This seems to have come up a lot lately, so I wanted to talk about it… Is it a good idea to make your own website for free? By this I am referring to the individual who learns a bit of HTML, uses a site builder, or chooses a template. Not ALL of these solutions are free; often they are even expensive. But I will just refer to the free types.
So, is it okay? My short answer is not really. I’m sure you would expect that. But, on occasion, it really can be the best solution. And there’s something of a science to it– a balance of money, time, and skill.
Generally, the lower your budget is, the more likely it is that a free DIY website option will work for you. Sometimes you just can’t afford the expertise of a designer/developer, and I have even referred people to sites like Wix.com that have free options.
You might find that shocking. And I’m sure it raises the question, “Why should I ever pay an expert if you are saying the free stuff is okay?” Easy. Brandability! When you are just starting out and have no funds, by all means find an attractive template and get your info online. That’s what you need to do to start making money! But once you do have a bit of funds ( just enough), you should invest in a professionally customized website in order to create a unique brand for yourself or your organization. Branding is what makes people take you seriously, and without it there just isn’t much opportunity to grow.
Furthermore, some people just don’t have the time to fiddle around with a site builder or template, let alone spend a month or two later on to find a web designer and get a branded, professional site once they’ve got the resources. So for these types, I say “Don’t do it!”
Lastly, I want to focus especially on the types who might think about picking up a bit of HTML or getting the neighbor kid to help them code up something. This is scary territory. Occasionally, someone with a bit of computer science background can pull this off (with a hefty investment of time). And sometimes the neighborhood kid really does have a firm grasp on it. But, unfortunately, this is all too rare.
Most noticeably, the design usually suffers big-time. With just basic skills, a newbie coder can’t create the dynamic style and functionality we’re used to seeing on the internet. And, maybe more importantly, the code is often bad. The web is constantly being re-invented, so code that was good 5 years ago isn’t necessarily good today. You might spend a ton of time following a tutorial a couple years old and end up with something that isn’t built to last (or doesn’t work at all)! I won’t go into cross-browser compatibility, but let’s just say if you aren’t prepared to test your site in several browser versions of IE, Firefox, and Safari, then just spare yourself the pain. :)
In conclusion, though having an expert customize a site for you is always ideal, I believe that getting a free DIY website design online might be the best temporary solution for you. It’s all a matter of money, time, and skill, and only you can determine it for sure. Just don’t lose sight of what you’re really “spending” as far as a time investment or even the customers that an amateur site might be turning away.
