COMPARING: WEBSITE BUILDER VS. WEB DESIGNER
These days, a website is an integral part of the small business’s process. It’s how you get your name out there so that you can access a broader range of customers. Having a sleek looking website demonstrates to people that your company’s goods or services are professional and valuable to them. This is important to note mainly because there have been many changes to web design in 2018. So this leaves you with a tricky decision: website builder vs. web designer. Each has their pros and cons so we will outline them so you can see which option might be better for you.

WEBSITE BUILDERS
You may be wondering what the difference between a website builder vs. web designer is? These days there are plenty of website builders out there like WordPress, Squarespace, etc. Primarily, if you can use Microsoft Word or Powerpoint, you should be able to use one of these just fine. They feature a range of customizable templates and allow you to merely arrange and drag and drop your info in a relatively short amount of time. There is a limit to how much customization they permit, but they give your site a professional look and feel.

Pros:
Cost: most web platforms charge a domain fee and service fee and can cost as little as $150 per year.

Easy to Edit: If you need to update your information, change a photo or simply add a few words to the description, you can do it without outside help

Quick: most people can set up a pretty solid website in 10-20 hours. If you can set a few days aside, you can be done in no time at all

Cons:
Limited: You only have a relatively narrow selection of options, and you have to sacrifice on getting the exact look and feel of what you want

Generic: it’s quite easy to tell which sites have used a template and which haven’t

Time-consuming: Keeping on top of your website and running your business can be a lot of work

A website builder vs. web designer is a good match for those who are establishing a new blog, business or organization without a real audience/customer base yet. It is a good idea to start with a website builder, but once you have a customer base, you should consider investing in a web designer. It is good for having something for people to go to get a little more information about you, but don’t expect anyone to be “wowed” by it.

WEB DESIGNERS
Working with a web designer allows you to get a truly unique feel for your website. They build things from the ground up so that your site will have that professional sheen to it. In particular, they are essential for businesses looking to scale. If you have an idea that you think will grow over time, then it is better to build something from scratch.

Pros:
– Truly customizable look and feel

– Able to scale and integrate into a more significant platform or be a more extensive

– Higher security and usability

– Built-in SEO framework

Cons:
Cost: web designers will typically run for between $7,000 to $10,000 that’s not a small figure for a new enterprise

Outside help: your designer should make it reasonably easy for you to make minor changes, but until you have an in-house company tech wizard, you’ll have to have someone else make the big ones.

Overall, web designers are useful if you have enough start-up capital and are trying to pitch an idea to some investors. Also, they are ideal for businesses with an established audience looking to grow. They are perfect for those who wish to keep up with the latest website trends and advancements in marketing. A website builder vs. web designer, will not give you the creative freedom your business might need.

MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Making the right call for a website builder vs. web designer doesn’t have to be too complicated. All you have to do is think about your company’s goals and decide which is the best choice for your business