10 Reasons to Hire a Website Designer
Your website is one of the most important decisions you'll make for your small business. But, should you build it yourself or hire someone to do it for you? We're breaking down the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision that's right for you.
Do It Yourself Option (DIY)
There are many web design services that offer easy “drag & drop” options, with free hosting. There are some pros and cons to this option:
PROS:
- You don’t need a lot of technical or design skills to start - most DIY providers offer templates that you’ll fill in to create a simple website.
- If cost is a factor, DIY options can be a good option. They’re generally less expensive than hiring a pro.
CONS:
- Most DIY providers don’t offer a lot of flexibility or customization for the inexpensive or free plans, and each special feature you need will be additional.
- A website service might appear to be free or cheap at first, but you’ll need to allocate time to learn the platform and time to actually build your website. You’ll have to weigh whether your time is best spent time building a website or working on your business.
- The best websites look the way they do because a business has spent time creating a branding package. This sets the tone for a professional website that looks good and performs well.
- Some DIY providers run ads on your site in order to keep the service free. Depending on your business, this might come across as unprofessional.
Benefits of Hiring a Professional
If you need a professional, responsive website with an attractive design, and SEO optimization, and don’t have the time or desire to do it yourself, the best option is to hire an expert.
A professional web designer takes the relevant details about your business, collects your requirements and any other input and will then produce a design based on your needs and their expertise. SEO optimization, quality control, responsiveness, security and design will all be included in the service, if you hire a qualified professional.
DIY web services are tempting – especially if you’re running a new business and don’t have money to spare. But, if you want to increase the likelihood that customers will actually find your business online, hiring a professional is going to be a great investment.
Ongoing Changes and Updates
Once you’ve created your website, or had a pro design your website, you now need to think about ongoing maintenance. Keeping your website up-to-date gives your potential clients a positive impression of your business.
Unless you plan to have a static website with no updates, you’ll want to hire a professional who offers plans not only for hosting, but also for ongoing changes. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can make all of the changes yourself because:
- You might not have the time
- If you train an admin or VA, their knowledge will leave with them once they move on to another company
- You or a designated person in your office will need training to determine how to make the changes
- A professional will make the changes a lot faster and is less likely to make errors!
Often, you’ll have a choice of various maintenance plans:
- If you have a lot of regular changes, such as uploading newletters, updating event information, etc, you’ll want to go with a plan that offers unlimited changes.
- If you’ll only have occasional or quarterly changes, select a plan that is better suited to your needs.
- It’s important to note that most providers will offer a discount for annual plans.
How to Find a Professional Web Designer
So, how do you actually FIND a qualified web design professional ? A few good ways include:
- Asking a business colleagues for recommendations – and if they are happy with the service. Be sure to look at their websites first to confirm you like what you see.
- If you’re a member of a Chamber of Commerce or Business Networking Group, check out the web developers and see if they have any examples of their work on their websites.
- If you want to work with a local company, do a Google search for web companies and check their reviews.
In summary, you should hire a professional web designer if you want a responsive, safe website that creates a positive impression for prospective clients or customers.
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Woman-owned agency specializing in web design for small business and e-commerce.