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How can I make my website look more professional?

Working woman on laptop trying to make her website look more professional with her son reading a storybook. Both sitting on a grey sofa in a living room.

Although you might think you have relatively good concentration, on the internet this is likely to be a lot shorter: the average attention span is around eight seconds. This means that you have a limited amount of time to make an impression on the site user: if your online business looks unprofessional and visually unaesthetic, then most people are likely to click off your website, without really looking at the content you offer. A professional web design ensures that the traffic flow to your website will want to remain, exploring what else you have to offer. With a strong web design, it is easy to make your online business appear all the more professional. 

Image is everything 

Having a visually appealing web design is paramount if you want to draw potential customers to your site. Although it is tempting to cram your website with anything that you feel would be of benefit to your users, in the website world, less is more. Google conducted a huge study, revealing that visitors are put off by visual complexity: by keeping your website design minimal, you can create a sleek, attractive appearance, which draws visitors to other parts of your website. 

This also shows to visitors that your business is professional: you have taken the time to ensure your web design is of a high quality, which tells the visitor that you’re not an amateur, and that you can be trusted. 

Using images is also a great way to add to your professional image. Uploading photos onto a photo gallery really helps people get a good idea as to what you can offer them – they should be well lit, and of high quality to maintain a standard of professionalism. 

For example, if you’ve got a website for your restaurant then posting images of your food can really draw people in: by physically seeing the high-quality delights you offer, they are more likely to want to come and dine in your establishment. Or, if you’re a corporate business, posting images of your employees within your firm, or any events you’ve attended adds a personal touch to your online business. 

Optimise your website for speed and compatibility

Having a site which is optimised for internet use is essential. Having a poorly optimised site can really put a visitor off your website, prompting them to click off almost immediately. According to Kissmetrics, 47% of customers expected a website to load within 2 seconds; most of us expect a fast website, and if we feel a website is too slow, this can prompt us to look elsewhere. 

This also weighs heavily on your SEO – search engine optimisation – ranking. If Google sees that your website has a high bounce rate (in other words, it notices a lot of people clicking off your website quickly), then it is more likely to index you lower on its search engine results, meaning that your website has poor online visibility. 

By optimising your website so that it loads quickly, people are more likely to stay on your site for longer, which tells Google that your website is a reliable website, and that it should be ranked higher on search engine results. 

It’s also important that your site can be accessed both on computer and mobile devices. Considering that BrightEdge have reported that 57% of traffic is from smartphones and tablets, it is key that your website can be easily used, no matter how it is accessed.. Indeed, it would be damaging if over half of the potential visitors to your site couldn’t see what you have to offer because you haven’t optimised your site effectively. 

Don’t overlook social media 

Social media is an invaluable source to use to add another edge of professionalism. By linking social media with your website, you can create a link between the two, enabling site users to follow your social media accounts, meaning that they stay updated over the latest news and offers that your business has to offer. 

With social media you can also get creative: holding a live stream on Facebook or Instagram is a great way to generate interest around your business. Considering that Forbes have reported that people spend up to three times longer watching a video which is live, rather than pre-recorded, live streaming is a great way to market yourself. Whether you’re sharing your expertise on the latest bit of news, or demonstrating how to use a product that you sell, live streaming can add a unique, individual edge to your business. 

Of course, Facebook or Twitter is also a great tool to use if you want to post quick updates on the go, or encourage people to ask you questions. The success of Old Spice after they started up a video response to questions is a sterling example of how social media can open up endless doors: within one week of the response campaign, the number of views on their Youtube channel went up to 40 million, and by the end of the year sales were up by 125%.

Whilst it might seem difficult to know where to start when building your site, Go Sitebuilder is a great option for those who are daunted by the prospect. We offer ready to go professional web designs, which can be fully customised to your liking, and optimises your website so that it can be accessed on any device. An incredibly easy-to-use site builder, which gives you all the flexibility you could need with our 14-day free trial.

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What are the best free tools available for web design?

Female sat at a coffee shop high table using her laptop to update her Go Sitebuilder website. She is wearing a sleeveless white blouse and has curly hair

Why is web design important?

In the modern age, it is vital to have a website with high-quality design. Shoddy web design will no longer cut it with users: according to Stanford’s Web Credibility Research report, 75% of us will judge a business’ credibility based on their web design alone. It is also important to have an original and unique design: there is an endless number of online websites, and thus standing out from the crowd is a great way to distinguish yourself from others.

Can I design my own website?

