If you are a freelancer or the owner of a small business, you know the value of having a robust online presence. Not just in terms of social media platforms, but a friendly, easy to navigate and detailed website through which you can easily communicate your mission and the services offered to prospective clients. While some might be able to take on building a website head-on and keep all the costs and labor in-house, it is generally not advisable. Besides the technical know-how needed to establish a clean web design, upkeep and maintenance is a bit more complicated than you think.
The following are a few things to consider outsourcing when making your own website.
Design Template
The first thing you will want to consider putting in the hands of an expert is the web design itself. Creating a clean and efficient interface is harder than it seems, especially if you need to have a section of the site running smoothly for people to purchase products directly from an online store. A good web developer will know how to produce excellent code and incorporate your company’s visual identity with a no-nonsense approach to content.
Besides the initial web interface, you might also be stuck on how to create a mobile app that would be useful to customers. There are different interfaces that can be explored for e-commerce platforms, and you may visit this site if you’re interested in learning more. The thing is, you need a certain level of expertise to create a mobile app or website that suit your business needs and your customer base. There is no one size fits all policy.
Sharp Marketing
A clear benefit to outsourcing some of the work involved in maintaining a website is that you have the help needed to understand SEO and make it work to your business’ advantage. Online marketing is essential to the health of a new endeavor, and while you can look into different online guides for advice, it is not sustainable in the long term.
You need to have a website that effectively encapsulates the branding of your company, with the appropriate design, colors, and language that best make sense for your base of users. Furthermore, a professional will know how to build a website according to the latest marketing trends, and can continue doing the work for you by monitoring user analytics and sharing the data. You will quickly find that this information is incredibly helpful to building a strategic plan for your business, and that it’s a godsend to have the experts on your side.
Copy Editing
Besides the technical skeleton upon which your website is built, another job you should consider outsourcing is copy editing. Almost nothing can turn off consumers more than a poorly edited website with terrible and clumsy descriptions. You will find that as your business grows, you and your team will be inundated with other tasks and finding the time to manage the minutiae of the website is virtually impossible. Outsourcing this step will save you the headache of constantly monitoring and create less stress. Fun, clear language goes hand in hand with a clean interface in being able to attract customers, so it is vital to get this right.
Debugging
Optimal site functionality is key. Otherwise, you have a very pretty image with a cute caption – and that’s it. Not having someone outside your team responsible for overseeing this time-consuming process is absurd, especially if you’ve already gone through the trouble of hiring a web developer. Continued site maintenance is a tiring process, but one that is key to the survival of your company. An outside expert can take the time to debug key features, make vital security updates to protect you and consumers, make structural changes if need be, and improve user experience over time.
Implement New Functions
If you already have a website that you feel is reliable enough, you might be hesitant to hire outside help. However, if you plan on implementing new functions, or are considering a branding overhaul, then it’s best to consider outsourcing this part of the job – you will need an experienced team on deck, and it would be too taxing to take on this endeavor yourself.
Outsourcing elements of creating or maintaining a website might seem too costly and not worth the time. In reality, you would be paying someone on a project-based basis – rather than a full-time staff member – to carry out key tasks that neither you nor your team have the time or expertise to do. Web design is a tough task, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.