Building a website is an essential step for any business or individual looking to establish a strong online presence. And in this day and age, securing your online presence is a huge component of solidifying your brand.
With the widely advertised ease of use of DIY website builders, many people are tempted to take on this task. We’ll be honest: Putting together a website isn’t a problem for your average tech-savvy person. But even the most tech-savvy go down a new avenue as they discover all that isn’t obvious in these builders.
We (as a web design and development company) have gained quite a few clients as a result of these DIY experiences. Many people who made their own websites ended up coming to us.
Why?
Because only with time and experience they realized there were issues they either knew nothing about or had no control over.
Here, we want to reveal and explore the Pros and Cons of DIY website builders.
Our hope is to help you make an informed decision about using one of these services. Read on to decide
(1) if you should do it, or
(2) if you need help with your website.
PRO: Full Control and Flexibility
One of the advantages of using a DIY website builder is the control you have over the design of your website. You can customize every aspect, ensuring it reflects your unique brand identity and meets your specific requirements.
This level of control allows you to create a website that represents your vision. There’s no going back and forth for approval because you can finalize every section before you move onto the next.
And there’s no denying how much more pride you have in it since you touched every single detail yourself.
PRO: 24/7 Content Updates
Another benefit of DIY website builders is the ability to update your content as and when you please. You can experiment with different layouts, add or modify content, and add a new page when you have an idea.
This flexibility empowers you to stay relevant and adapt to changing market needs. You can change anything and everything you want at a moment’s notice because you have that access.
It’s also completely true that you have input and an approval process when you hire someone to design your website. So it’s more or less a scheduling factor that is the difference between the two options.
Let’s look at the CONS in full detail to see what else you will need to consider…
CON: Time and Technical Challenges
While having full control over your website is empowering, it comes with the cost of time and technical challenges. Building a website from scratch using a DIY website builder can be a time-consuming process. A 4-6 page website can take 60-80 hours depending on how much content editing you do before it’s considered “final”.
It also requires learning and researching, and you might encounter technical difficulties during the “go live” process. In such cases, seeking external help or support becomes necessary.
Business owners end up seeking a professional’s help because they just can’t afford to spend more time working on it. There is also the consideration that is Accessibility and User Experience. These are additional perspectives and technical considerations that web development teams include in the design of a website.
CON: Backend Technical Limitations
While DIY website builders offer front-end design flexibility, they often come with backend technical limitations. These limitations can impact your website’s performance and search engine rankings. It also makes the more tech-savvy creators realize that it’s not nearly as customizable as it could be.
Some builders don’t have a coding screen that can be toggled; which is necessary to fix certain SEO Errors. Others have it hidden somewhere else or as a CSS field in each aspect’s properties/settings.
Without the ability to fix the backend technical errors, your website may encounter issues that hinder its growth and visibility. Unless you ask a developer to take a look, make sure you save a copy/backup before you play with it.
CON: Limited Features and Additional Costs
DIY website builders typically provide a set of features within their plans. However, if you require advanced functionalities or customizations, you may find yourself having to pay extra for those features.
On the other hand, a professional web design company can create a website tailored to your specific needs. This would include all those extra special features in your base price.
Every company is different, so you do want to ask questions about what exactly they use and how they build it. Our team (for example) creates custom websites within the WordPress platform… that means we custom code everything including all non-standard plugins. Some companies use the same DIY Website Builders you might use, but they may or may not use custom code and templates, or have extra plugins/features.
Bottom line: Do your research and ask questions; no matter what or who you’re using.
CON: SEO Challenges and Hidden Problems
Effective SEO is crucial for increasing your website’s visibility and driving organic traffic. While DIY website builders may offer some SEO guides and capabilities, they often lack the expertise to address underlying technical issues.
For example, we have served clients who initially built their websites using a DIY builder. Although the websites looked good and functioned properly, they had hidden technical problems that hindered their search engine positions. It took our expertise to both identify and fix these issues, which improved their SEO Health score and performance.
We have done SEO on Shopify and Squarespace, and we can speak to how crucial fields can be hard to find. Getting your hands on an SEO Guide or course is a good starting point in figuring out how to navigate this.
CON: Keyword Optimization Pitfalls
Some DIY website owners attempt to handle SEO themselves including keyword optimization. However, without proper keyword research, you may unknowingly target keywords with little or no search volume. And without a Site Audit, you can have no idea how well your website is performing within search engine results.
As a noteworthy case study:
We have a client who used us for SEO Services to help them achieve more than 12 Top 10 Positions. In addition to that, we solidly established more than 50 Positions (with over 25 in the Top 20). After some time, they decided to take the updates into their own hands. They hired a tech-savvy person internally and decided on their own keywords; which weren’t based on any research.
As a result, their website lost more than a dozen Positions, including some key established Top 3 and Top 10. Overall, their average Ranking fell by more than 20. The Site Health dropped more than 15%, with most of their pages no longer considered “SEO friendly”. All of this resulted in a drastic decline in their website traffic.
If you’re not ready for ongoing SEO Services, our advice is to at least consult with an SEO expert. Or better yet, have a professional get your website established and don’t change the content without a review from them.
What to know about DIY Website Builders
DIY website builders offer flexibility and control, allowing you to create a website on your terms. However, they come with time commitments, technical limitations, hidden problems, and SEO challenges that may hinder your website’s success.
Hiring a professional web design company can provide you with a comprehensive solution. We can ensure that your website includes all the features you need, addresses technical aspects and maximizes your search engine visibility.
Ultimately, the decision between a DIY website builder and professional web design services depends on your goals, technical expertise, and resources. Carefully weigh the pros and cons and consider your specific needs and priorities. If you have the time, technical skills, and willingness to overcome challenges, a DIY website builder may be a suitable option.
If you value efficiency, quality, and the expertise of professionals, hiring a web design company is likely the better choice.
Fixing your DIY Website
At Northnet Media, we understand the allure of DIY website builders and the desire for creative control. However, we have also witnessed the limitations and challenges they can pose. Our team of web developers can provide a website that meets your design preferences and ensures proper technical implementation and optimization.
While DIY website builders offer certain advantages, they come with potential pitfalls that can hinder your online success. Choosing a professional web design company like Northnet Media ensures that your website is built with expertise, incorporates all the necessary features, and receives ongoing support and optimization. Contact us today to discuss your website needs and let us help you create a strong and impactful online presence.