When do custom websites outperform CMS website builders?
The draw to DIY website builders is the cost - free.
The reality is that, yes, you can get a free website, if you want a website supports most businesses, the website design will not be free. For a nice looking, mobile optimized design, you likely need to buy a theme or packaged web design. Additionally, you'll need an SSL certificate, which can be purchased separately or packaged in another upgrade option that the “free” website builder sells.
Plus, if you want a professional looking domain name and email addresses, you need to buy a URL, which the free website provider will sell. And a web hosting plan adds even more cost.
Furthermore, the most expensive part of the free website will be the time you spend learning the skills to build a good website. A well designed, top ranking Google search website needs more than just the drag and drop shown on the commercials.
- You'll write and proof text.
- Photoshop photos.
- Create layouts.
- For every website feature, you'll research the technical details of how to code.
Small business owners have spent 40, 80, and 120+ hours on their free website. And that's before the work on search engine optimization. And the website may still not look professional. And it may be buried on Google search page 6 even after you've spent hours on Google SEO.
When does it make sense to use a free DIY website builder?
When you need website for a club, hobby, or any other activity where others don't need to find you with a generic web search, a DIY website works great.
When your business space is not competitive or crowded, a DIY website may also work.
Does this mean that you can't create a Wordpress or other free website the gets good search results in a competitive business space. No. But the website will not be free. And the website will not be finished over a weekend. And you'll invest many hours building the technical skills to build a competitive website.
Even then, a custom website coded from scratch with professional search engine optimization will outperform in Google search because there are technical handicaps and limitations inherent in content management systems, which is essentially what Wix, WordPress, Square Space, and other similar DIY platforms are.
A good rule-of-thumb to help you decide when to go DIY vs a custom website, developed from scratch, is to use the following tests:
Do you do your own business taxes? If you have the time and skill to prepare and file LLC, S-corp, or C-corp tax returns, then you may be a good candidate to build and SEO optimize a DIY business website.
Do you handle all of your own legal work? Similarly, if you have the time and skill to prepare and file articles of incorporation, respond to lawsuits, and file small claims court documents, then you may be a good candidate to build and SEO optimize a DIY business website.
Do you have 30 to 60 minutes of spare time, three days a week? If you do, then you'll have the time to monitor your website's Search Engine Results Page rankings, research SEO adjustments needed to adapt to changing Google search results, and make SEO coding adjustments to your web pages.
S3 Data Analytics is an elite Sarasota SEO company that provides one-time and ongoing SEO work for DIY websites. We have helped small businesses quickly overcome a history of poor Google search and SEO performance. Contact Us to schedule a free 15-minute review of your website and get a quote.
