Shaving money off the expenses list by doing things yourself might seem like a great way to balance the budget. On the other hand, is your website design the right place for DIY projects or will it end up costing you more in the long run? For many Seattle business owners, especially entrepreneurs who are accustomed to doing most things themselves, it can be difficult to see the big picture. Here's what you need to know about forgoing a website designer in favor of DIY website design.

1. Professional Appearances Matter

Most web surfers are pretty savvy these days. Even if they cannot identify which aspects of your website design are off, they will know that it's lacking. It doesn't take much for a consumer to click the "back" button and start over. If your website seems unprofessional or isn't functioning perfectly, many will do just that.

2. Limited Customization

If you're the one behind the wheel, you can customize whatever you like, right? Unless you're a skilled website designer, probably not. If you're trying to build from scratch, you'll spend countless hours trying to achieve what an experienced designer could create easily.

Templates are designed to appeal to a broad number of businesses and purposes. If you're using them, you either have to take what is offered or try to apply custom code to the existing layouts--something that often leads to problems with function and speed.

3. Lack of Support

If you plan to go through a web-hosting service that offers templates or designing features, you will probably have no trouble finding help to get setup and get your website off the ground. However, if you find yourself with sticky problems like broken links, missing pages, slow load times, and difficulty with mobile devices, seeking help to straighten these problems out is likely to cost you.

4. Upgrades and Updates

Building a website is one project. Maintaining that website is another project entirely. As technology changes and your products and services evolve, your website will need continual work. From small updates to major upgrades, having a professional designer to stay on top of the latest tech and make adjustments is a benefit most business owners shouldn't be without.

Time is Money

When it comes to your website, skip the hassle of trying to do it yourself. Today's web users want fast, responsive, professionally-designed websites that cater to their needs. To deliver that yourself, you must take your time and attention away from serving your customers while you research, build, design, and troubleshoot errors.

Instead, focus on what you do best and leave the rest to a professional website designer. You'll be relieved to work with someone who knows what your customers want and has the expertise to not only get the job done quickly, but also clear up any problems that arise along the way.