In web design and online outreach, as in other things, there’s the temptation to just do everything yourself, to be sort of a “one-man band” and keep the entire project in-house. Sometimes that makes sense, but in most cases, it’s a better option to have some help.
There are a number of reasons why it makes sense to hire a professional firm to help with some aspect of an enterprise website. For one, there’s specialization, where an experienced third-party company can do the heavy lifting and free you up to focus more on your business. There are the “tricks of the trade” that you may not know about if web design isn’t your full-time thing.
Here are some considerations for when you’re making these decisions about how to set up and maintain a presence for your business online.
The DIY Route
Sometimes you can do quite a lot with a basic WordPress website. At least, it’s a beginning. You can start to populate the site with all of the good stuff that you’ve learned, and the content that sells your products and services. This is your bailiwick — it’s where you shine.
At a higher level of complexity, though, you may want to outsource those add-ons that give your site more firepower in terms of outreach and attention, things like SEO, paid ads, and even fresh, consistent blog or page content.
Scaling with Your Business
Where DIY starts to get tough, ironically, is often when the business becomes more successful, where you reach that next level, and a customer base gets larger, and there’s more to do. Then, you really don’t want to be spending time toiling away on your website, because it saps that energy from the scaling that is your prime objective.
Or, on the other hand, maybe the business is having trouble breaking through to that next level, and in some cases, consulting can really help do the job. The companies that help others improve online have seen a thousand campaigns — they know what works, and how to get there.
A good consultant will also help you to “scope” your project — to figure out the logistics around making your website great, and making sure it stays that way. This means knowing, for example, what a content calendar looks like, what certificates the site needs, and much more.
The Hybrid Approach
At the end of the day, there’s no reason you can’t combine DIY with a third-party service and get the best of both worlds.
You’re the thought authority on your business. You have good ideas. And so, you can offer them online. But a consultant can come in and add to that in a way that makes sense, can “take the ball and run with it.” And your business may ultimately be better off that way, with both of those pieces in play.
Let WebSubstance help you figure out the best ways to position your business online. Contact us today for a technical audit.
