I did the Band-Aid website with Wix to get something up, then had a real designer create a much better, much more functional website about 6 months later. As a marketing person, I know how important it is to have a website that looks great, has excellent content, and functions the way you need it to. So unless you have all 3 of those skills - design, copywriting, and developing, it's best to go with a person or team that does.
I have been extremely successful in my business because (1) I am very good at what I do and (2) I stick to what I'm good at. Website designing is not one of those things. Neither is plumbing, brain surgery, or 22,000 other things. I leaned that at a very early age when, shortly after performing delicate brain surgery on myself, I inadvertently flushed myself down a toilet.
Websites are more than just a website. They are a conversion machine. If you don't know how to convert traffic into leads for your business, then you will lose opportunities.
The user experience speaks volumes about your brand. If someone can't read something, find info quickly, click a button on mobile, navigate the site - or has to wait more than a few seconds for a page to load - it does not help your brand. (and increases bounce rates)
Nothing is more important than a call-to-action. A pro knows how to funnel traffic to the desired action.
SEO - if you don't know exactly what those three letters mean, you will do more harm to your business than good by building your own website. What's the best place to hide something? Page 2 of Google. That's where you'll find all the self-made websites.
Penny-wise, pound-foolish - this describes the business owner that builds his own website.
Yes, I started building websites as a hobby in 1999. Can you build your own, yes. There are several good builder options, GoDaddy, Wix, Wordpress, etc. What I would say the building of the site is not really the challenge. Here is what I see as most folks problems when they decide to build their own sites (non-designers our developers of course). The issues include design element quality (photos and graphics) and content ( the words you use). Your website is often the first impression you have with a prospect. If the site architecture is poor or your image quality lacking or your content is not well written that reflects on you and your business.
If you plan to build your own site, do your homework, build a site map (this is your site navigation). Understand that most folks visit 1.5 pages when they visit a website so do not hide content. The more clicks it takes a user to find what they are looking for means many will give up and leave your site. Only use high-quality imagery, show off your products and services in the best light. Spend some time and review every word you use on your site for grammar and SEO opportunities. If you are not great with grammar (like me), use Grammarly. It is free and will catch many of your grammatical errors.
If all else fails, hire a professional. Most agencies like Firebrand Media have a team of professionals that can help bring your vision to life. There are 100's on this network, I am sure one of us can assist you. If you have any further questions feel free to send me a note.
Your single most important marketing asset is your website. It is your storefront, your first impression, and lifeline to the customer. There are several factors that you might not know or take into consideration when creating the site. Content, SEO, back links, content placement and more all go into creating a website. You need to have the best website you can afford. Besides, while there are many tools to help you create your own website, your time and energy are better used running the business. Creating the website is a distraction and distractions rob you of making money. Do what you do best, and let the website be done by someone who does that best.
Business from Gaithersburg, MD
Answered on May 19th, 2020
I appreciate this topic as I often see marketing positions grouped with graphic design, SEO, and web design positions. While it’s ideal to have someone be a jack-of-all-trades, it’s not always the case.
As many people in this thread mentioned, there are many moving pieces to a website. Of course, design is what comes to everyone’s minds first, but then there’s the actual text (usually done by a Copywriter/SEO Specialist), the usability and navigation (UI/UX Designer), and any form of coding (Web Developer).
I think the best piece of advice I can offer here is it’s okay to outsource. Experts are experts for a reason: to use their skills to help others who may not be in a particular specialty. It doesn’t mean you have to 100% outsource for everything.
I’ve been involved in the process of building, designing, and writing copy for websites before but, that’s more of my specialty :) Stick to what you know and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
- Handle your own Vehicle Repair & Maintenance Work?
If you're the type of person that can honestly answer "Yes!" to all of these questions, you are that rare personality type that can truly do it all -- and maybe you can also build yourself a great website, too!
But for most of us, we're good at what we do, and we leave the "heavy lifting" to the Professionals.
We know there are two types of people out there: Those who want to do it themselves, and those who prefer it be handled by a Pro.
The great news is...
We've got you covered in both scenarios!
