Establishing an online presence is essential for businesses, individuals, and organizations alike. One critical aspect of building an effective online presence is designing a visually appealing and user-friendly website. While many business owners turn to website design sites for convenience and cost-effectiveness, it is important to assess their pros and cons before making a decision. Today we will explore the advantages and drawbacks of using website design sites, shedding light on their suitability for different scenarios. Hopefully this will enable you to decide which route to take when launching your new website.

Pros of Website Design Sites:

1. Affordability: Website design sites often offer cost-effective solutions for individuals and small businesses with limited budgets. These platforms typically provide a range of pricing plans, allowing users to choose the option that best suits their needs and financial constraints. 
2. Ease of Use: One of the main advantages of website design sites is their user-friendly interfaces. These platforms often offer intuitive drag-and-drop builders, pre-designed templates, and various customization options, enabling users to create a website without prior coding knowledge or technical expertise.
3. Time Efficiency: Website design sites reduce the time required to build a website from scratch. With pre-designed templates and ready-to-use components, users can quickly establish their online presence, making it ideal for those who require a website within a short timeframe. 
4. Free Technical Support: Some website design sites provide free customer support and technical assistance to help users resolve any issues they encounter during the design and development process. This support can be invaluable for individuals or businesses without dedicated IT departments.

Cons of Website Design Sites: 

1. Limited Customization: While website design sites offer various customization options, they are often constrained by the limitations of their templates and pre-designed elements. Users may find it challenging to achieve a fully personalized website that aligns precisely with their unique brand identity or specific requirements. 
2. Lack of Scalability: As businesses grow and evolve, their website needs may change. Website design sites may struggle to accommodate these evolving requirements, limiting scalability. Advanced functionalities, integrations, and complex designs may be challenging to implement within the constraints of these platforms. 
3. Lack of Uniqueness: Since website design sites provide pre-designed templates that are available to many users, there is a risk of websites looking generic or similar. Establishing a distinctive online presence becomes more challenging when relying on shared templates, potentially affecting brand recognition and user engagement. 
4. SEO Limitations: Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for driving organic traffic to a website. Some website design sites may have limited options for optimizing on-page elements, which can impact search engine rankings. Users must carefully evaluate the SEO capabilities of these platforms to ensure their website can be easily discovered by potential visitors.
5. All of the Pros above, can be Found with a Web Design Agency: The reality is, the entire list of pros are often found with an agency. If 80twenty were to build your website you would find that 1) We are more affordable than you might think, 2) We build all websites using tools that enable you to use drag and drop features, easy to understand functionality, and many customization options. 3) We can build you a website in a timely manner without you wasting your time and effort on the “boring” stuff. 4) We can work with your site host’s technical support team to provide quick turn around on issues that arise, and I am here to personally help you should you struggle to make necessary updates to your website. 

While website design sites offer an accessible and cost-effective way for individuals and small businesses to establish an online presence, user-friendly interfaces and time-saving features, you will find limitations in customization, scalability, uniqueness, and SEO capabilities. If you are serious about building your brand and growing your business, it may not hurt to start small via a website design site, but you will eventually find that it cannot keep up with your demand. If you intend to keep your business as a side-gig, or stay small by choice, you will probably have very few issues with a site built via Wix, Squarespace, or others. In the end, it is crucial to assess your individual needs and consider the trade-offs. By understanding the pros and cons, you can make informed decisions that align with your goals.

JD Knopp - [email protected]