In today’s online world, having a user-friendly, attractive, and well-functioning website is essential for any business. However, anyone can register and design a cheap website with no coding experience using a website builder. That being said, most businesses see their website as an investment, which is why they hire a professional web design company.
At this point, you’re probably thinking, “If I can build a website myself, why would I invest in professional web design?” Well, let’s explain and compare the two – should you use a website builder or hire a web designer? There are benefits and drawbacks to both, and we outline the differences so you can work out which one is best for your business.
Online website builders such as Wix and Squarespace have made creating your own websites even easier. With user-friendly interfaces and inexpensive launch costs, it’s no surprise that many small businesses are turning to these services to build their own websites. This article weighs up the pros and cons of hiring a professional website design agency versus building your own website using platforms such as Wix or Squarespace.
Cost
Hiring a professional website design agency will undoubtedly require a larger initial investment. That’s true. But for good reasons. Many of which will become apparent in this article. The key, though, is to select an agency that can provide the right solution for you. Take the time to assess the quality of their work before making any commitments.
On the other hand, using an online website builder will likely be less expensive, with many platforms offering discounts and introductory deals for new customers. In the short term, an online website builder might save you money, but as your business expands and your website’s needs grow, you might need to pay for additional features. There may also be hidden costs down the line, and not just in terms of money.
Code Bloat
Code bloat occurs when excessive HTML, CSS, or JavaScript is included in a webpage. Online website builders like Wix and Squarespace are attractive because they enable people without technical skills to create their own websites. However, they come with a significant downside: code bloat. These tools make it easy to add numerous elements or animations, which can slow down page load times or even crash browsers, as they struggle to process too much data at once.
Page speed is also a key factor in a successful website in terms of search engine optimisation. Many website builders are bulky in terms of code whereas a custom website from an agency will likely be streamlined and optimised as needed. At Highscore, we are very proud of our websites and how well built they are.
If performance in Google isn’t important, then a website builder service may be useful, but we recommend avoiding something that could be damaging to your online efforts.
Internal Resources
Time is one of the most valuable resources for any business, and investing in a professionally designed website allows you to focus on core activities like product development, customer service, or marketing. DIY website creation may seem cost-effective, but it often requires significant time to learn design principles, navigate tools, and troubleshoot issues, especially for those without experience.
By hiring a professional web design agency, you ensure that experts handle every aspect of the process efficiently, delivering a polished, high-quality result. This saves you time and ensures your website meets professional standards, allowing your team to focus on growing your business and serving your customers.
Steep Learning Curve
Even with the most user-friendly tools, learning to build a website can be a challenging and time-consuming process. While platforms like Wix and Squarespace are designed for simplicity, they still require users to invest time in understanding design principles, navigating the platform’s features, and troubleshooting any issues that arise.
For those without prior experience in web design, this learning curve can feel steep and frustrating. Achieving a professional-looking, functional website demands more than just dragging and dropping elements—it requires a thoughtful approach to layout, usability, and optimisation. Ultimately, the time and effort spent on this learning process could be better used on other critical areas of your business.
By choosing a package website with us, for instance, we do all the hard work, so you don’t have to!
Scalability
Web design agencies specialise in creating websites that are built to grow alongside your business, allowing for seamless expansions and upgrades as your needs evolve. In contrast, website builders often struggle to support large-scale projects or complex functionality, making them less suitable for businesses with plans for significant growth or future development.
Professional Expertise
Web design agencies bring together skilled professionals with expertise in design, development, user experience, SEO, and digital strategy to create polished and effective websites. In comparison, while website builders are user-friendly, they require you to take on the responsibility of learning and managing various aspects of the web design process yourself, which can often result in less optimal outcomes.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Web design agencies develop websites with SEO best practices in mind, ensuring improved visibility on search engines and often providing ongoing support and strategic guidance to enhance your site’s performance. In contrast, website builders like Squarespace offer basic SEO tools, but these platforms lack the flexibility and advanced capabilities needed for more complex optimisation efforts.
Long-Term Support and Maintenance
Web design agencies offer ongoing support, maintenance, and updates to ensure your website remains secure and functions optimally over time. On the other hand, website builders place the responsibility for maintenance and troubleshooting entirely on you, which can be difficult to manage if technical issues occur.
Custom Hosting and Performance Optimisation
Web design agencies can recommend or configure hosting solutions that are specifically tailored for speed, security, and scalability, ensuring optimal performance for your website. In contrast, website builders include hosting as part of their platform, but this bundled option offers limited flexibility when it comes to performance optimisation.