Yes! Whilst you may believe that you need to be a whiz at coding or a professional web designer, this is simply a misconception. The brilliant thing about the internet is that there are lots of free tools out there to help you craft your website into your envisaged design. 

Furthermore, your site doesn’t have to have an intricate and complicated design to blossom. In fact, the Interaction Design Federation has written about the importance of Hick’s Law in web development. The idea of Hick’s Law is that if you present your users with a lower amount of choices then they reach a decision about your website faster. In other words, when it comes to web design, simplicity is key. 

Where do I start?

When creating a website for your online business it is crucial to nail the design of the main aspects of the site. Logaster is a good resource to use when creating your logo. If you want a bit of inspiration for a new colour scheme then Coolors is a handy tool as it comes up with a new colour scheme every time you refresh the page. Vector icons are also a great way to add a personal touch to your website: we suggest Flaticon, the world’s largest search base for free icons, all created by graphic designers.  

Is there an easier alternative?

If you still feel daunted at the prospect of designing your own website then Go Sitebuilder has you covered. Its knowledge and expertise in this field means there couldn’t be a simpler way to build a website for your online business. It has a whole range of customisable ready to go web designs, providing you with the right materials to design your website. Their 14-day free trial allows you to test this for yourself – why not try it today?

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How Can I Make My Website More Visually Appealing

Relaxed, female small business owner designing her website at home

Just as you wouldn’t want to go into a shop filled with clutter, or dine in a restaurant with dirty dishes and glasses littered all over the table, visitors to your site won’t want to stay for very long if your website looks visually unappealing – regardless of what you have to offer. 

Considering that the Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab has reported that 46% of site visitors state that a website’s design is the deciding factor in the credibility of the company, having a strong web design is paramount. 

However, you don’t need to be a top-notch graphic designer to create an aesthetic and visually appealing website. Nowadays there are many great website builders out there for you to use, which offer ready to go websites for a minimal fee. Go Sitebuilder is a superb website builder to use if you want to give your website the best chance and by following our simple tips, you can create a stunning, sleek website which will wow visitors and most importantly keep them on your site.

Design and colour 

Whether rebuilding your website or simply revamping your current style, it’s important to match your colour scheme with the service that you’re offering. Whilst this sounds slightly abstract, colour actually plays an important part in evoking certain feelings when people visit your site. 

Say, for example, you’re offering your yoga services online: pale, delicate colours are likely to inspire calming feelings within the site user. Or if your online business is more corporate, then it might be wise to use sleek, strong colours, demonstrating that you’re serious about providing a quality service to the user. 

Whilst it is important to have good content, this must be displayed clearly so that visitors to your site want to click onto different pages. By having a visually appealing design and colour scheme, you can capture your audience’s attention and draw them to the things you want them to see. According to 3M, we process visuals 60,000 times faster than text: a website with a clean layout will help you get your message across swiftly to the site user.  

Pictures and graphics 

The cliché ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ is a cliché for reason, and in the world of web design, it couldn’t ring truer. Considering that most people click off a website after 15 seconds, using images is a great way to capture their interest, ensuring that they want to stay on and explore the services that you offer. By using images and infographics that show what you can do for the site user, you are visually advertising your skills, rather than just describing what you do in a few sentences. 

The type of imagery that you want to use is completely your choice: you could decide to upload stock photos for a professional finish, or post your own images to add some individuality to your site. Modern technology means that you don’t even need a professional photographer to share your own pictures – most smartphones have a quality camera, meaning you can snap images that you feel might add to the overall design of your website anywhere, and at any time. For infographics, sites like Canva and Venngage offer free templates that you can personalise to your company’s services. 

Usability 

It’s key for people to be able to easily navigate their way around your website, and find all the important information that they need to know without any hassle. You can achieve this easily: make sure your headers are clear, your contact details are well labelled, your logo is strong, and you’ve written a concise but informational piece about your services. Also, any images that you upload must be well placed to compliment the visuals of your website. 

Although it seems like a lot needs to go on the homepage of your website, it is vital that your layout isn’t cluttered – according to Network for Good, a not-for-profit organisation, a website “Must be attractive, captivating, but uncluttered”. With web design, less is definitely more: not only does a clear finish add to the visuals of your website, but it also ensures that your website is easy to use, and visitors can take in everything they need to know within minutes. 

Where to start 

Don’t let designing a website daunt you: at Go Sitebuilder we offer stunning web designs, which you can easily tweak to achieve a look unique to your business. Our website builder is incredibly easy to use, as you can make changes to your website anywhere, and on any device, making it one of the best website builders within the UK. Our 14-day free trial gives you all the flexibility you need to create the perfect website for you. 

