| Successful e-commerce virtually relies on having a | | | | amount you will pay a professional does not just cover |
| good website, and if you are just starting out you have | | | | their services it covers the amount of freedom it gives |
| two choices: build your own website, or get someone | | | | you to do other things. If you are just starting up your |
| else to build it for you. | | | | business, you will have plenty of tasks in front of you |
| Designing your own website is certainly the cheaper | | | | making contacts, the possibility of ordering stock, |
| option up front, but how much does it really cost you? | | | | setting up a business account and so forth, and having |
| Unless you are an expert at designing and building | | | | to build your own website will take away a lot of the |
| professional looking web pages, you may end up with | | | | time needed for these tasks. As you can see, it can |
| a website that doesn't stand up well to the competition. | | | | actually cost you more in the long run. |
| It's not just a case of having a site that looks good, it | | | | If you really don't have the money to spare, and you |
| must be functional and easy to use as well. Any | | | | need to use what little knowledge you have to create |
| difficulties and potential customers are likely to give up | | | | your own site, you could take a look at the possibility |
| and go elsewhere. You need to ask yourself if you | | | | of using a website builder. If you think of a designer as |
| can honestly achieve this level of competence | | | | building the whole house, and your own efforts as |
| yourself; if the answer is no you would be advised to | | | | building it brick by brick, then a website builder provides |
| seek the help of a professional. | | | | pre-built wall sections for you to slot together. It's a |
| There are advantages to holding the reins however. | | | | convenient halfway house, and it can give you the |
| You alone know exactly how you want your website | | | | tools necessary to build a competent website. |
| to look, and it can be difficult trying to communicate | | | | When it comes to website building, it doesn't have to |
| that to another person. It's also easier to try out | | | | be all or nothing. As long as you end up with a |
| different combinations of items and different page | | | | professional looking result that pulls in the customers, |
| layouts if you are designing it yourself. | | | | that's all that matters. |
| The issue of money is important to look at, as the | | | | |