“48% of people cited a website’s design as the number one factor in deciding the credibility of a business.” – Ironpaper
It’s important to understand that a website is more than just a collection of web pages. It’s a crucial component of your business’s digital identity and plays a significant role in your brand’s perception, customer engagement, and online success.
Why are DIY websites not a good investment?
A DIY website builder can be a good option for individuals or small businesses with limited resources who want to quickly and affordably create a website for basic online presence. However, there are several reasons why DIY websites may not be a good long-term investment for more established or ambitious businesses.
1. Limited Customization
DIY website builders often come with limited customization options, which can restrict the functionality and design of the website. This can lead to a website that looks generic, has poor user experience, is unprofessional, and does not stand out from competitors.
If you want to incorporate any of the following – you may want to look into a custom web design option instead:
- Integrating an online store
- Having ownership over your custom domain
- Better-performing, more secure web hosting
- Excellent customer support
Example of Poor User Experience
A small business owner decided to build a website with a DIY website builder, but the website had a poor user experience due to slow loading times and a confusing layout. As a result, visitors to the website had difficulty finding what they were looking for, resulting in a high bounce rate and low conversion rate.
“Free website builders are never really free.” – Hostgator
2. Lack of Scalability
DIY websites are not always built to scale, meaning that as your business grows and evolves, the website may not be able to keep up with your changing needs. This can result in the need for a complete redesign, which can be costly and time-consuming.
Example of Limited Scalability
A startup used a DIY website builder to create its first website, but as the company grew and added more products and services, the website became outdated and could not accommodate the business’s needs. The startup had to invest in a custom website design to keep up with its growth.
3. Limited SEO capabilities
DIY website builders often lack advanced SEO tools and features, hindering your website’s ability to rank in search engines. This can limit your visibility and potential traffic, ultimately impacting your business’s growth and success.
Example of Poor Search Engine Rankings
A small business owner created a DIY website using a website builder, but the website lacked the necessary SEO features to rank well in search engine results pages (SERPs). As a result, the business struggled to attract new customers and lost out to competitors who had invested in professional web design.
4. Technical limitations
DIY website builders may have limited technical capabilities, which can restrict the functionality of your website. This can result in poor user experience and lost business opportunities.
Example of Limited Functionality
A nonprofit organization used DIY website templates to create its website. Still, it lacked the advanced features necessary to support the organization’s mission, such as online donations, event registration, and volunteer sign-ups. The organization soon invested in a custom website design to add these features and improve its online presence.
“DIY website builders often are missing fundamental features, such as a blog section, calendar integration, payments and more, or worse still, they’re only unlockable by paying extra (more on that later).” –MMG
Example of Technical Issues
A blogger created a DIY website using a popular website builder, but the website experienced frequent technical issues, such as broken links and error messages. These issues resulted in poor user experience and frustrated visitors, ultimately impacting the blog’s traffic and revenue.
5. Time and effort
While DIY websites may be more affordable than hiring a professional web designer, building one takes time and effort. For businesses that value their time, the investment required to create a quality website using a DIY builder may not be worth it.
“If you stop using that particular DIY platform, you have to start over again somewhere else. You can’t take your site with you.” – SBA.gov
While DIY website builders may seem like a cost-effective solution, they may not be the best long-term investment for businesses looking to create a professional, high-performing website that can grow and evolve with their business. It may be more beneficial to invest in a custom website design from a professional web developer, which can provide the necessary flexibility, scalability, and customization to meet your unique business needs.