Are you thinking about making your own website? I myself am a do-it-yourselfer type of person and I created my own first website back in 1998 in one weekend. But to be frank, I typically don’t recommend trying to make your own site because I know that even with help, it’s a challenging task to launch a site.
It is true, however, that if you are a crafty sort and like to try things on your own first, the tools available now are better than ever making it much easier to create websites that look pretty good, and you don’t always need a programmer to make changes anymore.
On the upside, you can save yourself hundreds or even thousands of dollars creating your own site. But not everyone is cut out to create their own website, and there are a bunch of downsides. So how do you know if you should hunker down and try to make your own website? Here are some things to consider.
If you are a technophobe, don’t even try it.
If going on the computer is not your cup of tea and learning a lot of techie tricks to make your site look good and work correctly sounds like a nightmare to you, then none of these “simple” tools will be simple enough for you. Even if technology is only a mild annoyance, creating a website will bring up every technology challenge at once and could push you over the edge.
Yes, I created my own website back in 1998 using FrontPage but I also had 20 years of graphic design experience, an MFA in Media Studies, and 10 years of computer graphics experience! You could say I was primed. And I sure don’t do it now. I have programmers and IT help, thankfully.
If you are a perfectionist, making your own site will drive you crazy.
This is something I can personally attest to. The problem with most web creation tools is that they are simple to use because they have a lot of restrictions on what you can do. What often happens is that the spacing isn’t right and there’s no way to change it. If you want your site to look “just so,” you need help, probably with design as well as programming. When I’m designing sites, I custom design the themes, have a WordPress programmer create the framework, and have my IT gal finesse the spacing to perfection. That’s how we get the results we get! (Check out some before and after designs on my blog here.)
Your template site won’t look original.
I can always tell if someone made their own site, though I do have a skilled eye for such things. Not everyone needs original design, for instance if you have a service like plumbing, house-cleaning, or dog-sitting. But if you are an out-of-the-box healer, coach or transformational leader trying to distinguish yourself online, just using a pre-fab template won’t cut it.
You probably need more than just a website.
Often people think they need just a website when really they need a brand that attracts and engages the right people, a plan to guide visitors to connect and purchase, great copy that inspires action, design that sets them apart, and layout that makes the site user friendly… plus programming. It is a rare person who can do all those things without professional assistance.
If you decide you still want to give it a go, here are some magical resources and tips for you:
- Great photography can go a long way to making even a templated site look good. Hire someone who will go outdoors with you and take shots of you with natural light. Also have them take shots of the scene without you in it for luscious backgrounds.
- You can get started cheaply with sites like WordPress, Wix, SquareSpace and Weebly, so even if you fail, you will have learned a ton and not lost much but time.
- We use the Divi Theme family and we love it because it’s a modular WordPress platform allowing for a lot of customization with all the benefit of cool design elements. If you start and find you need help, there are an endless supply of WordPress Virtual Assistants out there who can rescue you.
- Want Guidance and Group Support? I think it’s better to get at least a little guidance. My colleague Christina Hills offers a popular course in creating your own WordPress website and she will guide you step by step through the process to completion with group coaching support. She only opens doors once or twice a year and she’s open now. You can attend her website creation free training, learn do-it-yourself website tips and learn more about her website creation program HERE.
If you want a done-for-you website with complete brand, plan, custom design and copy writing, it would be my pleasure to discuss how Magical Marketing can help. You are invited to apply for a Website Analysis and we’ll take a peek at your marketing (even if you don’t have a site yet) and assess your needs together. No pressure. Apply Here www.magicalwebsiteanalysis.com
No way you would be able to do a site like this by yourself ; ) View more examples of our Magical Marketing Branding & Website Projects HERE.
