Should you DIY or hire a designer?
When it comes to building a website, you have two options: you can do it yourself or you can hire a designer.
Both choices are valid but which option you go with depends on several factors. So today, I wanted to dive a bit deeper into this topic and help you decide which option is best for you.
When Should You DIY Your Website?
Let’s start with the DIY option first. When it comes to creating a website by yourself, you can start completely from scratch. Or, you can save time by starting with a pre-made template or by enrolling in a course.
If you want to go this route, you’ll need to invest time to research and decide which website platform to use. You’ll also need to devote time to getting to know your chosen platform and actually building out all the pages yourself.
So when does DIY-ing your website make sense?
Well, there are a couple of scenarios when you should consider the DIY route:
If you’re just getting started — your budget might be limited and opting to design your website by yourself can save you money in the beginning
If you’re still testing and refining your services — if you’re still in the early stages of your business, chances are your services will go through a refinement phase. It makes no sense to invest in a designer upfront when you’ll need to update your website every so often to reflect the changes in your business
If you’re not sure who your target audience is — similarly to the point above, design does matter when it comes to your website. More importantly, different design aesthetic will appeal to different audiences so if you’re still working out who your target audience is, you’d be better off DIY-ing your website design
If you don’t have the budget to invest in a designer — hiring a designer is more expensive than buying a template, investing in a course or doing everything yourself.
If you don’t have time for feedback and dedicating time to client homework — finally, even if you know what you’re offering, you’re crystal clear on your audience, and you have the budget to invest in your business, keep in mind that you will need to be available throughout the design process to provide your designer with feedback. In addition to that, most designers will give you client homework which is crucial for successfully completing the project. If your schedule is completely full, consider postponing your website design (or redesign project) until your calendar clears out some.
Pros and Cons Of DIY
Another thing you should consider when it comes to website design is the pros and cons of DIY-ing vs hiring a designer.
As far as DIY method goes, the pros include:
You’ll get to know your website’s platform inside and out
As mentioned above, DIY approach is less expensive
You’ll be able to make edits in the future which means you won’t have to spend time looking for or waiting for a designer to do them for you
On the downside, you’ll need to invest time in researching platforms and then building your website. You’ll also need to be comfortable getting techy not just with your platform but also all the other integrations that come with it: domain name, email address, social media platforms, and more.
It’s worth mentioning that if you DIY your website, the final result may not be what you envisioned. Sadly, no matter how much we may try, we can never be great at every single little thing. And being a successful business owner requires recognizing things you’re great at and outsourcing the rest to qualified professionals. After all, that’s why we exist. 😉
Or, as my client, Tanya Raheel would say:
“One of the biggest misconceptions about running your own business is thinking that you have to do it ALL by yourself. 99% of the time that's a huge and costly mistake. My advice is to focus on what you're great at. Period. That's where your genius lies and that's what's going to to a) serve your clients well, and b) help grow your business and bring in revenue; c) Not have you lose your mind.
Do not waste your time on things that you are lousy at, drain you, make you miserable etc. In my case, one of those things is building a website, developing my online brand, doing anything related to web and graphic design etc.
And if you want someone you can 100% count on, someone who will be an incredible collaboration partner; and someone who is an expert in their field in every sense of the word, hire Ana and Ley Design!!”
When is it a good idea to hire a designer?
Now that we’ve covered when it makes sense to DIY your website, let’s talk about the second option — hiring a designer.
It’s a good idea to hire a designer if the following applies to you:
You’ve been in business for a while — you’ve either built the website yourself and want to make your website look professional or you’ve relied on social media profiles and understand the importance of having a website for your business
If you want to stand out in your industry — you need a website that showcases your unique gifts
You have the budget to invest in your website — you’d rather spend time doing what you do best and focus on serving your clients
If you have free time in your schedule — you can dedicate a few hours every week to complete design homework and provide feedback to your designer
You’re not techy at all — you’d rather sit in a dentist’s chair than work on your website and the idea of accidentally breaking something causes you to have a mild panic attack
Pros and Cons of Hiring A Designer
Hiring a designer might seem expensive at first. Hell, you might even be worried that your designer won’t get your vision and that you won’t be satisfied with the end result. You might have even been burnt by a web designer before. But I’m here to tell you that:
Not all designers are assholes
Every designer worth their salt will take the time to understand not only what you want your website to look like but also dig deeper and learn more about your business so they can best serve you.
As such, working with a designer definitely has a few perks to keep in mind:
You’ll get a professional website that puts you neck and neck with established experts in your field
You’re free to focus on working in your zone of genius and doing what you love
You’ll end up with a website that you can proudly show off to potential clients
Your website will be built with your business goals in mind and convert more visitors into leads, subscribers, and buyers
On the downside, working with a designer will cost more than going the DIY route. However, it’s an investment in your business that will not only pay for itself time and time again but it will also save you time and money in the long run.
You won’t have to update your website every so often because there’s something wrong with it (you just can’t put your finger on what that something is). More importantly, you’ll be able to focus on growing your business which will result in more revenue.
Final Thoughts
So as you can see, DIY-ing your website and hiring a designer are both valid choices for getting your website up and running. They both have their own set of pros and cons and which option you choose, depends on several factors.
If you’re looking for a designer to help you with your website design, I’d love to help. I’ve helped dozens of entrepreneurs to design websites that reflect their brand and convert their visitors into leads and subscribers. I’d love to work with you and help you create a website that elevates your brand and attracts your ideal clients. I can’t wait to chat with you!
