Website Design and Hosting Articles by SO53

How much time do you need to spend on SEO for your website?

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 22:49:46 GMT

In the digital world, where competition is fierce and visibility is paramount, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) stands tall as a cornerstone for online success. Crafting a robust SEO strategy is akin to nurturing a garden—it demands patience, precision, and consistent effort. However, the burning question that often lingers in the minds of website owners is: "How much time do I need to spend working on SEO for my website?"

The complexity of this inquiry lies in its multifaceted nature. SEO isn't a one-size-fits-all endeavour; instead, it's an ongoing process shaped by numerous variables. To navigate this maze, let's delve into critical aspects that influence the time investment necessary for effective SEO implementation.

Establishing Foundations

Setting the groundwork for SEO involves comprehensive keyword research, website audit, and on-page optimisation. This phase is akin to constructing the blueprint for a building. Devoting ample time here—typically several weeks—ensures a strong foundation for subsequent efforts.

Content Creation and Quality

Content reigns supreme. High-quality, relevant, and engaging content attracts visitors and earns credibility from search engines. Consistency in producing such content is crucial, demanding a regular commitment of time, often weekly or bi-weekly.

Technical Optimisation

Optimising technical aspects like site speed, mobile responsiveness, URL structure, and schema markup contribute significantly to SEO. These ongoing tasks necessitate periodic check-ins and adjustments to ensure optimal performance.

Monitoring and Adaptation

SEO isn't static; it's an evolving landscape. Regular monitoring of analytics, algorithm changes, and competitor strategies is indispensable. Adjusting your SEO tactics in response to these dynamics is an ongoing process requiring consistent attention.

Considering these factors, it becomes evident that the time investment in SEO isn't linear or finite—it's an ongoing commitment that varies based on your niche's competitiveness, your website's current state, and your goals.

A more intensive initial investment in SEO might be necessary for a new website to establish a presence. This could entail dedicating a substantial portion of time weekly for several months to lay a solid foundation and gain traction.

Conversely, an established website might require a consistent but less intense effort spread across various aspects of SEO, allocating time weekly or bi-weekly for content creation, technical updates, and ongoing optimisation.

Moreover, the nature of your industry and the level of competition therein play a pivotal role. Highly competitive niches demand more time and resources to surpass rivals and claim visibility. Conversely, less competitive spaces allow for a more relaxed pace while still yielding noticeable results.

Ultimately, rather than fixating on a specific number of hours or weeks to spend on SEO, adopting a flexible, goal-oriented approach is prudent. Regularly evaluate your progress, adapt to changes, and align your efforts with the evolving search engine algorithms and user behaviour landscape.

Always remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. The time invested should reflect your ambitions, the competitive landscape, and the continuous pursuit of improvement. Balancing consistency with adaptability is the key to unlocking sustained success in the ever-evolving realm of SEO.

Do you have enough time in your working week to work on your website SEO?

If the answer is No, you could be hurting your online presence. We can help. See our " Search Engine Optimisation " service to see how.

Moving Your Shop from Etsy to Your Own Website: Saving Fees and Gaining Control

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 23:22:56 GMT

About Etsy

Etsy has been a popular platform for artisans, crafters, and small business owners to sell their unique products for a long time. With its vast and diverse customer base, Etsy provides a ready-made marketplace for those who want to start an online shop. However, as your business grows, you may feel the impact of Etsy's fees, which can reduce your profits. Moving your shop from Etsy to your website can be a strategic decision to take your business to the next level and increase your revenue. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of this transition and guide how to make it happen.

Reducing Fees

As a seller on Etsy, you may be charged several fees, such as listing fees, transaction fees, and payment processing fees. These various fees can quickly add up, reducing your profit margins and making it harder to expand your business. However, creating your own website can significantly reduce the costs of selling your products. By exploring cost-effective payment processing options, you can enjoy the total value of your sales instead of paying a percentage of each sale to Etsy.

