Whether you’re planning on expanding your business model by setting up an ecommerce site, want to create a digital portfolio for your work, or simply want to start blogging, you’ll need a website to do this. 

If you’ve decided to build your own website without the help of a website builder, you’ll either need to already have some experience in programming, or be prepared to expand your programming knowledge. Whilst building your own website from scratch does have some pros, you will also encounter some setbacks. We take a look at the different ways you can build your website, depending on how much programming knowledge you have.

Customising your web design 

If you’ve enlisted the help of a website builder, but want to create your own custom web design elements – like a specific photo gallery or navigation bar – then you’ll need to have some knowledge of HTML and CSS:

HTML is the standard markup language of building website pages:

• It describes the structure of web pages 
• HTML elements tell the browser how to display content 
• HTML tags label pieces of content, such as ‘heading’ or ‘graph’ or ‘table’
• It allows you to embed images, videos and other media

CSS focuses on your document’s style:

• Page layouts, colours and fonts are all controlled with CSS

So, in other words, HTML provides the materials for the structure of your website, whilst CSS gives you all the tools to decorate it, making your web design look attractive and appealing. 

If you already have a basic backbone of your site but want some specific tools or functionalities not provided with a website builder, then you’ll need some knowledge of HTML and CSS, or have the time available to learn more about it. This means you can have the freedom to edit and add to your site, giving you a final web design which is unique to you. However, learning this programming jargon takes time for those who aren’t familiar with it, making understanding web design a lengthy and complicated process. 

You could enlist the help of a website designer if you need help with the visuals element of your web design. However, hiring a website designer to work on your site could set you back anything from £400 to just under a thousand pounds. 

So, whilst building your own web design is ideal if you have the time, or skill, needed for programming, if you’re new to building websites and don’t have much spare time on your hands then using a website builder with ready to go templates might be the better option.

Building the skeleton of your website 

Of course, before you can even think about your web design, you must have a functioning website which doesn’t have any glitches or errors. To build this yourself, not only do you need to have programming knowledge of HTML and CSS – you also need to understand Javascript. 

Javascript is a sort of scripting language that allows you to create content which can update, control multimedia, animate images and much more. If HTML is the foundational structure of your website, and CSS is the interior design element, Javascript is the blueprint you use to build your website with. 

Building your own website from scratch is great if you have an exact image in your head of the final product, and are willing to spend the time needed to create your site. However, beware of the hidden costs you might not have otherwise considered – you will need to become SSL certified to ensure the details of your site users are protected from possible interception from malicious third parties. 

You will also have to buy your own domain name so that people can find your website, as well as creating your own contact form so that people can use your website to get in touch with you. If you’re setting up an ecommerce site then you’ll need to use an ecommerce platform to sell your items through, and if you want to upload high quality photos onto your site you’ll need to hire a professional photographer. 

So, whilst building your website might seem like the cheaper option to begin with, once you add up all the extra expenses it can become a lot more costly. If you’ve built your site to boost your business online, spending countless hours trying to get your head around coding might not be the best way to improve your business model. By turning to a website builder for help, you can create the right website for you, without the hassle and expense of starting from scratch. 

Using a website builder 

If you don’t have the time or inclination to learn how to code, then a website builder is the ideal choice. With a website builder, the chances are you’ll be saving both time and money, enabling you to redirect your energy into more efficient ways to grow your business.

Go Sitebuilder offers ready to go web designs which are completely customisable, an ecommerce platform, a selection of domain names, an SSL certificate and more, all for an incredibly low price, making us one of the cheapest website builders in the UK for ecommerce sites.

Want to try it for yourself? Our 14-day free trial lets you test out all Go Sitebuilder has to offer – try it today to build your dream website, within a few clicks!