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11 Reasons to Avoid DIY Website Builders

February 16, 2023

Are you thinking about using a DIY website builder to create a website for your business? While these platforms may seem like a convenient solution, there are some factors to take into consideration before you get started.

From limited design flexibility and poor performance to lack of scalability and potential security breaches, the drawbacks of DIY website builders can negatively impact your business’s growth and success.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these 11 reasons and explain why they make a compelling case for why businesses should avoid DIY website builders. So, grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and let’s dive in!

1. Limited Design Flexibility

Limited design flexibility is a major drawback of using DIY website builders. While these platforms may offer a wide range of templates and themes to choose from, they often lack the customisation options that businesses need to truly make their website their own.

For example, let’s say you’re using a DIY website builder to create a website for your business. You find a template that you like and start building your site.

However, as you work on the site, you realise that there are certain elements that you would like to change, such as the font or the colour scheme. You find that the DIY builder you’re using doesn’t offer the customisation options that you need to make these changes, and you’re stuck with the template as-is.

Lack of design flexibility is one of the biggest limitations of DIY website builders. This can be especially frustrating for businesses that are looking for a website that reflects their unique brand and aesthetic.

2. Lack of Scalability

Lack of scalability is another major drawback of DIY website builders. A website built using a DIY builder might meet your current needs, but as your business grows and evolves, it’s likely that your website will need to grow with it.

Unfortunately, many DIY website builders aren’t designed to accommodate this growth and are limited in their ability to scale.

For example, let’s say you start a online store using a DIY website builder. As your business grows, you may want to add more products, integrate with new payment systems, or even expand into new markets.

But if your website builder doesn’t have the capabilities to accommodate these changes, you may find yourself stuck and unable to grow your business.

3. No Access to Source Code

Lack of access to source code is another limitation of DIY website builders. Source code is the underlying code that powers your website and allows you to customise it to meet your specific needs.

Without access to source code, you may be limited in your ability to modify and improve your website, even in small ways.

For example, let’s say you’re using a DIY website builder to create a simple blog. Over time, you decide that you want to add a new feature to your site, such as a custom contact form.

However, you find that the DIY builder you’re using doesn’t allow you to access the source code and make changes. This means that you’re stuck with the features that are built into the platform, and you may not be able to add the customisations that you need to truly make your site your own.

The inability to access source code is a major limitation of DIY website builders. This can be especially frustrating for businesses that are looking for a flexible, scalable solution that allows them to make changes and improve their site over time.

4. Limited SEO Capabilities

Limited SEO capabilities are another common issue when it comes to using a DIY website builder. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is an essential aspect of building a successful website, as it helps improve your website’s visibility in search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

However, many DIY website builders offer limited or basic SEO features, which can leave your website struggling to rank well in search results.

For example, let’s say you’ve built a website using a DIY builder, and you’re eager to start ranking in Google for keywords related to your business. You discover that the builder you used doesn’t have advanced SEO tools, such as the ability to optimise your site’s meta descriptions, titles, and other key elements.

This makes it difficult for you to achieve the results you want, and you may find that your business website isn’t getting the traffic or visibility it deserves.

Want to learn more about the value of SEO for businesses? Click here.

5. Difficulty in Adding Custom Features

Difficulty in adding custom features can be a major issue when using a DIY website builder. Many DIY website builders have limited customisation options and aren’t designed for businesses with unique or complex needs.

This can lead to frustration and decreased success, as you may not be able to achieve the goals you have for your website.

For example, let’s say you’ve built a website using a DIY builder, and you want to add a custom feature to your site. You reach out to the website builder’s support team for help, but they’re unable to assist you with your request.

This can leave you feeling stuck and fed up with the service, and can ultimately impact the success of your business website. Additionally, it can lead to a poor user experience and be especially damaging for businesses that rely on their online presence to generate sales and leads.

6. Poor Performance

Poor performance can be another drawback of DIY website builders. Many DIY website builders use generic templates and hosting solutions that can lead to slow load times, reduced engagement, and poor search engine visibility.

This can negatively impact the success of your website, as users are unlikely to stick around for a website that takes forever to load.

For example, let’s say you’ve built a website using a DIY builder, and your website is consistently slow and unresponsive. This can lead to a high bounce rate, as users are unlikely to stick around for a website that takes ages to load.

