Why Building Your Own Business Website Isn't Practical
To design your business website you will need to be educated in HTML, PHP, JavaScript, database programming, Dreamweaver, social media, marketing communications, copywriting, photography, and graphic design. Are you also fantasizing about winning the Tour de France, or are you just a victim of some misbegotten belief that this will save you money? Forget about it!
Unless you're already a professional web designer, don’t do it all yourself; this is the biggest mistake you can make. Playing with your personal website is one thing, but creating a successful business website is a job for the pros. You wouldn’t let someone without experience design your ads, dress your store window, serve customers, buy goods from vendors, or negotiate contracts. So why would you trust your website to a novice?
Novices include friends, neighbors, children, or siblings, unless they have experience creating business sites for a living. Even then, treat people you know as you would any professional — write an agreement so expectations are clear. An agreement won't only save you aggravation and disappointment; it might save your relationship.
A nonprofessional who does websites on the side and takes three or four times as long as a pro will end up costing you marketing opportunities and sales as well as money.
Deciding who will design your site is a strategic marketing decision. Your site won’t measure up if it’s obviously homemade, with links that don’t work, when your competitors’ sites look professional and run smoothly. If your competitors’ sites are equally sad, your poor website wastes an obvious opportunity to get an edge.
Web Design & Development Glossary
