When to hire a web designer versus using a website builder
If you’re not sure when to hire a web designer versus using a website builder, there are only four considerations. These are time, capability, functionality and budget. In today’s quick piece, we’ll explore each in turn to help you decide if you should go with an agency like ours or DIY.
Time
The first critical factor is how much time you have. Planning, scoping, prototyping, building, testing and launching a website with a designer takes a lot longer than a few clicks. If you need to have something done in a few days, then you’ll want to use a website builder – at least in the interim. Working with a website designer will take between 2 months and 5 months on average, according to Wix. However, you’ll get a more premium website as a result with tried and tested functionality.
Capability
The next element to consider is how handy you (or members of your team) are with tech. Do they understand WYSIWYG editors, HTML, CSS, CMS or PHP? If you get a bit lost trying to save a Word Document as a PDF, then it probably is worth the investment in website design support. Even though modern website builders are meant to be simple to use, it’s the integrations, cross-linking, forms and other tools that you may struggle to implement without help. Unless you want to spend a lot of time learning how to do these things or hanging on the phone to technical support, a design agency is a better bet.
Functionality
Perhaps even more important is what you’re expecting the website to do. If it’s just a digital shopfront with a basic catalogue or online portfolio; then you can probably make that quickly and simply with an online tool. However, if you need more advanced features like live booking systems, product logistics integrations, database access and more; then a development agency is required.
Budget
Last, but definitely, not least; is your budget. If you responded to that with, “What budget?” then you need to DIY your website. Creativity and expertise can be reasonably priced. But they will always be a larger up-front cost than a simple online website builder. Have you had complaints about your website in the past? You may save in the long run by getting something professionally designed then trying to DIY it again. What you spend on development would be more than made up for with happier customers, better conversion rates and a smoother sales process.
So, based on the above, it’s pretty easy to make a pros/cons list around when to hire a web designer versus using a website builder. Your choice comes down to tech comfortability, budget, time and required functionality. If it’s feasible, going with a professional is likely to yield better results over the long term.
Want our help to create and maintain your online presence? We’d love to support you. Talk to us today about your needs, goals and timelines. We’ll help you cost and plan everything out. Then you can forecast exactly what your new website will be able to deliver and from when.
