What can a professional web designer do for me that is different than doing it myself?

The wonderful thing about the internet today is that you can learn anything you want. If you want to be a better cook, a better gamer, a better negotiator, it’s all there for you to learn.

However, there is a difference between being an amateur cook, and a professional chef. It’s pretty evident that a chef didn’t learn their culinary skills from watching Youtube videos. We understand the difference and are happy to pay for it when we dine at a nice restaurant.

When it comes to designing a website, a lot of people will ask me why they even need a service like mine.

Why can’t I just do it myself? They ask.

Honestly, it’s a hard question to answer, because theoretically, you could learn to do web design and build your own website.

If you take a few years where you devote an hour a day to learn design principles, basic coding, frameworks, schema markups, and a lot of other elements, you could design your own website.

The difference between building a website and designing a website

Think of a person who likes to make their own clothes. If they have the basic materials, they can probably put together some basic outfits that would keep them warm. But for the clothes to fit well, look fashionable or last over time, they would also need to be able to design effectively.

The same is true of web design. Because of sites like Squarespace, Shopify and Wordpress, a lot of the basic website building elements are ready-made for you. It’s like purchasing a home sewing kit and some material.

Setting up a website is building. Making it look great, and work effectively is designing.

Web design requires subtle skills.

The real skill of a good web designer lies in their ability to understand the subtleties.

Knowing where a visitor looks first.
Knowing how to direct visitors to action.
Knowing how to keep them scrolling.
Knowing what images should represent the brand.
Knowing if a color is too bland or too much.
Knowing when less is more.

These design elements require experience. And experience comes from years of practicing design.

I’m not sharing this to humble brag. I’m sharing it because it’s the honest answer I give to people.

If someone really wants to try designing their site, I suggest they give it a go. But if they are serious about making their business or brand stand out, they would do better to hire a professional.

Yes, it costs more up front. Yes, you have to admit you can’t do it all yourself. But these small concessions will mean you stand out from everyone else who thinks they can do it themselves.

So, in answer to the question ‘What can a professional web designer do for me that is different than doing it myself?’

They can make you look like a professional.