If you’re thinking about building a website for your business, you’ve probably noticed there’s no shortage of options, opinions, and approaches. Should you dive in and do it yourself? Hire a professional? Or maybe find some middle ground? As someone who’s been building websites for nearly three decades, I can tell you that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Let’s walk through everything you need to know to make the right choice for your business.
Why Your Website Matters More Than Ever
Before we dive into how to approach building a website, let’s talk about why it matters so much. Your website isn’t just another marketing tool—it’s your business’s digital headquarters. While social media platforms can change their rules overnight, your website gives you complete control over your online presence. Think of it as your most reliable employee: it works 24/7, never takes a vacation, and consistently represents your brand to potential customers.
Understanding Your Starting Point
When I work with clients who are considering building a website, the first thing we discuss is their current situation. One client, Sarah, came to me absolutely convinced she needed to hire a professional for her boutique’s website. She was terrified of technology and assumed she couldn’t handle building a website herself. After our discussion, we discovered she was actually quite comfortable with digital tools and mainly needed guidance rather than a full-service solution.
Your starting point matters tremendously when building a website. Consider your available time—not just for the initial build but for maintaining your site afterward. Are you someone who enjoys learning new skills, or does the thought of technical challenges make you break out in a cold sweat? Be honest with yourself about your comfort level with technology.
The DIY Approach to Building a Website
Building a website yourself can be incredibly rewarding. One of my clients, Maria, started with zero technical knowledge but was determined to create her own site. She took it step by step, learned the basics of WordPress, and within a few months, had a professional-looking website that she could manage herself.
However, the DIY route isn’t all sunshine and roses. You’ll need to learn several key skills: managing domains and hosting, understanding your chosen platform, basic design principles, and content creation. While these aren’t impossible to master, they do take time. What takes me an hour might take you several days or weeks when you’re still learning.
The biggest advantage of building a website yourself is the cost savings. Instead of paying thousands for professional services, you’ll mainly cover hosting, domain registration, and perhaps some premium tools or themes. You’ll also have complete control over your site and can make changes whenever you want.
The value of your time is also something to consider when it comes to cost. If you bill $100 per hour and website building takes you 40 hours, that’s $4,000 of your time that could be spent on revenue-generating activities. On the flip side, if you’re just starting out and have more time than money, learning to build and maintain your own website might be the perfect investment in your business’s future.
The Professional Route: When to Bring in an Expert
Sometimes, building a website is better left to the professionals. Think about it like taxes—sure, you could learn to do them yourself, but many business owners find it more valuable to hire an accountant and focus on running their business instead.
Professional web developers bring years of experience to the table. They know how to create designs that convert visitors into customers, implement proper security measures, and ensure your site works flawlessly across all devices. They’ve solved countless technical problems and can anticipate issues before they arise.
I had a client who spent six months trying to build her own e-commerce website. After countless frustrations and lost sales, she finally hired a professional who completed the project in two weeks. Sometimes, trying to save money by doing it yourself can actually cost more in the long run.
The Middle Ground: Guided Website Building
Here’s something many people don’t realize when building a website: you don’t have to choose between complete DIY and hiring a professional. There’s a middle ground that can give you the best of both worlds.
Consider taking a structured course that walks you through the process step by step. Or work with a coach who can help with the technical setup while teaching you to manage the day-to-day aspects of your site. This approach often costs much less than hiring a professional to do everything for you while giving you more support than pure DIY.
I’ve worked with many clients this way, helping them set up the technical foundations of their sites and teaching them to handle content updates and basic maintenance themselves. That’s exactly how my Build Your Website in One Day workshop works! Later, when they needed more advanced features like e-commerce or membership areas, they knew enough to make an informed decision about whether to tackle it themselves or bring in professional help.
Making Your Decision
If you’re still having trouble deciding which is the best choice for your website, here is what I share with my clients to help them make the best choice for their situation:
- DIY When:
- You enjoy learning new technical skills
- You have more time than money to invest
- You want complete control over your website
- You’re starting with basic features
- You’re comfortable with a longer timeline
- Hire a Professional When:
- You need complex features from the start
- You have a strict launch deadline
- You value your time over money
- You want to guarantee professional results
- You prefer focusing on your core business
- Use a Guided Approach When:
- You want to understand your website’s workings
- You prefer having expert backup
- You plan to start simple and grow
- You value learning but want support
- You have a flexible timeline
Taking the Next Step
Whether you choose to build your website yourself, hire a professional, or take a guided approach, the most important thing is to get started. Your business needs a professional online presence, and the sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll reap the benefits.
Remember, you’re not locked into your choice forever. Many successful business owners start with one approach and transition to another as their needs change and their business grows. The key is making an informed decision based on your current situation and goals.
What questions do you have about building a website for your business? Share your thoughts in the Website Success Lounge Facebook group, where you’ll find a supportive community of business owners who understand exactly what you’re going through.
If you’d like to have a go at the DIY route for building a website, check out my upcoming Website Quickstart Challenge, which starts on December 4, 2024. You’ll learn how to plan your website, create content, and design a basic brand. Then, you can register for Build Your Website in One Day on December 14, and I’ll show you how to tie everything together into a beautiful website.