Should you hire a professional web designer?
Probably :)
Here are 5 key things to keep in mind.
Here are 5 key things to keep in mind.
Time and Efficiency
Unless you have a lot of spare time it’s probably a good idea to find a web designer who is well suited to your niche. Learning how to use a CMS (content management system) like Wordpress or an equivalent takes time and even then it will be hard for you to compete with people who do this for a living.
But, by all means, if this is a hobby project and you enjoy the process of learning how to develop a website then building one from scratch is for you! Just be prepared for it to take more time and effort.
But, by all means, if this is a hobby project and you enjoy the process of learning how to develop a website then building one from scratch is for you! Just be prepared for it to take more time and effort.
Custom design
A web designer’s responsibility is to listen to you, consult with you and ultimately create a well-designed website that is completely unique to your brand. Working with a professional, you don't have to worry about the technicalities of design because that's their job - you can let your imagination come to life and end up with a website that matches your vision.
It's also good to have original ideas and a second opinion from a designer whose job it is to design a website that you are happy with and alligns well with your brand. Knowing how to design a website that is well-suited to your target audience is a no.1 priority for any web designer as this is what leads to the highest engagement rates and most pleasant user experience.
It's also good to have original ideas and a second opinion from a designer whose job it is to design a website that you are happy with and alligns well with your brand. Knowing how to design a website that is well-suited to your target audience is a no.1 priority for any web designer as this is what leads to the highest engagement rates and most pleasant user experience.
Better website
In order for a website to be custom and perform well, you have to know what to look out for when optimising it. This requires some technical web design expertise such as:
- knowing how to code
- Knowing how to build an SEO friendly website
- Knowing how to optimise for a fast loading speed
- Knowing how to navigate and edit the backend of a website using best practices
- Knowing how to keep the website secure so you don't leave it vulnerable to malware and hackers
- Knowing which plugins / 3rd party software to use without bloating the site causing unnecessary lag
- knowing how to code
- Knowing how to build an SEO friendly website
- Knowing how to optimise for a fast loading speed
- Knowing how to navigate and edit the backend of a website using best practices
- Knowing how to keep the website secure so you don't leave it vulnerable to malware and hackers
- Knowing which plugins / 3rd party software to use without bloating the site causing unnecessary lag
Maintenance
A web designer can also care for your website even after it is up and running. Even though your site is online, it still needs to be looked after to ensure that it still performs optimally while staying secure and up-to-date. This can save you a lot of time and give you peace of mind, knowing that an expert is using best practices to take care of your website, making sure that it doesn’t fall behind your competition with the latest software.
Happier Visitors
People are happy when they have a pleasant user experience that has clearly been thought through and well designed.
Conclusion
While using a website builder like Squarespace or Wix may be tempting, it does not outweigh the undeniable benefits of hiring a web design expert. With a web design expert you will be able to have much more creative freedom, save time and have peace of mind knowing that you will receive a tailor made website developed with best practices.