Should I Use A Website Builder?
Comparing Website Builders and Custom Website Design for Small Businesses
You’re sitting down at your computer, a half-consumed lukewarm coffee in hand, and a notebook you’ve been scribbling your ideas down in for years lays beside you. You’re finally ready. Ready to transfer these notebook scribbles into the business you’ve been dreaming of. Or maybe a ministry the Lord has put on your heart. Your Ready to go from pen and paper to the World Wide Web.
It’s pretty obvious that one of the first things you need to start a business today is a website, right? How hard could it be? You’re fairly tech-savvy. You can learn how to do anything on YouTube these days. You’re a small business owner, after all; you wear many hats, so what’s one more? You can become a web designer if it will save you a couple of bucks.
We understand the importance of resource management and affordable web design for small business owners. That’s why many find themselves grappling with the decision between website builders and professional website design.
In a quick Google search, you can find many helpful website builders tailored to help you build your own website. Having a good-looking, well-functioning DIY website is more attainable than ever before! But is using a website builder the best option for you? Let’s find out.
At Torrch, we’ve been in your shoes. Starting as a small startup business, full of faith, we have spent the last decade-plus providing web design services to small businesses and faith based organizations. Our work includes dozens of highly custom projects, hundreds of websites, and thousands of designs all for other small businesses, non-profits, ministries, and churches.
By the end of this article, our aim is to explain how a website builder works in contrast to a professionally crafted website. Armed with this knowledge, we hope to empower you to make a well-informed decision regarding the choice between a DIY website builder and professional web design services. (And maybe even give you an option in between!)
We hope you consider us your partner in launching your dream onto the World Wide Web and taking an exciting step into the future of your business!
Website Builders
Let’s jump into what you want to know. A website builder is a tool or platform that allows you to create and customize your own website without needing to code or have extensive technical knowledge. PHEW!
These platforms typically offer a user-friendly interface and a range of templates, tools, and features to help you design, build, and maintain your website.
Okay, you get it. Using a website builder is a fairly straight forward process, but let’s get into the nitty gritty of website builders for those interested.
The Design Process
Like we said, website builders offer intuitive, drag-and-drop interfaces that enable users to add, remove, and arrange elements on web pages effortlessly.
They provide a wide array of pre-designed templates, often categorized by industry or purpose (e.g., business, portfolio, e-commerce), allowing users to kickstart their website development process with a professionally designed layout.
Users can customize these templates to reflect their brand identity and preferences by modifying colors, fonts, layouts, and images.
To really succeed in utilizing a website builder, a moderate level of tech savvy is required. You should possess a basic understanding of website mechanics, feel relatively at ease navigating the platform, and have an understanding of how branding works to truly make your business shine. Expect a learning curve when initially diving in, and be prepared to invest some time.
However, if you’re confident in your ability to tailor the design template to suit your needs, this option could be a good fit for you.
Features and Functionality
Website builders come equipped with built-in features and tools to enhance website functionality. These will vary based on the website builder you choose but may include:
- Contact forms
- Image galleries
- Blog sections
- E-commerce capabilities
Users can also integrate third-party widgets or plugins to add additional functionality, such as social media integration, analytics, and search engine optimization (SEO) tools.
Content Management
Website builders come equipped with intuitive content management systems (CMS). This is the home of the “behind the scenes” work you do on your website. A CMS will facilitate the creation, modification, and management of digital content on a website without requiring advanced technical skills.
Through the CMS, users have the power to add new pages, tweak existing content, upload images and multimedia, and publish updates in real time, all through a user-friendly interface.
When using a website builder, content management is entirely your responsibility. While the CMS is user-friendly, if you have growth ideas that go beyond the capabilities of the website builder, you will likely encounter limitations.
Support and Maintenance
Website builders typically offer customer support through various channels, such as email, live chat, or knowledge bases, to assist users with any questions or technical issues they may encounter.
Users can access comprehensive tutorials, documentation, and online forums to find answers to common questions and learn how to utilize the platform effectively.
When using a website builder you will not have access to a project manager or web developer.
