Should I make/or build my own website?
With all the website builders and tools out there, should I create my own?

The answer is yes and no, with a few caveats. 15 years ago if you weren't a programmer or a web developer you didn't have many options. You had to hire someone to build a website. Nowadays with literally 100's of website builders ranging from mediocre to robust, and priced from free and up, you have many, many DIY options. Many people take this route. Some should, and some should not.
Many potential clients ask me, why should I hire someone, when I can do it myself? My analogy is this. Anyone can go to a store to buy paint and a paintbrush and paint a painting. Will their painting be the Mona Lisa or an amateur piece of work? Unless you are a naturally gifted artist the answer is the latter. I'm not saying that with hours of practice, and some talent, a decent piece of work could be produced. But the average person probably couldn't paint a masterpiece, or make a beautiful, functional website.
Here's who I recommend build their own website.
- You have a lot of time. Unless you're dedicating at least 20+ plus hours, your site probably won't look anything close to what you envisioned.
- You have a very small budget. If you're just starting out and have limited resources the DIY option probably is your best route.
- You have a good sense of design. If your great at matching color palettes, images, fonts, and layouts then a DIY site might be a good fit. At the same time you need to design a site that converts visitors into customers.
- You do not need E-commerce. E-commerce sites have a a steep learning curve. I've seen experienced designers and developers run into issues with creating online stores.
- You need a very simple site. If all you need is a basic informational site the DIY builders have some templated functionality that will suit your needs. Just don't expect to implement bespoke design or functionality features.
- You have a good sense of search engine optimization. If not, don't expect your site to show up in search results.
If you fall into any of these categories a DIY site might be a good choice. Otherwise a professionally designed and developed website will save you time and money in the long run. Pro Web Enhance offers affordable, professional web design for small to medium businesses and groups. Get a free consultation.




