Traditionally, there were two options to build a website; you could hire a professional web developer and designer for the job or learn some web development codes such as HTML, PHP, and JavaScript to create your own website.
Presently, there is an assortment of DIY website builders that include Weebly, Wix, Squarespace, and Jimdo. Famous web hosts like GoDaddy as well as Bluehost also have powerful tools for creating websites. However, as convenient as they may be, DIY website builders do have their fair share of limitations. Using a DIY website builder is like doing your own wiring or plumbing. In spite of the fact that they can be ok up to a point, you will eventually need a skilled team that understands what it takes to build a professional and functional site.
Here are some of the pros and cons of DIY website builders.
Pros of DIY Website Builders
- No technical knowledge is required since all that is needed is to know how to drag and drop a few elements for your site. It saves you the time it would take to study and understand the rudiments of advanced web programming.
- Your website could literally be up and running within a few minutes. If all you need is a simple two to three page website to showcase your wares, this might be a great option for you.
- It saves a lot of money since you will not need to hire a professional web developer if you can do the work on your own.
- It will save you the burden of choosing a web hosting company as well as paying for hosting each month since web hosting is usually part of the package.
Cons of DIY Website Builders
- DIY website builders offer a set number of designs that can make your site look like it was ready made and amateurish. The tools provided do not match the standards of a professionally designed website.
- The user is not free to make any desired customization. The system limits the kinds of changes one can make.
- Some of DIY web builders do not have a full backup feature for websites.
- DIY websites run the risk of performing poorly with search engines since search engines have issues with self-build sites.
- In the worst case scenario, you as a user may not even own the site and moving it somewhere else can either be impossible or very costly.
Conclusion
So, should you use a DIY website builder? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re starting out, or you have a limited funds and are in need of a simple site, you may consider giving it a go. However, there are plenty of professional web design teams such as Parxavenue Ltd. that can design a professional website for almost the same price you would pay through a premium DIY website package. If you want a professional website over which you’ll have full control and you’re in it for the long haul, then you should definitely think twice about going DIY.