What You Need to Know Before Building Your Own Website: 5 Crucial Considerations

Building a website on your own might seem like a quick and cost-effective option, thanks to DIY website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress. They make it look simple with drag-and-drop interfaces, but the reality is far more complex than most people realise.

Without the right knowledge, you could run into issues with SEO, security, design, and scalability, all of which affect your website’s success. Here are five key things to consider before taking on a DIY website project—and why it might be a better idea to hire a professional to get the job done right.

1. SEO: More Than Just Keywords

You’ve probably heard the term Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) before, but it’s more complex than just sprinkling keywords into your content. SEO is the key to making sure your website ranks on Google so potential customers can find you. DIY website builders often offer basic SEO tools, but they don’t cover the full spectrum of what’s needed.

The Key Elements of SEO:

• Keyword research: Finding the right keywords requires strategic thinking. You need to identify terms that your audience is actually searching for and incorporate them naturally into your content, headings, and meta descriptions. Choosing overly competitive or irrelevant keywords can harm your search rankings.
• Technical SEO: It’s not just about content. Search engines look at your website’s structure, loading speed, and how well it’s coded. Many DIY platforms won’t allow you to make adjustments to these key areas, meaning your site could be slow and underperforming without you even realising it.
• Mobile optimisation: More than half of all web traffic now comes from mobile devices, and Google prioritises mobile-friendly sites in its rankings​.
• Without professional help, ensuring your website looks and functions correctly on all screen sizes can be a challenge.

Hiring a professional web developer means your website will be built with SEO best practices in mind from the start, helping you rank higher in search results and drive more organic traffic to your site.

2. Website Security Isn’t Optional

Security is one of the most overlooked aspects of building a website. DIY builders usually come with basic security features, but that might not be enough to protect your site from potential threats. Cyberattacks, malware, and data breaches can all put your business at risk if your website isn’t secured properly.

Security Factors to Consider:

• SSL certificates: An SSL certificate encrypts the data that flows between your website and its visitors, protecting sensitive information like credit card details or personal data. Most DIY platforms offer SSL certificates, but some might not include them in their free or basic plans​.
• Regular updates: Security vulnerabilities can arise when software or plugins aren’t regularly updated. With DIY platforms, you might be stuck with limited options for updates, leaving your website exposed to threats.
• Hosting security: The type of hosting you choose matters. Shared hosting (where your website shares a server with others) can be vulnerable to security breaches. Without expert guidance, you may choose an insecure hosting plan that could leave your website open to attacks.

A professional web developer will not only set up secure hosting but also ensure that your website has all the necessary security features in place, from SSL certificates to regular updates.

3. Customisation Is Limited on DIY Builders

One of the biggest selling points of DIY website builders is their ease of use. You can pick a template, drag and drop elements, and have a website up in a matter of hours. But what happens when you need a unique feature that the platform doesn’t support? Customisation is one of the major limitations of DIY platforms.

Why Customisation Matters:

• Standing out from competitors: Using a pre-designed template means that your website could look like hundreds of others. When you need your site to stand out in a competitive market, a cookie-cutter design won’t cut it.
• Advanced features: Do you need an e-commerce platform, booking system, or custom forms? Many DIY platforms lack the flexibility to integrate these advanced features seamlessly. What starts as a small website could quickly grow into something more complex - and DIY builders often aren’t equipped to handle that growth.

A professional designer can create a fully customised website that fits your exact needs, from unique branding elements to advanced functionality, ensuring your website grows with your business.

4. User Experience (UX) Can Make or Break Your Website

A website isn’t just about looking good—it has to be easy to use. Poor user experience (UX) is one of the top reasons visitors leave websites early. DIY website builders give you templates to follow, but they don’t guarantee a seamless, enjoyable experience for your users.

What UX Involves:

• Navigation: Visitors should be able to find what they’re looking for easily. If your navigation is confusing, they’ll likely leave and look elsewhere. DIY platforms often limit how much you can customise navigation menus, which could negatively affect the user experience.
• Load time: If your website takes too long to load, visitors will bounce before they even see what you have to offer. Page speed is also a ranking factor for Google, so a slow site can hurt both your SEO and your user retention.
• Mobile optimisation: With mobile traffic on the rise, your site needs to function just as well on a smartphone as it does on a desktop. Many DIY templates aren’t fully responsive, meaning they won’t adapt properly to different screen sizes, making it harder for visitors to interact with your content.

Professional designers and developers understand UX best practices and can create websites that not only look good but also provide a seamless, engaging experience across all devices.

5. Future-Proofing Your Website

The online landscape is constantly changing, and your website needs to be able to adapt. What works for a small business today might not meet your needs tomorrow as you grow and evolve. Unfortunately, DIY builders often have limitations that make it difficult to scale your website as your business expands.

The Importance of Scalability:

• Adding new features: As your business grows, you may need to add new features like e-commerce, a blog, or more robust contact forms. DIY platforms can be restrictive, and migrating your content to a new platform in the future could be costly and time-consuming.
• Performance under traffic: If your website suddenly gets a spike in traffic (for example, after a big promotion), will it be able to handle the load? Many DIY platforms struggle with performance during high-traffic periods, which could lead to your site crashing or slowing down.

Hiring a professional from the start ensures that your website is built to grow and adapt with your business. You won’t have to worry about switching platforms or losing valuable data as your needs evolve.

Why Hire a Professional?

Building your own website might seem like a cost-saving solution upfront, but the hidden costs in terms of time, security, SEO, and user experience can add up quickly. A professional web designer or developer will ensure that your website is built with the future in mind—fully optimised, secure, scalable, and designed to engage users.

If you’re serious about creating a website that will stand the test of time, it’s worth investing in a professional. Contact us today to get started, and let’s create a website that sets your business apart from the rest.