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Homepage Articles DIY vs Professional: An in-Depth Look at the Website Builders
Mar 04, 2023

DIY vs Professional: An in-Depth Look at the Website Builders

Article brought to you by Nilead, a website builder platform with fully-managed design, development, and management services.

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Table of contents

Introduction

The great thing about today's tech landscape is that there are plenty of tools available to help you make an informed decision. In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at the cost of website builders, both DIY, and professional. We'll also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each option, as well as provide some useful tips for anyone looking to go either route. By the end, you'll have all the information you need to decide which path is right for you. Let's dive in!

What Are Website Builders and Do I Need One?

If you're thinking of creating your own website but don't want to code from scratch, a website builder may be just the ticket you need to get something amazing up and running—and fast. Website builders are generally easier to use than coding and provide users with lots of customization options, allowing them to customize their site's design, features, and more.

The big question is whether you should go the DIY or professional route. Professional website builders come at a cost—but they come with all sorts of bells and whistles that make it worth every penny. With professional software, you can enjoy more advanced design capabilities such as full-width sections, parallax scrolling, custom fonts, and more. Plus, premium website builders typically offer support staff who can help guide you through the setup process.

The Pros and Cons of DIY Website Building

When it comes to building websites, the DIY route is definitely convenient. There are several website builders that can help you get a website up and running in just a few clicks—no coding or design experience is required. On the other hand, if you have a more complex website project in mind and want more control over the final product, you may find yourself struggling with advanced settings.

There are some drawbacks to using a DIY website builder. You’re typically limited by the available templates and designs, which won’t be as customization-friendly as those offered by professional web developers. In order to customize advanced features, you may have to dig into the support documents of the builder you use and face steep learning curves. And if you encounter any technical issues or bugs along the way, it's on you to find out how to fix them.

When to Use a Paid Professional Website Builder Service

One of the biggest questions people have when considering building a website is whether they should use the DIY approach or invest in a paid professional website builder. So, what's the right answer?

Well, it really depends on your specific needs and goals. If you're looking for a basic website—one with a few pages, some plugins, and perhaps a quick blog—then going with the DIY approach is probably your best bet. On the other hand, if you want to create an intricate website with multiple pages and functions, or if you need someone else to manage or maintain it for you, then investing in a professional website builder service might be worth it.

So, why use a paid professional website builder service? Here are 4 main benefits:

  1. Advanced features – Many of these website builders have unique features that require in-depth knowledge of the platform. An experienced team can reduce research time and apply best practices.

  2. Streamlined setup – A professional website team has a proven process that can make getting started much faster and easier. It is likely that they will be able to help you avoid making unnecessary mistakes based on their experience with previous projects.

  3. Support – With paid services you usually get access to dedicated customer support teams who can help you troubleshoot any issues you may encounter while building your site (or even after it’s been launched). This means less frustration and more time focusing on creating great content for your users!

  4. Search engine optimization –There are many things you can do with a website builder, some of which aren't best practices for search engine optimization. You may need professional help to ensure that the final result is optimized for your target audience and search engines.

How Much Does It Cost to Pay for a Website Builder Service?

You might be wondering why you should pay for a website builder when there are so many free platforms out there. Well, depending on the type of website you need and the amount of time you have to build it, the cost of a professional website builder service could be worth it. Professional freelancers/teams typically charge $500-$3000 USD for their website services. Websites with eCommerce features may cost more because they have to set up payment gateways, shipping methods, and other features.

More Customizable Options

Professionals are well-versed in the ins and outs of builder software and know how to maximize its potential. If you want your website to look and perform its best, a professional website builder team can help.

Reduced Risk of Errors

Paying for a professional website builder service also helps reduce the risk of errors because most reliable providers provide support and troubleshooting services if something does go wrong—that's not something that usually comes with free service providers. Plus, with so many features offered by most paid builders, it can save you a lot of time when building your site.

So when it comes down to it, if you're looking for more customizability, better security and performance, and fewer headaches down the line, then paying for a website builder service may definitely be worth it.

Conclusion

In the end, it’s important to assess what you need and how important a website is to your business. For those that can afford to pay for professional website design, the advantages are evident. If you don’t want to spend money, DIY website builders can get the job done. Make sure you’re aware of potential drawbacks, though. Whichever route you decide to take, it’s important that you take the time to thoroughly research to make the best decision for your budget and the look and feel you are after.

Creating a website is an important step for any business. Now that you know the pros and cons of both DIY and professional website builders, you can make an informed decision that fits your budget and needs.

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About the author

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Vu Nguyen

Vu Nguyen is an entrepreneur, developer, and founder of Nilead. He loves backend website development and has experience in eCommerce (owning an online store as well as being a developer), Search Engine Optimization, UX Design, and Content Strategy.

Since 2005, Vu has headed and overseen UX design teams for projects in corporations, start-ups, individuals, etc., regardless of their size. He has been involved in both the creative and technical aspects of each project - from ideation to concept and vision, prototype building to detailed design, and build-up to deployment.

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