Are you considering or currently using a DIY visual website builder or free hosting plan for your website? With so many free and do it yourself hosting platforms available, it may seem like a good, easy idea. And it’s becoming an especially popular option among creatives and indie businesses. Many web platforms target small, creative businesses with paid search ads, affiliate programs, etc. so you will see their logos often when browsing the web (this is basically a savvy marketing strategy for them).
However, have you ever wondered what are the pros and cons between using a website builder and hiring a professional web developer to create your new site? Are some DIY website builders better than others or are they all the same? Where do you even start?
Here’s the lowdown….
- Design style. While it may seem like there are lots of options to choose from, keep in mind a template site is not unique. Millions of people are choosing the same layout and colors as you. Your content and images may be different, however it is displayed in the same generic package as many others. If your goal is to build your business and your following online, it is harder to stand out without a custom designed site. If your product is image-based (art, design, etc.) your work + logo will make it look a bit more unique and a DIY template could work for you for a while. Ultimately, regardless of your business or profession, having a unique, high-quality site definitely enhances your professional reputation and following!
- Loading time. Online design editors are commonly referred to as “WSIWYG’s” in the web development industry. This stands for “what you see is what you get”, a visual view of your web page as you create it. Or a translation in web developer terms is that this really means there is a limit to what you can achieve without writing code for a site (yep, web devs love sarcastic humor). WSIWYG’s often malfunction during the editing process which is frustrating, and write poor code on the back end which makes your site slow. Viewers often click away from slow-loading posts or image galleries, especially on mobile devices. If you subscribe to a paid website building service that has a support team, their visual editor will typically be higher quality and you will also receive tech support. The low cost or free site builders are often the worst. >>Patience needed. Tons of patience.
- Site malfunctions. To make the most money from their advertisers, free or low cost site builders and host providers skimp on hosting space. In cheap shared hosting plans, tons of sites are lumped together on the same server with less data space which means your site will load slower which especially impacts mobile devices. Sometimes images will not appear or the site will temporarily “break.” Slow site = lost customers, less viewers.
- Mobile-friendliness. Most web builders on the market today are mobile-friendly and it’s pretty much standard for a web developer to understand mobile design. So most options are a pretty safe bet when considering mobile users.
- Limits in search engine ranking. SEO (search engine optimization) is important so that your site ranks higher in a search of your target market. Many DIY site builders include basic options to boost your ranking. However since you can not access the core files of your site, it’s hard to implement more advanced features like the pros use. Choose a service that does offer some SEO or alternatively consult with a web developer or SEO expert.
- No ownership of content, site is not permanent. Sites built in a DIY web builder are ultimately not under your control. Since you do not have a hard copy of your files, if the company goes out of business or their server crashes, your site vanishes and you will need to build your site all over again somewhere else. However, if you have an independent website hosting plan and hire a web designer to build your site, you will receive a hard copy of your files that can be backed up on another server or transferred elsewhere if needed.
- Advertisement display. Every company offering free services has to make money in another way. Many free hosting companies will place banner ads on your site in the header or the sidebar, making it look junky and less professional. You need to pay a monthly fee for no ad display. (For the same price, you can have your own high quality hosting account and high quality website).
- Expensive add-ons or monthly fees required. Many free/ low cost plans require other paid services later. Typical add-ons include more data space, no ad display, an e-commerce store or a blog, a newsletter sign up that will cost you more in the long run compared to a web designer’s one-time fee for building your custom site.
- Read the terms of service for more hidden information. You’ll probably find even more points to consider here. Beware if their terms of service state that the plan rules can change at any time.
SO… WHAT NEXT? Some final advice….
- If you’ve already subscribed and built a site on a service like this, don’t despair. A template website is better than no site at all. Think of it as a starter site. Consider new options for the future if you want to boost the marketing efforts for your business.
- Self-hosted content management systems are the best option if you want to build a higher quality site without having to write code. For example- WordPress or Squarespace are high quality website platforms that I recommend. There are many free online tutorials, especially for WordPress. Squarespace has their own training library if you subscribe to their platform. If you leave their platform, you can’t take the site with you, but a WordPress site can move anywhere and you own the files. If you want additional training, look for a local workshop or a designer that offers training. For example, my studio offers both web design services and web design training sessions by the hour.
- Purchase your own hosting plan from a reputable host. Read reviews and ask other professionals what they recommend. Many web hosting providers offer a lower rate if you purchase 3 years versus 1 year, and a 1-click install for popular content management systems.
- The web development landscape is continuously changing. A professional web designer can help you navigate everything, and help you instead of wrestling with all these details.
Building a good website may feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be hard at all. You can definitely learn to create one yourself, but choose a service that offers security and design support in their plan. Or consider a designer if you have bigger visions in mind or would prefer help getting started.