Having your website is standard these days. From the solo self-employed to the global corporation – for economic success, an online presence is a basic requirement in the digital age. Whether you want to present a service or want to sell products via a shop, without an appealing presence on the World Wide Web, your reach will be limited. That’s why there are countless offers to create your website. But should you become active yourself using the website construction kit or would you rather hire a professional web designer?
To be able to answer this question, you must first be clear about what goals you want to pursue with your website. And how much budget do you want to invest in it?
This article deals with the different ways to your website. For whom are website construction kits suitable, who is better off with a content management system? Can I program my website myself or should I get a professional on board? These questions should be answered. In addition, there is an overview of the various providers of website creation systems.
Do it Yourself or hire a pro?
First of all, it should be said that website creation is feasible for everyone today. Most contemporaries are already familiar with programs like Word or online offers like Facebook. The step to your website is no longer so insurmountable.
If you are familiar with the Microsoft Office world and regularly use social networks, you will be able to create a simple homepage with a construction kit. It depends on what kind of demands you place on your online presence.
Therefore, your first step to your website should be to familiarize yourself with the different possibilities.
There are three do-it-yourself options:
| Website | Difficulty level |
|---|---|
| Build with a website builder | Easy |
| Create a content management system | Middle |
| Programming yourself | Complex |
If you would rather leave the website creation in the hands of a professional, then the first hurdle you have to overcome is finding a suitable service provider.
For smaller companies with a small budget, agencies are ruled out from the outset. When looking for a freelance web designer, you should be very careful and not just compare prices. Because in this area there are massive differences in quality. This is primarily because every provider can call themselves a web designer. With this job title, you can just as easily come across an excellently qualified professional as a digital hobbyist who has only attended a weekend seminar on the subject of web design.
If you opt for the do-it-yourself solution, the advantages and disadvantages of the various options should now be examined.
Website Builder
With a modular system, you can create your website relatively easily and quickly. No programming knowledge is required for this. The basic framework is in place and you only have to put together the desired elements. This is, so to speak, website creation all-inclusive.
From the design and the domain to the support and hosting to the text editor and sophisticated features such as a shop, all conceivable options for web design are available to you.
For whom is the modular solution suitable?
Website creation with the modular system is also, but not only, something for absolute beginners and small freelancers. Because the website construction kit offers everything that a good internet presence needs. Even more demanding features such as a shop can be implemented with it.
If you don’t shy away from taking the initiative with your online presence and want to keep your budget low, this solution is a great choice. Most providers have a free entry-level version in their portfolio. So you can try out whether the kit is the best choice for your project.
And this is how it works:
- Select design template
- Customize content
- Activate domain and email
- Check responsive design
- Go online
Advantages
- Easy to use
- All-inclusive support
- No extra software required
- No special knowledge required
Disadvantages
- Retrofitting of functions is not always possible and is not very flexible
- No database solution is possible
- Not suitable for complex projects
- You are dependent on the respective provider
Comparison of providers for website builders
Jimdo
A modular system provider that focuses on ease of use. The additional mobile app gives the offer even more flexibility. Jimdo can score with a comparatively large range of functions. Good search engine optimization is another Jimdo plus.
The design templates show a tendency towards playfulness, but fans of factual designs can also find something here. Worth mentioning is the Jimdo Creator with coding function, which also satisfies higher design requirements. This kit also offers the option of integrating an online shop.
Advantages
Easy-to-use search engine optimization mobile app
Disadvantages
Templates are rigid
| Category | Price per month (when billed annually) |
|---|---|
| JimdoPlay | 0 EUR |
| JimdoPro | 9 EUR |
| JimdoBusiness | 15 EUR |
| JimdoShop | 20 EUR |
| JimdoPlatin | 35 EUR |
Wix
This website builder attaches particular importance to design quality and is therefore preferred by artistically oriented website operators. Wix can score with its excellent design options.
The non-optimal loading speeds are less positive. Websites built with Wix can be optimized for mobile devices.
Advantages
- Design options
- Design freedom
- Animation options
Disadvantages
- Restricted options for changing templates
- No access to source code is possible
- Loading speed
| Category | Price per month (when billed annually) |
|---|---|
| Free | 0 EUR |
| Connect Domain | 5 EUR |
| Combo | 10 EUR |
| Unlimited | 14,50 EUR |
| VIP | 28 EUR |
| Business Basic | 19,50 EUR |
| Business Unlimited | 29 EUR |
| Business VIP | 40 EUR |
Web node
At Webnode, user-friendliness is a priority. The modular system concentrates on the essentials, you could also say it is limited to the essentials. The choices are limited.
Advantages
- Multilingual websites are possible
- Easy to use
- Good backup function
Disadvantages
- Little variety of designs
- Limited e-commerce functions
| Category | Price per month (when billed annually) |
|---|---|
| For free | 0 EUR |
| Limited | 3,00 EUR |
| Mini | 5,50 EUR |
| Standard | 9,90 EUR |
| Profi | 17,90 EUR |
weebly
The first thing that catches the eye of Weebly is the intuitive structure. Flexibility in website creation is ensured on the one hand by drag and drop, but on the other hand also by the mobile app.
