Whether you’ve just started your business yesterday, or you’ve been in business for years, you need a website. You need a good one, too. The web offers unlimited potential for revenue, depending on the number of clients you can attract, and the amount of traffic you drive to your site. I’ve been asked on many occasions if a business owner should consider hiring a web designer, or use a free website builder instead.

There are pros and cons to both, so it is important that you take a step back and analyze both choices. You want to select a choice that works the best for your business. The ultimate goal is to get results, so keep that in mind when making your choice. We’ll take a look at the pros and cons of hiring a web designer Vs. Using a Free Website Builder

Hiring a Web Designer

hiring a web designer

It’s Expensive

You can be sure that hiring a web designer is not cheap. Just like going to a doctor or a lawyer, or even a mechanic, a web designer has to make a living. A web designer provides a valuable service to your business, and their services are worth every penny.

You’re Relying on Someone Else

Something else you want to consider is the fact that you’re relying on someone else to interpret your wants and needs. A web designer is going to create a design brief based on the information you give them about your project. You’re relying on this web designer to interpret the information that you provide, and come up with the right solution for your business. A lot of trust goes into hiring a web designer, because you’re basically handing over your business to them. Make sure to take the time and hire a quality web designer.

No Limitations

You’re not limited in features or functions when hiring a web designer. The only limits you have are related to the capabilities of the person that you hire. If you hire someone with a well-rounded skill set, they should be able to provide just about anything you’re looking for.

Focus on Your Business

Hiring a web designer allows you to focus on your business. You can let the web designer handle building your website in creating a quality experience for website visitors. This allows you to devote your time to your business, where it is needed, instead of trying to figure out how to piece together a website.

Free Website Builders

There seems to be tons of free website builders popping up all over the web. They brag about the fact that you can seemingly create a professional website without knowing anything about web design. While this is enticing, there are pros and cons to using free website builders. Let’s take a look at those pros and cons.

Learning Curve

As with any interface, you have to take the time to learn your way around. You could spend hours just trying to figure out the different options that are available. There is a considerable learning curve for every website builder on the web. Many of them feature drag-and-drop interfaces. However, customizing your features can take time to figure out.

Limited Options

It’s just true that you can build this website using free website builders. The problem is, if you want anything more than a basic website, you’ll be disappointed by the options available. Most free website builder’s focus on adding effects and animations to your website. Their focus isn’t on functionality like many people would hope.

Isn’t Always Free

One common misconception is that free website builders are actually free. While it is true that some are, this is usually for the basic version. If you want to unlock extra options, or custom functionality, you end up having to pay a monthly fee. It’s important that you remember to read the fine print.

Sometimes Cookie Cutter

Many free website builder’s offer templates to choose from. The problem with this is that they don’t offer the ability to do much customization. This can give your website the appearance of being cookie-cutter. The last thing you want to do is to have your website look like everyone else’s. The whole point of your website is to stand out from the competition and drive traffic and new business your way.

No Domain

Free website builders host your website on their own domains. This means that your website is a subdomain of their website, which ends up looking unprofessional and unreliable. Some free website builders allow you to host your website on your own domain, but this is an added cost that you need to keep in mind. Also, some even charge a fee for using your own domain name. The reason is because they want the publicity of running your business website on their service.

Conclusion

Before you decide which way to go, it’s important that you consider the pros and cons of hiring a web designer or using a free website builder. There are pros and cons to both, and you have to make the choice that best suits you. If you don’t have the revenue to hire a web designer, a free website builder can be a great option to get you started. However, it is recommended that once you do establish your business, that you devote some revenue to having a professional website built for your business.

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