Mozilla, makers of the Internet browser Firefox, recently launched Thimble, a DIY (do-it-yourself) website creation tool designed to make website development easier for the layman. While many will rejoice at the prospect of “Website Building for Dummies,” this really isn’t groundbreaking territory. Companies like Wix have been offering this same “build a website in 15 minutes” shtick for a number of years. Unfortunately, when business owners are left to their own devices the result is a subpar site and confusion as to why it isn’t producing the results they expected.
The point of this mini-tirade is to pose a question that has been lingering in my head. Is it better to have no site than a bad site?
Frankly, I think it’s a toss-up. As Mona said in her last blog, the single most important thing you need to have when starting or promoting a business is a website. A website establishes an online presence in which customers, potential employees, business partners and perhaps even investors can quickly and easily find out more about your business and the products or services you have to offer. Websites are often the first exposure any of the aforementioned will have with your company, so why do so many people skimp on them?
While I can understand budget playing a factor, even companies with tight purse strings have to understand that a professional-looking website is a good investment. I cannot count the number of times I have left a website because it was just too overwhelming to look at. First impressions are important, you must be sure that you are making a good one!
The aesthetic of your website isn’t the only things you need to keep in mind when building a website. If you can reel in your audience long enough by having a great looking website, you have to keep them there with compelling content. Then there is SEO (Search Engine Optimization), if you have this nice looking website with informative copy, don’t you want to make sure that search engines are finding it? Where are Thimble and Wix to help you now?
I could spend all afternoon here expounding upon why creating a website on your own is a bad idea. The long and the short of it is, programs like Thimble and Wix may offer a low-cost solutions to website building, but they leave A LOT to be desired. If budget is a concern, put down the mouse and leave the design and development to the experts. At Contemporary Communications, we will work within your budget to create a website you can be proud of and that will garner the results you want—contact us today!
