Business Builders

Web Design - Do It Yourself or Hire a Professional?

You’ve thought long and hard about your immediate and long term Internet marketing goals, and you’ve managed to secure a domain name for your website. Now what?

 Although we all probably need some professional help every once in awhile, nowhere else can the term “Professional” itself, be so subjective than on the Internet. Here’s why - say I have a website that promotes my web design business. Aside from you reading what is on my website - that is designed to sell you my services - and maybe meeting me in person if we are in the same geographic area, how do you really know I am a qualified web development professional? You don’t….that is, until you do your homework.

 Yes, due diligence will serve you well once again when searching for a professional company to handle your web design needs. After all, this professional is responsible for developing and maintaining your Internet identity. Would you want to leave that up to somebody who does subpar work? How bout doing things myself you ask, “I took some graphic arts courses down at the local community college, I’m pretty confident I can build a website.” I can’t tell you how many times I have heard this one - “I plan on doing it myself.” I always cringe - always. Face it, YOU are NOT a website development professional, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this incredibly pedantic article. Accept it and find a qualified professional to handle your Internet marketing needs.

 Now, there are some simple cases where you may be able to pull it off all by yourself. And I’m sure everyone knows someone who built their own website in their spare time and it kicks butt - meaning it generates a lot more income, than it costs to maintain. Maybe if Grandma is baking cookies and little Johnny handles the web design and internet orders; sure, maybe then a DIY approach to web development can be a workable solution. But I always look for the greener grass. What if say - with the help of a professional - Grammie had a shopping cart application, search engine optimization, or a referral marketing strategy in place and being overseen by a professional? Do you think that would sell even more delicious culinary confections?? I’d be willing to lay odds on that one. Fear, lack of understanding, and rigidity will not generate more profits for your business.

In case the message isn’t being conveyed in an effective manner; you will benefit most from having a professional oversee your website design, development, maintenance and marketing. For every millionaire Grammie out there, there are ten million DIY websites lost in the Internet ether. They ain’t makin’ nobody more money, or keeping existing customers happy. What started out as a quest to save money, winds up costing you in unrealized profits. The old penny wise, pound foolish deal. You leave the plumbing to professionals, roofing to the professionals, root canals to the professionals….why would you risk your business identity with anything less?