So now you know if you need a new website for your business, what questions to ask to create a plan for it and why websites cost as much as they do.
And that last video might have you asking the question: why can’t you just build the website yourself? And my answer to that is maybe?
The longer answer is that it just really depends. It can really be tempting just to build the website yourself. I mean how hard can it be?
But the reality is that creating a website that’s going to work and help your business for a long time is a pretty big challenge to take on. And bringing in someone who knows what they are doing can really help you out.
So today, let’s figure out if you need to hire a web developer or if you can do it yourself. And just one reminder: there’s no one right answer. Only what works for you and your business.
What do you know or not know?
So what do you really know about web design and web development? Do you feel confident in your skills?
Beyond the basic coding, do you know how to set up a website? Do you know what FTP stands for? Do you know what an SSL certificate is?
If the answer to any of these is no, then you are definitely better off bringing in a developer to build the project for you. What might take you days or even weeks to do takes us just hours or maybe just one day.
And really, unless you are an expert in web design and development, it really is just better off to bring somebody on board to build the project for you. Their knowledge in this area is going to be a lot better than yours is. Plus they might be able to spot problems or improvements with your website plan.
For example, if you’re wanting an online store, they’ll know that they need to need to have a payment gateway set up before they can do anything else. Or that wanting this specific design might present challenges in development or even usability on the user’s end. And then at that point, they can point you down the right direction.
And while yes, it’ll cost you some money upfront, the money you could save by having a stable, effective website will likely prove better for your business over the long run.
What do you want with this website?
Another thing you need to take into consideration is what do you want to do with this website. Are you going to sell online? Is there going to be a blog? Do you want to have a forum for your community to talk to each other?
If you’re wanting to build an online store, you should stop now and start to look for a developer immediately. This can be an incredibly complex process, so it’s better to bring in someone who knows what they’re doing to help navigate you through these waters.
On the flip side, if you’re just looking for a website to throw up there so people can find your contact information and maybe have a contact form, then yeah, maybe your better off just doing it yourself because it’s so simple.
At the end of the day, the more advanced the features you want, the better it is to bring in a developer and let them take care of it.
Do you have the time and resources?
Again, you need to take stock of what time and resources you have available. Do you have enough to complete this job and do the it well enough?
You will get sick and tired of me saying this, but websites take a long time to build. And if you’re wanting to build the website right, it’s going to take a bit to build that website out so it’s stable for a long time to come.
I’m talking about spending at least four hours a day designing or coding the website. And trust me, it takes a lot of mental effort just to make sure you’re doing it right. Take it from me, it really is exhausting. Plus add in running your business, you know the thing you’re actually trying to do, and it’s very easy to skimp out on the website or let it drop by the wayside completely.
Now again, this obviously changes if you’re looking for just something simple for your name and contact info to be on. Something like that can easily be built on Wix, Squarespace or WordPress.
But if you’re doing more than that, then it is definitely worth bringing in someone to build the website for you.
Would it be more efficient to be built by someone else?
Finally, after all of these questions, it’s time to take a step back and ask yourself this one big question: would it be more efficient to build the website yourself or let somebody else to do it for you?
Because that’s what this really boils down to. What is the best option for you?
If you don’t know anything about web design or development, you’re going to be wasting time trying to figure it all out and ultimately that’s going to cost your business money.
Also, if you’re trying to create something big, like an online store, a forum or something of that nature, it’s probably better to bring someone in who knows what they’re doing and can quickly set it up for you to save you time and ultimately money.
Now again, if you don’t have a lot of money and you are just trying to get your name and your contact information out there, then yeah, you can build the website yourself with Wix, Squarespace. And really, that’s probably the best decision.
But really take a step back and look at the whole picture. Then make a decision that works for you and your business. I can’t help you make that decision right now, at least from this video. This is your call to make. So make the decision that’s best for your business.
Next steps
So take the time to figure this out. Go through some of the pros and cons and weight all of the sorts of variables that are in play. If you’re like to think more visually, I have a resource on my website that can help you think through this. But ultimately, come up with the answer that’s going to work for you business. That’s what matters in the end.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in comments below or reach out on social media. You can also learn more about creating a website over on my website. I have a bevy of resources and blog posts that can help you make informed decisions during this entire process.
When you’re ready to move on to the next step, I’ll see you in the next video.
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