Advantages
- High flexibility
- Intuitive usability
- App
Disadvantages
- Tracking Complications
- No German support is available
| Category | Price per month (when billed annually) |
|---|---|
| Free | 0 Euro |
| Connect | 5 Euro |
| Pro | 10 Euro |
| Business | 20 Euro |
| Business Plus | 30 Euro |
Content Management System
In principle, a CMS works like a website construction kit, but the handling is a lot more complex. The website creation is based on ready-made templates, which limits the design creation. If you want to bring more individuality into the design, you have to be familiar with programming.
For whom is the CMS solution suitable?
If you are planning a larger website project, then a content management system could probably meet your high standards better than a website builder. If you also have programming skills and want to do a lot yourself, then a CMS is exactly the right solution for your online presence.
And this is how it works:
- Select theme
- Customize content
- Optimize display with theme options
- Optionally add additional plugins
- If necessary, program your features
- Go online
Advantages
- Freely selectable hosting
- Optimally suited for multilingual sites
- Almost no technical limitations
- Can be expanded at will with plugins
- Excellent blog functionality
Disadvantages
- No all-encompassing support is offered
- Default themes limit creativity
- Premium plugins incur additional costs
Provider comparison CMS solutions
WordPress
This open-source system has the most users of any CMS provider worldwide. WordPress has over 50,000 plugins and offers numerous free design templates.
The program was originally designed as a pure blog system but is now a complete CMS with a wide range of functions and worldwide popularity.
Advantages
- Extensive community
- Installation and setup are relatively easy
- The user interface is intuitive to use
- Plugins are easy to integrate
Disadvantages
- Additional extensions are required for CMS functions
- Security gaps with some plugins
- Stability and performance problems with high traffic volumes
Managed WordPress Hosting-Pakete
Managed WordPress hosting packages are interesting for beginners. With the 1-click installation, the website operator can concentrate entirely on his design, while the provider takes care of the technical issues.
Joomla!
The second largest CMS provider after WordPress. However, Joomla is more complicated to use than its bigger competitor. In return, the user is offered extensive CMS functions without extra extensions. Also worth mentioning is the good community support in international and German user forums.
Advantages
- Easy installation and configuration
- Large selection of design templates and extensions
- Template creation is user-friendly
Disadvantages
- The rights management is incomplete
- Some extensions cause additional costs
- Manual updating of the extensions
CMS via hosting provider
Because the system is very complex, it is advisable to obtain the CMS from a hosting provider. This provides both the technical infrastructure and updates, making administration much easier for you.
Drupal
From the student community solution, Drupal has meanwhile developed into a fully-fledged CMS based on open source. The rather meager basic installation can be expanded extensively, for which numerous modules are available to the user. Drupal mainly focuses on community and social publishing projects.
Advantages
- Over 44,000 expansion modules
- Large selection of predefined distributions
- Multi-domain management possible
Disadvantages
- Backward compatibility is poor
- The basic version is sparsely equipped
- Extensive post-installations required
High data security
As a community platform, this CMS offers a high level of data security, especially with the Drupal web hosting from IONOS.
Typo3
One of the best-known open source projects that sees itself as an enterprise management system. An excellent team continuously develops the CMS.
In German-speaking countries, Typo3 is particularly popular as a basis for e-commerce platforms. The system is also popular for the online projects of large company portals. The range of functions is gigantic, other systems can be easily connected.
Advantages
- Large community with many experts
- Extensive range of functions
- Flexibly expandable
- Rights management at a high level
Disadvantages
- Advanced knowledge required
- Hosting is more demanding than with other CMS
- Training for laypeople is tedious
Tip
A hosting package is recommended for the implementation of very complex projects with Typo3.
Independent Programming
The web designer is himself if he has programming knowledge. Of course, you can also program your website completely yourself with an appropriate editor. You no longer have to worry about fixed design templates or other design restrictions. However, you should only attempt this type of website creation if you have at least basic knowledge of coding.
If not, there are some tools to help you get started with website programming. So if you bring the necessary ambition and have enough time and resources, you can familiarize yourself with the supreme discipline of website creation.
Of course, like the other two solutions, the independent programming of a website has its advantages and disadvantages. Every website operator has to decide for himself which facts are the decisive criteria for him and his online project.
Advantages
- No restrictions on options and technology
- Hosting is cheap
- Costs are difficult to estimate
Disadvantages
- Lengthy path to your website
- Programming knowledge required
- No support
Provider comparison: learn to program independently
Codecademy
A beginner-friendly tutorial to get started with coding. Codecademy introduces you step by step, but you need a lot of steps to go live. The user can choose his way to his website and deals with the content he would like to learn.
