Prices from a designer are often considerably higher than the do-it-yourself solutions. With that difference in price, comes a difference in value also. This article is going to outline the value and costs of going with a professional as opposed to using an online tool.
A Website Is An Investment
Like a lawnmower for a landscaper or a license for a realtor, a website is a tool to generate income. A tool to convert interested prospects into paying customers. As a tool for your business (and your first impression with new customers), it needs to be effective. If a website is not converting interested viewers into paying customers, you are not only wasting your money, you’re also hurting the image of your business.
I do not take clients that will not see a return on this investment. Every client I onboard makes more money from the website than I will ever see from it. I make sure of this with an extensive design process, years of experience making user flows to convert more customers, and a search engine optimization strategy that a website builder would not be able to match. Because of this, I —like many other professionals— have a higher price to meet the need of business owners that are more serious about getting a larger number customers.
For a business that is not the primary focus of the owner —a side project, or experiment— or one that is concerned with just having a presence on the web instead expansion: I would not recommend hiring a professional. A do-it-yourself tool will meet your goals under these circumstances.
It’s All About Growth
From growing your business to growing in capabilities for your customers, a website is about growth. Website building tools do not give this room for expansion; if you wanted to integrate a store to your site or a feature to offer a person returning for a second look a discount, you would be entirely out of luck. What you got to start off with is all you will get in the long run. From that point, you will have to take your website somewhere else (which often comes with exit fees) and go to someone that can add that functionality for you.
The trade off for less room to grow is obviously the lower price. With most professionals, this stays true. But, because of my pricing model, the expenses are often lower for long term customers than the do-it-yourself solutions. On top of generating more revenue, the value is there for serious business owners. Upfront the price is high, but after that, maintenance costs less than the bill for an online tool.
If you do not see yourself keeping a website for the long run, or never expect to need more functionality from it, I am inclined to say that a website builder tool will get the job done for you.
That’s All Great, But What Does It Cost?
This is the question I get asked the most. What will it cost me? Sadly, my answer is not that exciting. Much like going to a mechanic and immediately asking, “how much to fix my car?” I need to know what you need. I work inside of a client’s budget to deliver what they need at a price they can afford. Like I said above, if I do not think that you are going to make a profit on your website, or if the budget is too low to meet your needs, I will gladly point you in the right direction to meet your needs at your price point.
Feel free to get in touch with me to discuss your next website and to see if my services are a good fit for you. Or, you can email me directly at [email protected].
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This is really helpful, thanks.