Pricing and Plans
Many Website builders offer tiered pricing plans that cater to users with varying needs and budgets. The average price of using a website builder in 2024 will range from $10-$500 a month.
Basic plans may be available at a minimal cost, providing essential features and limited customization options.
Premium plans often include advanced features, custom domain options, enhanced support, and additional functionalities, with pricing structures based on factors such as features, storage, and bandwidth.
Website Builders in a Nutshell
In essence, DIY website builders simplify the website creation process by providing user-friendly tools, customizable templates, and built-in features, enabling users to design, build, and maintain their own websites with ease. This can all be done with a small amount of tech skill and a more significant investment of time.
Custom Web Design
Let’s delve into how custom web design works and the key elements that distinguish it from website builders.
The Design Process
Custom website design typically begins with a consultation phase, where designers gather information about the client’s goals, target audience, branding, and desired functionality. This is crucial for understanding the client’s vision and ensuring that the website aligns with their objectives. Designers conduct thorough research into the client’s industry, competitors, and target market to inform the design and development process.
Next, professional designers create custom website designs tailored to the client’s brand identity and user experience goals. Once the design is approved, developers use coding languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and others to bring the design to life. They ensure that the website is responsive, accessible, and compatible with different devices and browsers.
Features and functionality
Custom websites often include advanced functionality and features tailored to the client’s specific needs. Designers and developers collaborate to implement custom features such as contact forms, interactive elements, live streams, multimedia content, animations, and much more.
They may also integrate third-party plugins and services to add functionality like e-commerce, booking systems, payment gateways, and content management systems (CMS) for easy content updates.
The goal is to create a website that not only looks great but also delivers a seamless user experience and meets the client’s business objectives.
Content Management
Professional designers may offer content creation services to ensure that the website has high-quality and engaging content. This may include copywriting, photography, videography, and graphic design. (usually at an extra cost.)
You will still be equipped with a Content Management System (CMS) to make modifications and perform general maintenance on your website moving forward.
Maintenance and Support
Before launching the website, custom web designers and developers conduct rigorous testing to ensure its functionality, performance, and compatibility. They perform usability testing, accessibility audits, and performance optimization to identify and fix any issues. This ensures that the website is user-friendly, accessible to all users, and performs well across different devices, browsers, and screen sizes.
Custom website design agencies, like Torrch, often offer ongoing maintenance and support services to keep the website secure, up-to-date, and performing optimally. This may include website hosting, software updates, security monitoring, backup management, and technical troubleshooting.
By providing ongoing support, designers and developers ensure that the website remains functional and secure over time, allowing clients to focus on their core business activities.
Pricing and Plans
Custom designed websites often follow a pricing structure based on the complexity of the project and the scope of services provided. Pricing for professional web design services typically varies depending on factors such as the size of the website, the level of customization required, and the additional features and functionalities desired by the client. With that in mind the average price of a custom built website in 2024 can range from $12,000-$150,000.
Pricing may be quoted as a one-time fee for the entire project or based on hourly rates for design and development work. Additionally, some agencies, like Torrch, may offer subscription-based models or payment plans to make professional web design services for small businesses more accessible and affordable. For example, our Torrch custom website build plans range from $49 to $499 a month.
Custom Websites in a Nutshell
In summary, custom websites are carefully crafted to meet the client’s specific needs and objectives. Designers and developers work closely with clients throughout the design and development process to create a custom website that reflects their brand identity and delivers an exceptional user experience. With advanced functionality, high-quality content, and ongoing maintenance and support, professional-built websites help businesses establish a strong online presence and achieve their goals effectively.
Top Factors to Consider For Your Website Success
This is where we are going to help you figure out what’s best for you!!
When deciding between a website builder or using custom web design, there are several important factors to consider. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can determine which option aligns best with your goals, resources, and preferences.
1. Budget
Before embarking on your website project, it’s crucial to assess your budget and consider how much you’re willing to invest in your online presence. Website builders often offer affordable pricing plans, making them an attractive option for budget-conscious ministries and small businesses.
