SITE BUILDERS ARE A NO NO!
This entry was posted on 3/25/2007 6:49 PM and is filed under Web Design.
While site builders are considered to be the "cheap" alternative to using a professional web designer, there are many things to take into consideration when deciding if you want to, in fact, use a site builder. Site builders do save money, but at a devistating expense. With a site builder, you opt to build the site yourself with the help of a software program, usually provided by your hosting company. This takes time out of your own schedule, but it does allow you to upgrade at will for free.
One huge set back to a site builder is originality. One day I decided to look in the local chamber of commerce to look for a service provider. I was browsing through some of the web sites and noticed that four of the CPA's listed had the EXACT SAME design and layout. FOUR!!! The problem: when you build a web site for your company or business, you need to market it to the public. You MUST set your company apart from its competitors. Otherwise, your web site was built in vain! By choosing a site builder you are subject to using the same templates that ANYONE can use, and therefore you have no right to the design. Your company will not be taken seriously if you have the same design as someone else. You need to look and feel like you have something else to offer the clients than the same thing they see in your competitors. Make them choose YOU over someone else.
Site builders are limited in what they offer. A professional web designer will design a web site layout/template specifically for your company. It is build CUSTOM so that no one else will have a design like yours. Web designers use programs that help them to add features, add interactivity, layers and special effects that site builders cannot compete with.
The whole idea of a web site is, at least now-a-days, meant for marketing purposes. Your website is a form of advertising-- when anyone goes hunting for a product or service, they do so online with a search engine. Your fiercest competitor has a web presence--if you don't, you're missing out on all of those potential clients that are hunting for what your provide.
Things to remember when building a web site:
Number one: Set your company apart from it's competitors... start with an eye-catching design.
Number two: Use a copywriter to add content to the pages. Copywriters are fantastic at grabing the audience and marketing your site's words to the public. Using a professional will help your company in the long run. Most people think they can write the material themselves. However, it's not a good idea for marketing purposes.
Number three: Shop around! You need to feel comfortable with not only the professional but the price as well. These go hand in hand and you should do a lot of research before jumping into such an expense.
Remember, site builders are a NO NO if you want people to take your company seriously AND if you want to give your business a chance of fully utilizing it's marketing purpose.
