So, you’ve decided it’s time for a website revamp, or maybe you’re just starting out and ‘do the website’ is right up there at the top of the list of things to do. One of the questions that will likely pop up is: should you try to build it yourself using a DIY website builder, or bring in a web designer to do it properly?
We are biased on this of course 😉 Unless you’re a tech-savvy designer-copywriter hybrid, it’s hard to get it right, and unfortunately a lot of self-built sites either end up looking amateurish or being abandoned altogether.
It’s a bit like deciding whether to cut your own hair. Technically, yes, you can do it yourself… but should you?
However, there are business owners out there who do have the skills, the design eye, and the commitment to build their own website and do a lovely job. So let’s weigh up the pros and cons to see if DIY is right for you.
The Case for DIY Website Builders
DIY website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and even WordPress.com promise quick, affordable websites without needing to know a single line of code. And to be fair, they’ve come a long way. For startups, hobby projects or shoestring budgets, they can absolutely do the job.
The Pros:
- Cost-effective: Most builders offer free or low-cost plans, so it’s ideal if you’re watching the pennies.
- Quick setup: If you’re keen and committed, you can go from idea to a published site in a day or two.
- Limited tech skills required: Drag-and-drop builders and templates can work well for fairly standard brochure websites.
- Plenty of templates: Pre-designed layouts can help you create a site that looks professional and will usually come with mobile styling included.
The Cons:
- Limited customisation: What you see with the template you pick is (mostly) what you get. If you want something outside the box, it can get tricky.
- Time-consuming: Turns out “easy” takes time! Even the simplest builder has a learning curve before you’ve even started choosing fonts, writing copy, sourcing, retouching and resizing images… it adds up.
- SEO and performance limitations: Many DIY sites aren’t built with speed, accessibility or search engines in mind because most small business owners don’t know how to optimise these things. There’s no shame in that – they’re actually quite complicated!
- Hidden costs: Whilst a lot of the builders are free, you’re still paying monthly charges, plus when you want any additional functionality bolted onto your site, additional charges can start adding up.
- Support is hit and miss: If you need help or are trying to troubleshoot, this is usually either through community forums, or via back and forth written support tickets that ultimately can take hours or days to resolve.
- Their branding on your website: On the cheapest tier plans, you usually have the platform’s branding on your website as the compromise for paying them bugger all. It doesn’t look professional.
The Case for Hiring a Pro
Bringing in a professional web designer (hello!) might cost more upfront, but the benefits often outweigh the spend—especially if your website is meant to generate leads or make sales.
The Pros:
- Time and energy saved: You don’t need to learn a new platform, write copy, source and resize images, or wrestle with website menus at 11pm. Just hand it over. Job done. Get on with something else whilst your lovely website gets built for you.
- Tailored design: Rather than using a cookie-cutter template with no personality, your website will reflect you, your brand and your goals, and also those of your audience. A good web designer’s superpower is knowing what will make you proud of your website and also making sure your site ‘speaks’ to your ideal clients.
- Strategic layout: Part of a designer and copywriter’s job is knowing how to guide users through your site and encourage them to take action. User journey and user experience is absolutely crucial for converting website visitors into customers.
- Better performance: Faster loading, mobile-friendly, SEO-optimised – all that techie stuff under the hood that does actually matter is done for you as standard.
- Ongoing support: Need advice, updates, new pages, or help with blog posts? You’ve got someone at the end of the phone who knows you, knows your business and is 100% in your corner.
The Cons:
- Higher upfront cost: A custom website is a serious investment, there’s no doubt about it. But like any good investment, it should pay off. Remember your time costs money as well – you could be using your own superpower doing something else to help your business grow. And cheap is not always the best way to go – you often get what you pay for. Work on the principle of best value not cheapest price.
- May take longer to launch: Quality takes time, so expect a longer timeline compared to DIY. (Although we’ve also seen people take years to work on their self build!)
- You’ll need to trust someone else: It’s your baby, and handing over control can be scary but the right web designer will ‘get’ you, understand your business, and know how to work with you to come up with something that works properly and you can be proud of.
So… Which One’s Right for You?
It really depends on your skills, your business, your budget, and how serious you are about your online presence.
- If you’re already skilled in graphics, copywriting, marketing, have an eye for design, a feel for user experience, and are comfortable using various digital platforms, there is no doubt that you will be able to bang out a beautiful, well-crafted website yourself (and we may want to employ you!). So 100% go for it. And if you’re building in WordPress and want a bit of a leg up on any of it, we can provide pay-as-you-go training and consultancy.
- If you’ve got an incredibly limited budget, you’re just getting started and testing an idea, or need something up quickly for a side project, DIY might be a good option – for now – if you’ve got some skills, and the time to commit to to it.
- If you want to get your start-up going quickly and professionally, you’re a growing business, you want to stand out, and you need your website to work (as in, convert visitors into paying customers), hiring a professional web designer is usually the smarter route.
Final Thoughts
Your website is often the first impression people get of your business. And while DIY builders have their place, there’s a reason professional web designers exist—it’s not just about making things look nice; it’s about building a website that actually helps your business grow.
Thinking about levelling up your online presence? We’re here to help—whether you’re ready for a full site redesign or just want some honest advice about what your business really needs.
Let’s have a chat.