I started in web development before applications like Weebly or Wix popped up offering clients cheap do it yourself framework that could be customized to suit your basic needs in putting a website online fast.
The appeal to these template websites is the overall ease of picking a URL, picking a template, filling in a few spots of information and hitting publish. The results can be impressive, a quickie website without the need to know code and often for less money than hiring a developer. For some businesses, sites like WIX make sense. For others, the ROI on hiring a designer overrides the ease of a DIY website.
Web designers, developers, managers usually provide clients with a skill set that can’t be replaced by a DIY system. They understand SEO, and how to ensure from the time of concept that your site will include industry accepted techniques to ensure successful search optimization. They understand the need for good user interface, coherent navigation, and the importance of graphic design. When the need for advanced options that include things like customized databases arise- a developer has the ability to understand and write the code necessary. They can create the custom features required for professional grade websites, and will recommend best practices in the area of site design and management. Or they should be able to.
With the influx of new WYSIWYG instant web publishing tools available, come an influx of a new tyle of web designer who are dedicated to using these quickie publishing tools. With little experience or understanding of acceptable development practices, they can use what are often free tools available to the DIYer and build instant websites. They may be limited on customized features, adding particular fuctions, additional technical support, and reduced SEO abilities. While many of them are able to produce a professional look, many more walk away leaving behind a speedily published, rougher looking site that doesn’t always reflect the branding clients had imagined- while still charging amount equal to what a trained, experience web developer would have charged for a less limited, more custom website. Some clients have even experienced losing access to their website/hosting after unfavorable interactions with a failed designer- although this can happen with any designer.
To help curb these experiences, ask your potential designer a few questions:
What framework are they building your site on?Is it built from scratch, using a framework such as WordPress, or are they using an editable template from a third party such as WIX.
What limits do they have on providing customization? If needed, it is possible to provide databases, host downloadable files, use sub domains if required, or include SEO technology?
Will they be using stock images, or images under a creative license that will require backlinks, or acknowledgments?
And what precautions are taken to ensure you have full access to the site and all files related to the site, if the professional relationship with your designer ends?
Some third party design applications require you to host the website under their servers, meaning that if/when you switch to a new designer, or changing hosting you could find yourself starting with a blank canvas, requiring a temperary placecard until the new site is up and functioning.