West County Media offers Professional Consulting, Training & Design -- meaning we can offer professional guidance, and also teach you anything you want to know about building your own professional quality website if you're that DIY type who wants to build (and maintain) it all by yourself!
And if you're the type that says:
"I know our business really needs to have a great website to help us grow, but I really don't have the time to learn a whole new skill set like that. We should probably bring in an expert."
Well, we've got you covered there, too.
Contact us & find out how we can help make your website work for you:
Every year, millions of small business owners and entrepreneurs take to website builders to make their dream website come true. Website builders can be a perfect solution for individuals and small businesses to start a website without hiring a developer. These tools help everyone from small businesses and bloggers to news sites and e-commerce businesses easily create websites in minutes.
However, many of our customers state that DIY can actually cost more than hiring someone to design the buildout for you.
All website builders claim they’re easy to use. However, they’re not all equal when it comes to the level of difficulty or the skills and previous experience required. So, make sure you take the time to explore all the features offered by the builder.
Some sites are easy, just as they claim to be. Everyone can use them successfully with no prior experience in web design or development. Other web builders may require some design skills to personalize templates and change layouts.
Because they are all different, it is difficult to compare apples to apples on web builders. It’s always best to assess your objectives and business needs prior to purchasing from a specific website builder. It also helps to talk to others who have used these platforms. First-hand testimonials can be invaluable in making your decision on which website builder to ultimately choose. If you want to DIY I recommend the following builders http://bit.ly/35dWMzs.
It's not enough to just build your new site, you have to host your site as well. What is web hosting?
Web hosting services provide websites a digital home a place where the site’s information is properly “docked” and displayed to consumers online.
Websites are stored on special computers called servers. When your customers go online and want to view your website, all they need to do is type your website address (your new flashy domain) into their browser.
Computers will then connect to a server (your site’s home). Webpages are seamlessly delivered to customers through a browser, allowing them to view all your products and services.
Choosing the right web hosting provider is probably one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a business owner. Depending on hosting needs, budget, and level of technical expertise, finding the right fit for your business needs can be challenging.
There are literally hundreds of web hosting services available for purchase. All of them provide different levels of service options, ease of use, performance, and pricing. If you want to go at it alone, I recommend the following hosting services http://bit.ly/2tVoL9c.
At Negotium Concepts we take the stress of web building, design, and web hosting out of your hands. We understand that building your business is hard enough. Why worry about building a website, buying hosting, and planning a sitemap that can take you months to build. We provide you with website design solutions perfect for startups and micro enterprises who are ready to make a splash online. No contracts. No hidden fees. We are ready to help you achieve all your business goals. If you are ready to leave it to the experts explore your subscription options at http://bit.ly/3bQA2ZM.
Here are a few articles to help you navigate through this question...
If you want to reach good results in designing and building a website you definitely need qualified and skilled professionals to assist you. Quality is one of the most important topics about websites, and not all the people are able to create good products, neither the ones who believe to be web designers. Personally speaking, our company DW DreamyourMind creates websites since the middle of 2000 with clients in North America, Europe, and Asia. If you need any help please contact us, and we`ll be able to support you at our best.
That's like asking me if I should do all the mechanical work on my car. Yes, there are YouTube videos that could teach me how to fix my car, BUT, would I do it well? Would I have to pay someone else to fix my fix? What's the opportunity cost for me spending all that time doing it instead of something else? 9/10 I would answer that a business owner should NOT do their own website. They should run their business! They can align themselves with a web agency (like ours) that can work with different budgets. My only caveat to that is if you only have $200 for a website, you're not going to get one that achieves solid results. You could start with a Facebook Business page, but even then, get professional help. Just throwing stuff up on Facebook isn't an online marketing plan. This is why we often do a mini online marketing consult BEFORE the web project that we will apply to the cost of the project if a client goes with us. They always learn there are many more costs and considerations than they ever imagined. We also inherit a good deal of DIY web sites or ones done by "bargain" overseas companies. Those are usually a waste and actually do more damage to your brand.
Answers (1-10)
I did the Band-Aid website with Wix to get something up, then had a real designer create a much better, much more functional website about 6 months later. As a marketing person, I know how important it is to have a website that looks great, has excellent content, and functions the way you need it to. So unless you have all 3 of those skills - design, copywriting, and developing, it's best to go with a person or team that does.
