Designing your own website has never been easier right? You think you can save some money by doing it yourself. With the money you save, you could splurge on something else, so why not take advantage of this? But cutting costs on your website design upfront might not actually save you money in the long haul! We have discussed this topic with Reactive Graphics and their team of web designers London. They shared with us their insights and above all they highlighted how creating a DYI website for your business could potentially impact your sales negatively.
Professional web design is hard to match
Professional web design is hard to match because it requires a combination of skill, creativity and experience. Professional designers understand the user‘s needs, have attention to detail and ability to tailor designs to meet individual client‘s goals. They also stay updated with the latest design trends and technologies. Close to 50 % of people said that the design of a website is the most important factor when determining a business’s credibility, while 39 % stated they would leave a site if its layout or content doesn’t appeal to them. Even a small error can drive away thousands of visitors and potential customers.
SEO knowledge and performance
Setting up a webpage with some blogs is one thing, but making it to the first page on a Google search and attracting significant visitor traffic is a job best left to the professionals. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) means structuring a website in a way that catches the attention of search engines like Google, including tactics like using keywords in text, meta descriptions, semantic URLs and optimising loading speed among others. However, search engines keep updating their algorithms, making SEO a constantly evolving field where what works today might not tomorrow.
Crafting a fantastic DIY website takes a lot of effort and dedication
Today’s DIY website builders offer sleek and intuitive user interfaces (UX), making it easy to add and rearrange content. Designing a stunning homepage can feel easy. So now you have a nice-looking Home page and your contact form works seamlessly. But maintaining that level of attention to detail across multiple pages can be tough. After a handful of pages, finding the right template layout or creating something from scratch can become a bit daunting.
Security challenges
Many people believe that once a website is launched, it’s finished. But, that’s not the case. Regular updates to the code are important to ensure security and fresh content is needed to keep the site relevant. Maintaining website security presents considerable challenges. If a website gets hacked and blacklisted, it could lose up to 98% of its traffic. Not having proper website security can be as detrimental as not having a website at all or even worse. For example, a leak in client data could result in lawsuits, significant fines and irreparable damage to reputation.
Support & maintance
Regular updates and fixes keep the site running smoothly and ensure a positive user experience. Support will assist you with any technical issues, minimising downtime when your website isn’t functioning properly and preserving the brand’s reputation. If you don’t take care of your website regularly, it could get hacked, run slow and lose visitors. So it is important to get ongoing help to keep your site safe and make sure people can find it easily.
Your best competitors use professional designers
You should keep in mind that you are competing with other websites. A quick look at your competitor’s websites could give you some ideas. If your competitors have hired professionals, their websites will likely outshine yours in both appearance and functionality, not to mention SEO. When it comes to website design, you do get what you pay for. Investing in an experienced professional means you will get a high quality website that can help you to compete against your competition.
When to DIY your website
If your business is just starting out and your budget is tight DIYing your website could be the perfect solution. If you have plenty of time on your hands, minimal funds and you just need a simple brochure website using an online website builder like Wix or WordPress can give you the online presence you need. It is cost-effective way to showcase your services and products while gaining valuable experience in managing your online presence.
In conclusion, although the idea of designing your website yourself might seem tempting, it’s important to understand the clear benefits of hiring a professional web design agency. Doing it yourself takes a lot of time and effort and might not be as secure or easy to keep up. Since your competition is probably using professionals, it’s smart to invest in expert help for your site. But if your project is small or just for fun, DIY could be okay.
