There’s no shortage of people or companies who, when it comes time to create a website, turn to Google and search for what they think they should be looking for—without first asking themselves what they actually need.
Let’s look at the different profiles: from established companies with resources, to individuals launching a new business—who, more often than not, have the least to invest in the process.
Within these two groups, we often see some surprising contradictions: the well-resourced company that expects the office assistant to build their website in their spare time (because they’re always at the computer and once fixed an email issue…), and the entrepreneur with limited means who, out of inexperience, expects a professional-grade website—projects that can easily cost upwards of €14,000 and take more than six months to deliver.
That’s why, before you commission a web design project, it’s crucial to consider who you’ll trust with the job. To help you make the right decision, we’ll answer a series of key questions in this eight-part series:
- Should I do it myself, or hire a professional?
- Is what you’re looking for really what you need?
- Should your website be self-managed, or static?
- Will the design and development be custom, or based on a template?
- Has the team already delivered projects similar to what you want?
- Do you love their portfolio and are you willing to trust their guidance?
- Are you realistic about pricing and development timelines?
- Final thoughts
1. Should I do it myself, or hire a professional?
In most cases, my answer is: hire a professional. Yes, this is my field, so it might sound self-serving, but I won’t just say it—I’ll give you solid reasons why.
But first, let’s look at the scenarios where it might make sense to do it yourself.
If you meet all or most of the following, go ahead and DIY:
- You have plenty of free time: You’re willing to invest hours learning how WordPress works, which everyone says is easy: buy a €40 template, swap out some text, images, and your logo. Or, even easier, use a template service from your hosting provider, because…
- Besides having free time, you’re not too concerned about the final result: You’ve finally sorted out hosting, installed WordPress via FTP, bought and installed your template. You’ve managed to update all the website text, but—surprise—after all that, things don’t quite line up, you wish the site was multilingual, an image is stretched out of shape, and the contact form doesn’t work. Plus, you’d like to change some colors, but the template doesn’t allow it. I’m not trying to scare you—there are solutions—but be prepared for a test of patience (and maybe some ibuprofen).
- You don’t mind not standing out: You’re not bothered about differentiating yourself from competitors or providing an outstanding web experience.
- You think designing and building a website is easy: Everyone uses a computer, and your brother-in-law once tinkered with a site for his amateur band.
Now, here are some reasons why you should hire a professional:
- You care about the impression your website makes on clients: Not just new clients, but existing ones too. The difference is obvious when you visit a site built by professionals—it signals seriousness and commitment to your business.
- You’d rather spend your time on what you do best: You know your expertise is elsewhere, and in the long run, it pays to have someone dedicated to your website. If you choose wisely, you’ll have someone to turn to when you need updates or advice.
- You have resources to invest in your website: If you can afford it, leave it to the pros. You’ll benefit in every way.
- Your product or company targets an exclusive, luxury, or innovative market: This one’s self-explanatory. If your offering is high-end or cutting-edge, you need a website to match. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune—a simple, well-crafted site by a professional is almost always better than a complicated mess from an amateur. Which brings us to…
- You know that a simple, well-designed site beats a cluttered, poorly executed one: Trust me, it shows. Four well-structured pages are far better than a sprawling, disorganized site with no attention to detail. And remember, choosing the wrong team and paying for a bad job is even worse.
- You value the work behind great design: You appreciate the importance of details, and when you see a well-designed website, you feel comfortable—or even impressed.
Finally, to sum up: if you want to prove it, you have to show it. If you want credibility with potential clients and to feel proud of what you offer, you’ll agree that a strong corporate image is essential: a good logo, quality business cards, and a professional website. A well-made website, with tasteful photos of your projects or products, speaks volumes. It showcases your capabilities in a clear and elegant way. When you hand out your business card, do it with confidence, knowing your website will show just how good you are at what you do. Otherwise, you’re missing the mark.
In the next post in this series, we’ll take a closer look at the next question: “Is what you’re looking for really what you need?”