Short answer: Build it yourself with Wix or Squarespace if money is tight, you are comfortable on a computer and you have a spare weekend. Hire a designer if your time is worth more on the tools, or if you need the site to rank on Google, because the writing and local SEO setup are where DIY sites usually fall down.
When doing it yourself makes sense
- You are just starting out and need something online this month.
- You mainly want a place to send people who already have your name.
- You are happy to write your own content and learn the builder.
The builders are good at what they do. A tidy one page site with your services, photos and phone number is achievable in a weekend.
Where DIY sites usually struggle
- The writing. Most people stall here. Empty or thin pages do not rank and do not convince anyone.
- Local SEO. Page titles, service pages, suburb pages and matching your Google Maps listing all take know-how.
- Mobile layout. Templates look fine until you change them. Most of your visitors are on a phone.
- Your time. Twenty hours on a website is twenty hours not quoting or working.
The real cost comparison
A DIY builder typically costs roughly $20 to $50 a month, every month, plus your time. A designer costs more up front. Work out what your hours are worth: if you bill $90 an hour and the site takes you 20 hours, that is $1,800 of your time before the subscription.
When hiring someone makes sense
- You want the site to bring in new customers from Google, not just exist.
- You would rather be on the tools.
- You want the Google Maps listing and the website set up to work together.
A middle path
Ask to see the work before you pay. At Ironside Digital we build a free custom preview of your site first. If you like it, websites start from $1,100 with a fixed quote. If you do not, you have lost nothing and you can still build your own.