That DIY website design template you’re considering comes with a budget-friendly price tag. It’s so reasonably priced that you might be wondering what could possibly outweigh cost considerations.
Plenty, it turns out. That low-price solution may be appealing now, but if you were to add up the costs of a lackluster website, they would include some shocking results:
- Visitors who arrive at your site, then quickly give up because the load time is so slow
- Bugs that start out requiring a tweak or two, but become more like an infestation over time
- Confusing navigation that prevents your potential customers from finding what they need
- Factors like credibility and trustworthiness, even overall user experience
A DIY option isn’t showcasing these “features,” of course. You may not discover them until you’re live with your site.
So, before you decide a DIY approach and hiring a professional, let’s look at a few statistics that might help you make an informed decision.
You’ve Got Five Seconds: And that’s generous. While your visitors take about five seconds to form an impression of your brand according to research, that’s if they stick around. According to Google Consumer Insights, if your site takes longer than two to three seconds to load, 53% of visitors will leave.
This means that you need to have a site that loads quickly and that represents your brand well. Prioritizing clean design and an easy-to-navigate site with clear menus and clear paths for visitors is key. A professional can guide you through all of this.
Close the Deal: Approximately one-third of all transactions get abandoned in the cart. The reason 33% of carts don’t make it through to a complete order is friction. Whether it’s confusing instructions, payment options that don’t function correctly or a slow-moving site, the purchase isn’t worth the trouble.
Another problem with abandoned carts is the security of your site. If a customer doesn’t feel assured that their payment information is safe with you, they may decide it’s not a wise move to do business with you.
This is where a buggy site can be a big problem, but other cues cause your guests to feel that your site isn’t secure. Slow load times, an outdated design or a site that seems a little off can all be obstacles to overall credibility.
Get Out of the Dark Ages: The dark ages of desktop, that is. You need a professional website that is responsive across all devices. In 2025, approximately 64% of global website traffic occurred on mobile devices.
More than a third of all traffic is still on a desktop, so that’s why responsiveness is key. Your site needs to be able to move with your audience, no matter what device they are using to check out your company.
Make Sure They Can Find You: More than 80% of all search inquiries begin on Google. This means that if you don’t have a website design that prioritizes best practices aligned with Google’s algorithm, you probably aren’t all that findable on search.
Professional web design prioritizes accessibility, strategic keyword use and design elements all working together to support search engine optimization (SEO).
Make Sure They Enjoy The Experience: User experience is a big reason why many small business owners invest in professional website design. Nearly all (88%) of users say that they won’t return to a site after a bad experience.
A design that enhances the user experience builds your credibility. Factors like visual appeal, familiarity and the ease of use were all associated with trustworthiness according to ScienceDirect. For 29 to 68% of users, these factors were critical to them feeling a business was trustworthy.
Be Ready to Grow: A professional website is critical for scalability. If you experience a surge in volume, you may be months from being able to handle the influx of interest in your company. With a professional site, your designer can scale the site to your needs as your business grows. Your site won’t freeze up, nor will it compromise any element of the user experience.
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know: Unless you’re a website developer, it can be challenging to know what is missing from a DIY template. You can’t see the risk for viruses or security issues, accessibility gaps or how your vision for your site might inadvertently lead to a slow load time.
You might think of a strong website as a branding tool. And it is. It’s also so much more: a signal of trustworthiness and credibility, a pleasant user experience, a secure transaction site and a way to introduce new traffic and growth through search.
If you’re trying to decide between a DIY website approach and professional website design, contact us at SJC Marketing. We can help you sort through your concerns, detail the costs of a professional design and go over all the considerations that might impact your business.
You won’t experience a high-pressure sales pitch (nobody likes that!). Let’s have a conversation and discuss what a custom site might do for your company. You’re making a big decision; we can walk you through it.