Brand Independence

Having your own website has a significant advantage in establishing and maintaining your brand identity. Different from Etsy, where your shop is only one of many, it can be challenging to differentiate yourself. With your website, you have complete control over your brand's appearance and overall vibe. You can design your site to reflect your unique style, story, and values, creating a more robust and memorable brand that resonates with your target audience.

Enhanced Customisation

While Etsy offers some level of customisation for your shop, it is limited compared to the level of personalisation you can achieve with your own website. Having your own website allows you to have the flexibility to create a unique shopping experience for your customers. You can optimise the user interface, create custom product listings, and integrate features and tools that best serve your business needs. This added flexibility can lead to improved customer engagement, which can result in higher sales and a better overall shopping experience.

Customer Data and Marketing Opportunities

When you sell your products on Etsy, the platform controls the customer data, which limits your ability to establish a direct relationship with your buyers. However, if you move your shop to your own website, you can access valuable customer data, such as their email addresses and purchase history. This information can help you develop personalised marketing strategies, including email campaigns, targeted promotions, and loyalty programs. Furthermore, you can use analytics tools to gain insights into your customer base and optimise your marketing efforts accordingly.

Improved SEO and Visibility

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is critical to the success of any online business. When you have your own website, you have the power to take charge of your SEO efforts and enhance your search engine rankings. You can optimise your website's content, meta tags, and structure to improve your visibility on search engines like Google. This can increase organic traffic and new customers who discover your products through web searches.

Complete Control over Policies and Pricing

Sellers on Etsy must comply with the platform's policies and pricing regulations. However, if you create your own website, you can establish your own policies, return procedures and pricing strategies. This flexibility level can be precious in tailoring your business to your specific requirements and goals.

Building a Long-Term Asset

Having your own website is a valuable asset for your business in the long run. When you have your website, you don't have to worry about changes in platform policies or algorithm updates that can affect your visibility and sales on third-party platforms. Your website is a stable and reliable platform you can invest in over time and expand as your business grows. It's a smart investment that will benefit your business long-term.

In summary

Starting an online shop on Etsy can be an excellent choice for many sellers, but moving your shop to your own website can offer you numerous benefits in the long run. You can save costs, have brand independence, enjoy enhanced customisation, gain access to valuable customer data, improve your SEO, and have complete control over your policies and pricing. While this transition may require time and effort, the benefits will be worth your investment. By making this move, you can take your business to the next level and maximise profits while building a strong and independent brand.

Read more about one of our clients who wanted to move from Etsy to their own website.

Do you have an Etsy site?

If you have an Etsy site, get in touch to discuss how much you could save on fees and make your shop unique.

Do You Really Need to Optimise Your Website?

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 18:02:41 GMT

Optimising your website is beneficial and can positively impact its performance and visibility.

Here are a few reasons why website optimisation is important:

Improved User Experience

Optimisation techniques such as improving page load speed, mobile responsiveness, and intuitive navigation can enhance the user experience on your website. A positive user experience increases engagement, longer visit durations, and higher conversion rates.

Search Engine Visibility

Search engine optimisation (SEO) improves your website's visibility in search engine results. By optimising your website's structure, content, and meta tags, you can increase its chances of ranking higher in search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic to your website.

Faster Page Load Speed

Website optimisation involves minimising file sizes, optimising images, and reducing unnecessary code, resulting in faster page load speeds. Faster loading pages lead to better user satisfaction and can reduce bounce rates. Search engines like Google consider page speed a ranking factor, so faster websites tend to perform better in search results.

Mobile Responsiveness

With the increasing use of mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly website is essential. Optimising your website for mobile ensures that it displays correctly and functions well on different screen sizes improving user experience and helps you reach a broader audience.

Conversion Rate Optimisation

Website optimisation can improve conversion rates by implementing clear call-to-action buttons, streamlined checkout processes, and effective landing page design. By optimising these elements, you can increase the likelihood of visitors taking the desired actions on your website, such as making a purchase or submitting a form.

