Invest in Professional Web Design: Four Good Reasons Not to Drink the DIY Kool-Aid

As the adage says, “You only get one chance to make a first impression.”

Today, nearly all consumers pre-shop online to validate large spending decisions, making it more important than ever for your organization to have a strong, compelling web presence. While it may be tempting to take the do-it-yourself route when it comes to your company web site, you’ll be much better served to hire a professional web designer who can translate your brick and mortar vision into beautiful online outlet that effectively positions your brand for both online and offline success.

Here are four good reasons to forgo the DIY mentality and invest in expert web design and development:

1. Web design and programming are extremely time-consuming to learn. It can take years to hone your skills enough to develop a site that not only looks clean and professional, but works well in multiple browsers, is search engine-friendly, and most importantly offers an accurate portrayal of your company’s industry, vision, and product or service offerings. An expert web designer has the training, skills and tool set necessary to quickly and effectively create a unique, functional web site that gives your business an edge over the competition.
2. You risk building your site on old technology. The Internet is constantly evolving, and a great web developer is always on the up-and-up with technology and software updates. Your site should be dynamic and developed strategically to allow for easy-to-update content and pages. Those who choose to create their own web sites often run into major browser and search engine compatibility issues down the road. A top web developer will ensure that your site functions properly across all browsers while also utilizing database functionality – a method that simplifies and promotes future site growth.

   Think of database functionality like a filing cabinet. The “filing cabinet” stores data ranging from page content to passwords to e-mail submissions and more, keeping all information organized and easy to recognize and recall at a moment’s notice. Database functionality maintains the back-end integrity of your site, making it much easier to expand the site later if need be.

3. Your site should be both social media and search engine-friendly. You can have the most beautiful site in the history of the web, but if your customers can’t find it via search engines, it’s nearly worthless. A leading web developer will leverage proven techniques throughout the development process that enable search engines to find and index your site easily, which can help organically boost your rankings.
4. Using a template means there could be thousands, or even millions, of sites that look exactly like yours! Templates can be an attractive option for those seeking an inexpensive way to establish a web presence. However, most templates have serious limitations on customization options, preventing you from creating a totally unique, highly branded online presence. A great web designer will sit down with you and discuss your vision for the site and then develop a distinctive look and feel that will help grow your business and pull away from your competition.

Do you need a professional designer to help translate your web site vision into reality?