Let’s face it – building your own website sounds like a great idea. You get all the control, you can work at it at your own pace – it’s no wonder so many people are tempted to go DIY when it comes to building their own web presence. Knowing exactly how to make a website and how to make it work is no mean feat – if it was that easy, surely everyone would be doing it! But let’s pull back a little – what do we mean by DIY when it comes to web design? How can you make your own website from scratch these days – and is it worth doing? Take it from us – it really isn’t – but we need to take a closer look at what goes into a DIY website before we can get to the meat of the matter.
You will likely have seen DIY website builders advertised. Without mentioning names, they’re the firms that allow you to build a site up from scratch using a set template, a couple of placeholders and the assurance that you’ll be up and running in minutes. This type of service is particularly popular with those who really aren’t sure where to start with getting online – this is because it generally provides a quick, easy route to getting set up without all the bells and whistles. It’s a service than may well be offered by hosting firms in exchange for a domain and service charge, too – meaning that a DIY website package can often come as standard.
Knowing how to make a website is difficult – and it’s therefore clear why so many of these services are catching on in the mainstream. However, it’s easy to forget that just because something is easy, and gives you a lot of control, doesn’t mean that it gives you to full enchilada. We’re not expecting everyone off the street to know how to create a website – far from it – and this is only the tip of the iceberg as to why we think you should avoid DIY options at all costs.
The main issue facing anyone using DIY website services lies in limitation. The long and the short of it is that if you want to make your own website with a DIY service, you will run the risk of losing out on tons of great features for content, design and even getting your website seen. Yes – even SEO is affected here – meaning that you may wish to tread carefully when it comes to taking your web design project entirely into your own hands. Let’s take a closer look at some of the limitations involved.
The first thing you should consider when you consider how to make a website is whether or not you will be able to host the content you wish to spread to the world. Sure, the design is important – and we will come to that shortly – but consider that some DIY website builders don’t come with a blog feature attached. Blogs are becoming more and more important in the ever-changing world of SEO, and without a blog, you are running the risk of showing the world that you’re barely there. To many, a flat DIY website will appear static and uninspiring.
Bespoke websites come with all sorts of bells and whistles, including a near-unlimited design palette. Stylesheets and more besides at your disposal, the world really is your oyster when it comes to picking the look you want – and someone can do it all for you. DIY website builders generally offer you a meagre selection of flat themes and ideas – meaning you could be missing out on a world of choice.
Consider how easy it is nowadays to make your own website with a custom web address – www dot your name dot com! Many DIY website builders lack this functionality – meaning you’ll be lumbered with something along the lines of http dot your name dot company dot com (a mouthful!). Which do you prefer? We don’t even need to ask.
The big one – ignoring SEO is a very bad idea indeed if you’re looking for online success. Google may change the rules occasionally on how to get seen in search listings, but a good web design firm building you a bespoke site should know all the nooks and crannies. A lot of DIY website builders operate on technology such as Flash – which isn’t great at dishing out discoverable elements about your site to others. You also lack the guarantee that your builder will keep up to date with all of Google’s changing terms. With bespoke website maintenance on side, you have that in regular check.
A quick one – when learning how to create a website using a DIY service, how soon does it let you in on how to optimise for mobile users? Maybe it doesn’t – and believe it or not, this is alarmingly common. The way we use the web is changing – Google’s aware of it, and if you don’t opt for a website with at least responsive design, you’ll run the risk of being buried in the search listings.
Last but not least, let’s talk ads. While not everyone likes to plaster their sites with banners and pay-per-click elements, you aren’t really going to have much of a choice if you opt for a DIY website builder. With bespoke packages, you at least have the choice of whether or not you want to host ads – meaning that, again, there is a far greater world of choice open to you.
Take it from us – a bespoke package will give you all the control you need over your website with tons of customisation and opportunities for you to get seen online. If you’re in need of an effective, attractive website with all the bells and whistles – and all the maintenance and support you can get – call on SEO CoPilot. Why not call our team today on 01246 540869, or drop us a query via email? We’ll give you all the tools and control you deserve – and more than enough reasons to stay miles away from DIY website engines!
