Are you working on creating your own website? Are you thinking about starting to create one? How do you know when you should do it yourself, and when you should call in the professionals? Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you make your decision:

1. Do you have enough time?
Do you have a dozen projects waiting for your expertise? Do you have demands on your schedule that you have to meet that take precedence over learning how to create the site that you need? Web sites are full of details and options. If you do not have the time to do it right, you probably do not have the time to do it over. Why not save yourself the time and stress? Outsourcing your web work will empower you to get what you need out of your site. Let them do what they do best, so you can get back to what you do best.

2. Do you want to learn how to create websites, or just build one of your own?
Learning what you need to know is helpful, but if you don’t know where to look, how are you going to restrict your time to relevant information? If you are looking to create a site for yourself, but have little or no interest in becoming a web development enthusiast, you may want to consult with a web professional. They can help guide you on your do-it-yourself adventure by guiding you toward the resources that will best meet your needs.

3. Do you want to create a blog, or just write one?
Writing a blog has become a popular and powerful method of reaching today’s population with information. If you’re interested in writing a blog, but do not necessarily have the creative or technological skills to set up a site, find a web developer to get you started. Actors do not build their own sets (generally speaking). Let a developer build your “stage”, so you can write your “screenplay” and prepare to meet your audience with amazing content!

4. How much do you want to spend on your site?
Financial investments made toward the education, software, programming, hosting, and development can pile up during the creation of a web site. If you do not know the resources available to accomplish the tasks you require from your site, you may be led to spend your resources on what ultimately becomes unusable technology. Further, the time that trial-and-error will rob from you will cost you in missed opportunities. While the argument can be made that web development is expensive, having a site that you are proud of and meets/exceeds the operational needs of your project or business can be priceless in today’s “Google-It” world.

5. Are you in over your head?
If you’ve already started the project, and now realize that you need help, it is time to call for help. Do not waste time and money fighting a losing battle. If you cannot afford to outsource the whole project, that’s fine. Project management is a large part of the web developer’s job. Find someone to get you back on track and guide you through the remainder of the project. Save yourself the stress.

6. Do you want to stand out?
There are lots of wysiwyg (What You See is What You Get) one-size-fits-all solutions for web development. There are thousands of themes to choose from that claim to have a corner on a specific market or industry. Many of the sites that fall into those two categories are low cost options for the beginner business owner or individual that wants a one stop shop. The problem with this is that one size really fits no one. They are not customized to suit your needs, and are unlikely to have the ability to fit your brand. If you want your site to reflect your business and satisfy your requirements, you need a custom design created just for you.

In summary, your resources of time and money are limited. If you are not interested in a future creating websites and want a site that meets the unique needs of your organization, consider calling the pros. Let them help you get online so that you can get out there and do what you do best. Your prospective clients are waiting.