Overall, website optimisation is crucial for enhancing user experience, improving search engine visibility, increasing website performance, and maximising conversions. While the extent of optimisation needed may vary depending on your website's goals and target audience, investing time and effort can yield significant benefits for your online presence.

Here are a few scenarios where you might NOT need to prioritise website optimisation:

Small Personal Websites

If you have a personal website with minimal traffic and no specific goals for conversion or search engine visibility, optimisation efforts may not be a top priority. However, it's still worth considering basic optimisation practices to ensure a good user experience.

Non-public Facing Websites

If your website is not meant for public access or is limited to internal use within a closed network, optimisation for search engines or user experience may not be necessary. In such cases, the focus is primarily on functionality and meeting the specific needs of the closed user group.

Time and Resource Constraints

If you're facing severe time or resource constraints, you may prioritise other aspects of your website, such as content creation or product development, over optimisation efforts. However, remember that neglecting optimisation for extended periods can lead to missed opportunities for growth and improved performance.

Temporary Websites or Landing Pages

If you're creating a temporary website or a landing page for a short-term campaign or event, the need for optimisation may be reduced. While ensuring a smooth user experience is important, you may not invest significant resources in optimising for long-term organic search rankings.

Niche or Closed Audience

If your website caters to a highly niche or closed audience with limited competition, the need for optimisation may be relatively lower. However, even in niche markets, there is value in ensuring a positive user experience and optimising for relevant keywords to attract targeted traffic.

It's worth noting that while optimisation may not be a priority in these situations, it's generally beneficial to follow basic best practices, such as ensuring website security, responsive design, and easy navigation, to provide a satisfactory user experience.

Are Single Page Websites Good For SEO?

Mon, 29 May 2023 08:45:00 GMT

Single page websites can have advantages and disadvantages regarding Search Engine Optimisation

Let's explore both sides:

Advantages:

Simplicity: Single page websites are often streamlined and focused on a single topic or product, which can provide a clear and straightforward user experience.
Faster load times: Since there is only one page to load, single page websites can generally load faster, which is a positive factor for SEO as site speed is a ranking factor.
Mobile-friendly: Single page websites are typically designed to be responsive and work well on mobile devices, which is important considering the increasing use of mobile browsing.

Disadvantages:

Limited content: Single page websites usually have limited space to provide comprehensive and in-depth content compared to multi-page websites, which makes it challenging to target a wide range of keywords and provide detailed information.
Lack of keyword targeting: With a single page, it can be difficult to target multiple keywords effectively. Multiple pages allow you to optimise each page for specific keywords, enhancing your chances of ranking for various search terms.
Link building challenges: Building backlinks is essential to SEO. With a single page website, it may be more challenging to attract backlinks compared to multi-page websites, as other websites may prefer to link to specific pages rather than a single page.

To maximise the SEO potential of a single page website, here are some recommendations:

Optimise meta tags: Ensure your title tag, meta description, and other meta tags accurately represent the content and target relevant keywords.
On-page optimisation: Use headings, subheadings, and formatting to structure your content effectively. Include relevant keywords naturally throughout the page.
Content depth: Though limited, strive to provide valuable and informative content within the constraints of a single page. Consider incorporating expandable sections or modal windows to provide additional details if necessary.
Internal linking: Utilise anchor links within the page to create an organised navigation structure and improve user experience. This can also help search engines understand the page's content better.
Social sharing: Encourage social sharing to increase visibility and potentially attract more backlinks.
Monitor user behaviour: Analyse user behaviour and engagement metrics using tools like Google Analytics, which can provide insights into how users interact with your single page website and help identify areas for improvement.

Ultimately, the suitability of a single page website for SEO depends on the specific goals, content, and target audience of the website. It's essential to carefully consider these factors and evaluate the trade-offs before deciding on the website structure.

What Are The differences between PPC and SEO?

Fri, 26 May 2023 22:55:06 GMT

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) are two different strategies used in online marketing to drive traffic to a website.