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Why I should build a website for my accounting firm

Happy African American financial advisor accountant at a meeting with a client couple

Building a website for your accounting firm can be the most effective way to showcase your services to potential clients. An accounting firm may not be the first business that comes to mind when thinking of creating an online presence. However, by setting up a website, customer numbers can increase and it is easier to show your services without setting up lengthy meetings or phone calls. In fact, 85% of people do online research before paying for services, and if your firm isn’t online, then people simply won’t find you!

There are a variety of reasons an accounting firm may want to set up a website, below are the key reasons you should consider a website for your business. 

To Show your Brand Image and Ethos

In order to attract a large customer base, you must create a website that represents your brand image and ethos. As soon as a customer visits your website they should be able to gauge the type of accounting firm you are. The client’s opinion of your business comes from a variety of elements, from the colour scheme to font they all impact how a client views your company.

Whilst it may be tempting to include every element in the website design repertoire, keeping your website professional is the most important factor. Use a website builder to create a simple, polished website that implies professional service and will help persuade customers to look further into your services. 

Increasing your Client Base 

If your accounting firm does not have a website in this increasingly online world, there is a significant client base that you are not reaching. As clients search online for accounting firms, and with many firms having established websites, the need for an online presence has never been greater. 

By creating a website, your company has a higher chance of reaching customers both at home and worldwide. A website is a gateway to allow customers who may not be able to visit your offices in person to see the services you offer. Don’t forget to make it easy to find your contact information, as then they can get in touch directly if they are interested. 

Showcasing your Services

A professional website will present your services in an accessible engaging format. By creating simple, comprehensive descriptions of what you can offer clients, there is a higher chance that they will contact you for more information on your services. 

High-quality content such as blogs, videos and case studies can also significantly increase the client’s engagement with your business. This content should be of a high standard and be related to the key values of your company. Key points to consider when creating new posts are:

  • Keep your content short and informative. By creating concise content you are more likely to engage visitors to your website and encourage them to read the whole blog and not skip ahead.
  • Include links to more information, whether this is a link in a blog to a case study or a contact link to a specialist in your team. Links motivate visitors to look further into your website, thus increasing their knowledge of your business.
  • Use visual elements such as graphs and infographics to showcase positive aspects of your accounting firm. Infographics drive engagement and are easily shareable, helping you increase your reach.

To Show your Credentials 

Potential clients visiting your website will be looking for something that shows them you are trustworthy and successful in your sector. Therefore, including any credentials you have is very important. The difference between including credentials and not can be the difference between a client choosing your company over another. 

Some credentials to include are as follows.

  • Honours or awards given to the company or personnel
  • Any mentions of the firm or members of the company in the press 
  • Links to articles written by members of the company in major publications 
  • Details of accomplishments or education of personnel
  • Information about your firm’s growth over the years 

By showing these credentials clients can connect to the people in your business and gain a level of trust with the business. 

Getting Ahead of the Competition

A successful accounting website will stand out from others in the market. Through use of effective website design and informative content, your business can get ahead of the competition. With such a crowded market ensuring that your website stands out and promotes your values is crucial. An ineffective website – or no website at all – can allow competitors to gain traction with clients that you were hoping to attract to your company.

Accounting firms need effective websites in order to increase their client base and stay relevant in this ever-changing business landscape. Websites can improve awareness of your company and bring in customers you may not have had contact with had it not been for the website. 

If you are looking to build a website for your company, then look no further than Go Sitebuilder! Our simple design means you can have a professional-looking website up and running in minutes. Try our 14-day free trial today.

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How to edit the images you use for your website

How to edit the images you use for your website

The visual aspect of website design can attract or turn away visitors, therefore when creating your website it is important to choose images that create an impact and relate to your brand.  Rather than just focusing on the content of the images, however, it’s vital to make sure that you take into account other aspects, such as file type and quality to really highlight your website and make it stand out from your competitors. Here are some considerations we think are really important when ensuring your website leaves a lasting impression.

Think about the quality of your images 

The quality of your images can significantly impact the way customers view your website and your brand. High-quality images imply a professional service and instil more trust in your brand for customers than images of low quality. The best ways to achieve high-quality images is either by taking them yourself (see our article on How to Take Great Product Photos) or by using stock images to ensure the quality is high. 

