We admire the DIY spirit, and DIY websites can turn out fantastic — if you know what you’re doing. Of course, most business owners excel at business development, not web development. So if you don’t know what CSS or HTML even stand for, then your business’s website is best left to the professionals.
Still not convinced?
Here are some of the biggest mistakes with DIY websites and how they can negatively impact your business.
You used a free template
Website templates, or themes, are fast becoming the standard in business web design. We know those free website templates are extremely tempting because they make it incredibly easy for you to build your website block by block. However, they don’t have a ton of rhyme or reason, and they usually don’t contain any personality. You want your brand’s personality to shine through with your web design, and that won’t happen with a free, cookie-cutter template that anyone else can use.
You’re missing out on that SEO juice
And, yes, “SEO juice” is a technical term, even if it is a silly technical term. Search engine optimization (SEO) helps your targeted audience find your website through search engines. If potential customers can’t find your website on Google, it might as well not exist. A page-one search engine ranking can help you generate a steady stream of new leads. DIY web designers and website builders don’t normally know how to integrate SEO strategies and best practices with their web design. That means you have to teach yourself SEO in addition to web design.
You have no call to action
Your audience should know the purpose of your website within seconds of viewing it. More than that, key sections of your website need targeted calls to action, whether that’s collecting emails for marketing lists or generating phone calls. And while DIY designers can certainly add a call to action, these behavior triggers need to be placed in exactly the right position on the website. Without this crucial web design tool, potential leads will simply bounce off your website and into a competitor’s welcoming arms.
You forgot about mobile
DIY sites aren’t usually designed with mobile users in mind, and that can be a disaster waiting to happen. More than four out of five consumers shop on their smartphones, and you don’t want to isolate these users. Millions of Americans now look for products, restaurants, and local services on their smartphones, and a website that doesn’t respond well to these devices will ultimately fail. Not only that, but search engines like Google prioritize mobile-first websites in their search algorithms. Make sure your web design is responsive to mobile devices, or else.
When it comes to business web design, ditch the DIY! Let professional web designers help you make your business’s website thrive. It could be the difference between success and failure in the online space.
