DIY vs. Hiring a Designer: Pros and Cons

Are you a small business owner looking to improve your online presence? Unsure whether to take on the task of designing your website yourself or hiring a web designer? Well, you’ve come to the right place, my friend! I’m going to help you decide DIY vs Hiring a Designer!

I’m Mahlia, a Showit Website & Brand Designer. Today I’m breaking down the pros and cons of hiring a designer vs. DIY! Hopefully, by the end, you will have a better idea of what route is best for you & your business.

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DIY Website Route

The biggest pro of this option is cost-effectiveness. You won’t have to shell out money to for a custom website with a designer. With so many website builders available online, you can create your website easily.

Another pro is that you’ll have complete control over the design and functionality of your website. You are the mastermind, the creative force, the web designer!

However, the biggest con of the DIY route is the learning curve. You may be able to choose your platform but are you choosing the best one long term? Creative control is great, but you may run into walls trying to get things to look like what you envision.

With the tools available today, designing a website is not all crazy lines of code. But it does take time and patience to learn all the ins and outs of website design. Plus, there’s the potential of making mistakes, which can impact the functionality of your website.

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Hiring a Designer Route

Now let’s move on to hiring a web designer. The biggest pro of this option is that you will have a professional looking website without having to learn all the technical skills. You can focus on running your business while the designer takes care of the website.

Additionally, a web designer will have the knowledge and expertise to create a website that is optimized for SEO, is user-friendly, and looks fantastic. However, the con of hiring a web designer is, of course, the cost. It can be expensive to hire a professional designer, and it may not be feasible for small business owners on a tight budget.

Value Your Time

Another factor to consider is time. The DIY route will take longer to complete, especially if you’re new to website design. You’ll need to invest time in researching website builders, design tutorials, and troubleshooting any issues.

Meanwhile, hiring a designer can save you a significant amount of time. Designers will be able to create a site in a shorter amount of time because they have professional tools and skills.

Long Term Sustainability

Lastly, it’s essential to think about scalability. If you opt for the DIY route, it may be challenging to update and expand your website as your business grows. A designer will have the foresight to create a website that will grow with your business, with scalability in mind.

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Determining whether to go the DIY route or hire a web designer comes down to weighing the pros and cons based on your business’s unique situation. If you have a smaller budget but a willingness to learn website design, the DIY route may be the way to go.

However, if you have the budget and want an optimized and efficient website, hiring a professional designer is the right choice. Regardless of the path you take, remember, your website is the foundation of your online presence, and it’s essential to create a website that reflects your brand and engages your audience.

Hopefully this helped you decide between DIY vs Hiring a Designer, but if you have more questions I’m here to help! ↴

Schedule a Free Discovery Call with Mahlia to Find Out if You are Ready to Work with a Designer!