Know the type of file you need to use

When adding images to your website it is important to know the type of file you need to use. Generally, this is a choice between a PNG file and a JPG/JPEG file. A PNG file is a larger file, which creates higher quality images than a JPG but can slow your site speed down if used too often. A JPG file, however, is used more frequently as the file size is smaller; the only compromise is that its image quality is slightly lessened. 

Think about composition  

A good website will have images which engage the visitor and mean something to the brand or subject matter. Therefore the composition (how the image is ‘staged’ and shown to the viewer) should be taken into account when selecting your final images. A simple crop can change the focus of an image and make it more relevant when building your website. The built-in image editor on Go Sitebuilder is a perfect addition when cropping your images as you can visualise how small changes can impact how the image is shown on your website.

What about colours, filters and stickers?

Depending on your brand image, aspects such as colours, filters and stickers can portray the personality of your brand. For example, a travel website may benefit from brightly coloured images to show locations in the best light. Whereas a beauty website may have more use for filters.

If you are looking to build a website for your company, then look no further than Go Sitebuilder! Our simple design means you can have a professional-looking website up and running in minutes, and we even have an image editor built into our website editor. Try our 14-day free trial today!

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Why is it Important For a Beautician to Have a Website in the UK?

Woman using mobile phone in beauty salon receiving a manicure by a beautician.

As a beautician, your client list is potentially endless. The analytics firm GlobalData has revealed that the health and beauty sector will be worth £26.7bn by 2022, and it is predicted to be the fastest-growing sector in the upcoming years. That means more clients, but also more competition on the market.

Whilst hairdressing and beauty salons could once rely on word of mouth to grow their customer base, the internet has now become a tool to draw in new clients. It is therefore important that you brush up on your tech skills so that your business can excel, both online and in person.

Have a well-designed website

A well-designed, easily navigable website is of paramount importance if you want to grow your beauty business. Having an appealing, aesthetic web design gives off the impression to users that your business is professional and of high quality – somewhere where they would want to go for their treatment.

Uploading high-quality photos of your work onto your website is also key: by showcasing what skills you have to offer, a client is much more likely to trust you to take care of their beauty qualms. You can even put these images into a gallery, enabling the site user to browse a selection of the different looks that you can create. 

As mentioned previously, word of mouth is no longer a reliable option if you want to expand your client list. In the digital world, reviews left by customers can be the deciding factor for those considering your services. By publishing the best reviews on your website, you can show visitors to your site that you have a great customer track record.

Write blogs 

This seems slightly odd – after all, you’re a beautician, not a writer. However, many famous beauticians grew their beauty empire from the once humble blog: influencers such as PixiWoo and Fleur de Force started up posting online content offering advice on different beauty products, and then were gradually able to expand and grow their business to an international scale. 

Of course, you may not get to be a worldwide brand by posting a few blog posts once a week, but it is a good way to attract new customers onto your site, thus increasing awareness around your business. For example, if a person googles a certain beauty query, and your blog offers the answer, then you give off the impression that you are knowledgeable in the field, and thus can be trusted.

Blogs are also an important tool to up your SEO – search engine optimisation. By using keywords that rank highly in Google search engines when writing your blog, you are more likely to rank higher on the search engine, and thus become more visible to those who are seeking out a beautician.

Social media 

Social media is a more personal way to market your business. By linking your social media to your website, you are creating a direct link between your different online profiles. Perhaps you choose to create a Pinterest account, uploading photos of high-quality content to showcase what you have to offer.

Another fantastic way to upload images is Instagram: it is incredibly popular, reaching 1 billion monthly users in 2018. Not only does this allow you to display your expertise in the beauty industry, but it also allows you to market any deals or discounts that you may want to offer. Everyone loves a bargain, so this is a fantastic way to reel in new clients, as if they like your treatment then they are likely to come back. 

You could decide to upload makeup tutorials or beauty tips onto Youtube, linking your Youtube account to your website. Whilst you shouldn’t rely on Youtube alone to market your skills, it’s still a great way to advertise yourself, completely free of charge and can be a great way to direct your fans back to your website.

Freedom

If you don’t want to be tied down to a salon, and want the freedom to control your own business, then working for yourself as a freelancer is a perfect solution, as you have complete flexibility over the clients you want to take.

Being your own boss is also great if you are new to the industry – you can carry on your day job, and work out of hours to test the waters, easing you into the beauty sector instead of plunging you in headfirst.

However, the issue with working for yourself is that you start from scratch. Unless you have already grown a reputation amongst the community via working at a beauty salon, it could be tricky getting in clients who have no idea what you can offer. This is why building a website is paramount – by improving your online presence, you are sure to bring in more customers. 

