Do I Need A Web Designer?

How do you actually know when it’s time to hire a professional?

If you’re a small to medium-sized business, or even just someone who’s trying to build a personal brand, you’ve likely found yourself asking the question “Do I need a Web Designer?”. You’re likely wondering if it’s worth it to hire a professional to handle all your web needs, and I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone. 

The list of reasons why you should higher a professional is pretty long, but what if you don’t have the budget? What if you don’t know how to choose a reputable Web Professional? How do you know if the quotes you’re getting are fair prices? 

“I have no idea how to make a website 🤔, do I need a web designer?”

– You Probably

If you feel overwhelmed at all the technical bits of knowledge you need to create a basic website on your own then depending on your budget, you have a few options.

Option One: Hire Someone

Hint hint 😉

Just kidding. But you could hire either a freelancer or an agency to handle all the technical stuff for you. This might seem expensive but if a website is necessary for your business then wouldn’t you feel better knowing professionals are behind the wheel?

Here’s a handy guide to hiring Internet People. 

Hiring A Freelancer

If you decide to hire a freelancer then you can try out sites like Hubstaff.  There are also other options for sites that will help connect you to freelancers. 

Be careful though. It’s very tempting to go with a lower cost freelancer but it may end up costing you in the long run. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this story:

We hired a freelancer because they were cheap and now:
A. The website needs to be completely redone.

B. They disappeared without finishing the work.

C. The project is dragging on and we need something up

D. All of the above.

As a savvy business person, you’ll feel a natural inclination to cut costs wherever possible but when it comes to your website you’ll want someone who knows what they’re doing.

Also be aware that the freelancer rout may mean that you’ll need to hire several freelancers to get the job done. Many freelancers don’t do both design and development. That means that you’ll first need to find someone to design your site, and then find someone else to build it.

If you hire both of these people separately then they don’t have the chance to communicate and collaborate. That could lead to issues like:

• The designer creating a feature that’s very difficult to develop.
• The developer working without any creative guidance and possibly making bad design decisions out of necessity.

If you decide to go the freelancer rout, I strongly recommend asking for a reference or two before you hire anyone. There are lots of really great and really terrible freelancers out there and if you’re not familiar with the industry it can be almost impossible to tell them apart until you hire them and it’s too late.

Hiring An Agency

Agencies, while typically more reliable, may be pricier. While that’s not always the case, you may find that their costs to be higher than a freelancer.

With an agency you won’t have to go through the trouble of coordinating the project (finding a designer & developer). You should still ask for a portfolio and look at any online reviews.

Option Two: DIY

If you’re up to the task, you could also create a website on your own with tools like Wix or Squarespace. Website builders like these offer some basic functionality and you never have to touch code to get your website up and running. 

The downside to this option is that you’re going to limit yourself to whatever pre-made functionality these services offer. You may not get the functionality or look you’re looking for.

You’ll also have to configure everything yourself, and for many business owners, this is just too time consuming. You could hire a professional to do this for you if you’re having trouble, but that’s a little like hiring an accountant to do your turbotax. 

Be Honest With Yourself

Do you really have the time to figure all of that stuff out? Do you think that you’ll be able to create a website with everything you need? Will you end up putting it off or doing a less-than-ideal job? Do I need a Web Designer?

Running a business is hard and the last thing you need is one more thing on your plate. Most of the time it makes more sense to delegate than it does to try and wear as many hats as possible.

Option Three: No Website

Now before you call me insane for even suggesting the No Website option, hear me out. If you’ve decided that you don’t want/need a website then the answer to the question “Do I need a Web Designer?” is 100% no.

Just kidding, you almost definitely need a website. How else are people supposed to find your business and buy things from you? The entire world is online and chances are you should have a website.

In Conclusion

When it comes to creating a website that fits all of your needs, it’s likely best to higher a professional. Though if your needs are simple enough you may be able to go the DIY rout with little issue.

If you’ve found yourself asking the question “Do I need a Web Designer?” the answer is probably.

TLDR:

• You get what you pay for.
• Websites can be complicated.
• Any website is better than no website.