Furthermore, slow load times can negatively impact your search engine visibility as search engines like Google tend to favour websites that load quickly and provide a good user experience. This is especially problematic for businesses that need to be noticed online to convert visitors into customers.

7. Limited Support

Limited support can be a major problem when using a DIY website builder. Many DIY website builders provide minimal or no support, leaving you to fend for yourself when it comes to building and maintaining your website.

This can lead to frustration and decreased success, as you may not have the expertise or resources you need to resolve issues and achieve your goals.

For example, let’s say you’ve built a site using a DIY website builder, and you’re having trouble with a specific feature or functionality. You reach out to the builder’s support team for help, but you’re unable to get the answers you need.

This can leave you feeling frustrated and stuck, and can ultimately impact the success of your website. Moreover, if you’re busy running a business, chances are you’re in need of a support team that can act quickly to limit downtime and lost revenue.

8. Dependence on Third-Party Platforms

When using a DIY website builder, you’re often dependent on third-party platforms for hosting, maintenance, and support. This can be a major issue, as these third-party platforms can change their policies, shut down, or experience downtime, all of which can have a major impact on your website and your business.

For example, let’s say you’ve built a website using a DIY builder, and the platform you’re using for hosting and maintenance suddenly experiences a major outage. This can lead to your website being down for an extended period of time, which can result in lost traffic, decreased engagement, and decreased revenue.

Dependence on third-party platforms can be a major issue for businesses that use DIY website builders, especially for small businesses. These platforms often lack the level of support and expertise that businesses need to grow and succeed, leading to increased costs and potential security breaches.

9. Potential for Security Breaches

Another major concern when it comes to DIY website builders is the potential for security breaches. As more and more sensitive information is stored online, it’s important to make sure that your website is secure and protected from potential threats.

Unfortunately, many DIY website builders don’t provide the level of security that businesses need to keep their information and their customer’s information safe.

For example, let’s say you’ve built a website using a DIY builder and you’ve started to collect sensitive information, such as email addresses and payment information, from your customers. But what happens if a security breach occurs and this information is compromised?

Not only will your customers’ information be at risk, but your business’s reputation could also be severely damaged.

DIY website builders are often vulnerable to security breaches and attacks, due to their reliance on third-party platforms and their limited ability to provide custom security solutions. Furthermore, many DIY website builders don’t provide regular security updates or patches, leaving websites vulnerable to new and evolving threats.

10. Poor User Experience

Poor user experience is another major issue with DIY website builders. User experience refers to the overall satisfaction a user has when interacting with your website, and it’s a crucial factor in determining the success of your online presence.

Sadly, many DIY website builders provide a subpar user experience that can negatively impact your business.

For example, let’s say you’ve built a website using a DIY builder, and it takes a long time for pages to load or the navigation is confusing and difficult to use. These types of issues can lead to frustration and a high bounce rate, as users are more likely to leave your site and go to a competitor’s site instead.

User experience is a critical factor in determining the success of an online presence, and businesses that provide a poor user experience are less likely to achieve their goals. Additionally, poor user experience can lead to decreased engagement and lower conversion rates, as users are less likely to complete actions on your site, such as making a purchase or filling out a form.

11. Higher Cost in the Long Run

While DIY website builders may seem like a cost-effective solution in the short term, they can end up costing you more in the long run. This is because many DIY website builders have hidden costs and limitations that can add up over time, making it more expensive than working with a professional web development team.

For example, let’s say you’ve built a website using a DIY builder, and you’ve started to see some success. However, as your business grows and you need to add new features and functionality, you realise that the DIY builder you’re using has limitations and you need to upgrade to a paid plan.

This can quickly add up, and before you know it, you’re paying more than you would have if you had worked with a professional web development team from the start.

While DIY website builders may seem like a cost-effective solution, businesses that use them often end up paying more in the long run due to hidden costs and user restrictions. Moreover, many DIY website builders don’t provide the level of support and expertise that businesses need, so outsourcing jobs to third-party services quickly add up.

Bottom Line

There are many reasons why businesses should avoid using DIY website builders. From lack of scalability and potential security breaches to poor user experience and higher costs in the long run, these platforms can limit your business’s growth and success.

That’s where we come in. At Novo Digital Agency, our team of experienced web designers and developers will work closely with you to create a website that’s scalable, secure, user-friendly, and designed specifically for your business.

Together, we’ll build a website that not only looks great but also helps your business grow and succeed. So, contact us today and let’s get started!

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