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What Is a DIY Website and Why Should I Avoid Them?
In the ever-changing digital space, DIY websites represent a glimmer of hope for small business owners and freelancers who want to cut costs and create their own online website and store. But are DIY site builders too good to be true?
What Is a DIY Website?
You might have seen WordPress, Shopify, and Squarespace marketing themselves as the best do it yourself website design sites. Prospective customers have two options when they choose these online platforms. They can create an online presence themselves, or put their faith in a digital marketing website agency.
The best do it yourself website design sites come with clear options and an easy-to-navigate user interface. With how-to guides and online tutorials available at the touch of a keyboard, even novice website designers can create a simple, minimalistic site that conveys their core message.
Problems arise when business owners expect to create large, complicated websites without the help of a website development agency. Before you jump straight into the world of DIY websites, here are some important things to consider.
Why Choose a Website Agency?
- Long-lasting support - There is only so much that you can do with a DIY website. If you try to keep up with all of the updates, search engine optimisation, and UX efforts yourself, you will not have enough time to run your business. Working with a dedicated agency means that you can focus on growing your customer base and perfecting your product.
- Comprehensive packages - We advise SMEs to work with a comprehensive website agency like ours. When you work with us, an SEO specialist, an expert Copywriter, and a quick and efficient Graphic Designer are only ever a phone call away.
- Technical know-how - When you choose a website agency, you can forget about all the complicated background tasks that keep your site live. Even if creating your site is a doddle, there are always updates to think about. Some sites require you to migrate data to maintain your site. One slip up can take your site offline and stop your revenue streams.
- Tried and tested SEO efforts - If you have dipped your toe into the world of online marketing, you will know how important SEO is. But what exactly is SEO? Well-researched search engine optimisation practices can put your website on the first page of Google, whereas poor practices can see your organic traffic plummet. There is a lot more to SEO than writing a few keywords. Website development agencies can help you navigate the complex world of off-page SEO and ensure things like link building, meta information, and image alt tags are optimised to their full potential.
- Quick solutions - When a problem arises, it pays to speak to the experts. One of our clients spent weeks and weeks trying to fix her broken Wix site. Our experts identified and fixed the problem within a few hours. We later learned that our client paid Wix £500 for their site. Although we charge more for a comprehensive, full-scale website, we are always available for ongoing support.
Sprint Online - The Big Picture Website Agency
At Sprint Online, we look at the bigger picture. Developing a successful website is about more than just the initial design. We work with everyone from freelancers to SMEs to create long-lasting success in the digital sphere.
Contact our team to take the first step towards a bigger picture approach to your online presence.
Merry Christmas you Filthy Animals Valued Clients!
As we wrap up another successful year (sorry, there’s definitely more puns to come), we want to express our heartfelt thanks for being a part of the Sprint Online family. Your trust and collaboration have made 2023 a truly remarkable year.
This year we’ve been as busy as Santa’s Elves when the Argos catalogue gets released, and we're thrilled to share some highlights:
Four Fillies (Vegan Coffee Trailer): We all need a dose of Caffeine to get us through January, and thank goodness for the lovely Four Fillies, who we provided a host of services to, making them the go-to for vegan coffee delights in Surrey!
Google "Vegan Coffee Trailer Surrey", and they'll come up first – we’ll raise an Oat Latte to that!
Victory Wash: We embarked on a branding adventure providing a full marketing package including branding, website development, and SEO. Squeaky clean and perfectly timed, just like the services they offer.
Cappadocia Epsom and Kingston: Not at all biased, but perhaps a little led by our bellies, one of our favourite clients, Cappadocia. Now utilising our services for their multiple Surrey restaurants, they asked us to broaden their outreach in an engaging and fun way. Through an innovative 360-degree photo shoot, we allowed their Kingston and Epsom venues to feature an inside look on Google Street View, so clients can see inside the restaurant before they visit. Yum!
We were trigger happy this year with our cameras, providing photo and video shoots to Ildiko's Chocolate, La Terrazza, Utopia 360 Visuals and many more businesses.
As always, web development and branding is a big part of the Sprint Online offering, and this was no different this year. Just to name a few, Serious Entertainment Group, J M Wegner Sports Therapy, Win 360 Consulting, Kable Recruitment and Anthea Your VA trusted us to create brand new, shiny websites for their businesses this year, and we delivered. It’s not quite 7 billion presents on a sleigh, but give us a few mince pies and a red suit, and we won’t be far off!
Brambles Coffee (can you sense a coffee theme?) enjoyed a complete marketing package – from branding to website design, we brewed up a slick look, and the milk ‘tache from the cappuccino does somewhat complete the Santa look…
Piccolo Vicolo received a brand new menu design, from our in house design team, alongside a host of print and signage services for a variety of other local clients.
Finally, we connected hundreds of businesses to a more professional and flexible telephone number through our successful virtual landline service.
Looking ahead, the excitement continues into 2024. We have a lot already planned, including the launch of a brand new WhatsApp Business integration. It's our commitment to keeping your communication as cutting-edge as your business!
Now, it’s time for the annual game of Twister. I tried to join in before I wrote this message, but apparently putting my laptop on Red instead of my foot didn’t count.
Christmas gone mad. Wish me luck!
Warm regards,
Gellért and the Sprint Online Team