When to DIY and When to Hire a Website Designer to Customize Your Showit Website Template

You’re ready to invest in your online presence with a website. Now comes the big decision: Should you hire a web designer for a full custom site? Or should you try the DIY route with a template?

Here’s my take: if your gut reaction isn’t “of course I’m going to have a custom site designed for me,” then let’s talk about website templates. More specifically, let’s discuss how to make them work for your business.

Investing in your first website is a big deal. You want the right platform and the right design. Additionally, you want easy navigation that helps your ideal customer find you instantly. Your website should reflect all the hard work you’ve put into your business.

For some business owners, a fully custom designed site is simply part of their business model. However, for others, a custom website might not fit the budget right now. That’s where a website template becomes an incredible tool.

What Is a Website Template?

A website template is a pre-designed website ready to be customized. Specifically, it reflects your unique brand and business needs. Nearly every website platform offers a wide selection of templates. Most are created by individual designers for specific platforms.

You’ll find templates on platform design markets and independent marketplaces like Etsy. Alternatively, you can find them directly on designers’ websites. They cover virtually every industry and design style.

But before you click “buy now” on that gorgeous template you’ve been eyeing, ask yourself one critical question:

“Do I want to do this myself, or do I want to hire someone to handle it for me?”

DIY or Hire a Designer?

Maybe you genuinely enjoy the idea of customizing your website template. Perhaps you’re the type who loves thinking about color palettes and typography. (I certainly do!) Learning new software sounds like a fun challenge. Or perhaps you’re lucky enough to have someone on your team with these skills. If this describes you, DIY-ing a website template is a fantastic option.

But…

Maybe the thought of customizing a website fills you with dread. Perhaps learning new software sounds about as enjoyable as a root canal. Or maybe you’re a solopreneur without a team to help tackle the tasks you’re less than enthusiastic about.

If this sounds like you, let me introduce myself.

Hi! I’m Emily, owner of Blue House Creative Company. Additionally, I’m a website designer who specializes in Showit websites and templates. Specifically, I work with creative service providers and wellness professionals. I genuinely love thinking about color palettes and typography. Furthermore, I find customizing website templates to be incredibly fun work. (In fact, you can see how I customized my own site from a template here.)

What Does the Customization Process Look Like?

At its core, the customization process involves three main steps. First, you select a template. Then, you tailor its elements to reflect your brand and business needs. Finally, you launch your new site. The specifics depend entirely on what makes your business unique.

Common customizations include changing colors and fonts. They also include uploading photos and media and rewriting template copy. However, your needs might also include integrating a scheduling system. Similarly, you might need a portfolio or gallery page. Other options include removing unnecessary sections or expanding certain pages to better serve your clients.

What’s the Advantage of Hiring a Designer to Customize My Website?

Time. That’s the biggest advantage.

Technically, most website templates can be DIY’d. Additionally, plenty of resources and courses can teach you how to edit and customize templates. But learning the ins and outs of a new platform takes time. Moreover, that time often feels overwhelming and pulls you away from actually running your business.

Hiring a designer streamlines the entire process. You get a professional who ensures everything is set up correctly the first time. As a result, you’re free to focus on what you do best: serving your clients and growing your business.

Can I Edit My Website After It’s Customized?

Absolutely! In fact, this is one of the best features of modern website platforms.

I work exclusively with Showit. It’s a drag-and-drop website builder that requires zero coding knowledge. This means if you want to update your text or move an image around later, you can do it yourself. Furthermore, you won’t need to touch a single line of code.

Showit templates are often marketed as a DIY solution. Specifically, they’re positioned as a way to achieve an amazing, high-quality website at a fraction of custom design costs. And they absolutely deliver on that promise. But here’s the secret: you don’t have to DIY it.

You can have the best of both worlds. Specifically, you get the affordability of a template with the expertise and time-savings of professional customization. If you’re ready to launch a beautiful website without the stress and learning curve, I’d love to help bring your vision to life.