On the other hand, professional website design services may require a higher initial investment, but they offer tailored solutions and expertise that can deliver long-term value.
At Torrch, we work really hard to offer affordable custom web design for small business owners at consistent monthly rates. Our website build plans range from $49-$499 a month.
Even with our highest website build plan for small businesses you won’t have to come up with a steep initial investment. Our monthly payment model allows small businesses, non-profits, and churches the opportunity to have a custom-designed website at a predictable price they can fit in the monthly budget.
2. Time
Building and maintaining a website takes time and effort, so it’s essential to consider how much time you can realistically dedicate to the project. Website builders are designed to be user-friendly and time-efficient (if you know what you’re doing!), allowing you to create a website quickly without the need for advanced technical skills. But regardless of your level of tech savvy, it will still be a time investment.
However, if you have limited time or prefer to focus on other aspects of your business, hiring professionals to handle the website design and maintenance may be a more practical choice.
3. Technical Skills
Another factor to consider is your comfort level with technology and design tools. Website builders typically boast that they require minimal technical skills. But let’s take a moment of honest reflection, If you’re comfortable using computer software and willing to learn new skills, building your own website with a website builder platform can be a rewarding experience.
However, if you lack the technical expertise or prefer to leave the design and development to professionals, hiring a custom website designer may be the better option!
4. Long-term Goals
It’s essential to think about the long-term goals and aspirations for your website. Consider factors such as scalability, future growth, and the potential need for additional features or functionality.
Website builders offer some flexibility and control, allowing you to make small updates and changes on your own, as your business evolves. However, if you have ambitious growth plans or require advanced features, investing in a professional website design may provide a more scalable and customizable solution.
Torrch Websites in Action
You may be thinking to yourself, ‘Wow, these people know a lot about website builders and custom websites”’ Yep, we do! Because we like to think our website build plans offer our clients the best of both worlds: The ease of selecting a templated website layout, a predictable monthly cost, minimal to no tech skills required, while also providing you with professional guidance and support for website success both now and in the future.
To further encourage you in making the best decision for getting your small business on the World Wide Web, let’s take a look at a couple of examples of Torrch websites.
DIY Website Plan- Enlighten Nutrition
Alissa is the owner of a faith-based small business, Enlightened Nutrition Coaching. She is a passionate health and nutrition expert turned website owner with the help of Torrch DIY website build plan.
She chose our “Food Shelf” template then worked with our team of web designers to have it customized to perfectly reflect her brand. Alissa then chose to add her own written content and images to get it ready to launch. And there’s no arguing about it, she did an amazing job!
Alissa’s level of tech skills and branding knowledge made her a perfect fit for a DIY website build plan. Furthermore, she still has our team at Torrch in her corner should a question or website need ever arise.
DIFM Website Plan- 7 Corners Coffee
7 Corners Coffee is a business as missions coffee shop located in the Twin Cities. They worked with our team of professionals to build and design their website and, not to toot our own horn, but we think it’s beautiful.
7 Corners Coffee is a great fit for a DIFM website build plan as they have worked with our team to add advanced features including multimedia, online ordering, and gift card purchases.
They also utilize our ongoing support services to make seasonal content updates to make sure their customers know about their latest and greatest (and tastiest) offerings!
Website Builder Vs. Custom Web Design- Torrch Has The Best of Both Worlds
If you made it through all this information, your coffee is now cold… BUT you learned some invaluable information as you embark on launching your small business website!
Take a moment to consider the factors we’ve outlined—budget, time, technical skills, and long-term goals— whether you’re leaning towards a DIY approach, considering the expertise of professionals, or somewhere in between, Torrch has you covered!
We offer both DIY website build plans as well as Do It For Me (DIFM) build plans for small businesses and ministries, so you can find the perfect solution that fits your needs and vision.
Whichever option is best for you, know that you are not alone. When you go with a Torrch website plan you are backed by our team of web design warriors and resources tailored to serve faith-based businesses and ministries.
So, take a deep breath. Go microwave your coffee (if you’re into that) and reach out to your new friends at Torrch and let’s embark on this exciting journey together!