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Website Design: Should You Do It Yourself or Should You Hire a Pro?

May 8, 2022
Ferdie L. Eusebio
5 minute read

When it comes to building a website, there are two main options: hiring a web designer or going the DIY route. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to weigh those carefully before making a decision.

If you opt for a DIY approach, you'll have total control over every aspect of your site. And, if you have a limited budget, it can be a great way to get a website up and running quickly and cheaply. However, unless you have some experience with web design, it can be difficult to create a professional-looking site that is easy to navigate.

Hiring a professional web designer has its advantages and disadvantages. You will have a high-quality website tailored to your needs, and they can spot potential problems and offer solutions that you may not have thought of.

However, professional web design services can be expensive, and you'll need to be clear about what you want before starting the project.

This blog post will weigh the pros and cons of hiring a professional to build your website versus DIY or do-it-yourself.

But first, let's talk about what constitutes a bad web design and why you need to avoid it.

What Is a Bad Web Design and How to Avoid It?

A bad web design can be incredibly frustrating for users. It is visually unappealing, making it difficult to navigate and find the information you need.

Additionally, a poorly designed website can be slow to load and even crash entirely. This can be especially frustrating if you're trying to make a purchase or book a service online. In short, a bad web design can cause many headaches— and it's often avoidable with a little bit of planning.

So if you want to start a website, be sure to put some thought into the design—it could save you a lot of trouble down the road.

Another way to help you avoid prematurely launching a website only to find out that it has a horrible design is to use feedback and collaboration tools.

Web design is a complex and ever-changing field, which can make it difficult to keep up with the latest trends and best practices. One way to stay abreast of new developments is to use feedback and collaboration tools. By soliciting feedback from clients and colleagues during the design process, you can get valuable insights that can help improve the final product.

Similarly, by using collaboration tools such as chat and online project management software, you can easily communicate with team members and make sure everyone is on the same page.

By making use of these tools, you can produce better web designs and create a more efficient design process. There are hundreds of such tools out there, but your best bet is Instacap. This tool allows you to not just collaborate on a design but to communicate with each other seamlessly. Plus, it’s free to use! Learn more about its features here.

Working with a Professional Web Designer

If you're planning to launch a new website or give your existing site a facelift, you'll need to work with a professional web designer. But what exactly does a web designer do?

In a nutshell, a web designer is responsible for creating the look and feel of a website. This includes everything from the layout and navigation to the color scheme and typography.

A good web designer will also have a strong understanding of usability principles and how to create a user-friendly experience. Of course, technical skills are also important, as a web designer needs to be able to code in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Pros of Hiring a Professional Web Designer

These days, having a website is essential for any business that wants to stay competitive. But designing a website can be a complex and time-consuming process, requiring technical skills and creative flair. For most companies, it makes sense to hire a professional web designer to create and maintain their site.

Here are some of the biggest advantages of enlisting a professional:

1. You can have an aesthetically pleasing and functional website.

Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that you'll end up with a better-looking website. A good web designer will have an eye for detail and understand how to create a visually appealing layout. They'll also use well-chosen images and fonts to give your site an aesthetic that reflects your brand.

A professional web designer can also help you improve your website’s performance. This includes making sure your site loads quickly and is easy to navigate.

2. You can properly integrate your website into social media.

Professional web design can help create a social media presence that is effective and engaging. Web designers can help create a website that is easy to navigate and includes all of the necessary information about your brand or business.

In addition, they can help to integrate social media buttons and feeds into the website, making it easy for visitors to connect with your brand on various platforms.

Furthermore, web designers can also assist with creating graphics and other visuals that will make your social media pages more visually appealing and in line with your website and brand design.

3. Your website can rank in search engines.

Web design and ranking in search engines go hand-in-hand. Search engine algorithms are constantly evolving, but one thing that has remained constant is the importance of website design.

A well-designed website looks professional, easy to navigate, and includes relevant keyword-rich content. In addition, a website designed with search engine optimization in mind will be structured to make it easy for search engines to index and crawl.

As a result, a well-designed website is more likely to rank highly on search engine results pages. While there is no guarantee that a website will achieve a top spot on Google, investing in professional web design is one of the best ways to improve your chances of ranking well.

4. You can have a user-friendly website.

A professional web designer will also have the technical expertise to build a site that's fast, responsive, and easy to navigate. They'll ensure that your site loads quickly, even on mobile devices, and visitors can find their way around without any difficulty.

This is important not only for user experience but also for search engine optimization (SEO).

5. Helps you save time and avoid issues.

Finally, working with a professional web designer can save you time and helps you avoid any hassle. Once your site is up and running, they'll be on hand to make any necessary updates and changes. This can be a big relief, especially if you're not confident making changes yourself.

Cons of Hiring a Professional Web Designer

While there are some advantages to going the DIY route, there are also some disadvantages, which are as follows:

1. Cost

Chief among these is the cost. Professional web designers charge anywhere from $50 to $200 per hour, and a typical website can take anywhere from 20 to 80 hours to create. That means that the total cost of hiring a professional can range from $1,000 to $16,000.

In addition, most web designers require a deposit upfront, which can add even more to the total cost. For many businesses, the expense of hiring a professional simply isn’t worth it.

However, if you have the budget for it and want a website that looks polished and professional, then hiring a web designer may be the right choice for you.

2. Creative control

One of the biggest disadvantages is that you will lose some control over the creative aspects of your website. When you hire someone to design your website, you are essentially giving them reign over the look and feel of your site.

This can be great if you trust their judgment, but it can also be a bit of a gamble. There is always the possibility that you will end up with a website that doesn't quite reflect your vision. Some web designers would insist on their vision rather than execute their client's instructions.

