If we want to build a website, more often than not, our instinct tells us that hiring a web designer can improve our chances of brand building success. After all, who would know the business of setting up an effective and profitable website more than a professional who does this for a living? But if you’re a startup or you are in the process of setting up your first business venture, you probably do not have limitless resources to get professional website design services. Even if you do, it may not be prudent to allocate a big chunk of your capital on a website.
This is where website builders and DIY webpage design platforms come in. They lower the barrier to entry for individuals and brands that are looking to build a web presence but may not have the resources required to get professional web design and development. They provide free web design services through easy-to-use site editors and tools that are suited for beginners.
Here at Strikingly, we empower individuals and small businesses with a website builder that enables them to create unique online spaces for free. However, we also do not discount the benefits of hiring a web designer. We believe that these two website building routes serve different needs. For this article, let’s take a look at the reasons why you would use a website builder instead of hire a professional that comes with a diverse web design portfolio.
1. You like to take control of your website project
As a business owner, you might have an idea about how you want your website to look like. You might have spent hours on end checking out competitor web designs so you know what exactly should go into your site. If you’re the kind of person who wants to take control and drive a project, it might make more sense to create your own website rather than hire a web designer. With a website builder, you are more in control of timelines and deliverables. You are not at the mercy of the schedule of a third person who may not be able to set up your website within the timeframe you had in mind.
2. Budget limitations
Let’s face it: professional web design services can be quite expensive. Even if you hire a freelancer, you are still going to end up spending a lot more money than you would if you set up a website on your own, even if you pay for a website builder subscription. The cost of hiring a web designer can range anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars depending on the number of pages and the features you want to see on your site. Meanwhile, a paid subscription on a website builder may start at $8 to about a few hundred dollars for an ecommerce site - still marginally lower compared to professional website design.
When you’re in the process of setting up a business, you want to allocate most of your resources on product or service development. While the digital infrastructure where your brand will sit is important but surely, the quality of your products and services should be top priority.
3. You want your website up and running ASAP
Working with a web development team entails a longer period of planning and implementation. It is impossible to get a website up and running overnight when you have to get it done through professionals. The project will have to go through a series of consultations, design approvals and rejections until it gets a go-signal for your website to go live. If you are planning to get a website up in a shorter time frame, you will probably have to explore the option of getting it built by yourself. With a good website builder, it is possible to get your site up and running in minutes. You don’t have to worry about the technical aspect of building your website because the environment where the site will sit is ready. All you need to do is plug in the design and content.
