Website Builder or Custom Development? Choosing the Best Option for You

Building a website is easier than ever. Thanks to website creation platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix, getting a website up and running is faster, cheaper, and easier than ever before. In many ways, these tools have democratized building websites and should be celebrated. What in the past would take months & a dedicated development team to get up and running can now be done in minutes or hours by just about anyone with a few bucks and an idea. While many web developers will scoff at many of the fast, low-cost options as dollar-menu websites, I like to take a more nuanced, situational approach. For example, if you’re starting from scratch and just need a way to sell your product, I would 100% tell you to check out Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace before deciding to hire dedicated web development resources. With websites as with most things, you often get what you pay for, and while these plug-and-play website creators may be more than enough for your needs, there will inevitably be trade-offs. Therefore, what you should ask is whether these trade-offs are acceptable given your brand and business goals. They may or may not be.

Unfortunately, many dev shops, agencies, and freelancers will try to sell you a Ferrari when all you need is a Toyota. Of course, everyone’s business and brand are different, so you might actually be looking for a Volkswagen, or a Honda, or a Tesla. The important questions to ask yourself are: What am I trying to accomplish with this website? What brand image am I trying to communicate? What combination of cost, quality, and customizability will best achieve my goals? For some people and brands, the answers to these questions might lead to a realization that they are in fact looking for a higher end or luxury car. But don’t let someone sell you a Ferrari when all you need is a Toyota. Figure out what your brand or business needs are and choose the best solution for you, whether that’s a low-cost web builder, an expensive luxury agency, or something in-between. Whatever you do, please, for the sake of all that is good, just don’t buy a PT Cruiser.