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Fast! Easy! Cheap! No technical skills required! We get it – DIY websites seem like a dream solution for busy business owners looking to avoid high costs or hiring a technical team for their site. But while they may look good on paper, DIY websites actually have a host of issues that could wind up costing you more in the long run. So, for the sake of transparency, here are some of the pitfalls you may experience if you decide to DIY. (Consider yourself warned.)
Pitfall #1: Good design requires purpose.
Templated websites usually put looks first, with high-quality stock imagery and graphics taking center stage. But a website should be more than a pretty interface. Want to generate leads? Convert customers? Drive traffic to specific pages? Your website should support those objectives with an intelligent design that includes messaging hierarchy, eye-catching call-to-action, and user-friendly navigation. Otherwise, you’re just sitting pretty with breathtaking photos…but no business (whomp whomp).
The Remedy:
Proper guidance from a professional designer can customize your web site to be both stunning and functional. They take the entire user experience into account, using your goals to drive the desired action from your audience.
Pitfall #2: Your content may fall flat.
Words matter. Especially on your website. You want to represent your brand well while providing valuable information that compels readers to take action. That means using proper grammar and spelling. A friendly and engaging tone. Formatting for fast reading. Actionable language. Up-to-date content. And don’t forget about relevant keywords for SEO. It’s a lot to juggle – and if writing isn’t your forte, it could cost your business.
The Remedy:
Writing for a website is both a science and an art. And an experienced copywriter knows how to balance SEO best practices with compelling content that brings your brand to life (while also achieving your business goals).
Pitfall #3: Platform limitations hold you back.
Let’s face it – there’s only so much you can do with a template. And limited functionality means you may not be able to implement your website effectively. The lack of customization could affect the long-term use of your website and possibly your ability to integrate with analytical tools to evaluate your website’s performance. Which means as your business gets bigger, it’ll be harder and harder for your website to keep up.
The Remedy:
You need a website that can grow with your company – and the best way to do that is by programming it from scratch for a fully customized website that meets your needs.
Pitfall #4: Tech issues are a pain in the neck.
The drag-and-drop feature is a huge draw for novice web designers. It’s simple. It’s easy. And it requires no coding know-how. But while your dragging and dropping, a lot of coding is going on behind the scenes that could impact your website performance. File sizes increase, which leads to a slower load time for your site. And that’s not only frustrating to users (don’t you hate waiting for a site to load?!), but it could also negatively impact your SEO rankings.
The Remedy:
Your site should be optimized for efficiency and quicker load times – which can be done for a customized site a professional web developer.
BOTTOM LINE
It takes a village to build an effective website. The design, content, and functionality must work together to provide a user experience that will achieve your goals. And that’s where a team of experts can provide invaluable service, lending their knowledge to your website for an experience that keeps driving results for your business.
We don’t want to brag, but building effective websites that achieve business goals….it’s kind of our thing. Want to learn more about how we can help? Drop us a line.
