1. Will I have to learn a program or system? When you create a website through your hosting company it’s likely you’ll encounter a system that runs on the host’s proprietary software, which means that it’s unique to their company. If for some reason you decide to move your website to another hosting company, you’ll need to learn a new system provided by the new host. If you like the challenge of learning new software and aren’t inhibited by the prospect of learning another new system if you move to another host, then DIY is for you.
2. What can I edit? You’ll be given the choice of templates and some color choices. Depending upon the system is in use, you may get to choose the appearance of your website’s buttons and pick a font. If you’re really lucky you’ll get to put your logo on the top of the page. However, most systems allow for one page design, so you won’t have different looks for different pages of your website. If you aren’t particular about the design of your website and aren’t aiming for a custom design look, then DIY is for you.
3. Will it cost more to add to the website? One nationally known hosting company charges a flat price for a 5-page DIY website. If you want more pages, you’ll pay more. If you don’t mind doing all the work and payment more for hosting, then DIY is for you.
4. Can I take the website with me? Relationships can be fickle, and you may fall out of love with your hosting company. If you change to a new host you probably won’t have the same DIY system to edit your website, but you’ll also need to know if you can take your template and web content with you. In many cases, you can’t. If you enjoy starting from scratch and relish leaving behind all that you’ve created, then DIY is for you.
5. Is the code valid? You may be looking at a DIY website because you don’t want to learn HTML code or a programming language. Unfortunately browsers like Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and other rely on valid code to display your web pages. Even search engines like Google and Yahoo! rely on valid code to find their way around a website. Recently I looked at a DIY website for a prospective client and found they had 118 code errors… on one page!
Unfortunately most of the errors were in the template and generated by the host’s DIY system. If getting found in the search engines isn’t your cup of tea, and you think it’s cool that your website looks a bit “broken” in some of the browsers, then DIY is for you.
