Maybe you are in the process of setting up your own business? Next up on the to do list is: get a website. You have a bit of a creative background and you have heard of this website platform called Squarespace. You think ‘I could have a go at this myself.’ Proceeding to look further down your long list of things to do, you begin to feel overwhelmed by the prospect. 

Perhaps hiring a web designer would be the best way forward? But you are reticent; there are a lot of other upfront costs to factor in. Back and forth you go, neither solution having the edge. You remain comfortably - as they put it - on the fence. 

Squarespace is an incredibly popular website builder. It’s revolutionary, easy-to-use platform, empowers even the complete beginner to create their own website without any prior coding knowledge. However, it is the lack of prior coding knowledge that can limit what can be achieved on the platform and as with learning any new skill, it takes time and practice to perfect. This is where a Squarespace Designer can come in.

In this blog, we bring you the case of DIY vs Squarespace Designer. Being a bunch of Squarespace Designers, rather than recuse ourselves from the debate, we have endeavoured to present you with a balanced and unbiased account, detailing all the benefits of pursuing either route. Our hope is that by the end of this 5 minute read, you - the business owner, the juror - will be armed with the facts and feel empowered to reach a verdict.

The Case for DIY

Exhibit A : Cost-Effective

Money, money, money! By designing the website yourself, you avoid the expenses associated with hiring a professional web designer. Squarespace offers various pricing plans - Personal, Business, Commerce Basic and Commerce Advanced - on monthly and annual subscriptions. PLUS, you get 14 days free to trial it out before reaching for your wallet or purse. Squarespace has a plan that is affordable for most budgets.

Exhibit B : Creative Control

Do you relate to Monica Geller in Friends in that you like having creative control? If you build your own website, you will have exactly that! Squarespace’s in-house, award-winning design team, have created a plethora of stylish designs, layouts, fonts and colour schemes for users to choose from. Once you have decided on a template that resonates with your brand, you can customise every aspect of it to reflect your vision with pinpoint precision.

Exhibit C : Flexibility and Convenience

Squarespace has simplified the complicated. Their user-friendly interface makes it accessible to individuals of all skill levels - even the complete novice! They have also made it super easy for users to action updates and make changes to websites at any time, without having to rely on a professional to do it for them.

Exhibit D : Learning Opportunity

The world is becoming increasingly digitally dependent. Therefore, learning to build your own  website is undoubtedly an excellent learning experience and a worthwhile personal investment! You'll gain valuable insights into website development, design principles and online marketing. Your new found skills will serve you well in future projects or if you decide to transition to a different website platform.

Now for the cross examination.

The Case for Hiring a Squarespace Web Designer

Exhibit E : Expertise

Squarespace is designed to be user-friendly. However, to caveat that, in order to create a truly polished and sophisticated website, it often requires expertise and an eye for design and layout. Professional web designers have this in abundance. They craft websites that not only look stunning but also function seamlessly across various devices. Creating a website that is responsive, that aesthetically looks visually appealing, but that can cover the technical skills required is a skill.

Exhibit F : Time-Saving

While building a basic Squarespace website is relatively quick, if you are looking to create a more complex and feature-rich site it can be time-consuming, especially if you are new to website development. This is what a Squarespace Designer is trained to do; they can do it in their sleep! Hiring a web designer allows you to focus on other aspects of your business or personal life while leaving the technical work to the experts. Paying for a website to be setup correctly in the first place, to have solid foundations to start with is key.

Exhibit G : Customization and Uniqueness

While Squarespace offer some level of customisation, without the ability to use custom code, it can pose some limitations. There are millions of Squarespace websites out there! Although the branding and content will differ across these, they can start to feel samey and thus, don’t pack as powerful a punch or stand out from the crowd. 

This is where a Squarespace Designer comes into their own and can push the boundaries of what your website can be! They can tailor your website to be truly unique and fresh, ensuring that it stands out from the competition, leaving a lasting impression on visitors.

Exhibit H : Optimisation and SEO

A professional web designer understands the importance of search engine optimisation (SEO). They can optimise your website's structure and content to improve its visibility on search engines, driving more organic traffic to your site. They will intuitively design your website with optimal performance keeping it at the forefront of their mind, ensuring the site is fully optimised, giving it the best page authority. This typically means the page’s loading times are speedy and your navigation is streamlined and clear.

Verdicts

Site Customization

If you decide to go it alone, whoop, whoop - we applaud you! This way, you can save on design costs while still having a personalised website customised to your liking. Here is a link to our 40 Top Tips For Starting Your Business using Squarespace which will help you kickstart your Squarespace journey.

Squarespace Designer

Great choice! When time is of the essence, there are a million and one other things to do or tech and design is just not your bag, hiring a Squarespace Designer would be a wise choice.   If you are looking for some Squarespace Designers, we happen to know of a few ;) Peruse the Made By Dave website and if you like what you see, then get in touch. We would love to help you build your digital home!

Still a hung jury? If you're torn between the DIY approach and hiring a Squarespace web designer, why not consider finding a middle ground that suits you. You could opt in for:

Consultation and Guidance

If you're confident in your abilities - perhaps you have trained in a different design discipline - but you would just like some expert advice and specific nuggets of wisdom in regards to website design, you could consider hiring a web designer for a one-time consultation. They can offer valuable insights and suggest improvements to your design that are within your capabilities to action. This is a service that the team at Made By Dave are more than happy to offer, do get in touch.

Hybrid Approach

For those who find it easier to show their thoughts rather than to tell, you could begin the DIY process and create a basic version of your website. Once you are happy and have captured a clear vision of what you want, it is then possible to hire a web designer to enhance and refine your site further. Again, this is an approach we are very much open to here at Made By Dave. Let’s see how we can give your website that extra something, something.

Deciding whether to DIY your Squarespace website or hire a web designer will depend on a multitude of factors: specific needs, budget and technical expertise. If you do have the time, a willingness to learn and a limited budget, the DIY route could be a very rewarding experience and you will have mastered a new skill! 

On the other hand, if you are seeking a professional, polished, unique website that packs a significant punch pronto, hiring a Squarespace web designer might be the best way forward and a worthwhile investment. 

So….

You have now heard all of the testimony concerning this case. It is up to you to determine the facts. You and you alone, are the judges of the fact - it is your business. 

Take the time to weigh up your options carefully and choose the approach that aligns with your business goals and resources. Remember, your website is often where the first impressions are made of your business. 

They say don’t judge a book by its cover but with websites this is just not the case. Appearances are everything and can really play witness to the credibility of your company. 

Whether you decide to embark on the DIY journey or collaborate with a web designer, we wish you all the best with your business ventures!

Case closed.