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Many small businesses have the same question: Should I hire a web designer or do it myself? If you’re not an expert, this can be a really challenging decision. Both hiring a professional and designing your own website have their pros and cons. You may have heard one is better than the other in some way or another, but in reality, both options come with trade-offs. Let’s look at both options so you can make the best decision for your business.
Hiring a Web Designer
If you’re not a designer, hiring a web designer can be a great option for those who want a good-looking website. If you hire a web designer, you should expect to pay a fee for their services. The size of the fee will depend on a few different factors:
- Your budget: The cost of hiring a designer will depend on your budget. You may be able to find lower-priced designers, but you may also run into designers whose rates may exceed your budget.
- The type of website you want: The type of website you want will have a big impact on the type of designer you hire. For example, if you want an eCommerce website, you’ll need to hire someone who specializes in building eCommerce websites. If you want a blog, you’ll need to hire a different kind of designer.
- Your geographic location: The location in which you hire your designer will also have an impact on the cost of hiring a designer. For example, web designers in New York City charge a lot more than those in other parts of the country.
Doing it Yourself
If you decide to design your website yourself, you’ll save yourself a lot of money. In fact, you can build a basic website for as little as $250. Of course, the quality of your website will be different from those created by professionals. You might not be able to design a website that’s as good as those designed by professionals.
That said, with just a little bit of know-how you can create a website that serves your business needs. If you decide to design and build your own website, you should be able to create a simple website for free. There are plenty of free website builders, such as WordPress.com and Wix, that let you build your own website with surprisingly few limitations. If you want to build a more complex website, however, you may want to hire a web developer to build your website.
What to Look for When Hiring a Web Designer
If you decide to hire a designer, here are some things you should look for when hiring a web designer:
- A portfolio: When hiring any kind of designer, you should look at their portfolio. You can learn a lot about the designer’s skills and style by looking at their portfolio.
- Ask to see examples of their work: You should also ask to see examples of their work. A good designer will provide examples of their work. You should also ask to see examples of their work that’s similar to what you want.
- Ask for references: References can also be very helpful when hiring a designer. You should ask to speak with previous clients so you can find out how the designer worked with them. When speaking with references, pay close attention to how the designer treated those clients.
- Ask for examples of their work breakdowns: You should also ask for examples of their work breakdowns. You can learn a lot by seeing how the designer breaks down a project.
Pros of Hiring a Web Designer
Here are some reasons why you should hire a designer:
- Great designs: A professional designer will bring a wide range of design skills to the table. You should be able to get a great design from a designer.
- Expertise: A designer will also have expertise in other areas like user experience and user interface design. You’re less likely to make mistakes if you hire a designer.
- Quicker: You should also be able to get your website up and running much quicker if you hire a designer. You don’t have to spend time learning how to design your website. You just have to tell your designer what you want and they can take care of the rest.
- No coding experience required: You don’t have to know how to code your website. You just have to know what you want and let your designer do the rest.
Cons of Hiring a Web Designer
Here are some cons of hiring a designer:
- Web design is a pretty intense field with lots of competing ideas. There can be lots of different opinions about what makes a good design. Someone who is more experienced in the field of design will have an easier time deciding what looks good than someone who doesn’t have design experience.
- You may end up paying more: A designer will charge you for their expertise. You can’t build a website for free. You’ll have to pay for the design and development of your website. If you have a limited budget, you may want to consider building your website yourself.
Bottom line
Building a website is really important for any business. If you don’t have a website, you’re missing out on a lot of potential business. Having a website that is easy to use and looks good is even more important. If you don’t have a website or if you have an old website that isn’t working well, you should consider hiring a web designer or doing it yourself.
If you do decide to hire a designer, we here at ElementPress Design like to create beautiful sites at competitive rates. Head on over to our contact page if you have any questions on how we can work together.