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When you’re in the early stages of building your personal brand or business, it can be hard to decide whether you need a professional to help you launch a new website.
To decide whether a website designer is the right choice for you, think about your goals for the design process, your timeline, and your own skills. For example, you may use your copywriting talents to put together website copy but hire design services for the actual website build.
Hiring a web designer vs. doing it yourself
You don’t need to know how to code or have advanced design skills to build yourself a professional website. A website building platform like Squarespace makes it simple to launch and customize your online presence with DIY templates and drag-and-drop editing tools.
Squarespace templates also come with optional integrations for online business owners. And every Squarespace site comes with built-in SEO tools. If you know what you need to accomplish and have bandwidth to get it done, designing your own website is a great option.
If you’re unclear about the exact vision for your website, want to strategize the best way to structure your content, or have other unanswered questions, it can be useful to hire a professional. Hiring a website designer comes with many benefits, including a faster turnaround time, added expertise, and a creative partner for your project.
You can browse third-party experts and find one that fits your budget and needs through Squarespace Marketplace. Marketplace experts are vetted for their skills, experience, and knowledge of the Squarespace web designer, so you’ll be set up for success.
What to consider before you hire a web designer
It’s important to identify your website goals before moving on to the design phase. The clearer your vision and objectives, the better you can identify what you need from an experienced website designer.
For example, you might find that you need more help with graphic design. Or maybe you just need SEO services for a site redesign.
1. What’s the goal of your website?
Your website should always support the larger mission of your personal brand or small business. Will your site showcase your work through an online portfolio? Or are you selling a product or service? If you choose to work with a designer, a Marketplace expert can integrate tools and functions like ecommerce and Acuity Scheduling into your site, ensuring that your online presence is aligned with your overall strategy.
Squarespace Enterprise customers with a bigger business can book consultations with Squarespace website designers to create a custom look for their sites.
2. Where is your time best spent?
Time is short for entrepreneurs, and launching something new has many moving parts. If you’re already juggling competing responsibilities, designing a site yourself might not be realistic.
Partnering with a designer can free up time and resources so you can focus your energy on other aspects of your work.
3. Who is your target audience and how will you find them?
It’s helpful to have a general sense of who your website is being built for. If you’re launching an online store, this can include details like income level and location(s).
You don’t need to have all the answers right away. You can leverage analytics to learn more about your site visitors and start refining your audience after launch.
If you’re unsure about who you’re targeting, an expert can help you get a sense of your target audience as you build your website. An expert who specializes in SEO can also help you create a plan to drive that audience to your site through search engines. If you expect customers to find you via social media, an expert can help you build a beautiful website that’ll prioritize that audience.
4. How quickly do you want to launch your website?
A full-time website designer can often build your new site in a matter of days, rather than weeks or months. If you’re aiming to hit a specific launch date or need to quickly create an online presence to capitalize on current growth in your business, partnering with an expert can ensure that your project is finished on time.
5. What sets your brand or business apart?
Spend time thinking about your differentiators and how they can inform the design of your website. This includes everything from your brand design to the products or services you offer.
For example, if you’re launching an online makeup store that offers virtual consultations, you might prominently display the option to sign up for a consultation, setting you apart from competitors who don’t offer the same free service to their customers. Top it off with testimonials to show how satisfied clients are with your work.
If you’re still figuring out what sets you apart, consider hiring a designer who has some years of experience in your industry. With their added industry knowledge, you can build an online presence that’s uniquely yours.
6. Where do you see your website in one, two, and five years?
Thinking about the future of your online presence can help you decide whether you want to hire a website designer. A skilled web designer will help you launch and refine your site as you grow, and create an online presence that’s built to scale.
With a Squarespace site, you’ll also have access to upgrades and extensions to help your website evolve and pivot with the rest of your business.
Ready to take the next step? Find an expert on Squarespace Marketplace.
This post was updated on May 15, 2023.