If you can confirm the following statements, you are perfectly qualified, to create your own website:

• I know all about responsive design best practises.
• I am well versed in all things SEO and SEF.
• I know how to optimize LCP and get rid of render-blocking resources.
• Website metadata and structured data are second nature to me.

Otherwise please read on:

With the rise of DIY website builders like Wix, Weebly, and others, it’s become increasingly tempting to take a DIY approach to building your own website. However, leaving your website to a pro is not only faster, but also more reliable, scalable, and ultimately, more cost-effective.

Let’s have a brief look into the four points above:

Responsive design

Is an approach to designing websites that allows them to automatically adapt and change their layout, visual appearance and performance in response to different screen sizes, orientations, and devices like desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and even watches and TVs.

SEO and SEF

SEF (Search Engine Friendly): Is a design and development approach that incorporates SEO (Search Engine Optimization) principles and best practices into website structure, coding, and content, making it easier for search engines to crawl, index, and understand the site’s content and architecture. This has a significant impact on ranking, and relevance to search engines, such as Google.

LCP and render-blocking resources

The problem of render-blocking resources: Website resources such as CSS files, images, and JavaScript files are loaded synchronously, which means that the browser can block the rendering of the page until all resources are fully loaded. This is known as render-blocking. This has a negative impact on the LCP (Largest Contentful Paint), one of the website performance/speed metrics. A high LCP means that the visitor has to wait a long time before the website becomes visible. It also has a huge impact on SEO, because a poor LCP means a bad ranking on Google.

Metadata and structured data

Website metadata, which include elements such as title tags, descriptions, and keywords, enable search engines to understand a website’s content, context, and purpose, thereby improving rankings and enhancing user experience. Structured data are specific, formalized, and standardized information that is added to a website’s HTML, providing search engines with additional details about the website’s content, such as its type, owner, and context, to improve search results and online discoverability. Good metadata and structured data have a huge impact on search ranking and how your website is presented in search engines.

DIY website builders provide some options to implement all of the above aspects, but they are often limited and without the knowledge how to use them and about best practices, they are pretty useless. But there is more to it:

Design

While DIY websites offer a huge variety of templates, many of them look very similar and lack the unique, creative touch that a professional would bring. A custom website is not just about functionality; it’s also about creating an aesthetically pleasing and unique experience for your visitors. Professionals have the experience and skills to design a website that is not only visually appealing, but also stands out from the masses.

Function

In terms of functionalities, a professional website will perform better. Systems like WordPress or Joomla, support thousands of extensions that can add features like forms, galleries, live chat, and many more. The number of such extensions on DIY platforms is limited and often costs extra money.

Furthermore, a professional website is more likely to be user-friendly for visitors, which is crucial in keeping them on your site and converting them into customers. Professionals understand how to improve user experience to encourage engagement, while DIY websites may lack some of these essential elements that lead to a seamless user experience.

Ownership

One significant drawback of a DIY website builder is the lack of permanent ownership. Many DIY website builders use licensing agreements or contracts that grant them exclusive rights to the website’s content, design, and functionality, and these contracts can be terminated by the builder at any time.

This means if you want to transfer a website to another provider, this is most likely not possible, not only for those legal reasons, but also because of technical ones: The website has been built with proprietary tools which are owned by the builder company and cannot be transferred.

A website built with the tools and platforms usually used by a web designer, like Joomla, Wordpress or Typo 3 can easily moved to any hosting provider and you will always find another web designer, well versed in the system.

Costs

When it comes to building a website, DIY website builders can be a cost-effective option upfront, with prices ranging from £10 to £100 per month, depending on the platform. However, the hidden costs of DIY website builders can quickly add up, including additional fees for extra features, domains, and hosting, which can range from £50 to £500 per year or even more.

In contrast, hiring a professional web developer can be more expensive upfront, with prices ranging from £1,000 to £5,000 or more, but can provide a much higher return on investment (ROI) in the long run, as a professionally built website can generate more leads, increase sales, and enhance a company’s online reputation. In fact, several studies found that companies that invest in professional web development, experience an average ROI of 10-20%, while DIY website builders typically have an ROI of around 2-5%.

The Bottom Line

While DIY website builders may seem like an easy, cost-effective solution, the limitations and potential pitfalls can ultimately lead to frustration, lost sales, and a diminished online presence. By investing in a professional website, you’ll be able to create a custom, scalable, and secure online space that showcases your brand and drives real business results.

Don’t get caught up in the DIY trap. Leave your website to the pros and enjoy the benefits of a high-quality, professional online presence.