Are Free Do-It-Yourself Websites Worth It?

There are some free and open source content management system (CMS) software packages such as Drupal, Textpattern, Wordpress, Silverstripe and Plone that are used to build websites. You will need to purchase a domain and pay for hosting. These solutions require experience and skill.

These free open source content management systems are used to create and maintain websites and are used by web developers who do not have a proprietary CMS.

Easy To Use Website Builders

There are also some low cost Do-It-Yourself website builders that require very little or no skills such as 1and1.com and Intuit.com (formally homestead).

People who want a basic low cost website and don't mind the standard template "cookie cutter" design may choose this option however read the reviews of other users before you spend hours or days working on something you can't get to work.

There are many reasons someone might decide to build their own website rather than hire a professional web developer these may include: wanting to save money, it is something they may enjoy doing and they have the time and skills to do it.

There are also many reasons why people choose to hire a professional web developer.

This article will discuss both options.

There is a quizz at the end to see if you have the skills to build a decent website.

1. Save the cost of a professional web developer.
2. You will enjoy doing it.
3. You have the time.
4. You have the design skills.
5. Believe a template is sufficient.
6. Able to SEO site so it will be found in search engines.
7. Able to write and format content.
8. Able to improve site using Google Analytics

Some Advice for a DIY Website

1) Research available solutions. Read about what others say about each one. Is it too difficult to use? Are the websites not found in the search engines?

2) Learn a little about search engine optimization. Get an understanding of at least the basics and use Google’s search suggestion tool to determine which keywords you should target.

3) Determine the goals of your website. If you are you trying to generate leads, you need to use language that “calls a user to action” and a form to capture the information. If you are trying to reduce phone calls asking what your return policy is, etc., you might need a frequently asked questions section or have a link to the policy clearly displayed in a place where a user would likely be looking for it.

4) Analyze your competitors websites to see how they organize their content, promote their products and services, what features their websites offer. Determine what they do well and what you can do better.

5) Gather the content you have, brochures, hand-outs, content that is in your held and begin to create an outline organizing your content into logical categories. This will be used to determine the “site map” or navigation of your website.

6) Write your content, keeping the search engines, prospective clients and current clients in mind. Be sure to use spelling and grammar checks and have a few others read it as well.

7) Build your website. Select a template that meets your requirements and is indicative of your industry.

8) Format your content using headings, bullet points, emphasis, adding links, etc.

9) Submit your site to the search engines, get linked from local directories and business associations and add your URL to your business cards.

10) Monitor traffic using Google Analytics or some other tracking tool.

11) Improve your site based on what you learn from your Analytics. For example, are all of your visitors leaving without viewing more than one page of your site? Make sure your navigation is intuitive and easy to use. Make changes to your content to lead users to your desired actions.

12) Repeat the process, monitoring and improving until you achieve your goals. If you are finding that you are not able to achieve your goals, it may be time to consult with a professional.

There is a reason why there is such a high demand for web professionals and why they charge the prices they do – it is both an art and a science to correctly design and develop a website that is able to effectively do what is intended to do – and for most businesses, that is to generate more business! While it is not for everyone, it is possible to build a decent do-it-yourself website if you are willing to take the time to learn what it is that you are trying to do, if you use the right tools for the job, and if you have the time, patience and desire to do it yourself.

1) A professional web design company can bring a wealth of experience to the table. In addition to the design aesthetics, they should be knowledgeable of best practices, able to provide a good “user experience”, able to write copy that will actually get read by humans and search engines.

2) A professionally designed website can differentiate your business and help you stand out from the crowd. Your website might be the first impression (and last if it does not portray professionalism) potential customers have of your business. While it is sometimes difficult for an untrained eye to explain WHY one site seems more professional than another, visitors definitely CAN tell. The use of whitespace, the choice and size of fonts, the ability to organize your content into readable chunks and the correct use of headings, bullets, bold and italics to guide a reader’s eye, the choice of colors, the little details and finishing touches… it is the combination of all of these things that make the difference.

3) Hiring a professional to design your company’s website allows you to focus on other areas of your business. It is tempting to try to save money by doing your own website, business cards, accounting, marketing, etc. etc. – and all of these things take away from the time, energy and creativity you have to develop your business. If you are a web designer, of course you should design your own site. If you are an accountant, it makes sense to do your own taxes. If you want to grow your business, you need to learn to let go of the things that are not in your area of expertise and focus on the areas that are.

Not all website designers are created equal. Unfortunately, there are plenty of designers claiming to be so-called experts who are more than happy to charge you a premium for their services. It’s your job to separate the professionals from the wannabes. Here are the “Top 10” key things to look for/expect in a good web designer:

1) Experience – You need someone who has the techniques, tools and “tricks of the trade” to help you accomplish your online goals.

2) Customer Service Oriented – Your website designer needs to make customer service a priority. They need to be responsive to your needs, on-time and effective.

3) Original Work – In order for your website to be professional, it needs to have original content and graphics.

4) Creativity – Your designer will likely be involved in the conceptual process and needs to be able to see the “big picture” of your business goals.

5) Marketing Experience – Your web designer needs to understand how to brand your company and how to convert browsers to buyers.

6) Cost – Pricing for a professional website 10-15 pages with all the standard features can run from $500 - $5000 or more. Get everything in writing, including deadlines and how many revisions are included.

7) Timeline – A basic website may take as little as a few weeks, while a more complicated site could take a few months or more. Be sure to understand what the turnaround time is and what is expected of you.

8) Communication Skills – You need to be able to communicate with your designer – don’t hire someone who doesn’t take the time to explain things that you don’t understand or who insist on speaking in “computer-ese”.

9) Full Service – While not everyone can do everything, your website designer should be able to, for the most part, handle just about everything you need for your website or at least have the contacts to outsource if they need assistance.

10) Availability – Are your prospects full-time web professionals or are they part-time designers who may or may not be around in a few months when you need changes? Can they meet you during normal business hours? Can you get in touch with them if there is a problem with your website? These are things to consider – you should be able to get hold of your designer when there is a problem.

Don’t be afraid to interview your potential designers and developers. Be sure to review their portfolio, and ask for a list of their previous clients. Take a close look at their own website; be wary of website designers who do not have a professional website themselves.

Finally, you should be clear on what they going to deliver. It’s normal to call your website designer when you need drastic changes to the site’s structure or design, but you must be able to manage the content without them. Make sure that your designer provides you with the means and ability to perform content updates. No business should ever have to be at the mercy of its designer every time it wants to update content or correct a typo.