If you’ve ever asked yourself the question “Do I really need a professional or can I just do it myself?” when it comes to your website, this article is for you. We’ll break down the pros and pitfalls of building a website for your business and discuss when to seek additional support.
Pro: Budget-Friendly
You may be attracted to the idea of a DIY solution because it will save money. While this can be true for some, it’s not always the case. There are several costs to consider as you set out to build your website: domain costs, email and web hosting, maintenance, premium templates and themes (just to name a few). While you might save money on paper, this may not be the case once you consider the time investment from your team.
Hiring a professional can help you navigate the costs involved quickly, seamlessly, and without the headache, so you can save your energy for running your business. At JBC, we take pride in educating our clients at each step in the process, happily answering questions such as “What is an SSL certificate?”, “How much Web Hosting do I need?” and “What platform should I use for my website?”.
Pitfall: Design Mayhem
A common struggle experienced by many DIYers is something we like to call “Design Mayhem” – days, weeks or even months spent editing, tweaking and changing your mind about the design for your new website, ultimately delaying the success of your project. Working with a professional web designer allows you to share your design preferences up-front and leave the rest to us. Typically, when working on a new website build, we present our clients with an initial concept that we happily tweak and adjust through multiple rounds of feedback until it’s just right.
Pro: Maintaining Ownership
Many business owners wish to build their own website so that they can retain the ownership of all accounts, files and assets generated in the process. This is a wise decision, as anything created for your business ultimately adds to the value of your organization for the future. At JBC, we always recommend and ensure that all products, hosting accounts, domains etc. are created by the client. While we are happy to support with site maintenance, we do not host client websites ourselves as we believe that this ownership should stay with your business. Put simply: you own the accounts, you own the website, and we provide the support along the way.
Pitfall: Errors & Downtime
Unfortunately, websites built without professional guidance are more susceptible to potential errors and downtime. We’re talking about those pesky “404: Page Not Found” errors or worse: “This website cannot be loaded” and many others. Once your shiny new website is built, you want it to remain “open for business” at all times, working to attract leads and potential customers. Working with a professional team can help ensure that all services work as anticipated. We can also support in navigating Customer Services calls to domain providers, hosting suppliers and more, ensuring that your day isn’t disrupted by any tech troubles that may arise.
Our Recommendations
If your business is brand new or you’re a hobbyist with a side-hustle, doing it yourself can be a great starting point. If this sounds like you, we recommend a basic WordPress or Shopify site with a simple template: something that gives you enough creative freedom to select a few colours/fonts and tell your brand story, but not complex enough to sink months of your time. Keep it simple – you can always evolve over time as your business grows.
If you’re an established business and your website is no longer serving you properly, it may be time to call in a professional. Maybe you built it yourself when you first opened up shop, but now it’s time to think bigger and ensure that your website is adding value to your business by attracting clients and collecting those leads.
If “build/fix website” has been on your to-do list for far too long, we’ve got you covered. Book a call with us today to find out more about our unique web solutions to support your business growth.