How do I build a website?

Nowadays, you don’t need to be a coding genius to build a great website. Go Sitebuilder is one of the best website builders in the UK: we have extensive knowledge in the area, ensuring that you can build your website stress-free. We offer all of the aforementioned and more – why not see for yourself, with our 14-day free trial.

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How can I make my photography website stand out?

Male photographer on a laptop making a website

In a saturated market such as photography, designing a website that stands out from the competition is incredibly important. Whether you are a wedding photographer or a visual travel blogger, creating a website that reflects your personality can result in new clients. 

This can be done through a variety of means. The visual aspects of your website such as colours and font are important, as are features such as specialised services and offers. If you are looking for ways to make your photography website stand out then read on!

Making your Photographs Centre Stage

As a photography business, the most important part of your website design should be to make your photographs the focal point of your website. Your photographs should be the main selling point to potential customers visiting your website, so  to show your work off to the best quality consider the following:

High-Quality Images: the best way to showcase your images is to present them in a high-quality format. High-quality images show the professional quality of your services. By presenting your images in this format you can show your work in the best light and have a higher chance of gaining new clients through your website. 

Spacing: a key element of website design is the layout. This is especially key when you are a photography business. The spacing of your photographs is important when presenting your photographs. Placing your images too close together can result in a crowded website. 

An effective gallery: in order to show a large range of images on one webpage a well-designed gallery is important. An effective gallery will clearly show a range of images without looking crowded. A key aspect is also a feature to allow visitors to click on each image and see a larger version and find out more information about it. If you choose to have a scroll-through gallery, make sure your best photos are at the beginning and at the end – these are the photos that your visitors will remember the most. 

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Creating Visual Impact

One way to make your website stand out is to carefully consider what visual aspects you need to include to create impact. Visual elements such as colours and fonts can portray your brand image and show a customer what kind of photography business you have. Some elements to think about are:

Colour Scheme: certain colours are associated with particular brands or occasions. For example, a white and gold theme may imply a wedding photographer, whereas brighter colours may imply a more informal family portrait photographer.  

Font: different fonts can create different impressions on visitors to your website. More traditional fonts, such as Times New Roman, give a sense of professionalism. Whereas more unique fonts give a sense of individuality. Whichever kind of font you choose for your website, the main focus should be to portray your brand identity whilst maintaining a professional web design. A general rule of thumb in design is to have one ‘Serif’ font and one ‘Sans Serif’ font, using one for headings and another for body text. 

Logo: an easy way to show off your brand is the design of your logo. This should be something you can display on your website and use in aspects of your business such as business cards. Your logo should be eye-catching and professional.

Consider Layout and Navigation

Another key element of any good website design is the layout of elements of your website. This includes features such as the layout of menus and photographs on your website. One key thing to keep in mind when designing the layout is that less is more. By including as many elements as possible you risk overcrowding your website and making it difficult for visitors to navigate. 

The layout of your website should be simple, with clean lines and panels which are easy to navigate. Elements should be intuitive for visitors of your website, for example, collect all your best wedding photographs on one page and all landscapes in another to allow visitors to find the images they are looking for easily. 

Clear Contact Options

With any online business having clear contact options are incredibly important. If visitors to your website have to search for a long time to find your contact options, it may deter them from contacting you. As a rule, keeping contact options at the bottom of every web page makes sure visitors know how to contact you.  

If you are looking to build a website for your company, then look no further than Go Sitebuilder! Our simple design means you can have a professional-looking website up and running in minutes. With built-in features such as image galleries, a professional photography website is quick and easy to design. Try our 14-day free trial today.

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How do I create a photo gallery for my website

Female photographer sat at a desk with a laptop and image prints and a camera

Why do I need a photo gallery?

Having a photo gallery is an important visual stimulator when viewing a website. It adds colour and vibrancy to a website, meaning viewers are more likely to explore different sections of your site. In addition to this, a photo gallery adds a personal touch to your website: your online business becomes less robotic and more relatable. This is vital if you want to build a relationship between your site and the customer. The beauty of a photo gallery is that it is completely personal and customisable, enabling you to build your website in your own image. 

What tools can I use to create a photo gallery?

It is super simple to build a photo gallery. Juicebox is a great place to start for beginners: no coding skills are required and its simplicity means you can create HTML5 image galleries with ease. It is adaptable, as it can be accessed either on your computer or via mobile. Another huge plus with Juicebox is that it is free! 

