A custom website or a site builder? When each one makes sense

Site builders like Wix or Squarespace are not bad. For plenty of businesses they are exactly what is needed. It just helps to know what you get for the low price, and what you don’t.

When a site builder is enough

• You mainly need people to find your address, phone number and opening hours
• Customers come through referrals and the website just “has to exist”
• You have time to build the site yourself and keep it up to date
• Your budget really is a few hundred euros

When a custom website pays off

• One project or one new customer is worth thousands to you
• You sell to companies that check you out online before the first meeting
• Competitors look more professional, even if they do worse work
• You want the site to actively collect enquiries, not just sit online
• You need several languages, for example for customers abroad

What to watch out for with site builders

Thousands of other businesses use the same template, so at first glance you look like everyone else. You pay a monthly subscription and you don’t own the site: stop paying and it disappears. Speed and SEO are limited by what the platform allows. And you still have to write the copy yourself.

A simple rule

Work out what one new customer is worth to you. If it is more than a custom website costs, and the site brings you even one extra customer, it has paid for itself. If not, start with a site builder and come back to a custom site once you grow.

Not sure? Send me a link to your current site and I’ll tell you what it’s missing, for free, whether you end up working with me or not.