As a London-based web design agency, we know there are times when DIY web design may work for some businesses, but professional web design would be better for others. In this article, we go through the key factors to think about if you’re wondering ‘Should I hire a web designer?’.
Should I DIY web design?
What is DIY web design?
DIY web design is where you design your business website yourself. Several website builders do offer templated options that allow you to set up your website quickly and with minimal cost. Find out more in our guide to how to build a website from scratch.
Pros of DIY web design
Affordable
DIY web design is an affordable option that allows you to set up a business website with minimal costs. However, in the long-term this may not be the best option if you need to scale up your website in future.
Quick
DIY web design can be a quick option, as web builders provide speedy options for you to set up a website with ease.
However, this can come at a cost. Although quick to set up, the lack of customisation options and restrictions on design using web builders can result in a poor performance on search engines.
Easy to use
Website builders are created with beginners in mind. If you’re looking for an easy way to set up a business website, you may select a DIY option using a website builder.
Cons of DIY web design
Lack of ownership and flexibility
Lack of ownership over your website and website’s content, if you use a website builder, could mean you may have problems in future if you’d like to migrate your website to a new platform.
Lack of SEO optimisation
Web builders don’t always prioritise SEO with the web design options offered, meaning your website could perform poorly in search results compared to if you chose a custom-build solution.
Time-consuming
Depending on what kind of DIY web design you choose, building a website from scratch can be a time-intensive process. This time could be better spent on core business activities.
Lack of long-term customisability and scalability
Web builders are more restrictive in customisation options than custom-built websites. This in turn can affect your website’s scalability in future.
Speed issues
Speed is an important part of website performance, from search engine visibility to enhancing the user experience. With less flexibility in website options, this can affect the overall speed of your website.
Hidden costs
There may be some hidden costs associated with your website build when you DIY your website. This can range from web hosting costs, to SSL certificates, to WordPress installation costs and more. Our guide to UK website costs discusses this in more detail.
Lack of professional support
The lack of professional support when DIYing your website could mean you lose out on business if there is a problem with your website.
When may DIY web design be suitable?
DIY web design may be suitable:
- If you’d like to save money
- If you quickly need to get your online business off the ground
- If you’re not using a website builder—if you have time to learn the skills
Should I use custom professional web design?
What is custom professional web design?
Custom professional web design is when you instruct a web designer or a web design agency to create a custom website. With this process, you can fill out some basic requirements for your website, and the agency or designer can put forward their suggestions on creating a website that fits your requirements. Find out more in our guide to the web design process.
Often this will involve an initial consultation, with a briefing document, to discuss your requirements in detail. If you have specific functions you’d like the website to have, you can bring forward your ideas to the designers who can advise on how feasible these are.
Working with a custom web design agency vs. a designer
Working with a custom web design agency will often result in a quicker timescale than working with a designer. As an agency can assign multiple designers to a project, often with different strengths, the delivery of your website is likely to be quicker.
Pros of custom web design with a professional web designer
Long-term solution
Custom web design offers more of a long-term solution than DIY web design through a web builder. With custom web design by a web design agency, designers can consider the longevity of the design they create, with a view to functionalities that may need to be added in future.
Custom web design often provides a more scalable option than DIY web design due to the customisable functionalities that can be added to the site.
SEO built-in
Working with a custom web design agency with a dedicated SEO team as well as a web design team means SEO will be baked into the design of your website. Custom web design allows you to have bespoke website elements that work well for optimising for search engine visibility.
Making sure your website is built with mobile-first design in mind is key to SEO success, due to Google’s mobile first indexing approach. Mobile accounts for approximately half of web traffic worldwide—in Q4 of 2024, mobile devices accounted for 61.85% of global web traffic.
Speed
Custom web design solutions allow your website to be built to the highest speed possible. Depending on your website functionality, more optimisations can be made with a custom solution vs. a website builder or templated solution.
A fast website is a key part of user experience and is extremely important for SEO. A fast site means your website is more likely to be served in search engines, meaning your website could have more eyes on it vs. a website builder templated option. Delivering a faster user experience means users will be more likely to convert on your website. Statistics indicate that 40% of visitors will leave a website if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load.
