Since websites are so fundamental to businesses these days, the Internet is flooded with different platforms to help you create them: Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Shopify, etc. In the web world, we call these CMS or ‘Content Management Systems’.
Do-it-yourself website builder platforms are currently worth $24 billion in the US and observe a 4.9% annual growth rate. A lot of people opt for DIY over hiring a website designer or agency.
So, how do you know whether you should hire someone to build your website or do it yourself?
Can I DIY it?
Taking the DIY route may seem better than it actually is. The upshot is that CMSs tend to be easy to use and provide design templates. The downside is that these templates are rigid and severely constrain your design ability. They also record issues on mobile versions and don’t allow you to control or customise many of the functionalities.
Additionally, using a DIY website-building platform doesn’t offer much if you’d like to keep your website healthy and fast or optimise the SEO. It also limits your creative canvas, aka what you can do. Businesses often become stuck if they upscale rapidly and need to adapt their website. The templates simply do not accommodate such changes easily.
Unless you’re an expert… And if you are, you are probably not using a DIY website platform in the first place.
Some website-building platforms, for example, WordPress, are better than others and offer more freedom and options (if you know how to use them properly, that is).
To make sure you stay on top of all this, you need to do the work manually and basically teach yourself all the tricks of the trade. There’s a whole lot one needs to do to keep the website in good shape after it’s created.
It is overwhelming. WP Beginner reports that, currently, there are around 1.14 billion websites in the world. 17% of these websites are active, and 83% are inactive.
Before deciding whether to hire someone to build your website or do it yourself, consider the following factors:
Your Budget
Hiring a professional web designer or developer can be more expensive than building a website yourself but will provide better results.
Your Availability
Building a website yourself can take a significant amount of time, especially if you’re not familiar with web design and development.
Your Skills and Experience
If you lack the skills and experience to create a professional-looking website, it may be best to hire a professional.
Your Business Objectives
If you want a website that is customised to meet your specific business needs, hiring a professional may be the best option.
Ready to pick a CMS? Don’t let your online potential go untapped. Reach out to Eb + Flo Digital and empower your business with cutting-edge website development, strategic digital marketing, and engaging content creation. Let’s turn your vision into digital success!