Codecademy’s principle is ‘learning by doing’. Each code is tested immediately, so you always get timely feedback on your progress.
SelfHTML
Also a beginner-friendly tool. In addition to detailed documentation, there are tutorials for beginners with step-by-step instructions for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SVG, PHP, and HTTP. Based on this, further courses are available.
Examples illustrate the learning process. If you get stuck, you can ask questions in the forum and get help from the community.
w3schools
w3schools has an extensive range of online web tutorials. Beginners are introduced to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, Python, PHP, jQuery, Java, W3CSS, Colorpicker, or Bootstrap. There are practical tasks on the individual topics that you can use to check your learning progress. The provider also provides a selection of web templates.
What features does a good website need?
No matter how you want to create your website, there are some components that no online presence can do without.
Your website essentially consists of text and image elements. You do the design with your chosen tool, the easiest and fastest way to do it is with a construction kit.
The following must be observed for the individual elements:
1. Design: The photo quality determines the first impression that users get from your site. Images should therefore be of high quality and look professional. This also applies to the display of your logo and other visual corporate identity features. Buttons that encourage your visitors to continue clicking must be professionally designed. The effectiveness of advertising always stands or falls with the design. Your mixture of text content and visual elements must be well coordinated so that the overall picture looks coherent. The textual content must be just as valuable as the photos and contain useful information for the reader.
2. Technology: If the technology is right, optimal loading times and responsive design are ensured on your website. Smooth processes are assumed by your users, otherwise, they won’t stay long. For example, there are tools that you can use to compress photos. If your imagery is optimized for web use, it can’t unnecessarily slow down your site. Because patience is something internet users don’t have at all. Usability must therefore be as perfect as possible. Instinctive usability and a simply designed navigation structure prevent potential customers from jumping off quickly.
3. SEO: Of course, the most beautiful and best website is of no use to you if users cannot find it. A good SEO strategy ensures optimal findability on Google & Co. Modular system or CMS will help you with this.
4. Monitoring: The success of a website should not be left to chance. Regular monitoring is important to keep track of the effectiveness of your online presence. Because success can be measured on the Internet, there are many tools for extensive monitoring. Construction kits or CMS have such tools ready, you should use them. Because if you don’t know your online key figures such as conversion rate or bounce rate, you can’t judge the success of your website. And of course not optimize either.
5. Professional elements: If a website doesn’t convey a professional impression, visitors are quite unlikely to contact you. Instead of simply providing an email address, you should therefore use a user-friendly contact form. This can be created quickly with a construction kit or CMS. It paves the way for the user to the request because it is made easy for him and he only has to fill in the specified fields. The design of the navigation bar is also extremely important for the professional impression of your website so that the visitor can quickly find what he is looking for.
Domain
The domain is the address at which your website will be accessible on the Internet. Of course, your domain name should be as meaningful as possible and have something to do with the content of your online presence. The website builders also offer domains, otherwise, only small additional costs arise from the external purchase.
Some design basics
If you look around the internet for positive examples of good web design, you will quickly find that not all self-proclaimed designers have a good hand. So that your website does not attract negative attention later, you should be aware of some basic design principles before you create it.
- The colors: Pay attention to color harmony and don’t use too many colors. All shades should come from the same color family if possible. Choose a very light shade for the background. If you are unsure, you can get valuable tips from Adobe Color.
- The design: Less is more should be your motto here. Users like a simple and clear page design with light spaces between them, which distinguish the individual elements from one another. Don’t use more than two different fonts to avoid your design looking too busy.
Along with the domain, you will also receive your email addresses. An address like info@deinefirma.de is of course much more serious and professional than a free email address.
Going Live: And then?
The work on your website is not over when it goes live. Because such an online presence is not a rigid structure. Users want something new. If they always see the same content on your pages, they will soon no longer come by.
So when you are online, the following tasks are waiting for you:
- Updating: A website must always be up to date. Your visitors are not interested in outdated content. The information must always be kept up to date. News must be new. The more exciting and up-to-date your content is, the more curious users will be clicking on your website again and again.
- Positioning: SEO takes a bit of time and work. Unfortunately, it is not enough to ensure a good positioning once and then sit back and relax. So always keep an eye on where your website stands.
- Analysis: With the free Google Analytics tool, you always have an eye on your traffic. But for there to be anything to analyze at all, the website must first be registered on the Google Search Console. Your URL can only be indexed there if Google knows that you are present on the Internet.
Conclusion: create a website
Being successful without a website is difficult in today’s digital age. But creating a website is getting easier and easier. While in the past it was essential to hire a well-paid web designer, today anyone can do digital work themselves.
With a website builder, you can create your website quickly and easily. Anyone planning a larger web project is better served with a CMS. However, this type of website creation requires a little more time investment. Experts with the appropriate coding skills do everything themselves and enjoy unlimited freedom of design.