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Can you build your own website? Absolutely! But building your own website is hard work and very time-consuming. I'm going to be real with you building a website as a web designer is hard as well but since we have the knowledge and the expertise we can do it in at least half the time that it would take you to build your website.
If you've been debating if you want to design your own website or hire a designer I hope that this episode gives you some clarity.
1. You Lack Expertise and Experience
Just like everything that you do, that's brand new building a website is going to be overwhelming. What web-builder do you use? What information should you include? What pages should you include? When you're just starting out a great option is to use a template that way you have some sort of frame work but if you find that you just don't have the time, mental energy, or technological skills to create a website then definitely hand it off to a website designer.
I'm currently working on building Wix website templates for clients who are on a budget so feel free to check out www.zsquaredstudio.com/webtemplates to see if anything catches your eye.
Keep in mind that a designer will be able to build a website quicker and with a better foundation so that your website can actually convert, look good and represent your business in the way that you want.
2. You Want Your Website to Look Professional, Well Designed and Full of Personality
If you're looking to have a super professional and well-designed website then definitely get a web designer. They have a process that they use to be able to take an idea and bring it to life visually.
If you choose to create your website yourself the hardest part is narrowing down your vision or being able to take your vision and then bring it to life. With a web designer, they know what they're doing they know what kind of information they need from you to be able to create something that you love.
If you don't mind that your website is built from a template then that's an option as well. Just get in there and change the images, the copy, the font if you need to, the colors, but if you're looking for something that is custom to your personality and isn't a cookie-cutter website hiring a designer is the way to go.
3. You Want a Custom Website that Meets Your Needs and Goals so That Your Website Works for You
What's great about hiring a web designer is that they can create a website that meets your specific needs and goals. Not only will the design be custom but they can go in and change the layout and functionality so that your website works for you. Such as setting up email automations or creating a place where people can donate to your non profit.
By creating a unique and personalized website, you can differentiate yourself from competitors and provide a memorable user experience. I can't even count the times when I get on a discovery call and people are always complimenting my website saying that they feel like they knew me before even getting on a call with me. Or they just love that my personality shines through my website and that's what makes it memorable. They see how memorable and great my website is and they want me to do that for their business as well. If you wanna check out my website it's www.zsquaredstudio.com.
There are so many things that you don't think about when creating a website that a designer will implement for you. Things like adding call to actions to your button copy or making sure that the first thing people see on your homepage states who you are, what you do, and how you help people. This is important because when people first land on your site they know that they are in the right place and the website is going to be of value to them.
4. You Need a Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Design
Now that everyone has a mini computer in their pockets all the time they are able to look at websites from anywhere as long as they have their phone and Internet connection. With that said you need to make sure that your website is mobile-friendly and responsive to whatever platform it's going to be viewed on whether that's an iPad or a cell phone.
Web designers have the skills to create websites that not only look good on a computer but also look good on various screen sizes and devices. Having a really responsive design improves user experience which in return boosts search engine rankings and ultimately brings more people to your website.
I'm sure you've ran into websites on your phone where the text is hard to read, things are layered weirdly or maybe the buttons are too small or close together to press. All of those thoughts are things that a web designer is aware of and will keep in mind when designing your website.
5. You Lack the Technical Expertise
There are a lot of technical skills when it comes to building a website. If you find yourself text savvy and you want to go in with trial and error so you can learn for yourself by all means go for it but if you don't want the headache and you want to make sure that your website is secure, optimized for speed, compatible with different browsers and devices, then a web designer would definitely be the way to go.
A designer can also do fun things like integrate third-party tools and plug-ins that can really enhance the functionality of your website. If you're looking to have your contact forms connect with the email marketing app Convert Kit for example a designer can help you do that.
They can also integrate third-party tools and plugins to enhance functionality. Do you really want to figure out how to create an online store? Or how to accept payments from your customers? How about indexing your site onto Google so that your website actually shows up on search results? A designer helps with so many things you might as well save up for the cheapest package they have just to start you off on the right foot then once your business scales you can reinvest in your website and go for a bigger and better package.
6. You Lack Time to Build Your Own Website There's so much to be done in a business hiring a web designer will allow you to make use of your valuable time so you can focus on activities in your business that make you money.
You don't want to be spending hours learning about web design or trying to troubleshoot different types of issues when you can rely on a professional to handle the entire process from concept to launch.
If you're at a point in your business where you have more time than money then sure go ahead and dive in but if you find yourself already crunched for time and desperately needing a website as soon as possible hiring a web designer is the way to go.
7. You Need Help With Ongoing Website Support and Maintenance
A perk about having a web designer is that they're able to support and maintain your website for you. They can go in and update copy and images. Or can help you troubleshoot any issues that happened to your website.
I've had a couple of businesses call me to rebuild their website because their security was expired and they weren't sure how to log in and update it. I just went in and built them a whole new website and made sure that we wrote down all of the logins and passwords to keep everything organized. Having a professional ensures that your website remains functional, up-to-date, and optimized to run smoothly.
Being a business owner is definitely lonely but if you're able to have the right people in your corner to help you with things that you're not an expert on then you're only going to thrive.
Recap
Now that we are at the end of this episode and if you find that you still would rather build your own website I'm not going to stop you. I have some episodes that could help you on your journey Episode 6 12 Steps to a Simple Website
Episode 7 10 Things to Put on Your Business Website
Episode 8 8 Elements You Should Put on the Home Page of Your Business Website
Episode 9 Design Tips for An Outstanding Website
As always here are the tips again: You Lack Expertise and Experience: Building a website can be overwhelming, especially for beginners, so using a template or hiring a web designer is a great option for a solid foundation and a website that converts effectively.
You Want Your Website to Look Professional, Well Designed, and Full of Personality: Hiring a web designer is recommended for those who want a professional, well-designed website that reflects their personality and brand.
You Want a Custom Website that Meets Your Needs and Goals so That Your Website Works for You: Web designers can create a unique and personalized website that meets your specific needs and goals, providing a memorable user experience.
You Need a Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Design: Web designers have the skills to create websites that look good on various devices, which enhances user experience and boosts search engine rankings.
You Lack the Technical Expertise: If you're not tech-savvy and want a secure, optimized website with third-party integrations, hiring a web designer is the way to go for a hassle-free experience.
You Lack Time to Build Your Own Website: Hiring a web designer saves valuable time, allowing you to focus on money-making activities in your business, while building a website yourself can be time-consuming.
You Need Help With Ongoing Website Support and Maintenance: Having a web designer ensures ongoing support, updates, and maintenance for your website, making sure it remains functional and optimized for peak performance.
Having the right people, like a professional web designer, in your corner can help your business thrive and succeed in the online world. Know that your website is going to be the place where people go to learn more about you, your products and maybe even buy products or be able to book your services.
Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire a designer just know that taking the next step and building a website will only do wonders for your business.
Have a great day and happy designing!