While they both aim to increase visibility and attract visitors, they have distinct approaches and characteristics. Let's compare SEO and PPC:

Pay-Per-Click (PPC):

Definition: PPC is an advertising model where advertisers pay each time their ad is clicked. It involves creating ads and bidding for ad placement on search engine results or other online platforms.
Cost: PPC requires a budget, as you pay for each click on your ads. The cost per click varies based on factors like competition and ad quality.
Traffic Source: PPC generates paid traffic. When someone clicks on your advert, they are redirected to your website.
Strategy: PPC involves keyword research, ad creation, and bid management to target specific keywords and display ads to relevant audiences.
Results: PPC can drive immediate traffic to your website once the ads are live. It offers more control over targeting and can quickly generate leads or sales.
Control: With PPC, you have more control over ad placement, targeting options, and ad content. You can adjust bids, budgets, and ad copy to optimise your campaign's performance.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO):

Definition: SEO involves optimising a website to improve its organic (unpaid) search engine rankings.
Cost: SEO is a long-term investment that requires time and effort to implement and maintain. It doesn't involve direct costs for clicks or impressions.
Traffic Source: SEO generates organic traffic, meaning visitors naturally find your website through search engine results pages (SERPs).
Strategy: SEO focuses on optimising website elements (e.g., content, meta tags, site structure) to make it more search engine-friendly and improve its visibility.
Results: SEO results take time, as search engines must crawl and index your website. However, once rankings improve, the traffic can be consistent and long-lasting.
Control: SEO provides less control over the precise positioning of your website in search results, as it depends on various factors like search engine algorithms and competitors' activities.

In summary, PPC involves paying for ads to generate immediate traffic and offers more control over targeting and ad placement, while SEO focuses on improving organic search rankings and driving sustainable long-term traffic to your website. Both strategies can complement each other, and the choice between them depends on your goals, budget, and timeline. Some businesses utilise both PPC and SEO to maximise their online visibility and reach a wider audience.

If you found this article useul you might be interested in our SEO services .

What Are The Pitfalls Of Updating My Own Website?

Tue, 23 May 2023 18:19:27 GMT

Updating your website can be rewarding, but comes with its fair share of pitfalls.

Here are some common pitfalls to be aware of:

1. Technical Issues: Updating your website may involve changing the code, content management system (CMS), or plugins. If you need to be well-versed in web development, you could inadvertently introduce technical issues or break certain functionalities. It's vital to back up your website before making any changes and ensure you have the technical knowledge to handle potential problems.

2. Security Vulnerabilities: Hackers and malicious bots often target websites. When you update your website, keeping security in mind is essential. Failing to apply necessary security patches, using weak passwords, or neglecting basic security practices can leave your website vulnerable to attacks.

3. Compatibility and Cross-Browser Issues: Different web browsers and devices can interpret your website's code differently, leading to inconsistencies in how your website appears and functions. Testing your website across multiple browsers and devices is crucial to ensure compatibility and fix any cross-browser issues that may arise from updates.

4. Broken Links: When updating your website, you may add, remove, or reorganise pages and content, leading to broken links within your site or even externally if other websites link to your content. Broken links can harm user experience, hurt your website's search engine rankings, and frustrate visitors. Regularly check and update links to prevent these issues.

5. SEO Impact: Updating your website's structure, content, or URLs can impact its performance in search engine optimisation (SEO). If you're not careful, you might inadvertently make changes that negatively affect your search engine rankings and organic traffic. It's vital to understand ethical SEO best practices or consult with an SEO professional when updating your website. Be careful of implementing what is known as "Black Hat SEO" tactics and strategies, as this could cause your site to get banned from search engines

6. Lack of User Testing: Your website's design and user experience significantly affect its success. It's crucial to consider how users will interact with the changes when making updates. Neglecting user testing and feedback can result in a suboptimal user experience, decreasing engagement and conversions.

