April 11, 2023 — Now more than ever, it’s a DIY world, and if YouTube and other online resources have you believing you can tackle just about any project your business might demand, you’re not alone.
But for every success you might see on Pinterest, there are the epic fails that come with the territory. So, before you decide to take on the world, let’s take a look at whether it’s worth the effort. After all, time is money, and running a business is demanding enough.
Should You Build Your Own Website?
Not every business owner is cut out to create a website that captures the essence of their business and brand, cuts through the clutter, and leads prospective customers down a path to purchase.
The trick is to understand if you’re equipped to do it yourself entirely. According to Gabby Sappenfield of ROI Online, this path to enlightenment begins with looking at the Pros and Cons of Building Your Own Website.
The Pros:
- You can save yourself some money, sometimes lots of it.
- The cost starts at $500 and up, according to Fit Small Business
- You get to work at your own pace. After all, you’re the boss.
- It’s a freedom you won’t find with a deadline-driven web design agency.
- You know everything you need to know about the business.
- Your knowledge about your product or service is unassailable.
The Cons:
- It takes a lot of time, likely more than you’ve considered.
- According to WordPress.com, there’s no single answer to how long it will take, which tells you something.
- You may be too close to see what matters to online prospects.
- In your defense, your livelihood depends on being closer than the average person.
- You’re not a web designer—at least that’s the assumption if you’re reading this.
- Don’t mistake a semester of computer science years ago for anything more than it is.
If you’ve thoughtfully considered the pros and cons and still can’t make up your mind, check out these Surprising Insights from Small Businesses Using DIY Website Builders.
Should You Handle Your Own Social Media Marketing?
You made your first Facebook friend in 2007, and thousands of posts later, you still manage to gain enough likes to feel good about your online presence. But now it’s 2022, and the landscape for businesses on social has, well, changed.
You may feel like you’re up to the task of keeping close to your customers through day-to-day contact on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or Tiktok (and this is not a comprehensive list, by the way), but are you sure?
According to Forbes.com, small businesses and startups should be investing in social media marketing. But how to go about it is another issue. Again, we look at the pros and cons, this time with a bit of help from soedogs.com.
The Pros:
- Cheaper than paying a marketing firm to do it.
- Some agencies bill up to $200 per hour to post on your business’ behalf.
- There is no go-between.
- There are no briefs to fill out or Account Execs to get between you and your post on a BOGO special good through Saturday.
- You’re the expert.
- Again, your knowledge about your product or service is unassailable.
The Cons:
- The money you save could be lost in one fell swoop.
- That $25 sale post that should have read $250? Now, that’s a costly typo.
- The learning curves are steep, and the terrain is constantly changing.
- You just spent a half-day getting your logo to display correctly. And now they changed the placement.
- It’s a long way to proficiency, let alone expertise.
- There’s a reason people devote their careers to this, and that’s because it’s a full-time job.
Still not convinced which way to go? We’re not sure these Top 25 Business Social Media Fails from HowSociable will sway you one way or another, but they will show you what to avoid.
Should You Star In Your Own Ads?
Sometimes business owners are their own best—or worst—pitchmen and woman. You can probably recall some from both camps and may have considered if you’re up to it.
No need for pros and cons here—the fact that the really good and not-so-good are memorable speaks to the power of extremes. So, if you’re going to do your own print, digital, or TV ads, remember to give it your best shot.
