There are plenty of templates and do-it-yourself options out there for website design, promising a working site that fits your budget. So, why do so many small businesses abandon their DIY sites mid-project and hire a website designer?
Website design is a DIY project if you are living in the 1990s and you only depend on your site as a way to list your phone number and “about us” page. But in today’s market, you need a website that works a lot harder than that. And it’s all about the website design.
Here are a few reasons why investing in a professional is a better option:
SEO: Launching a discussion about search engine optimization (SEO) is a bit of a can-of-worms situation because it is an expansive and technical topic. But while many people know that blogs and video posts improve your ranking on search engines, there’s also a high level of expertise that goes into a website design to support SEO. From white space to keywords and meta descriptions, there is a lot to consider.
First Impressions: Your visitors take less than one second to assess your brand based on your website. From slow load times to a menu that’s a confusing maze, what is your DIY website going to say to your visitors?
Building Trust: You can probably tell DIY sites from professionally-developed sites, and your audience can, too. A well-designed website sends a message to your audience, communicating that you are taking your brand seriously and they should, too. You’re not in this business for a quick hit and you’ve invested in the tools that make your customers’ experiences enjoyable, building loyalty for a long relationship with them.
Bugging Out: Your DIY site will begin to have small functionality problems within a year or two of setting it up. These sites are simply not resistant to intrusion and bugs, unlike a custom site that is built to last and withstand frequent attempts at undermining its quality.
Thinking long-term… At SJC Marketing, we hear from a lot of small businesses that have abandoned a DIY plan when it went south. These companies spent more money in the long run than if they had pursued a professional website design from the start. Fortunately, we have a few different options when it comes to website design, and it’s likely that there’s one to fit your budget. Contact us and let’s see what we can build together.