7. Overlooking Mobile Responsiveness: With the increasing use of mobile devices, having a mobile-responsive website is essential. Updating your website without considering mobile optimisation may lead to a poor user experience on smartphones and tablets. Test your website's responsiveness and ensure it looks and functions well across different screen sizes.

8. Content Quality and Accuracy: When updating your website's content, it's essential to ensure its quality, accuracy, and relevance. Inaccurate or outdated information can harm your credibility and frustrate visitors. Take the time to review and proofread your content before publishing updates.

To mitigate these pitfalls, it's recommended to have a website backup, stay informed about best practices, seek professional assistance when necessary, and thoroughly test any changes before making them live.

How Long Does It Take For Search Engine Optimisation To Show Results?

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 11:06:16 GMT

The time it takes for search engine optimisation (SEO) to show results can vary significantly and depends on several factors.

While some changes may be noticeable within a few weeks, achieving significant improvements in organic search rankings typically requires a longer timeframe. Here are some factors that can influence the speed of SEO results:

Website's age and history: New websites may take longer to see results compared to established ones with a history of SEO efforts.
Competition: The level of competition in your industry or niche can impact the time it takes to see results. Highly competitive sectors may require more time and effort to outrank competitors.
Keyword selection: Targeting highly competitive keywords may take longer to see results compared to less competitive or long-tail keywords.
Content quality and relevance: Creating high-quality, informative, and relevant content that resonates with your target audience is crucial for SEO success. It can take time to develop and optimise such content.
Website structure and technical issues: Ensuring that your website has a well-organised structure, fast loading times, and no technical issues that hinder search engine crawling and indexing is important for SEO. Fixing such issues can lead to quicker improvements.
On-page and off-page optimisation: Optimising on-page elements (title tags, meta descriptions, headings, etc.) and building high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites are crucial for SEO. These activities, especially link building, often require time to yield results.
Frequency and consistency of SEO efforts: Regularly updating and maintaining your website, creating fresh content, and consistently implementing SEO strategies can accelerate the results.

It's important to note that SEO is an ongoing process, and results may not be immediate or guaranteed. Patience, continuous effort, and monitoring of SEO performance are essential. While some improvements may be visible within a few months, significant results and higher rankings may take six months to a year or more, depending on the factors mentioned above.

If you need help with your website search engine optimisation we have a service that might suit your needs. See our Search Engine Optimisation page.

I Don't Want to Pay £39 a Month For a Website

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 01:34:36 GMT

So, you've just started your business, and you need a website, right? The question is, how do you go about it? Well, you could create your own for next to nothing on sites like Wix or GoDaddy, but do you have the time or expertise to do it? Plus, websites like these can look totally generic and don't offer much in the way of features.

Another option would be to pay £39 a month for a highly-trained web developer to not only help you design and host your website. Wait, what? £39 a month for a website? I don't want to take on this kind of website cost, do I? It's something we hear an awful lot (to begin with) until we explain exactly what kind of value £39 per month represents.

To put things into perspective, let's take a moment to look at what £39 buys you in the modern world, in life and in business.

What Does £39 Get You In Everyday Life?

When comparing the cost of a £39 website to everyday expenses, you start to get a feel of what kind of value we're talking about. For starters, your Friday night family takeaway can easily cost more than £39, as can a round of drinks at your favourite pub or club. Let's be honest, £39 doesn't get you an awful lot these days.

What else will it get you? ⅓ of a tank of fuel? ½ a cable TV subscription? How about ¼ of your weekly grocery shop? You may have also noticed everything's getting quite expensive, so when comparing the costs of a fully designed and managed website against everyday expenses, it looks like a great deal. But what about compared to business costs?

What Does £39 Get You In the Business World?

A great website represents one of your business’s best advertising tools, so let's compare £39 a month to other advertising methods, shall we? For a 1-page ad in a small publication, you're looking at at least £200, and that's just a one-off! The same goes for newspaper ads that can range anywhere from £250 to astronomical amounts.

