Scrolling Facebook, I recently saw an ad of Keanu Reeves promoting Squarespace, and it got me to thinking. Since businesses hire only the best professionals for their company, why would building a website be any different? What makes them they think they should do it themselves? That’s why I’d like to share a couple of thoughts on why DIY websites like Wix, Squarespace, etc., can hurt your business.
DIY Websites Don’t Stand Out
One of the most important aspects of your online marketing efforts is to showcase what sets you apart from everyone else. A cheap, DIY website is completely at odds with showcasing what makes your company special. In fact, taking on the task yourself can seriously blunt your online marketing strategy. Think about it. Your website is often the first thing potential customers see when it comes to your business. You don’t want them to view it as something they feel they have seen before. While you may save a little money upfront building your own website, you can potentially lose customers due to a poor first impression. Simply put, it’s’ just not worth it if you want to expand and grow your business.
Building A DIY Website Takes Commitment
I would also like to mention that building a website takes a serious amount of time and commitment. A well designed, high-quality website is never built in an hour. Branding, professional photos, and unique content all have to be added. Not to mention making sure your website is optimized for SEO while configuring its functionality to ensure your website works on all browsers, devices, etc. In fact, the list here can go on and on. Since you’re doing busy managing all other aspects of your business, do you really have the time and commitment it takes to build an aesthetically pleasing, information-rich, fully functional website? For most people, it’s a no. Instead, you should be more focused on managing your business rather than putting together a cheap website. Your time is just too valuable to be spent any other way.
You Won’t Really Own A DIY Website
When it comes to building your own website using Wix, Squarespace, etc., you won’t actually own it. Instead your basically renting their templates and hosting through them. Since your using their proprietary system, your level of ownership and control is alarmingly limited. Even worse, if you decide your website just isn’t working out and you want to migrate to a different platform, you’ll have to start all over from scratch. You’re simply not allowed to take your website and transport it to another medium. That means any SEO authority you may have gained will be lost. This can be especially detrimental if you’ve really taken the time to market your website.
DIY Websites Are Often SEO Invisible
Speaking of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), most DIY websites can’t provide you with the help you need to achieve this essential piece of your online marketing plan. By making sure your website is fully optimized, potential customers can easily find you doing a basic Google search. However, if you’re website isn’t found in the first few results, your business is basically SEO invisible. Keep in mind that it’s not just about choosing a few carefully selected keywords. SEO requires ongoing market research, back-end coding, and constant vigilance to keep your website optimized – especially when search engines change their algorithms. DIY websites simply can’t provide you with this level of technical demand.
DIY Websites Aren’t Worth The Investment
So why do business owners try to build their own websites? To be honest, it’s usually about saving a few bucks. Even worse, advertisements like the one I mention above with Keanu Reeves, make it sound like you can get a professional, high-quality website in just a few hours. Unfortunately, this is simply not true. As the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” Only web design professionals can provide you with the industry’s best practices while providing you with a website that is focused on usability and an enjoyable customer experience. Not only will they showcase your brand in the best light possible, they will set you apart from your competitors while making sure your website works properly on all platforms and devices.
When you consider just how important a professional, high-quality website is to the success of your company, you don’t want to cut corners. A business website should be viewed as an investment rather than an expense. If it’s built and maintained properly, it will have a huge impact on the success of your company making it well worth it in the long run.
Professional Web Design Services
If you are in the market for a professional, high-quality website, the team and I at Thrive Web Designs would love to help. We offer a wide variety of professional web design services from custom web development to content marketing. This allows us to put together a professional website for you while helping you focus on what matters most – running your business. Contact us at (208) 391.2504 to learn more.
Katie Furrer
Content Curator & Social Media Marketing
