| So you've decided you need a website but are | | | | Disadvantages |
| confused about all the different options. You can hire | | | | Steep learning curve to gain design necessary skills |
| a professional website designer but that could be | | | | Website may look amateurish |
| expensive and time-consuming. Another idea is to do | | | | Time-consuming |
| it yourself however it will take a long time to develop | | | | Website may be unprofitable |
| the necessary skills to build a complete website. One | | | | Do-it-yourselfers want to know how to do the work |
| of the easiest ways is to get a ready-made design is | | | | themselves and take the time to learn the skills |
| to grab a free template then just add content and | | | | necessary to accomplish the tasks. They may also |
| upload the files to your web host. | | | | not have the money to hire a professional web |
| Let's look at the benefits and disadvantages of these | | | | designer. |
| 3 options: | | | | 3. Free template |
| 1. Hire a professional website designer. | | | | Benefits |
| Benefits | | | | No HTML skills required |
| Get a custom design that reflects your business | | | | Get a ready-made website |
| Familiar with current design technologies | | | | Free or inexpensive |
| Flexibility of design | | | | Immediate access |
| Ongoing tech-support | | | | Select from hundreds of free templates |
| Create search engine friendly web pages | | | | Easy to customize. |
| Knows how to market websites | | | | Disadvantages |
| Familiar with web hosting options | | | | Website looks the same as thousands of others |
| Disadvantages | | | | Not a unique design that reflects your business |
| Expensive | | | | Contains bloated code or code errors |
| Takes weeks or months to develop the website | | | | Contains links from template owner |
| Maintenance costs if you don't do it yourself | | | | Free templates are probably the easiest way to get |
| No guarantee the design company or web site | | | | a ready made website however you often get what |
| designer will disappear | | | | you pay for. They may look pretty on the outside |
| Website designers may cost you some money up | | | | however you have no idea how the code looks |
| front to design the website but will save you money | | | | underneath unless you're familiar with it. |
| in the long term because your website will have been | | | | Recommendation |
| built correctly. If you prefer to meet in person, hire a | | | | If you want a custom designed website that uniquely |
| web designer from your local area. | | | | reflects your business, is fast loading and optimized |
| 2. Do it yourself | | | | for the search engines, high a professional website |
| Benefits | | | | designer. |
| Have complete control | | | | If you have the time and willingness to learn all the |
| Flexibility of design | | | | design technologies and how to apply them, |
| Inexpensive (use free html editor) | | | | download free HTML software or purchase |
| Self maintenance | | | | professional design software such as Dreamweaver. |
| Gain design skills | | | | If you just need a ready-made website, are short on |
| Build a customized website | | | | time and money, grab a free template or customize |
| Satisfaction of doing it yourself | | | | it, then upload it to your server. |