Even advertising boards can set you back £350-£500 for just a week or two of exposure, so how is that website cost looking now? Online advertising isn't much different either, with pay-per-click campaigns sometimes running into the thousands. Whichever way you look at it, advertising your business can cost a lot of money.

Let’s Face It…Your Business Needs a Website

Just 28% of UK businesses don’t have a website, and you’re not likely to find them easily - which is a problem! No matter which advertising route you take for your business, you can’t avoid having a website - it’s what modern customers expect. So, given that fact, don’t you want your company website to look good and represent a professional-looking shop window?

What’s more, having a professional web developer design, create and host your website would itself usually cost an arm and a leg. How’s that £39 a month looking now? One set fee every month, and it’s all sorted. No messing around, no lost hours and issues dealt with swiftly and effectively, so no wasting time on hold to the hosting company when your site goes down.

£39 a Month For a Website With None of The Stress

So, before you dismiss the idea of paying £39 a month for a great-looking website that works for you 24/7, consider what you're getting for the money. You get all the designing, creating and managing taken care of for you, and you're spared all the hassle and stress that comes with maintaining it. That sounds like a good deal, wouldn't you say?

To find out more about what’s involved in enjoying these great-value website services for your small business, head over to our frequently asked questions page. Alternatively, get in touch with us by email or schedule a call by going to our contact page.

Should I Be Doing My Own Website or Hiring a Web Designer?

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 11:38:31 GMT

When you’re trying to get your business off the ground, every penny counts and there never seems to be quite enough hours in the day. These two factors guide much of what you do as a startup business owner, including whether you use a DIY website builder or go for the option of hiring a web designer.

These are the two main options open to people in this situation - to do it themselves or get a professional web designer on the case. Each has their own set of pros and cons, which is what we’ll be looking at here in this article. So, let’s start with DIY website creation.

DIY Website Builder Benefits

Creating your own website comes with a certain sense of accomplishment, of which there is little doubt, and while it does take up a lot of your time, it can save you quite a lot of money - if you know what you’re doing and understand how to go about it.

It’s also something that you can complete at your own pace, with no one else chasing you up to get things done. Essentially though, the main benefit on offer here is the low cost of starting up, perhaps illustrating why it is that so many new business owners end up trying it.

DIY Website Builder Drawbacks

There’s no getting around the fact that to get your website just how you want it, it’s going to take far more than just basic web building knowledge - even with the best DIY website builder platforms. Sure, it’s potentially going to save you money on initial startup costs, but you’re going to lose quite a number of hours working on something that a pro would do much more quickly.

There are many complicated factors you’ll need to get your head around too, like SEO, (without which no one will see your new website), social media linking, meta tags and more. This usually calls for paid training and even more of your time and energy when you’ve really got better things to do like run your business.

The more you look into it, the more you realise that the savings you make at the beginning are greatly outweighed by the time it takes you out of your business - and we’ve not even touched upon having to keep your website updated!

And so to professional web design services...

Pros of Hiring a Web Designer

When you take the route of hiring a web designer, you get the complete ‘hands off’ experience, with everything taken care of for you. SEO, design, page layout, mobile responsiveness and many more factors central to your success are all dealt with, without you having to do a thing.

As we mentioned at the beginning, time is a vital commodity and by hiring a professional to do the job for you, your hands are free to get to the vital task of taking care of the operational side of your business. All this comes with the peace of mind of knowing pros are on the case.

Professional Website Creation Cons

The main gripe people have with hiring a web designer is the associated cost, as it CAN cost you hundreds or even thousands of pounds if you choose the wrong professional. They’re also not guaranteed to produce a result you’re happy with, meaning that money might be seen to have been wasted.

. ..although it doesn’t have to be that way.

When small businesses choose wisely, they can get all the benefits that come with hiring a web designer without any of the drawbacks. At SO53 our super web design services not only provide you with a professionally designed website for £30 +VAT per month, but that includes all of your ongoing updates you'll ever need doing on your website.

£30+VAT per month, really? What's the catch?

