Hire a professional or do it yourself
This article could potentially save you thousands of dollars and a great deal of time and trouble. I've been a professional designer for over ten years, and if there's anything that my experience has taught me, it's that a business or individual should never try to create a website by themselves. This may be the best advice I can possibly give to anyone who needs a website. Here's why.
Web design is a serious profession
Web designers have years of training and on the job experience that cannot be replaced by a program, Apple, or a novice. They log thousands of hours in learning technical graphic design skills as well as HTML, CSS, JavaScript code, Dreamweaver, Flash and languages like PHP, .NET and Java. Learning to create cross-browser compatible code takes years and a lot of experience. Trying to do it yourself is not so different from trying to cut your own hair or perform your own root canal.
The Art and the Craft
Creating good and professional-looking design is part experience and skill, and part innate artistic vision and ability.
Software and Templates are Bait
I understand that you want to keep your web design prices low and yet still have a cool web design. So do the companies that want you to buy their templates and do-it-yourself software. But the only way you can really create a custom website is by knowing the code that makes it work and these companies know that so they are banking on it through your pocketbook. It's all an up-sell to get you to buy their custom services.
The Seminar Trap
Small business owners and prospective business owners are often a target for seminars about 'creating your own web site'. The last thing you should ever do if you are starting a business is to spend time making a website. The seminars cannot possibly teach you in a couple hours how to make websites and any materials they sell in the seminar will only lead you to realize how involved it is.
More on Templates
You don't want to be caught wearing the same outfit as your client. It's worth developing your own vision and getting a professional to create that because they know how. And templates won't get you online. Customizing them is still a job that requires web skills.
The Home-Spun Looking Site
We've all seen them, websites that look like a Word document or like they were created in 1992. There is no way that you can show that to your clients, customers and friends and make a professional impression. Don't do it. No site at all is better than that. You want the best web site design you can get.
Money vs. Time
Money is time and you will spend a lot of money learning about how long it will take you to actually learn to make a website. And unfortunately there are many in this business who bank on you not understanding this. If you are passionate about your business you deserve to get it done right and many graphic design companies have reasonable web design pricing.
A Final Word
But here's the really good news. Learn the skill of being a good client and working with a professional. That's a great skill in itself and it makes you a real entrepreneur. Hire a pro and feel good about making a wise and professional choice for you and your business.