I have been extremely successful in my business because (1) I am very good at what I do and (2) I stick to what I'm good at. Website designing is not one of those things. Neither is plumbing, brain surgery, or 22,000 other things. I leaned that at a very early age when, shortly after performing delicate brain surgery on myself, I inadvertently flushed myself down a toilet.
- Websites are more than just a website. They are a conversion machine. If you don't know how to convert traffic into leads for your business, then you will lose opportunities.
- The user experience speaks volumes about your brand. If someone can't read something, find info quickly, click a button on mobile, navigate the site - or has to wait more than a few seconds for a page to load - it does not help your brand. (and increases bounce rates)
- Nothing is more important than a call-to-action. A pro knows how to funnel traffic to the desired action.
-
SEO - if you don't know exactly what those three letters mean, you will do more harm to your business than good by building your own website. What's the best place to hide something? Page 2 of Google. That's where you'll find all the self-made websites.
Penny-wise, pound-foolish - this describes the business owner that builds his own website.Yes, I started building websites as a hobby in 1999. Can you build your own, yes. There are several good builder options, GoDaddy, Wix, Wordpress, etc. What I would say the building of the site is not really the challenge. Here is what I see as most folks problems when they decide to build their own sites (non-designers our developers of course). The issues include design element quality (photos and graphics) and content ( the words you use). Your website is often the first impression you have with a prospect. If the site architecture is poor or your image quality lacking or your content is not well written that reflects on you and your business.
If you plan to build your own site, do your homework, build a site map (this is your site navigation). Understand that most folks visit 1.5 pages when they visit a website so do not hide content. The more clicks it takes a user to find what they are looking for means many will give up and leave your site. Only use high-quality imagery, show off your products and services in the best light. Spend some time and review every word you use on your site for grammar and SEO opportunities. If you are not great with grammar (like me), use Grammarly. It is free and will catch many of your grammatical errors.
If all else fails, hire a professional. Most agencies like Firebrand Media have a team of professionals that can help bring your vision to life. There are 100's on this network, I am sure one of us can assist you. If you have any further questions feel free to send me a note.
Your single most important marketing asset is your website. It is your storefront, your first impression, and lifeline to the customer. There are several factors that you might not know or take into consideration when creating the site. Content, SEO, back links, content placement and more all go into creating a website. You need to have the best website you can afford. Besides, while there are many tools to help you create your own website, your time and energy are better used running the business. Creating the website is a distraction and distractions rob you of making money. Do what you do best, and let the website be done by someone who does that best.
I appreciate this topic as I often see marketing positions grouped with graphic design, SEO, and web design positions. While it’s ideal to have someone be a jack-of-all-trades, it’s not always the case.
As many people in this thread mentioned, there are many moving pieces to a website. Of course, design is what comes to everyone’s minds first, but then there’s the actual text (usually done by a Copywriter/SEO Specialist), the usability and navigation (UI/UX Designer), and any form of coding (Web Developer).
I think the best piece of advice I can offer here is it’s okay to outsource. Experts are experts for a reason: to use their skills to help others who may not be in a particular specialty. It doesn’t mean you have to 100% outsource for everything.
I’ve been involved in the process of building, designing, and writing copy for websites before but, that’s more of my specialty :) Stick to what you know and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Do you also...
- Cut your own Hair?
- Perform your own Dentistry?
- Do all of your own Plumbing?
- Tackle all Home Electrical Repairs?
- Handle your own Vehicle Repair & Maintenance Work?
If you're the type of person that can honestly answer "Yes!" to all of these questions, you are that rare personality type that can truly do it all -- and maybe you can also build yourself a great website, too!
But for most of us, we're good at what we do, and we leave the "heavy lifting" to the Professionals.
We know there are two types of people out there: Those who want to do it themselves, and those who prefer it be handled by a Pro.
The great news is...
We've got you covered in both scenarios!
West County Media offers Professional Consulting, Training & Design -- meaning we can offer professional guidance, and also teach you anything you want to know about building your own professional quality website if you're that DIY type who wants to build (and maintain) it all by yourself!