There isn't really any catch. We've been building websites since 1998 and have a wealth of experience managing small business clients and understanding how they tick. We put the value of our long term relationships with clients ahead of making a quick start up profit and we are more than confident that this approach pays dividends in the end for all concerned. Our clients get a great website without any over reach on their budget and have a low fixed cost that covers them for any updates on their website no matter what, how or when they are needed. You get the same level of service (or higher) as you would expect from any web design professional operating in the same market space less the typical large up front cost and in many cases large ongoing monthly fees too.

All we ask is that you get in touch and have an honest conversation! Check out our Website Design FAQs page.

Getting The Very Best of Both Web Design Worlds

So, if you’ve recently started your business or you’re about and you’re torn between a DIY job and professional website services, we encourage you to contact us first. You’ll find out just how easy and affordable it is to get an awesome looking website for an affordable cost - providing you with the best of both worlds.

Get the ball rolling and contact us today.

Should I Be Updating My Website Or Leaving it to the Pros?

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 11:37:25 GMT

So, you’ve finally got your website up and running - great! However, it’s not time to rest on your laurels as your new creation is going to need to be maintained. So, we’re talking about regular website updates , adding content and making all those necessary tweaks to keep it looking and working as you need it to for your business. The question is, should you be hiring a web designer or doing it yourself?

In this article, we aim to provide some clarity on the subject by offering up some pros and cons of doing a DIY job. The truth is that the best decision will vary from person to person, depending on the business being run and the person running it, so if you’re ready, let’s now dive into those advantages and disadvantages.

The Pros

Pro #1 - Cost

Ok, so when you decide to update your website yourself, the first benefit you’re going to enjoy is cost-related. Make no bones about it, when you hire a web developer, it can eat into your budget, but this cost can be avoided almost completely when you do it on your own. Do your maintenance yourself and all it will cost you is time.

Pro #2 - Flexibility

Another advantage of carrying out your own website maintenance is that you get to decide exactly when it gets done. Hiring a web developer most often involves having to carry out these tasks in line with their timescales, with lead times that can be days or even weeks into the future. DIY maintenance can be done at any time of your choosing.

That’s it as far as benefits go, but they are pretty big advantages, as cost and flexibility are big aspects for any business to consider, particularly when talking about startups and other small businesses who’s website budgets tend to be on the small side.

So, to the cons…

Con #1 - It’s Time Consuming

There’s a well-used phrase in business that goes along the lines of “time is money” and it’s something you’ll learn fairly quickly when doing your own website maintenance . All things considered, you will spend a lot of this valuable commodity working on your website when you choose to go it alone, rather than hiring a web designer.

Con #2 - It Invariably Involves Training

Another aspect to DIY website maintenance is the need for training to give you the skills required. Sure, there’s a ton of tutorials out there on everything from updating your website to adding content, but again, this takes up more and more of your precious time. The website world is constantly changing too, so it’s not something you’ll be able to avoid.

Con #3 - There’s Usually Very Little Support

Another reason why people choose to hire a web designer is the support they provide. When you do things for yourself, free/low-cost support can be lacking. Of course, you can pay for support, but when this option starts costing you money, it begins to make the idea of hiring a professional that much more appealing.

Con #4 - Many Clients Don’t Tend to Use a CMS

A professional will usually use a content management system (CMS) for website maintenance as it provides a neat overview of your content. From our experience clients don’t tend to use these kinds of tools regularly and even when they do, they’ve usually forgotten how to use it the next time they try, meaning that both content, images and other elements end up unoptimised, impacting your SEO visibility.

It Really Does Pay to Trust in the Professionals

There’s a reason why so many business owners choose to hire a web developer and that’s because it means that the job is taken care of properly, meaning no impact on search rankings. There is something of a misconception in existence that when you don’t have access to your own website maintenance , you’re somehow not in control of it - which just isn’t true.

So, if all this sounds familiar and you’re deciding between doing a DIY job and using professional website services, then contact us and see how stress-free and affordable it can be to get your website looked after, so you can concentrate on work that makes you money.