So it’s time for your company to build a website or redo your website design. You’ve seen all the ads on TV for “Do It Yourself Website Builders” like Square Space and WIX. You’ve heard the promises “It’s easy” and “You’ll have your website up in minutes”. Hell, how hard could be? You slap your logo on it, create a color scheme and just like that you have a website. You’ve saved thousands of dollars on a web design firm by building it yourself. It’s a no brainer, and now and then businesses in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Hampton Roads and the Outer Banks choose that route.
It sounds so logical, and for a chosen few it is. If you are web savvy, have an eye for design and plenty of time for lots of trial and error you might find success. The truth is that for most people it isn’t that easy, and you are highly unlikely to come out the process with a successful website. Many of our clients came us to after giving DIY websites a go.
With a DIY website design you’ll be using a cookie-cutter template and replacing images and text in predetermined spots. Translation, your website design is going to look boring, unprofessional and will not stand out among your competition. Is it worth not hiring a web design firm to build you a website that portrays instant credibility with your targeted audience.
Your website is the most accessible arm of your business. It is online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, worldwide. Most likely, it’s the way potential clients in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Hampton Roads and the Outer Banks will be introduced to your business. What kind of impression do you want to make?
The next thing you’re going to notice is that you really can’t put a website together in minutes, no matter how basic the site is and how much preparation you have done before starting the process (i.e. choosing and resizing pictures, writing text, building wireframes, etc.) It takes a professional web design firm 2 to 4 weeks of working full time to finish an average website. There are many different factors that are considered when building a website that you’re probably not going to think of. So, if you want to avoid a lot of headaches, frustration and hours on-hold talking with a support staff that doesn’t care about your business or website — go with a professional web design firm.
Once your DIY website is built you are going to find that no one is looking at it. A professional web designer knows how to build a website that will be found by your target market. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a huge factor in the success of a website and the hard truth is DIY websites don’t have it. Your website will just sit there collecting cyber dust. Successful websites rank on search engines and create leads. To do that you’re going to need a professional website design firm.
If you are thinking about building or redoing your website on your own, we tip our hats to you. We wish you the best of luck. You are brave, bold and apparently have a lot of time on your hands. If you want a professional, polished website that increases your brand credibility and brand awareness contact us. We would love to help.
