Free Website Builders vs. Professional Web Developers: Which One to Choose
A website is a vital part of a company’s marketing campaign. It builds a company’s reputation online and it serves as an online display of your credentials across the internet.
A lot of factors have to be considered when developing a company website— content of the site, design, branding, and functionalities. It’s an important investment and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. One important factor to consider is whether to hire a professional web developer from a respectable web development company or utilize popular free website builders online.
While there are many good website builders online, you should take into consideration the complexity of your website. Most website builders have limited options for you. While a web development firm will always have options for you to choose from. Decide whether it’s best to utilize a web development firm with a full set of professionals from designers to web developers or choose from a variety of website builders online.
But what’s really the difference between a website builder and a professional web developer?
Website builders are online softwares or programs that have readily available website templates for you to choose from. Already equipped with appropriate programming as well as coding, these website builders are furnished with various website designs, website elements, as well as basic website tools you need to run a simple website.
Each web page has already been coded and programmed as part of the software. The user will have the option to edit a specific page of his site, once he is pleased with his editing, he can go live and publish his page. It’s fast and easy to navigate and it requires little to no experience from the user to run a website builder.
Most companies trying to cut costs, utilize website builders. But a company website is an important investment that will greatly impact a company’s exposure if it’s done right. Not only will it drive more customers and increase sales and inquiries, it will also increase a company’s credibility and reliability online.
Hiring web developers from a web development company allows for a more emphasis and attention in developing the site itself. These web developers are professionals who code websites from scratch. With these professionals, your company website is custom built, equipped with themes designed to your specification and has website features you specifically need. By hiring professionals, you eliminate the risk of your website design ending up the same as your competitors.
Remember, a company website is your face online. In this day and age, we are governed by technology and when you don’t have a company website, you won’t go very far in the marketplace in terms of marketing and promotion. While having a website is important, having an effective website is much more significant as this will convert your online visitors into potential customers, increase your sales and exposure to the public.
Take into considerations the pros and cons of the utilizing a website builder or hiring a professional to develop a website with these helpful lists:
- Design Flexibility
Website builders are equipped with lots of template or ready made designs. While you have a lot to choose from, these designs are too generic. The problem with this, is that your company might end up looking like your competitors’ site. One look from your online visitors, instantly they’ll know that your website is a copy of a template design.
When you hire a professional to design your website, you create an endless possibility of producing something different and something unique. A design that is truly yours emerging from your creativity, you and your designer can work together toward achieving a distinctive, high quality site that will get through your online visitors.
Opening a room for collaboration, these professional web designers can communicate with you one on one and can pick your brains for your ideal design. In the end the overall web design will end up exactly like your desired web design.
- Website Ownership
Utilizing a website builder means that you won’t completely own your website. Next to your website URL is the name of your website builder. Your company URL will always be associated with that website builder. Online visitors will see that right away and might reduce your website’s credibility if they think you didn’t even bother to invest in your website. You won’t have access to your own source files as these builders have their own. While you can freely use its multiple functions and features, your entire website is not yours.
With a web development company, all source files, photos, and documents used in your website will all be turned over to you once the project is completed. Your website URL or address can be anything of your choosing. There will be no other names on your website address just the ones you chose.
It always increases a website’s morale when online visitors know that a website is operating under its own name without using a website builder. While it’s free and won’t cost that much, a company who invests time and money on their site, speaks volume about credibility.
- Complex, Customized Applications
Website builders have limited functionalities, unless you are willing to pay for more. You might want to have a specialized website element, such as a log in page, some of these builders might require you to pay for more to utilize these functions. You also might want to equip your site with an animated banner on your homepage, some of these builders don’t have that. Because of its limitations, a website builder might not be able to give you specifically what your website requirements are.
With a professional web developer, you have the option to add different website functionalities on your website. One advantage of working with a web development company, is you get to talk to an actual person. You can call them and set up a meeting and discuss with them what is you want to alter in your website. You can discuss the overall layout of your website in just one phone call. With professional web developers, you can interact with each other and discuss full well your website requirements. And they can even offer suggestions and options good for your site.
- Accessibility of Customer Support
Customer support in website builders is minimal to none. You don’t get to talk to the owner of your website builder whenever you have trouble understanding some functionalities of your website. While forums are available, you rely on other people using the same program that you are using. And this could be detrimental and a hassle because sometimes your website problems don’t get answered. Although some of these builders have readily FAQs, some are not specific to your needs.
Web development companies have dedicated customer support specialists. You can contact them online or via their company phones. There is an assurance that someone will answer your inquiry. With this system, you can feel safe and secure with a web development company. Because you know you are talking to a real person who can meet up with via Skype or personally, you get to be dependent on them whenever your site breaks down or needs an upgrade.
- Efficiency and Effectiveness
Website builders are for those who want a quick, low-cost website development. The problem with this system is that most companies don’t understand that a website is something that needs a lot of work and effort to make it effective and efficient online. With website builders, what you see is what you get. It won’t tell you that your design is not appropriate, it won’t tell you that your website content doesn’t work. It’s a program designed to provide you with template designs and common website elements that a website should have. Other than that, your website’s effectiveness and efficiency will be in your own hands.
Web developers go into meeting with their clients. They assess what the clients need and make the outcome even better. With professional web developers and designers, they go with their clients’ ideas and making them into a much more effective and marketable website. By hiring these professionals, there is an unlimited opportunity for a remarkable, effective website.
An effective website is composed of many critical elements. It not only focuses on the design itself, it also focuses on its content, on its complexity, the presence of calls-to action, a user-friendly navigation as well as the integration of each website element into the overall design of the site. It’s never simply about putting up a company website. It involves a lot of consideration for its effectiveness and marketability online. With seasoned and talented professional web developers, support and guidance can be given to those planning to put up a website of their own. Held in meetings with thorough discussions of what clients want, these developers will listen intently to their pressing needs and execute to the best of their ability.
While professional developers will help you put up an effective website, as someone who wishes to put up a company website, a thorough research must be conducted first. Learn which website element your should have and gather the necessary information your website need. To produce a successful website, you must collaborate well with your developers.
What other tips can you give to those thinking of putting up a company website of their own? Share your thoughts below and comment your suggestions!