DIY Website vs. Custom Design: What’s Right for Your Business?

When you’re starting a new business, there’s a long list of things to spend money on—and a website often feels like something you can “just figure out later.”

I get it. You start with a DIY site. You find a free template. You drag a few blocks into place, pick a font that feels sort of like your brand, and hit publish. Done.

But here’s what often happens next:

A few months down the track, things are growing—but your website? It still feels like something you cobbled together on a Saturday afternoon. It doesn’t quite reflect who you are. It’s hard to update. You’re spending hours fiddling with design settings or second-guessing your content layout… and you’re not sure it’s even working for you.

This is where a lot of my clients come to me—from that place of “I’ve tried… but now I think I need help.”

Don’t get me wrong—DIY websites absolutely have their place.If you’re just testing an idea, building a portfolio for a side hustle, or bootstrapping a business from the ground up, using a platform like Wix or Squarespace can be a smart and affordable choice.

You get:

• Full control

• A quick launch

• Minimal up-front cost

And honestly, sometimes that’s exactly what you need to get going.

But Then Comes the “Almost…”

This is where custom design makes all the difference.

When we work together, we start with your story—who you are, what you offer, and who you’re trying to reach. Then we build your website around that. Every page, every word, and every layout choice is made to support your goals and reflect your brand (whether I’ve created it or not).

It’s not about bells and whistles. It’s about design that actually works:

• Pages that are easy to navigate

• Messaging that’s clear and consistent

• A layout that supports conversions, not confusion

• A site that’s easy for you to manage once it’s live

And yes—I still build using Wix.

Because it’s fast, flexible, secure, and gives you full control once it’s handed over. The difference is, I don’t use templates. Every site is built from scratch to fit your business and work the way it should.

So… What’s Right for You?

If you’re in the early stages of business and just need to get online, a DIY site might still be the way to go—and that’s totally okay. But if your website is starting to feel like it’s holding you back instead of helping you grow, it might be time for something better.

And that doesn’t have to mean months of back-and-forth or a huge agency budget.

Most of the custom websites I create are live within 7–10 business days. And they’re built with clarity, connection, and ease-of-use at the core—because you’ve got a business to run, not a website to wrestle with.

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Need help figuring out what’s right for you?

You can request a free website audit or book a free 30-minute call—no pressure, just honest advice.