Website builders have come a long way. With platforms like Squarespace, Wix, and Shopify, almost anyone can get a website online in a matter of hours - without writing a single line of code.
So, do you still need a web designer or developer?
At Lune Studio, we get this question a lot - especially from small business owners, startups, and local trades who are trying to keep costs down while getting their business off the ground. The honest answer? Sometimes DIY is enough. But other times, it quietly holds your business back.
In this post, we’ll unpack when a DIY website makes perfect sense — and when it might make sense to bring in a professional.
Let’s be clear from the outset: there is absolutely nothing wrong with building your own site. In fact, for a lot of businesses, it’s a smart starting point.
Website builders today are powerful. They offer sleek templates, drag-and-drop editing, and basic functionality that meets the needs of many businesses — at least to begin with.
If you’re bootstrapping or simply don’t need much complexity, a DIY site can be the right tool for the job.
But like any tool, how effective it is comes down to how it’s used.
This is where many business owners run into trouble — not because they picked the “wrong platform”, but because they underestimated what a good website actually needs to do.
A great website isn’t just about how it looks. It’s about how it performs.
Search engines and users both expect fast-loading, lightweight websites. DIY platforms often use bloated code and generic templates that can slow things down, especially on mobile. A slow site means higher bounce rates and lower rankings.
Just publishing a site doesn’t mean it will show up on Google. Most DIY users don’t structure content correctly, optimise metadata, or know how to implement a content strategy that ranks. These platforms allow for SEO — but they don’t do it for you.
What’s the goal of your website? To get enquiries? Bookings? Sales? A well-built website is strategically designed to guide users toward action. That means smart layout, clear calls to action, trust-building content, and user journeys that make sense. Most DIY sites focus on appearance over intent.
As your business grows, you may want to:
These needs often outgrow what a basic builder can do, or become clunky to implement later on.
Templates are great — but they’re designed to suit everyone. That means they suit no one perfectly. A professionally designed site is tailored to your voice, tone, brand, and audience — not just made to “look modern.”
This is the biggest misunderstanding we see.
Plenty of business owners have a site that looks great. Clean, modern, visually appealing.
But if it doesn’t:
…then it’s not helping your business. A good website is more than a digital brochure. It’s a tool. An asset. A growth engine.
At Lune Studio, we build websites that:
We often work with businesses who started with DIY platforms and hit a wall. Not because they did anything wrong — but because they’d outgrown what those tools were built for.
In Lancaster, many small businesses start with DIY sites, and that’s absolutely fine.
But as competition grows — especially in areas like property, construction, and hospitality — a generic online presence quickly becomes a bottleneck.
We’ve helped several local businesses transition from templated setups to fast, tailored websites with proper tracking, lead flows, and content strategy — all while keeping things affordable and practical.
It’s not about showing off. It’s about building something that works.
Ask yourself:
If your website is mission-critical to your marketing, sales, or reputation, it may be worth investing in something more strategic from the outset.
But if you’re starting out, and just need a simple web presence? DIY is absolutely fine. You can always upgrade when you’re ready.
We’re not here to talk you into anything. But if you’d like an honest, practical look at your current site — we’ll give you one.
Our Free Website Audit will show you:
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