You’re on your website, it’s the end of the year and maybe you're thinking; Is my site really where it should be?
Maybe your business has changed over since you built your site.
- You’re offering new products
- Your message is slightly different
- It has just been a while since you refreshed your look
You may decide, its time, you're going to get a new website. Now here is the big question. How do you get it built?
There are two main paths. Do It Yourself or working with a website consultant. Here are some of the benefits and downsides of each.
Most DIY solutions are pretty similar. They are usually monthly paid services that allow you to create a website by selecting a design and then customizing it yourself. No coding required.
Most market themselves as a tool that includes everything you need to build a website on your own.
DIY has its upside:
- Creating a site is easy.
- You can see what changes you make will look like in real-time.
- Some even offer a monthly plan that includes eCommerce store options.
But don't be fooled:
- In most cases, you won't own “your” site, and if you want to, it will cost you.
- Some of the free versions have ads all over “your” site, which won’t make the best first impression, right?
- There are paid options but including more features can really start to add up. The costs are monthly in perpetuity.
- If you’re unhappy with “your” website and want to leave the service, you will have to start over. Most of these services don't give you the option to move “your” site, so you would have to pay someone to build a brand-new site from scratch again.
Working with a consultant
Working with a consultant like Converging Currents allows you to plan out your website with a professional to determine the best solution for you.
Let's be real, your next website is going to be around for around 3 to 5 years. You want a winning strategy behind what will truly be “your” website. Working with Converging Currents means that you have someone by your side to help you get exactly what your business needs right now. You can also set up a plan for security maintenance and content updates. If for any reason you are unhappy with the hosting you’ve chosen, you will be able to move your site to another host without having the cost of rebuilding it again.
So, what's the downside?
You will be working with a partner to get your site done, and while they can show you how to make basic updates. For anything major, you'll want to go back to your website developer to ensure the updates are done properly. There will be an hourly cost estimate provided to do any work that you need to do that can’t be done in the Customer Management System, or if you don’t have time to make changes and want Converging Currents to make them for you.
However, that is less of a concern with a partner like Converging Currents. We are here to work with you on your website needs. We are here to ensure you get the website of your dreams with all the bell and whistles. We are here to support you and it after it is created. Think of us as your onboarding and maintenance team.
To learn more about how we can help you get the website your business needs in 2020, contact us. We can provide you with a Free Website Audit, so you can see exactly how your website is currently performing.
