Low Budget and DIY Website Design?

Think twice about Low Budget Website Design or DIY Websites

The following website builders and DIY website design comments have been put together from Front Street Media specializing in Website Design, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Graphic Design in El Dorado Hills. If you are looking for some really easy ideas on what to do with your website design project, think twice before you design your website with a company like Go Daddy – Website Tonight or WIX or even Weebly.

We are not saying these are bad companies to design your website on, because they are not. These companies offer great tools for any company looking for a DIY website design project at little to no cost. The only thing to consider when going the DIY website design route is that you might be limited to certain tools and they will try to up-sell you along the way.

Once you initially start you website design project you may be enticed by the big bold letters on their home page “FREE” and “EASY”. Take a look at the IMPORTANT NOTES* under each section below. Most of these website design builders charge you something. Lets face it folks, there no such thing as a free lunch, especially when it comes to a website design.

Many of the DIY website design builders mentioned below, among many more give you the tools to design your own website; however, one major problem with DIY website design builders is the support, there is none.

Low Budget Web Design - Godaddy

Low Budget Web Design – Godaddy

*IMPORTANT NOTES: 

  • Personal: $5.99/mo
  • Business: $9.99/mo
  • Business Plus: $14.99/mo
Low Budget Web Design - Weebly

Low Budget Web Design – Weebly

*IMPORTANT NOTES: 

  • Remove Weebly branding: $8 per month
  • Media Options: $16 per month
  • Ecommerce Options: $29 per month
Low Budget Web Design - Wix

Low Budget Web Design – Wix

*IMPORTANT NOTES: 

  • VIP Package: $24.92
  • Ecommerce Package: $8.08
  • Unlimited Package: $6.21
  • Combo Package: $9.25
  • Connect a Domain Name: $4.08

Once you dig a little deeper and get into the process of designing your website, then you see prices.

The DIY website design builders mentioned above are simple and inexpensive design tools that can get your website up and running without breaking the bank. These inexpensive options for low budget website design can provide you with a simple website at a fraction of the cost you would typically see from a web design agency.

The question comes down to this, should you choose a low budget website design builder or hire a freelance website designer?

Free Website Builder or Freelance Website Designer?

Deciding to design a website on your own or having your cousins uncles’ brother design a website for you can have a drastic impact on your business and brand identity. We have seen it many times before, when a company comes to Front Street Media with a website they tried to create on their own or a website that was done by someone who is a “Freelance Graphic Artist”.

Typically there is a reason why the word “Freelance” is in their title, they cant afford to do it full time. Being a freelance graphic designer or website designer doesn’t necessarily mean thy are bad, though. There are many great freelance developers out there who are levels above many full time developers.

If you are considering a website builder or a freelance developer, we would recommend using a freelance developer over a system like Go Daddy Website tonight, Wix or Weebly because typically the freelance graphic artists has something to bring to the table.

What is the problem with a free website builder?

Nothing, aside from the fact that they don’t give you support and try to up-sell you something every step of the way.

When you come home from a long day, the last thing you want to do is learn web design, Photoshop, HTML and CSS. If you do start designing your own website, you will at least need the basic skills to finish a website or at least make it look somewhat attractive. Where “FREE” website builders get you is the problems you run into. If you call, they will up-sell you on the “support” package or the “gold” package or whatever they call it these days.

Well, what is the real problem with a free website builder? There is nothing wrong with free website builders as long as you have the time and patience to design and learn the CMS (Content Management System).

The basic Skills you need to create a decent free website

  • Photoshop or photo editing software Skills
  • Possible HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) Skills
  • Formatting
  • Functionality
  • Layout
  • Design Skills
  • Possible CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) Skills
  • DNS Management (Domain Name Server) Skills

Whether your company is small or large, having a professional website is a major factor to your brand and your companies online identity. When you are making the move to design or re-design your website, take a look at the free options and try to save yourself some money, if in the case it comes out looking like a 5th grader did it, give us a call.

Fill out our contact form or give us a call today if you have any questions about free website builders.