Let me set the scene: you’ve done the market research, you’ve built your customer personas, the competitor analysis is done, and your product is going to upend the market. It’s a great feeling to be on the cusp of success. But it’s never quite that simple.

To turn your market upside down, you need to get your product situated in front of your customers. That’s easier said than done. But your first step should be to have a great looking website.

Your website is about more than just getting found on Google – it’s the storefront of the 21^st century. You will have local fans, new customers, and social media followers all landing on your website looking for answers.

A Sea of Web Design Choices

So far, there is nothing too shocking. It is 2018 and who doesn’t know that businesses need websites? But there are literally hundreds of thousands of options when it comes time to develop your business website.

Those myriads of choices will generally fall into one of three categories: DIY, freelance, or web design agency.

DIY

I’m sure you’ve seen Keanu Reeves hawking a certain do-it-yourself website building, and I’ll be honest – they make some good advertising. But their websites are a little more suspect. If you’re building a website for your family reunion or wedding, go DIY.

But if the success of your business depends on the quality of your site, going DIY is a risky endeavor. We’ll dig into the specifics here in a minute but know that many customers will spot your DIY template site from a mile away. Sometimes that ok, but it can give your business an unprofessional look.

Freelance

Some of the best web designers in the world work as freelancers. Most of the worst web designers in the world work as freelancers. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like those odds. Working with a freelancer is inherently risky.

I’m not saying you should never hire a freelancer – just know that it will require some extra homework. Take a deep dive into their portfolio, references, and contract structure before you drop thousands of dollars on your shiny new e-commerce site.

Agency

Maybe I’m biased, but web design agencies are the way to go. You get a high-quality team of designers that understand the needs of modern businesses. With an agency, there is a professional reputation on the line – and they’ll work to protect that.

Agencies are also more likely to stick around for the long haul. There’s nothing worse than having a broken website and a designer that is nowhere to be found (except maybe a broken website that you built and have no idea how to fix).

An Important Decision

The success of your business depends on making the right decision. No pressure or anything.

Each category of web designer has its own potential pitfalls – and finding the perfect fit will depend on your unique business goals. Are you looking for something cheap and dirty? Do you need an e-commerce expert? Do you plan on being in business more than a few years?

The Agency Advantage

I’m not going to say that hiring a web design agency is the perfect fit for every business out there, but it does make the most sense for the vast majority. This is because of two primary reasons: custom design and longevity. Today I’ll take a look at these advantages and maybe sway your decision in the agency direction.

Your Business is Unique

As a business owner, you spend a lot of time making your business stand out. In today’s world, there are thousands of places to get any product or service – and people choose your business because of your unique offerings.

Your website should reflect the unique nature of your business – not another cookie cutter template that has already been used thousands of times. And here’s another thing: most templates are categorized by industry. That means that there’s a good chance your competitors are using the exact same template!

Your Customers are Unique

Just like your business has a unique angle on your market, your customers have their own needs and pain points. That’s how you build an audience – find a segment of the population that needs just what you offer.

Generic websites are for generic businesses that are targeting generic customers. And that’s a recipe for failure. A custom website will allow you to position your business in front of the right audience – from search engine optimization to targeted content writing.

Your Business is Built to Last

I don’t know any business owners that plan to close down shop in a year or two. It happens sometimes but that’s never the plan. That’s why you should get a web designer that will be around for the long-haul, just like you.

Where will that freelancer be in five years? How about the software you used to build your DIY site? With an agency, there is no guarantee that they’ll be around, but the odds are way better. Even if technology changes, those designers will still be around to support or rebuild your site.

Good Design is Hard Work

You could head down to your local high school and find dozens of kids who could slap your logo on a website template. It’s just not that hard – and that might sound like a good thing. But it brings its own complications.

Piecing together a template site isn’t hard, but what about troubleshooting a broken site? That’s hard. What about ensuring your customers’ private data is secure? That’s hard. What about ensuring a speedy load time? That’s hard. You see where I’m going here. There is a lot of hard work that goes into building and maintaining a professional website.

Beautiful Websites and Happy Customers

I’ve personally seen the frustration from fighting with a broken or poorly designed website. It causes stress, it hurts profits, and it can be a nightmare to fix. That’s why Fusion Group USA is committed to building beautiful and functional websites that meet your unique business needs.

When you hire a professional web design agency, there won’t be any cookie cutter templates or cut corners. Instead, you’ll get custom design, long-term support, and a team of experts to help grow your business digitally.

Contact us today to learn more about how Fusion Group USA can build you something beautiful.