Gallery Studio 1.1 is an alternative free option: its software leaves no watermarks on your images, ensuring your gallery remains personal to you.

Photo Gallery Builder 1.4 is another helpful tool if you want to create a photo gallery for your website. It requires no prior knowledge of Adobe Flash and its modern interface will leave your gallery looking professional and sophisticated. 

What next?

As you’re probably now aware, having a photo gallery for your website is of high importance. Condensing all your images into one folder means viewers of your site can access your pictures with ease. 

However, if you’re still unsure about how to create a photo gallery for your website then Go Sitebuilder is a fantastic solution. Our website builder is easy to use, and has ready to go tools within our editor to help you create the perfect photo gallery for your website – no need to use external software!

Alternatively, if you already have a collection of photos but don’t know what to do with it, then Go Sitebuilder is one of the best online site builders. Its simplicity ensures you can upload your images hassle-free and our free 14 day trial period gives you all the freedom to build your online business today!

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Top tips for designing your own website

Young male sitting in his pottery shop in front of a laptop and writing notes on how he is designing his website. He is wearing a black and white striped top and has glasses

Designing your website is an exciting moment for your company, and really lets you flex your creative muscles! But it’s not just making a beautiful design, although this is important to create a good first impression for your potential clients. We’ve put together a list of top tips of things to think about for your website to help make it look professional and help bring traffic to the site. 

What do your customers want to know?

It’s easy to think about what you want to tell your potential customers, but it’s even more important to think about what information they need. Put yourself in your client’s shoes – when you arrive on the website, can you see what service you provide and how to get it at first glance? If not, your visitors might be put off and move on to another site.

Prepare your content

You should have at least 10 blog posts ready to publish as soon as your website launches. And don’t rush it – your content needs to be high quality. Long-form content which has high-authority links and target keywords will rank higher in search results and drive more traffic to your site. Most importantly, make the content useful and relevant to your target audience! 

Keep your contact details visible and up to date

You want your potential clients to trust you and your brand, and if your site doesn’t have any contact details, they’re likely to become suspicious. 44% of users will leave a company’s website if there’s no contact information. It also creates a better user experience if the contact details are where they expect them to be, so make sure they can easily be found both in the main menu and in the footer of your website. 

Update your website regularly

Once your site is online, you can’t just let it sit there! Using an out of date website framework or plugin makes your computer vulnerable to hackers, so make sure the website creator you use has regular updates. Uploading new and up-to-date content that is useful for your target market both increases trust and helps with SEO, making it easier for users to find your site. 

If you’re ready to put these top tips into action, why not register for a 14-day free trial of Go Sitebuilder? You can design the site, upload your content and launch it in a couple of hours, without any previous knowledge of web design. 

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How much does it cost to pay someone to build a website?

Two female entrepreneurs sitting side by side. One is holding a mobile phone and on is writing on a notepad. Both are looking at the notepad with a laptop in front of them

When looking to create your own website, one of the options is to pay a web developer to design it for you. This will require minimal technical input from you and will result in a website that is tailor-made to you and your company’s needs, but it comes at a cost. 

Paying a web developer to create a custom-designed website starts at around £5000, but can turn into tens of thousands for a high-quality product. If you don’t have coding experience, be aware that you will have to pay the developer for any and all maintenance on the site, which could be costly and time-consuming. You’ll also have to pay for your own domain and web host, which costs a minimum of £70 with a shared host.

It’s also worth noting that the basic overall design may not look that different from a website builder either, as many of the pre-loaded themes are based on high-quality designs. 

What are the benefits of getting a custom-designed website?

If you already have a detailed vision of how you want your website to look and function, and you’re not willing to compromise, then a custom-built website may be the only way for you to get the precise design you’re after. In this way, you’ll be able to liaise with the developer to make sure it’s exactly what you want.

A developer also does a lot more work behind the scenes than just creating a pretty design. An experienced designer will help you avoid potential technical and financial potholes, as well as tailoring their work according to your budget level, coding experience, and time restrictions. 

If you’re just a small company with a limited budget, however, the price difference between a custom-built website and a website builder is vast. If you don’t have the financial resources to fund and maintain a tailor-made website, it might be worth going for a website builder that handles the domain name, web host and design for you. 

Why not try it for yourself? For 14 days, you can register for a free trial at Go SiteBuilder, which allows you to create your own website from beautiful preloaded themes, with a domain and five email addresses to get your company’s website up and running in no time!