Having a website is crucial for your business to establish your online presence, build credibility and trust, and showcase your products or services 24/7.
But you already knew that, and now you’re faced with the question: should you make your own website or hire someone?
The dilemma is a common one, and there’s no one size fits all answer. There’s benefits and drawbacks to both and the answer ultimately depends on your unique circumstances and goals.
That being said, this article is going to delve into the pro’s a cons of paying someone to develop your website or building it yourself.
Whether you’re a solopreneur looking to launch your first website or a small business owner seeking to revamp your online presence, by the end of this guide you’ll be equipped to determine the best approach for bringing your online vision to life.
Pro’s and Con’s of Building Your Own Website
Pros:
Cost-effectiveness
Building your own website can be significantly cheaper than hiring a professional developer or agency. You can save on upfront costs and ongoing maintenance fees by opting for a monthly fee of a website builder.
Control over design and content
DIY website builders offer templates and customization options that give you full control over the look and feel of your website. You can tailor it to align with your brand identity and preferences to a certain degree. If you know how to code websites, you’ll be able to customise the design even further.
Learning experience
Building your own website can be a valuable learning opportunity. You'll gain insight into website development, design principles, and online marketing strategies, which could benefit you in the long run if it’s something you’re interested in.
Flexibility and scalability
DIY website builders often offer scalability options, allowing you to start small and expand your website as your business grows. You can add new features and functionalities (within reason) at your own pace by increasing your monthly fees.
Cons:
Time-consuming
Creating a website from scratch or using DIY website builders will be time-consuming if you care about the end result, especially if you're unfamiliar with the process. It requires time for research, design, content creation, and troubleshooting. This is all time taken away from running your business.
Requires technical skills
While many website builders offer user-friendly interfaces, building a website still requires some technical skills. You need to understand concepts like domain registration, hosting setup, website navigation and design principles, to name a few, in order to achieve an end result that truly showcases your brand.
Potential for lower quality or unprofessional design
Without professional expertise, DIY websites may lack the polish and functionality of professionally designed sites. This can impact user experience and credibility, hindering your business's success.
Limited customization options
While DIY website builders offer templates and customization features, they may have limitations in terms of design flexibility and functionality. Your website will likely not stand out as much from your competitors or meet all of your specific needs compared to a custom-built site.
Pro’s and Cons of Hiring Someone To Build Your Website
Pros:
Professional design and functionality
Hiring a professional web designer or developer ensures that your website will have a polished and professional appearance. They have the expertise to create a visually appealing custom layout and incorporate advanced functionalities tailored to your business needs.
Time-saving
Outsourcing website development allows you to focus on other aspects of your business while experts handle the technicalities. This can save you valuable time and resources, allowing you to launch your website more quickly and efficiently.
Access to expertise
Professional web developers bring years of experience and specialized skills to the table. They stay updated on the latest design trends, technologies, and best practices, ensuring that your website is built to industry standards and optimized for success.
Customization and personalization
Working with a professional allows for greater customization and personalization of your website. They can tailor the design, features, and functionality to meet your specific business goals and target audience, providing a unique and tailored online experience.
Cons:
Higher upfront cost
Hiring a professional to build your website typically comes with a higher price tag compared to DIY options. You'll need to budget for design fees, development costs, and potentially ongoing maintenance expenses, which may not be feasible for all businesses, especially startups or small ventures. Balance this with the fact that most, or all, of the price tag is a one off cost.
Less control over the process
When you hire someone to build your website, you relinquish some control over the development process. While you can provide input and feedback, the final outcome may not always align perfectly with your vision or preferences, leading to potential frustration or disappointment. This is why hiring the right agency is incredibly important.
Communication challenges
Working with external contractors or agencies can sometimes lead to communication challenges. Misunderstandings, delays, or differences in expectations can arise, especially if there's a lack of clear communication channels or project management protocols in place. Again, choosing the right agency will mitigate this risk so do your due diligence.
Dependency on external support
Once your website is built by a professional, you may become reliant on their ongoing support for updates, maintenance, and troubleshooting. This dependency could pose challenges if the service provider becomes unavailable in the future.
Factors to Consider Before Making a Decision
Before deciding whether to build your own website or hire someone, it's essential to consider several factors that can influence the outcome. Here are key points to keep in mind:
Budget
Evaluate your budget constraints and determine how much you're willing to invest in your website. Consider both upfront costs and ongoing expenses, such as hosting fees and maintenance.
Website builders will come with a lower price tag but then you’re hooked into a monthly payment, whereas most professional developers will charge a larger one-off fee.
Bare in mind with website builders that if you stop paying the monthly fee your website will be taken down until you continue paying.
Time
Assess your timeline for launching the website and determine how much time you can dedicate to the development process.
In the options below we’re going to assume that you’re invested in creating an exceptional and memorable user experience for your customers. Otherwise, you can choose a website builder template, change the text and images and be up and running in a couple of days.
If you have a short timeline to go live then your best bet would be to hire a professional to deliver your website as this will shortcut any difficulties you’ll surely encounter by building it yourself (if you’re not versed in web development).
If you have a longer timeline, the inclination to learn how to code, and the spare time from running your business in order to do so, then building your own website could be the way to go and could even be a rewarding learning experience.
Skills
Honestly evaluate your technical skills and expertise in website development. If you're proficient in coding and design, building your own website may be a viable option.
However, if you lack the necessary skills, outsourcing to a professional may be the better choice.
This is dependent on your timelines as well. Again, if you have the spare time from running your business to learn how to code, then building your own website could still be a viable option.
Goals
Consider the purpose of your website and your long-term objectives. Are you looking to create a simple informational site, or do you need advanced features for e-commerce or lead generation?
Your goals will influence the complexity of your website and the level of expertise required.
Complexity
Determine the complexity of your website requirements and whether DIY solutions can meet your needs.
Most website builders will offer you a standard set of options which may be suitable to a lot of people. However, diverging from what they offer in any way is not possible without the cost increasing dramatically.
For complex projects requiring custom functionality or integrations, hiring a professional may be necessary to ensure optimal performance and user experience.
Choosing a good agency
If you decide to hire a professional, research and vet potential agencies or freelancers thoroughly.
Look for portfolios of past work, client testimonials, and reviews to gauge their expertise and reliability.
Consider factors such as communication skills, project management processes, and customer support to ensure a positive working relationship.
The same can be said for website builders as well. How much support do they offer? Are they able to offer customisations? Do their templates and features suit your business needs?
Decision-Making Process
Making the decision between building your own website or hiring someone is pivotal for the success of your online presence.
To aid in this decision, we've outlined a step-by-step decision-making process in the form a decision tree below as a visual representation.
The process map provided below illustrates the decision-making journey, guiding you through a series of questions and considerations to arrive at the most suitable option for your situation. The
By following this structured approach and carefully considering each step of the decision-making process, you'll be empowered to make a confident and well-informed choice regarding your website development strategy.
Conclusion
Deciding whether to build your own website or hire a professional developer is a significant choice that can greatly impact your online presence and business success.
Throughout this guide, we've explored the pros and cons of each approach, discussed different factors to be considered, and outlined a structured decision-making process to assist you in making this important decision.
Regardless of the path you choose, it's essential to prioritize your goals, resources, and preferences.
If you have the necessary technical skills, time, and budget flexibility, building your own website can offer cost-effectiveness and customization options.
On the other hand, hiring a professional developer will provide expertise, professional design, and advanced functionality, albeit at a higher upfront cost.