What is a Website Builder
So what exactly is a website builder you may ask?
Well, long story short, a website builder is a tool that substitutes design and coding knowledge for a far more simplistic approach for people who don’t have developing knowledge. So to give a more detailed explanation, instead of knowing design fundamentals and Photoshop; you can select from pre-made site templates. Plus, you don’t have to understand a single line of CSS, HTML and other coding languages. You create your website through backend web builder’s, with pre-set functions and code.
Check Out: Which Website Builder is Best for Small Businesses
So to compare this to photography, a website builder vs a web designer is like a DSLR camera vs and SLR camera. The website builder is like the DSLR camera because you can simply point and shoot to get a great looking image. Whereas with an SLR camera you need a fair amount of knowledge about photography and development to create a great looking image and is not simple in any right.
What Does a Website Designer Do & How is it Different
So what should you be getting when you hire a professional website designer?
So it really depends on who you hire and what their skill level is. But assuming that you hire someone advanced, a web designer or agency can bring a lot to the table. The first major benefit is, a good web designer can take what you want and make it real. Or in other words, take what is in your head and make it an actual working prototype or website.
Plus if they are truly advanced in their service-based industry, they will gather an understanding of your business and customers to tailor your site’s design and structure to facilitate conversions and generate a higher rate of sales.
The second benefit of a good web designer is that they will help you generate a unique website design that sets your business apart from everyone else in your industry. This can be crucial for more established brands because in a time when most sites are looking the same; having a more dynamic yet simple user experience can make for a more memorable and preferable overall opinion of your brand as a whole.
So, going back to the DSLR camera analogy, if we imagine that you were planning your wedding day and wanted to have pictures taken to capture this momentous event. One option could be handing your friend a DSLR camera and have them take pictures of the big day.
Or hiring a web designer, who would be the equivalent of engaging a professional wedding photographer to take artistic and beautiful photos that you could treasure for the rest of your life.
Costs of Website Builders vs. Web Designers
Website Builders
If you’re wanting something that will be in the range of $500 to $5000, which is considered a smaller upfront monetary investment. That is unless you want to create your site using a website builder completely on your own. Either way, they are relatively cheap when it comes to the longterm investment and their templates are usually super intuitive, with hosting fees being generally inexpensive.
That being said, I need to stress that there can be a hefty financial investment upfront if you’re, “pimping out your site” with a bunch of add-ons like extra web security, eCommerce additions, or digital marketing capabilities. This is because you will be investing a ton of time into learning and creating your site or hiring someone to do all this for you initially, and then teaching you to handle things once they finish your setup. So if you’re a startup or a small business who doesn’t have a complex product or service, and is willing to learn how to maneuver through plugins, form integrations, and inputting content, it might be worth the time investment.
Check Out: How Much Does It Actually Cost To Build A WordPress Website
Web Designer
Be prepared to pay a much higher upfront investment when hiring a web designer or agency. But how much will it cost exactly? Well, it depends almost entirely on the needs of your business’ online presence and who you enlist to be your primary website designer/design team.
The costs associated with hiring a web designer/agency include things like:
- Project Management: With most agencies or professional contractors, you’re assigned a project manager you can hold accountable for meeting deadlines, communicating feedback and changes with the design and development team, that ensure the entire process is as smooth and efficient as possible.
- Design There are design professionals who absorb the goals and examples you’ve communicated with them, and churn out incredible designs that bring your vision to life.
- Development: If your site needs custom applications or custom development like the ability to create customer portals or bill pay options, chances are you’re gonna need an experienced developer. Developers are able to make your website exactly how you want, with all the features and functions your customers expect.
- Content: From images to videos, to written copy, it’s critical for your website content to clearly communicate your brand’s tone, personality, and purpose. Most web agencies or professional consultants have someone on staff experienced with creating quality, branded content that keeps website visitors engaged.
- Ongoing Maintenance: Keeping your website up-to-par with the latest security and plugin updates is critical. This can be the difference between a site that creates a positive customer experience or sends them running to the competition because nothing works right.
Who Should Use a Website Builder
Should everyone hire a professional website designer? Not really. In fact, for many, it’s the wrong move. Should your business fall under one of these categories you should probably go with a website builder:
Hobbyists
If you’re a hobbyist and looking to share your passion with others, you don’t need to hire a professional designer.
Bloggers
Unless you have a mature blog with an established audience, there is no need to professionally design your site at first. You can always improve your design later and import all of your previous posts at that time.
Unfunded Startups/New Businesses
Do you have a new business or an unfunded startup? You should probably just start with an affordable website builder. You have yet to prove the concept, and you are better off just getting your idea out into the world to see if there is even a market for it. Once you have an established customer base and are generating revenue, then you should probably look into upgrading your site with a professional design.
Solo Entrepreneurs
If you’re a solo entrepreneur with less than $75k/year in revenue, then you are probably best served with an affordable website builder.
Unproven Concepts
Have a great new idea that you haven’t tested yet? You should use a website builder to see how the idea is received. If it starts making money, then consider hiring a professional.
Small Non-Profits
For small non-profit organizations that are high on passion and low on funds, there is nothing wrong with using a website builder for your organization.
Who is Better Off Hiring a Professional Web Designer
Why shouldn’t everyone use website builders like Squarespace, WIX or Weebly if they are so affordable? I mean, if a professionally designed website costs $10000 or more, and a website builder has at most a $5000 upfront investment. Shouldn’t you always go with what will save your business the most money?
Not really. The reason being is that it’s not how much a professionally designed website costs. It’s how much it will cost you and your business if you don’t have a professionally designed website.
Warren Buffett, recognized as the world’s greatest investor, says that the most important consideration when it comes to investing is opportunity-cost. Or more simply put, you should not only consider your return on investment for a particular transaction. But you should compare all options available, to determine what the best overall course of action is.
With that being said, here is a look at who might be better off engaging with a web designer or design firm:
A Business Generating Over $250,000 a Year in Revenue
It’s hard to put an exact number, regarding revenue, for a business to have before getting a website. But it’s safe to say that if your business is generating over $250k/year, then you are probably leaving money on the table by not having your website professionally designed
A Local Business in a Competitive Industry
Do you own a local business that generates most of its business transactionally through people doing online searches? You are at a serious disadvantage if you don’t have a professionally designed website. The SEO benefits alone are worth the cost.
A Solo Entrepreneur Generating Over $150,000 a Year in Revenue
If you are a consultant, a real estate professional, a lawyer, accountant or any other solo business owner offering professional services, then you would probably be better off with a professionally designed website than going with a website builder.
A High Transaction Value Business
High transaction value businesses that generate $5k or more in profit per transaction would be better off with a professionally designed site. By having such a high transaction value, if you could generate just one additional sale by having a better website then the investment would pay for itself.
Conclusion
So back to our question, web designer vs website builder? Which one is right for you? The bottom line is, most websites are built with commercial intent. The purpose of your website is to make money. Whether or not you should hire a website designer vs. using a website builder comes down to risk vs. reward.
If you aren’t making much money, don’t have much money or have an unproven concept – haven’t proven it can make money, then you should go with the most affordable option available and not spend your money hiring a design firm.
If you are making money, value your time or your employees’ time and feel that you are losing potential business by not having a professionally designed site, then you should hire a professional.
