Lorelei Garnes
DIY websites seem like an easy cheap fix for your website solution. But is it a solution? Will it work for your brand? As with any question, it depends. You can build your own website, hire someone else to do it or you can outsource it to a service provider.
DIY Many entrepreneurs/startups decide to build their own websites and they soon realize that they don’t know much about website development, or design . A website that is not designed correctly can harm your brand.
DIY websites often use a drag/drop builder allowing you to select a theme/design. DIY has limitations to the structure of the website design and relies heavily on a prebuilt theme. If you have a small budget, you can make use of online templates and tools to create your own website. Ask friends, family members, and colleagues for advice about building your website. The most considerable associated cost is the time and the end-user experience.
Contractor You can hire a contractor like someone from Fiverr or Freelancer. But do you know the right questions to ask? Some important questions are: Do you know what platform you should/should not be associated with? Are they responsive to your questions/needs? Is this a full-time career for them? Are you their top priority and will the job be completed on time? Do they bill as they go? Do they work in your time zone? Are they marketing professionals as well as designers who offer content strategies?
Pro Hiring a pro will give you access to all the latest web design techniques, timely and more efficient custom-built designs, extra features (custom forms & functionality), produce top quality content/design, and build a unique website and experience for your customer. Professional website design companies are committed to serving you for the long haul. Working with someone who is knowledgeable in the industry will give your website a unique customer experience.
Whether you use a pre-built template or have a custom website made, your brand and the user experience are the most important things to consider. The old saying “you get what you pay for” will always hold true. Our time, our money, and how we represent our brand are most important.
Lorelei Garnes, MSc owns WNC Social Media Buzz, offering digital marketing services serving businesses of all sizes. Call 828 421 2807 for all your digital marketing needs or visit www.wncsocialmediabuzz.com.
Originally published in Positively Haywood, October 2022