobile friendly), and loads fast, which is important for SEO.
Investing in a high-quality website from the outset can save you from the headaches and costs associated with fixing issues that may arise from a DIY project.
3 – Customisation and Scalability
While many DIY website builders offer templates and basic customisation options, they often fall short when it comes to meeting your unique or changing business needs. We can create a fully customised website tailored to your specific requirements. Additionally, we can build a scalable platform that can grow with your business, incorporating new features and functionalities as needed, using an open platform like WordPress.
This level of flexibility is often challenging to achieve with DIY solutions.
4 – Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
An effective website is one that can be easily discovered by search engines. Professional web developers are well-versed in SEO best practices, ensuring that your website is optimised for search engines from the start. This can lead to better visibility in search results, driving more organic traffic to your site.
DIY websites may lack the technical optimisations needed to compete effectively in the crowded online space, potentially hindering your ability to reach your target audience. For example, Wix has a poor history of being a bad platform for SEO and ranking in Google.
5 – Technical Support and Maintenance
After the initial build, websites require ongoing maintenance and technical support. We provide post-launch support, addressing issues promptly and making sure your website is up-to-date. DIY website builders may not offer the same level of ongoing support, leaving you to troubleshoot problems on your own.
The support they do provide is often very limited, slow and frustrating.
In the long run, the cost of our ongoing supported hosting service (just $12.90/mo) is well worth it, even just for the peace of mind it offers, knowing you have someone who understands you, what your website needs and takes care of it all.
A professionally built business website that’s actually cheaper!
While the appeal of a DIY website lies in the initial cost savings, the long-term benefits of having a website built for you by a professional are substantial.
From saving time and stress, to ensuring high-quality results and gaining customisation options as well as ongoing support, the advantages of professional web development make it a wise investment for individuals and businesses looking to establish a strong online presence.
If you’re interested in crunching the numbers, use our online website budgeting calculator – you’ll see that the very affordable websites we build start paying for themselves very quickly compared with DIY services that lock you into expensive long-term payment plans.
It doesn’t take long to see we definitely offer kiwi businesses the cheaper, easier and more flexible option.
Ready to get a professional website for your business, but want someone else to take care of it all? Email [email protected] today!