How to Tell It’s Time To Hire A Web Pro
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If you’ve built your own website — whether recently or years ago — give yourself a pat on the back. It’s no small feat! DIYing your website can be a smart move when you’re just getting started, especially if you’re watching your budget or figuring things out as you go.
But as your business grows, your website needs to grow with it. What worked when you launched might not be serving you anymore. So how do you know when it’s time to call in a professional?
Here are a few signs to look for.
1. You’ve Outgrown Your Current Website
When you first launched your site, it probably did what you needed it to, but since then, your business has evolved. Your services are more refined, your audience is better defined, and your visual branding may have taken a leap forward. Meanwhile, your site still reflects the “old” version of you.
You might want to update it, but here’s the thing:
Those changes will probably involve more than just swapping out some text or adding a new photo. You may need to restructure your navigation, update your design to match your branding, improve your SEO, or rework the flow to better guide visitors toward your services.
Even if you’re fairly comfortable with your platform, there’s a big difference between tweaking a page and doing a thoughtful refresh that aligns with your business goals and provides a better user experience.
A professional can help you step back and see the big picture, then make the strategic, design, and technical changes that will take your site from “good enough” to “working hard for your business.”
2. You’ve Hit a Wall with What You Can Do on Your Own
Website builders like Squarespace and Wix are great — until they aren’t. If you’re struggling to make your site look the way you want, or you’re limited by your platform’s functionality, it might be time to get help.
A professional can work with you to build the features you need, customize the design, or even move you to a more flexible platform like WordPress if that’s the right fit.
3. You’re Spending Too Much Time on Website Maintenance
Keeping your site updated, secure, and running smoothly takes time — and it’s probably not the best use of yours. If website tasks keep creeping onto your to-do list and distracting you from your actual work, it might be time to delegate.
If you’re tired of juggling updates, backups, and troubleshooting, it’s time to hand it off. My Website Care Plan takes care of all of that so you don’t have to lift a finger.
4. You’re Embarrassed to Share Your Link
If you’re cringing a little every time someone asks for your website — or you’re avoiding linking to it altogether — that’s a big red flag. Your website should be something you’re proud to share. It should help you build credibility, not hurt it.
Sometimes a few tweaks are all it takes. Other times, it’s worth investing in a full redesign. Either way, a pro can guide you through the process and make sure you end up with a site that feels right.
5. You Want to Start Taking Your Website More Seriously
Your website doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should support your goals. That might mean improving the user experience, adding a blog, creating a lead magnet, or making it easier for people to book your services.
If you’re ready to level up, a web professional can help you create a site that not only looks good but also works for you.
Final Thoughts
A DIY website can be a great start — but it’s okay to admit when you’ve reached the limits of what you can do yourself.
If you’re ready to take your website to the next level, I’d love to support you through my Website Care Plan. Although some of my Care Plan clients want me to handle everything, others prefer a more collaborative approach where they manage their own content and call on me when they need help with design, layout, or anything technical.
Either way, you don’t have to do it all on your own.
Let’s make your website something you’re proud to share!
Photo by itchaz.gmail.com / DepositPhotos
Janet Barclay
I eliminate stress for my clients by hosting, monitoring, and maintaining their WordPress sites so they don’t have to worry about security, downtime or performance issues. When I’m away from my desk, I enjoy reading, photography, cooking, watching movies, drinking tea, and spending time with my family.
We get into a habit of doing everything for our business and forget that we do not have to. I found that I enjoy tweaking and modifying my site content and plugins; however, not many people want to do that task. Your service is essential, mainly because you give a personal and customizable touch to your service. Small Business Owners will genuinely appreciate the flexibility of your services. Thanks for sharing! I will share your services.
Thank you, Sabrina! I appreciate your support.
While there are many things I’ve chosen to do on my own, building a website was never one of them. I understood early on the value of having someone with that specific expertise help me to create the right story. After 30 plus years in business, I’ve redone my site multiple times. Will I have to redo it again? I’m not sure. Things have changed so much, especially with the rise of AI. But for now, I’m keeping it as is.
However, when and if I do want to make a change, I will definitely hire an expert. I’ve always found creating or redesigning my site as a wonderful collaborative process.
Collaboration is key! You want the other person’s expertise, but it’s important than they fully understand what you want and need as well.
As you well know, I hit the point where I knew it was time for an update. Linda makes an interesting point about the role of AI, and I wonder how this will impact the future of website.
One way to think about your website is like your wardrobe. You want it to be clean and fresh, to be comfortable, and to be something you feel good showing to the world. If you’ve reached that point of embarrassment, or feel the site doesn’t really reflect who you are, bringing in a pro is a great way to get the ball moving. Hiring help also keeps the process moving forward!
Hats off to my great website designer (wink, wink!).
Aw, thank you, Seana!
I love your analogy. You might have a near-perfect wardrobe today, but will it still serve you three years from now? Five? Ten?
My industry colleagues are of the mind that AI-built websites are beneficial for people who would be doing it on their own because they save time and don’t have to learn as much about the technology, but they’re no substitute for working with an experienced professional, especially for larger and more complex sites. That’s now. Who knows what will happen in the future?
You’re talking to me, right? You wrote this just because you’re peering into my office, my website, and my soul, right? 😉
#s 1, 2, and 3 are apt, #5 probably should be the case, and #4 is encroaching. Cost is always the arbiter of what gets done, but just as with cars or computers, the longer you put off fixing the problem, the more difficulty you’ll encounter. Your advice is gold; we should all be taking it, and by “we” I mean “I.”
By now, at least, everyone should know that your advice is a sign of how ideal you are for handling web design and maintenance!
No peering going on, I promise – though it sounds like I chose an appropriate topic for this post!
Thank you for kind words – they mean the world to me.