As a website provider, we may be a bit biased here, but we’re always about information and honest communication. Looking at the number of free services out there (Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, Shopify, etc) it can be hard to find one that works for you. Some offer a larger range of services and customisation but with all number of strings attached, making it hard to see the real value of the service. Let’s look at some of the main points:
Your 24/7 billboard
Marketing in the digital age is a fine art. Your brand needs to be cohesive and direct. With some of the ‘build-a-site’ services you’re limited with the domain name, which takes away from the professional look of your business (your-business.other-business.com isn’t doing you a lot of favours in the web world).
By going through a proper web provider and purchasing your own hosting, this isn’t an issue. Your domain and your brand stay intact and localised.
Sell, sell, sell… someone else’s product
While we’re thinking about your billboard, would you want to use a billboard, if you knew part of it was going to be covered by someone else’s ads? With some of the free website builders, you end up with ads around your page, or even worse – POPUPS! This is how these providers are able to offer you a free service – by selling space on the site that you create to other companies.
If you’re okay with sharing the space, then it’s no harm no foul. If you’re wanting to put your best foot forward, it may be best to invest a little in a custom site (ad-free, of course).
e-Commerce or One-Commerce?
One of the best things about having a website is your ability to provide your visitors with access to your products or services. You limit the time and effort around advertising, displays/meetings and follow ups by having an e-Commerce system handling the whole process. When using a free ‘build-a-site’ service, you can be limited to how many products, how those products are displayed, and how customers can purchase them.
When building a complete site through a proper developer, these problems go away, giving you more control and more customisation with very little to get in the way.
Updates are vital
With a free service, you run the risk of getting forgotten about. As the internet grows, so do the possibilities as well as the risks. With a managed hosting provider and a developer working for you, you can keep your site up to date, secure and looking good. Once you have a proper site, the upkeep is minimal, and you have the option to develop your site as your company grows and changes in the modern age of business.
If you’re looking for an affordable, professional and efficient website then come speak to the team at Graphic Detail and we can show you why it’s always money well spent!
