Do you build your own website.. or get someone else?

[ProjectBloom]

It's simple, really. If you can't do the website on your own or you find it too complex, have someone else do it. Time is the most perishable resource. You just can't waste time learning everything at once. Money, however, can be earned again. So spend the cash if you don't know how to make your own website. That's a better investment.

I agree with this.

I'm a web designer so obviously I think you should hire a web designer to do a site vs doing it yourself, but I've had clients struggle with even the most basic editing via a WYSIWYG editor, so I imagine lots of folks would be in over their heads trying to do anything more.

Another thing is that while it may be "easy" to set up a basic site using a template, this method is becoming more and more common and as a result, the web is becoming a sea of bland. Obviously it depends on your target audience, but if I'm visiting the website of a business and it looks like they don't really care about their website, then it makes me think their business on the whole is less than stellar. I think it's important to give your site a look and feel that fits your business and usually that's where a web designer comes in - and you don't always have to spend big to get one.

[HannahD]

I think it all depends on the specific skills that you have. If you are a tech savy designer with plenty of time to learn about SEO then you should go ahead and set your own site up. If you are time poor and not a great designer then you should possibly think about getting someone else to do it for you.

[PhillipDyhrHobbs]

We build and customise wordpress websites,
but if we didnt (and back when I started) we would hire someone to do it

[plusoner]

I do both (Develop and outsource). It is really about the quality of the person you employ / company you contract. It is just like any service you outsource. If you build a good relationship with the person(s) involve and look for it for the long term then it will work well... If you want a 3 minute relationship do not spend any money where you do not have to and do not invest time in explaining yourself.

After now building approximately 1000 sites in the last 5 years while outsourcing 50-60% of development, seo and design I would have to say that overall it has been successful and worth doing. If you do not invest you will not get a return. If you go for any overseas operation for outsourcing whether it be india, phillipines, thailand, china, russia whereever make sure they are ISO certified and make sure you can verify their certification. if you need any contacts or resources that I have outsourced to pm me.

[LemonChip]

Wait wait... So 5x365 = 1,825
1825 / 1000 is 1.825, that means you're building 1.8 websites per day for the past five years? How is that possible? Must be quite the portfolio.

[plusoner]

it is actually quite easy. with outsourcing it wasn't hard. you can get on average 1 site built every 12 hours if you have content ready for say 5-6 pages and a base template layout that you work with. the other major part is building 40-50 per year for clients.

so in total 250 for customers then remaining 800 for affiliate marketing niches. to do this you need to have the following:

1) 2 graphic designers that understand the niches you target
2) 3 programmers that can process the deployment of content
3) 2 people for content writing
4) 2 organic seo professionals
5) 2 admin staff
6) alot of paitence and good support

[LemonChip]

I'd be interested to see the quality of the product.

[plusoner]

no problems I will pm you a link.

[handatravel]

Our designer designs websites for us...