5 Reasons To Hire A Professional Website Designer

Should You DIY Your Coaching Website or Hire a Professional?

Creating a coaching website is one of the biggest early decisions you’ll make as a coach — and one of the most common dilemmas. Should you DIY your site to save money and keep control? Or invest in a professional to get it done right the first time?

If you’re asking this question, you’re not alone. Whether you’re just launching or upgrading your first website, this article breaks down the pros and cons of both options so you can make the best choice for your business, your budget, and your peace of mind.

The Case for DIY: Freedom, Speed, and Budget-Friendliness

DIY website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress.com have made it easier than ever to build a coaching website without touching code. Here’s what makes DIY appealing:

✅ Pros of DIY Website Design

1. Lower upfront cost
Perfect if you’re just starting out and want to minimise expenses. Most platforms offer free trials or low-cost monthly plans.

2. Full creative control
You choose the layout, fonts, colours, and wording. Ideal for coaches with a clear vision who enjoy being hands-on.

3. Quick to launch
You could have a basic website live within a few hours — especially with a template.

4. Learn-by-doing
You’ll gain digital confidence and understand the basics of how websites work, which can help with future updates.

❌ Cons of DIY Website Design

1. It takes time — a lot of it
Designing, editing, resizing images, writing content, testing… it all adds up. Many coaches underestimate how long it takes to “do it yourself” well.

2. It can look generic
Templates are useful, but many DIY sites end up looking like clones. Standing out in a sea of sameness is hard without design experience.

3. Limited functionality
Integrations like booking calendars, email sign-ups, SEO tools and mobile responsiveness can be clunky or restricted.

4. Not always scalable
Your needs will grow. Many coaches end up redoing their site within a year — doubling their investment in time and effort.

The Case for Hiring a Professional: Strategy, Design, and Peace of Mind

A professionally designed website is an investment — and one that can pay off in confidence, credibility, and clients.

✅ Pros of Hiring a Website Designer

1. Saves you time and stress
You’re not a web designer. Hiring one frees you up to focus on what you do best — coaching, marketing, and growing your business.

2. Strategic design
A good designer will help you clarify your messaging, structure your services, and build a site that converts visitors into clients.

3. Polished, branded look
Your site will feel uniquely you — not a template you’re squeezing into. That builds trust and credibility from the first click.

4. Built to grow
With scalable platforms like WordPress, your site can evolve with your business. Need a blog later? Want to sell downloads? Easy.

5. SEO, speed and tech taken care of
A professional site is more likely to perform well in search results, load faster, and work seamlessly across devices.

❌ Cons of Hiring a Website Designer

1. Higher upfront investment
Expect to pay anywhere from £1,500 to £5,000 for a fully custom WordPress site — depending on features, branding, and content needs.

2. Longer timeline
Designing and building a strategic website takes time — usually 4–8 weeks from start to launch.

3. Finding the right designer can be tricky
Look for someone who understands your niche (coaching and wellness), offers clear communication, and includes both design and technical build.

What’s the Real Cost of DIY vs Hiring?

Many coaches look only at price when comparing DIY to hiring help — but it’s important to also consider time, stress, missed opportunities, and future upgrades.

If your DIY site doesn’t look professional or isn’t bringing in clients, it’s not saving you money — it’s potentially costing you bookings.

Likewise, if you’re just starting out and aren’t sure of your niche yet, a simple DIY site might be a good stepping stone — as long as you know it’s temporary.

How to Decide: A Quick Self-Check

Ask yourself:

Do I have the time, patience, and design eye to build a website I’m proud of?
Do I want to figure out tech platforms, plugins, and SEO myself?
How important is it for my site to reflect my brand and attract clients from day one?
What’s my budget — not just in money, but in energy and time?

A Smart Middle Ground?

Some designers offer starter websites, template customisation, or one-day builds — ideal if you want professional help but can’t invest in a full build yet. You’ll get expert support without going all-in.

Or, you might DIY the basics, then hire someone later to upgrade your site when you’re clearer on your services and audience.

Final Thoughts

Your website doesn’t have to be perfect to start — but it does need to work.

If you love tech and design, go ahead and DIY. Just be realistic about the time and limitations. If you’re ready to elevate your coaching presence and attract more clients with less stress, hiring a professional could be one of the best investments you make.

Check out my case studies or contact me here.

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