Wix, Weebly and Squarespace sites may be more user-friendly for inexperienced developers and less expensive than a custom build, but the “quick fix” they provide may be short lived. Some business owners find themselves shackled to “free” websites that no longer meet their needs or help give them a leg up on the competition. For this reason, it’s important to make an informed decision when it comes to building — or rebuilding — your website. As you consider your options, don’t fall for these four myths.
Myth 1: If my website looks good, that’s good enough.
Truth: Your website is about more than appearances. Ultimately, it’s a tool to drive revenue, so things like user experience, ease of navigation and other factors are just as — if not even more — important than looks. There are fundamental principles of web development and design that many small business owners aren’t familiar with, such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO), online typography, HTML and CSS. Professional web developers know how to use these elements, along with your branded content, to their best advantage to create a website with the end user in mind — something that the DIY platforms can’t offer. Two websites could look identical to visitors, but perform very differently in terms of things like page load speeds or search engine performance depending on what’s going on “under the hood.”
Myth 2: A template is good enough for every business.
Truth: Templated websites provide easy click-and-drag formatting, stock photos and fonts, but they do not allow for full customization. And the one-size-fits-all approach can bury your brand in a sea of other businesses using the same platform. Professional websites give you complete freedom to express your brand identity so you can stand out to your target audience. And the functionality of your professionally built website is only limited by your imagination, your budget — and the skill of your developer. With a custom site, you have more options for interactive content and unique experiences for site visitors.
Myth 3: If I outgrow my DIY site, I can easily move it elsewhere.
Truth: Once you spend hours building and laying out a website on some “free” platforms, you can’t just take it with you. If, down the line, you decide that you want to host your own account, you may have to completely rebuild the website elsewhere, which means using more time and spending even more money to hire a developer than you initially spent to create your templated website. Hosting your own website and having a professional at the wheel will allow you to update the user journey as your business or customer needs change and grow over time — and that flexibility can be priceless.
Myth 4: DIY platforms are completely free.
Truth: Not exactly. These proprietary platforms lure you in with a “free” website. But you’ll often have to pay more to do basic things like: connect your site to a custom domain, remove advertisements from web pages, add e-commerce checkouts and upgrade to additional storage or more sophisticated data analytics. And what happens if the proprietary platform you’ve selected goes out of business or changes its pricing structure down the line?
The key to long-term success is a strong foundation.
Low-cost, proprietary platforms may be cheaper and easier for the beginner DIY builder, but your options in design and functionality are limited in comparison to a professionally developed website. Create a strong online foundation for your business from the get-go to give your website room and flexibility to grow along with your bottom line.
Not sure where to start? Kymera can help you develop and design a website for your company so you call the shots, every single time. Contact us today!
