Web Designer vs. Web-Template System; How To Know Which One Is Right For You!

Just today I opened another one. An email claiming that anyone, YES YOU TOO, can design your own website - without any training or code writing.

Technically it's true that anyone CAN build their own website. Should you try and develop your own website or hire a professional? This is an important decision every person or business must make when they decide to develop a website for their next venture and I dedicated a chapter in my book to helping guide you through this choice.

Although technically you can use custom graphics anytime you wish or can use a website template for even the most advanced of websites, the goal of the questions below is to help determine the right tool for the job. An example would be chartering a plane to fly you from the U.S. to England. Would you want a jumbo jet with four big engines or a small puddle jumper with two?

I use the same logic for building websites.

#1: What Is Your Website's Budget?
This can be a difficult question as most people aren't sure what it costs to build a site, let alone what to budget for one.

Sometimes it's easier to approach this question from the revenue standpoint. How much revenue would you like to earn this year? A hobby oriented site may not generate any revenue; while a business site would be expected to really crank out the dollars.

If your goal is to earn $100,000 the first year, I will probably not recommend an "out-of-the-box" template. The reason for this is that the website's design message (graphics, colors, emotions it conveys) will need to be aggressive and capable of grabbing the attention of your target market and holding it. To help ensure you can meet that goal, I recommend custom graphics which specifically market to your audience and are designed to attract the business you want and to discourage the business you are not interested in.

#2: Is This Site a Hobby or Business Oriented Site?
For the purposes of this article, I'm equating non-revenue generating sites to a hobby oriented sites and revenue generating sites to a business site.

If you're building a strictly information based website that talks about your favorite color or wants to educate people but not conduct sales, your site falls into the hobby category. If you are selling something (anything)...e-books, products through amazon.com or have any expectations of earning money, your site falls into the business category.

#3: How Much Time Can You Devote To Your Site?
Your time is valuable! If you have the desire to build your own site, be realistic about how much time you will need. When planning website projects for clients, I spend at least two hours up front determining how I am going to build it in addition to what I am going to build.

#4: What Are Your Attention or Time Constraints
A project constraint is anything is you cannot negotiate your way around. For instance, here are some constraints that you might encounter:
A. You only have 5 hours total to spend on your project.
B. You are a strong starter, but ou have difficulty focusing or staying on track.
C. You have no Internet experience with websites...it's scary!

Now that you've answered all the questions above, see the answers below to help determine your needs.

Use Custom Graphics/Site Design If:
1. Your budget is over $500.
2. Your website is NOT a hobby and your revenue goals are above $5,000 per year.
3. You have 4-6 weeks to spend on your project.
4. You need help staying on track, and have a busy schedule.

Use a Website Template If:
1. Your budget is under $500.
2. Your website is hobby oriented (although this is not a rule).
3. You are short on time.
4. You have website design experience and are 100% self starting.

Remember, there are no hard fast rules, the suggestions above are merely to help determine which path may be more comfortable for you to take.