And if you're the type that says:
"I know our business really needs to have a great website to help us grow, but I really don't have the time to learn a whole new skill set like that. We should probably bring in an expert."
Well, we've got you covered there, too.
Contact us & find out how we can help make your website work for you:
www.WestCountyMedia.co...
Cheers!
- Jonathan
Great question, here's my take on web design...
Every year, millions of small business owners and entrepreneurs take to website builders to make their dream website come true. Website builders can be a perfect solution for individuals and small businesses to start a website without hiring a developer. These tools help everyone from small businesses and bloggers to news sites and e-commerce businesses easily create websites in minutes.
However, many of our customers state that DIY can actually cost more than hiring someone to design the buildout for you.
All website builders claim they’re easy to use. However, they’re not all equal when it comes to the level of difficulty or the skills and previous experience required. So, make sure you take the time to explore all the features offered by the builder.
Some sites are easy, just as they claim to be. Everyone can use them successfully with no prior experience in web design or development. Other web builders may require some design skills to personalize templates and change layouts.
Because they are all different, it is difficult to compare apples to apples on web builders. It’s always best to assess your objectives and business needs prior to purchasing from a specific website builder. It also helps to talk to others who have used these platforms. First-hand testimonials can be invaluable in making your decision on which website builder to ultimately choose. If you want to DIY I recommend the following builders http://bit.ly/35dWMzs.
It's not enough to just build your new site, you have to host your site as well. What is web hosting?
Web hosting services provide websites a digital home a place where the site’s information is properly “docked” and displayed to consumers online.
Websites are stored on special computers called servers. When your customers go online and want to view your website, all they need to do is type your website address (your new flashy domain) into their browser.
Computers will then connect to a server (your site’s home). Webpages are seamlessly delivered to customers through a browser, allowing them to view all your products and services.
Choosing the right web hosting provider is probably one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a business owner. Depending on hosting needs, budget, and level of technical expertise, finding the right fit for your business needs can be challenging.
There are literally hundreds of web hosting services available for purchase. All of them provide different levels of service options, ease of use, performance, and pricing. If you want to go at it alone, I recommend the following hosting services http://bit.ly/2tVoL9c.
At Negotium Concepts we take the stress of web building, design, and web hosting out of your hands. We understand that building your business is hard enough. Why worry about building a website, buying hosting, and planning a sitemap that can take you months to build. We provide you with website design solutions perfect for startups and micro enterprises who are ready to make a splash online. No contracts. No hidden fees. We are ready to help you achieve all your business goals. If you are ready to leave it to the experts explore your subscription options at http://bit.ly/3bQA2ZM.
Here are a few articles to help you navigate through this question...
http://bit.ly/2stHbh5
http://bit.ly/2tVoL9c
http://bit.ly/35dWMzs
https://bit.ly/2LmTRfA
I hope this was helpful!
Thank you for taking the time to read my response...
If you want to reach good results in designing and building a website you definitely need qualified and skilled professionals to assist you. Quality is one of the most important topics about websites, and not all the people are able to create good products, neither the ones who believe to be web designers. Personally speaking, our company DW DreamyourMind creates websites since the middle of 2000 with clients in North America, Europe, and Asia. If you need any help please contact us, and we`ll be able to support you at our best.
That's like asking me if I should do all the mechanical work on my car. Yes, there are YouTube videos that could teach me how to fix my car, BUT, would I do it well? Would I have to pay someone else to fix my fix? What's the opportunity cost for me spending all that time doing it instead of something else? 9/10 I would answer that a business owner should NOT do their own website. They should run their business! They can align themselves with a web agency (like ours) that can work with different budgets. My only caveat to that is if you only have $200 for a website, you're not going to get one that achieves solid results. You could start with a Facebook Business page, but even then, get professional help. Just throwing stuff up on Facebook isn't an online marketing plan. This is why we often do a mini online marketing consult BEFORE the web project that we will apply to the cost of the project if a client goes with us. They always learn there are many more costs and considerations than they ever imagined. We also inherit a good deal of DIY web sites or ones done by "bargain" overseas companies. Those are usually a waste and actually do more damage to your brand.