In the initial conversations I have with my website design clients they often tell me that their current website is an obstacle or if they don’t have a website they say, “I know I could create a site on my own, but I just don’t have the time or energy.”

Independent business owners are used to doing everything on their own, so this statement never surprises me; these are highly capable people who have learned the ins and outs of all aspects of their business from operating, shipping, marketing, accounting, and more. So, yes I know they COULD do a website build on their own, but should they? Or should they fire themselves as the doer of all things and hire a professional instead?

I’m continually inspired by Luvvie Ajayi Jones. Her wisdom and humor are so engaging. She’s one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram and I have found so much support both personally and professionally from her books. She has written a whole chapter titled “Fire Yourself” in her book Professional Troublemaker. She says, “Fire yourself. We cannot do it all. Empires of one don’t exist. Businesses of one are not sustained.”

What a powerful message for entrepreneurs taking it all on themselves. That solo route might work for some aspects of their business and may be necessary for a while, but it’s not sustainable. Eventually, it leads to burnout, is incredibly challenging, can be isolating, and may pull focus from the work you have committed to doing.

I agree with Luvvie and say if a task like designing your own website feels like a burden and pulls you away from your purpose, it might be time to fire yourself and hire some help.

What designing your website yourself might look like:

• Increase in your already full workload

• Needing to learn a whole new skill and platform

• Feeling overwhelmed and bogged down by the details and content or creative needs

• Worry that your website might not be serving you or your customers well

• Constantly chasing down potential clients and relying on 3rd parties to build the business (social, advertising, etc.)

What hiring a professional website designer looks like:

• The designer will have tools and systems in place to make the process smooth and easy for you.

• You’ll have a Creative Problem Solver on your side.

• The designer already has the eye, training, platform support, and years of experience needed so you won’t have to learn all the ins and outs.

• You’ll be supported through coaching with helpful resources designed for you to be able to understand your finished website’s functionality.

5 ways you’ll benefit by firing yourself and hiring a professional website designer:

1. You’ll have a strategically and beautifully designed website that offers a positive user experience and meaningful connection with visitors.

2. Attract the right customers through an automated marketing setup and CTAs (calls to action) which allow you to grow your business while you operate.

3. Your branding will be apparent, consistent, and your messaging will be clear. The design itself will be a professional reflection of who you are as a brand. The website will look like your brand so the visitor can get to know you, feel a connection with you, and start to build trust with you.

4. The behind-the-scenes setup, which can be complicated, will be set for you. Your site will be responsive, will load faster, will have analytics, and will include 3rd party integrations. You’ll be able to easily make updates without breaking your site.

5. Your designer will use Search Engine Optimization tactics, including strategic keywords, detailed descriptors, and optimized photos, so your website will be more likely to be found by search engines.

Hiring a professional website designer is for you if…

• You want freedom and ease when it comes to your online presence. No more DYI solutions. No more frustrating backend & security nightmares.

• Your business is established and professional. You want your website to be a reflection of that.

• You are ready to get noticed by more potential customers and want a website you can feel proud of. One that sets you apart and shows the quality of your offerings. 

• You want a website that you can trust to run smoothly so you can focus on running your business.  

• You want to have blog/vlog/gallery/portfolio functionality.

• You have 3rd party integrations you’d like your new site to be set up with.

• You have a vision for how you’d like your website to feel and business goals you would like to have come to life.  

• You’re ready to invest in a high-functioning website that will bring your business to the next level.   

• You want a professional to manage the process and support you on the design and launch journey.

• You want a beautiful website that has been built by a professional, will work perfectly, look great, and know that nothing has been missed! 

Ultimately, it’s up to you if you want to hire out or design your own. That might be the right answer for now! There are plenty of great website hosting platforms, templates, and training tools to support you if you go that solo route, but if you want to take the website off your plate, it is time for you to find the right designer for you.

A quick Google search will show you that there are so many options out there for website designers: agencies, freelancers, independent web developers, platform-specific designers, etc. My best advice in narrowing down the right fit for you is to check out their website and social media handles to learn more about their experience and design process. Find someone that you will enjoy working with, someone that shares your values, and understands what your vision and goals are. Make sure you are comfortable with the platform they use, with their process, and with the support you will receive throughout the project.

Let your helpers in because you deserve to have people on your side supporting you too! There are so many talented professionals out there helping entrepreneurs right now. You don’t have to do it alone, it’s worth the investment in services, tools, and systems that will free you.

If you need support with your website design, take a look at my website design service options below.

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