Whether you own a brick-and-mortar business or plan to start an online venture, having a website is critical to your success. There are numerous free and premium tools you can use to build your own website; however, you should consider several aspects of this endeavor carefully before you take on this task.
What will designing your own website take away from your business?
As an entrepreneur, you wear many hats. You might be responsible for product development, marketing, accounting, and many other routine tasks. If you have little or no experience designing websites, the countless hours that it will take for you to create a professional web presence will likely take away from your core functions. It is important to weigh the cost of taking these hours away from your business against the savings of not hiring a professional web designer.
Are you comfortable with designing a responsive website?
Today, more than half of all Internet search queries are generated from mobile devices, which include tablets and smartphones. A website that is not truly responsive will display incorrectly on mobile devices, which can cost you sales. Several free and paid website builders claim that their sites are responsive; however, you might still need to make some adjustments to ensure that your mobile visitors find the information they're looking for. If fine-tuning your site for mobile optimization is outside of your skill set, it might be worth hiring a web designer to ensure that your site is attractive to as many visitors as possible.
Do you want a truly unique website?
There are many "build it yourself" tools available; however, these tools have inherent limitations. If you are looking for a truly custom website, finding the platform that has the features you need can be challenging.
One option is a hosted "drag and drop" website builder. These tools are relatively simple to use, and can help you establish a web presence quickly even if you have never built a website before. Still, "drag and drop" builders may have limited functionality and can make it challenging to obtain the look and feel you want. If you opt for a website builder, you should also make sure that you can integrate features such as opt-in forms and image sliders in order to build visitor interest and develop your lead list..
You can also opt for a Wordpress theme and launch a self-hosted Wordpress site. Thousands of themes are available to help you create attractive sites, including corporate and magazine-style websites. You can pair a theme with a handful of Wordpress plugins to enhance functionality and further customize your site. Keep in mind, though, that customizing a theme is often more complex than it appears, particularly if you choose a robust theme with many options. Also, many free and low-cost themes have limited options - you might be stuck with only a few color or style choices.
Do you want to be responsible for site maintenance?
If you design your website on your own, you might spend more than a few late nights wading through code or waiting on hold with your host's tech support team when your site malfunctions. You'll also have to take time away from your business to perform necessary updates and add new features to your site. Many "do it yourself" business owners don't think about the ongoing maintenance until a problem occurs or an update is required.
Building your own website can save you a few thousand dollars or more depending on the complexity of your site. It can be tempting to take this task on yourself when your business is new and capital is low. Still, over the long term, creating your own site can cost you in terms of time and frustration. If you want a web presence that positions your business as an industry authority and generates long-term sales, the expertise and ongoing support of a professional web designer can be well worth the initial expense.
© Zawya BusinessPulse 2014