Extensive functionality
The functionality options with custom web design are endless. If there are specific functionalities you’re interested in having on your website, working with a custom web design agency will be your best bet. Speaking with an agency can also give you a view of functionalities you may not even have realised are possible!
Time-saving
One of the key benefits of custom web design through an agency is that your time is saved meaning you can spend time on other key business tasks.
Stand out from the competition
Custom web design allows your website to stand out from your competition. With fewer limits on design compared to website builders, your business can have a website that emphasises your brand’s voice. Custom web design allows you to consider every little detail, and whether it’s on brand for your business—from microinteractions and elements like dynamic cursors, to form design, the way your website works can be made to be truly bespoke to your business, allowing your business’ voice to shine.
Technical expertise
Gaining access to the technical expertise of professional web designers ensures that your website adheres to the latest accessibility and web design standards and is built for long-term success.
Cons of custom web design
Cost
The main con of custom web design is, of course, cost. However, investing in your website upfront could help save costs in the long run. You may find too, that custom web design doesn’t cost as much as you think.
Often a website will require more functionalities as your business grows. Building your website with longevity in mind should be key when considering which design path to choose.
When may custom web design be suitable?
Custom web design will be suitable for the majority of businesses. If you’re looking for a website that can be scaled in the future, can accommodate specific functionalities, and is built for performance on search engines, custom web design is the way to go.
Affordable web design option: What is templated web design?
Pros of templated web design
Affordable
Templated professional web design is a more affordable option than custom web design. Working with a professional web design agency on a templated design allows you to make some customisations to your website, without the hefty price tag.
Quick
Templated web design is usually quicker than custom web design. Building a custom website usually takes between 12-16 weeks depending on your requirements. Smaller templated or hybrid sites can take 4-6 weeks.
Cons of templated design
Restrictions
Templated designs aren’t as customisable as other options, which will restrict some of the functionaities you can have on your website.
Cost
This option will be more expensive than DIY web design, but more affordable than a custom web design.
When may templated web design be suitable?
Opting for templated web design through a web design agency can be a cost-effective solution if you want to keep expenses low while still receiving professional assistance.
Professional web design vs DIY web design FAQs
Template-based design starts from £6,500. Custom web design starts from £30,000.
Template-based designs typically start from £6,500.
Custom web design ranges from £30,000 to over £150,000, depending on complexity.
Hiring a professional web designer or agency means your website can be built quickly and efficiently, saving you time. Access to the technical expertise of a web designer or agency means your website will be high-quality and optimised for search engines. Partnering with a professional ensures your site is future-proof, with built-in scalability to support your business as it grows. Other benefits include long-term cost savings, a higher level of customisation as well as enhanced user experience.
This depends on the requirements of your website. Professional web design costs tend to start from £6,500.
The downsides of DIY website building include limited customisation options and generic design, as website builders and templated options do not provide as many options for customisation as custom solutions. DIY web hosting may use shared hosting, which can lead to poor performance and harm scalability efforts. Using a website builder often ties your site and content to that specific platform, making it challenging to migrate to another platform in the future without rebuilding your website from scratch. To build a professional-looking website, DIY web design requires substantial time investment, which may be time better spent on core business activities.
Building a bespoke website usually takes between 12-16 weeks depending on your requirements. Smaller templated or hybrid sites can take 4-6 weeks.
Absolutely! Professional web designers can improve your website’s visibility in search engines by creating a web design that prioritises user experience, mobile-friendliness, fast loading times as well as including an optimised navigation, and clean coding to improve crawlability. Working with a web design agency can improve this process further, as you’ll have access to not only a team of professional web designers, but also SEO experts.
Why use a professional web design agency?
Using a professional web design agency to build a website helps to ensure you have a high-quality website that’s built with scalability in mind and optimised for search engines.
Working with a professional web design agency like Yellowball means gaining access to a team with various specialisms, meaning your web design project can be completed efficiently and to the highest standard. Yellowball also have teams focused on SEO and PPC, meaning you can gain continuity of service once your website is created.
At Yellowball, London web design agency, we’ve partnered closely with over 150 businesses across the UK, delivering tailored, results-driven professional web design projects that don’t just look great—they perform. With client retention at 84% and a certified Google Partner status, we’re trusted by brands to create impactful websites that drive revenue and build loyalty. Contact us today!