To avoid this, you would have to discuss with your web designer the vision that you have. Ask them for a proposal and see if their vision matches, or is at least close to, your own vision.

It's worth bearing in mind that a professional web designer can only do so much. They can design and build an attractive and functional website, but they can't guarantee that it will be a success. It's up to you to generate traffic and convert visitors into customers.

Going for DIY Web Design

These days, it's easier than ever to design a website on your own - even if you don't have any experience. There are a number of DIY website builders that allow you to create a professional-looking website without any coding or design knowledge.

But as with anything, there are pros and cons to building your own website. In this article, we will dive into the advantages and disadvantages of going the DIY route.

Pros of DIY Web Design

While hiring someone to build your site has its advantages, there are also some big benefits to designing it yourself.

1. You can save a fortune!

Perhaps the biggest advantage of DIY web design is that it allows you to save money. Professional web designers can charge hundreds or even thousands of dollars for their services. If you're on a tight budget, doing it yourself can be a great way to keep costs down.

Hiring a professional web designer can be expensive, so you can save anywhere between $5,000 to $15,000 in expenses when you do it yourself.

These days, it's easier than ever to design a website on your own - even if you don't have any experience. There are a number of DIY website builders that allow you to create a professional-looking website without any coding or design knowledge.

And the best part is that these tools are usually very user-friendly and easy to use. Not to mention, they're also very affordable (or even free).

By taking advantage of these savings, you can keep your costs low and avoid passing on the expense to your customers.

2. You have complete control of every process.

When it comes to web design, there are a lot of different factors to consider. But one of the most important things to think about is who will have control over the design of your site. If you work with a professional web designer, they will be the one in charge of deciding how your site looks.

For anyone who has ever had to work with a web designer, you know that it can be a frustrating process. You have an idea of what you want your website to look like, but translating that into reality is another matter entirely. Often, you end up with a design that is only marginally better than what you started with.

However, if you take the time to learn web design yourself, you will have complete control over your website's look and feel. You will be able to create a website that is exactly what you envisioned.

You won't have to compromise on your vision or settle for something that someone else thinks looks good. You can also be sure that your site is designed to meet your specific needs. If you have a very specific idea of what you want your site to do, self-designing is the best way to make sure that it happens.

3. Designing your own website can be a rewarding experience.

Designing your own website is a great way to learn how to do things. Even if you're not an expert, you'll be able to learn a lot by reading tutorials and watching videos.

Also, building your own website can be a fun and rewarding experience. It's a great way to express your creativity, and you'll also get a sense of satisfaction from seeing your work online.

Cons of DIY Web Design

While there are certainly some benefits to DIY web design, there are also some disadvantages that you should consider.

1. Designing your website on your own can be time-consuming.

Anyone who's ever tried to build their website knows that it can be a huge time sink. Even if you're using a simple platform like WordPress or Squarespace, a lot of work goes into setting up a site that looks professional and functions smoothly.

First, you have to develop a design that's both visually appealing and easy to navigate. Then, you have to populate your site with content—which can be a challenge if you're not a strong writer or don't have a lot of time to spare. And last but not least, you have to make sure your site is optimized for search engines, so people can find it when they need it.

In short, DIY web design is not for the faint of heart.

2. You may come up with a not-so user-friendly website.

Most people who opt for DIY web design do so to save money. While it is true that you can find a lot of free templates and design tools online, the reality is that creating a truly professional website requires a significant investment of time and effort.

As a result, many DIY websites look amateurish and difficult to navigate. In addition, without the help of an experienced web designer, it can be challenging to create a website that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Additionally, Do-It-Yourself web design often lacks the responsive features essential in today's mobile-first world. This means that your site is less likely to function properly on different devices, ultimately leading to lost visitors and customers.

For businesses, having a user-friendly website is essential for attracting and retaining customers. Therefore, it is often worth the investment to hire a professional web designer to create a website that meets all of your needs.

3. You may overlook the support and security of your website.

While there are some advantages to designing your website (namely, cost savings), there are also some significant security risks to consider. One of the most vulnerable aspects of any website is its code. And when you're working on your own, it can be difficult to spot errors and correct them in a way that will sufficiently protect your site from attack.

Even if you're fairly confident in your coding abilities, it's always good to get a second pair of eyes on your work, especially for something as important as website security.

So while there may be some up-front cost savings associated with DIY web design, the long-term security risks and lack of responsiveness are not worth it.

4. Doing it yourself can end up being more expensive.

You might think that designing your website would be cheaper than hiring a professional web designer. But in reality, a DIY web design can be more expensive in the long run.

First of all, what if you encounter an issue that you couldn’t resolve on your own and you couldn’t find a solution online? You would have to hire someone to fix it for you.

Second the longer it takes for you to study how to make everything work as you intended, the longer it takes before you launch your website. Time is Money, which means you will be losing money while you’re still learning about web design.

Designing a website takes a lot of time and effort. Unless you're already familiar with web design, you'll probably spend weeks and months learning how to use the software and design your site. So while a DIY web design might seem cheaper upfront, it's often more expensive in the long run.

Final words about hiring a professional web designer

If you want to ensure that your website design is top-notch and provides a great user experience, it’s best to leave the job to the professionals. By hiring a web designer, you can avoid common mistakes, integrate seamlessly into social media, rank higher in search engines, and have an overall more attractive and functional website.

If you are worried about the web designer not meeting your vision, then it would be best to always be in constant communication with each other. Make sure you check the work on a regular basis and provide feedback the moment you see necessary adjustments.

That’s where the use of Instacap can come in handy. You can leave comments, take screenshots or screen recordings, and many more functions that can make web design collaboration so much easier. This intuitive platform will make working with a professional web designer easy and fun. Get started with Instacap and see how useful it can be for you and your team!

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