As a small business, there’s no question that you have a lot of expenses on your plate. Getting your business onto the web is important, but is it really necessary to hire a professional? With the rise of online tools, templates and web builders, creating your own website is a possibility. But, just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should!
In this post, we will explore the pros and cons to DIY and professional web design so that you can make an informed decision for your small business! Let’s dig in!
What Type of Site Do You Need?
The first step is choosing a site that will accommodate your business. The simplest one is the brochure style. This layout provides you with a web presence and offers room for text, images and even a video. It’s the perfect format for businesses that aren’t planning on generating significant sales from their website.
If your business will be handling more complex transactions, an ecommerce site is necessary. Ecommerce sites are more complicated because they must be able to process payments and add, remove or edit products for sale. If you need this type of site, we highly recommend working with a professional developer.
What Background Do You Have?
At first glance, most web builder programs look easy. You can use the templates, plug in your information and even upload stock photos. If you are comfortable working on the internet, you can certainly try out a program or two. But please be sure to do your research so you know what “rules” to follow to make Google happy!
Even though web building programs are intended to be user-friendly, users often find them time-consuming and complicated. Also, are you familiar with the best web design practices such as image optimization, typography, responsive design, white space and headings? This is where it pays to have professional guidance, even if you are comfortable working with templates.
What is Your Budget?
Budget is a big one when building a website, and we certainly understand that. Building your own site is inexpensive – sometimes even free. However, it’s important to know that if you do choose the “free” route, your site may not have a personal domain, and it will have a lot of advertisements. Not having your own domain has many branding downsides.
If you do go the professional route, you could be paying more than $5,000 for a well-designed, responsive, mobile-friendly website. You can expect to pay even more if you are building an ecommerce site with real-time inventory management. But, the possibilities are endless.
Fortunately, there is an in-between option. Web Designs Your Way is truly the affordable way onto the web. Our plans start at just $299 and are perfect for small and medium businesses. Our prices include everything needed to give your business a solid web presence.
Many small business owners think they only have two options: to build an affordable website or spend a small fortune on one. After reading our post, we hope you realize there is another option: to have a beautiful, responsive website built for you at a reasonable price! For more information on our web building services, call us today at 480-656-6059.