It’s never been easier to build your own website thanks to the likes of Go Daddy and Wix.
DIY websites offer a low-cost, easy setup, with some options like Wix providing basic SEO features and simple site creation for less than £50. However, these platforms often lack flexibility, restrict design through templates, and are difficult to migrate to more robust platforms like WordPress as a business grows. For businesses needing bespoke design, advanced technical elements, or comprehensive SEO, investing in a professional website design is recommended, despite the higher cost which can run into thousands.
However, easy doesn’t necessarily mean good.
If you want a quick website with minimal time and effort involved, then perhaps a DIY website is for you.
On the other hand, if you want a shop set up or have lots of information or forms you need embedding or require the whole look and feel to be completely bespoke, DIY probably isn’t the way to go.
In this blog we’ll outline the pros and cons of DIY websites so you can decide which option is best for your business.
The cost of DIY websites
One of the biggest pros of using a DIY website is the low cost involved.
Generally speaking, you can get yourself set up with a simple website for less than £50 (and it can be free, if you’re not bothered about your domain name).
When it comes to a professional website design, obviously, this is going to cost you significantly more.
And if you go further still and need complex technical elements to your site, the cost can skyrocket into the thousands.
However, you get what you pay for (usually – make sure you do your research if you go down the web designer route!).
How flexible are DIY websites for design and customization?
A big con to DIY websites is their lack of flexibility.
Some sites like WIX do have something resembling an editor mode, which does give you more freedom to create bespoke elements.
However, you are still restricted by their templates, fonts, layouts, etc to a degree
How effective is SEO on DIY website builders?
Most DIY website builders offer at the very least a set of basic SEO features such as adding keywords to pages and in-site analytics.
If you’re just getting started, this is most likely all you’ll need to begin with.
However, if you want to up your game and get your site noticed, it’s likely you’ll need to go much more in depth with your SEO.
Can DIY websites be future-proofed as your business grows?
If you’re a start-up business and only need a few pages on your website, then a DIY builder may seem like a good choice initially.
However, as your business grows you may well find yourself in need of something with greater capabilities.
It’s almost impossible for a website designer to copy a website from a DIY builder into another platform like WordPress, so it’s worth bearing this in mind.
The bottom line: DIY website or professional build?
Hopefully that’s given you a better understanding of the pro and cons of a DIY website.
They can be great fun to use and give you a sense of pride that you’ve built your own site from scratch.
DIY sites are also a low-cost option for those on a budget.
However, if you need something more technical to really showcase your business then hiring a professional website designer is the best route to take.
