When to Hire an Expert Designer for Your DIY Website
DIY website builders like Squarespace, Wix and GoDaddy Airo have made it easier than ever to create your own online presence. However, there comes a point when professional help can take your website to the next level. Here's how to know when it's time to bring in an expert designer.
Squarespace: A Popular DIY Option
Squarespace has become one of the leading platforms for DIY website creation, offering beautiful templates and intuitive editing tools. While it provides an excellent starting point for many businesses, even Squarespace sites can benefit from professional design expertise in certain situations.
Signs It's Time to Upgrade from DIY
Your Business Is Outgrowing Your Website
If you're seeing increased traffic but high bounce rates, or your sales aren't matching your visitor numbers, your DIY website might be holding you back. An expert designer can create a user experience specifically tailored to your growing audience.
You're Struggling with Technical Issues
When you find yourself spending hours trying to fix problems, add features, or make your site work properly across devices, it's a clear signal that expert help would be valuable. The time you save can be redirected toward your core business.
Your Website Doesn't Reflect Your Brand Quality
If your products or services are premium, but your website looks basic or generic, there's a brand disconnect. Professional designers create cohesive visual experiences that elevate your brand perception.
Conversion Rates Are Low
If visitors aren't taking desired actions (making purchases, signing up, or contacting you), a design expert can implement proven conversion optimization strategies beyond what template builders offer.
Benefits of Hiring a Professional Designer
Custom Solutions: Designers create websites uniquely tailored to your specific business goals rather than fitting your content into pre-made templates.
Competitive Edge: A distinctive website helps you stand out in crowded markets where competitors might be using the same DIY platforms.
Future-Proofing: Professionals build with scalability in mind, ensuring your site can grow with your business without requiring a complete rebuild.
User Experience Expertise: Designers understand how visitors interact with websites and can create intuitive experiences that guide users toward conversion.
Finding Middle Ground: Hybrid Approaches
You don't always need to choose between complete DIY or hiring a full-service agency. Consider these options:
Design Audit: Hire a designer for a one-time review of your DIY site with specific recommendations you can implement yourself.
Targeted Improvements: Bring in experts for specific high-impact elements like your homepage, product pages, or checkout process.
Template Customization: Some designers specialize in customizing platform templates at lower costs than building custom sites.
Squarespace-Specific Considerations
If you're using Squarespace, here are some specific scenarios when professional help makes sense:
Custom CSS/JavaScript Needs: When you need functionality beyond Squarespace's native features, a developer can implement custom code without breaking your site.
Complex Layout Requirements: If your vision exceeds what Squarespace's block editor can achieve, designers can create custom sections that work within Squarespace's framework.
Brand Integration: When you have established brand guidelines that don't quite match any available templates, experts can help customize your site to align perfectly with your brand identity.
E-commerce Optimization: For online stores, specialists can enhance product displays, shopping cart flow, and checkout experiences beyond the standard implementations.
When to Start the Conversation
The best time to reach out to designers isn't when your website is completely broken, but when you start noticing its limitations. Begin conversations early to understand costs, timelines, and options before you're in a crisis situation. Remember that professional design is an investment that often pays for itself through improved conversions, better customer experiences, and time saved on DIY troubleshooting.
If you’re ready to start upgrading your digital presence from DIY to a fully custom, beautiful website, look no further than the Squarespace experts at Agave Studio. We’ve worked with multiple clients who were ready to get their site upgraded after launching their business. Say howdy today and let’s get your brand and website standing out from your competition.
