Buy or Build a Website
You have 4 options when it comes to websites:
- Build a bespoke system from scratch, design, code and launch (Hardest), buy a domain
- Use a CMS (Content Management System) such as Joomla or Mambo which is open source and build but within the contraints of the CMS, and buy a domain
- Use an off-the-shelf, generally online website solution, usually even more limited and constrained than option 2. Some may have the option of using your own domain, usually however a subdomain of the provider.
- Buy an existing website and domain
Not sure what to do? Usually if you are buyng a website you are buying it for one of the following reasons:
- For the domain, which is unique or relevant to your business
- For the traffic which the site currently gets, maybe through branding or search engien rankings
- For the revenue
- Content, could be written or image, video etc which would cost you to develop
- To remove a competitor
- For a combination of the above
- You believe you can improve on what is already there
If none of the above reasons are relevant you may then be better off building, which leaves you 3 options, all varying in complexity and cost.
Option 1 - Develop the website from scratch
Generally this is the hardest and most complex, costs the most and takes the longest depending on your requirements. Everything from process to design and artwork decisions need to me made. If you are inexperienced online you might well be better off buying.
Reasons you would build a website:
- Large corporate with high visitor volumes an need to replace your existing website
- Brand, and need a specific branded related look and feel, which might be hard to create with a CMS
- Require specific functionality or security such as a Bank
Challenges in building
- Design and artwork is key, easier than it looks and will probably require consultants in numerous areas
- SEO (search engine optimisation) cannot be ignored and will probably require consultants
- Large number of signoffs required at each stage and decision making even on the smallest aspects of the site
- Usability and accessibility requirements, will probably require consultants
- Technologies required from navigation to applications and integration, ensuring you are using the most appropriate technologies to meet all needs
- Information architecture, needs usability, SEO, business objectives all to be taken into account
- User acceptance testing (UAT) required
- Availability of skills in the technologies used
- Project management of consultants, developers and designers timelines, additional project managmeent and project governance
- People generally signing off sometimes do not always have the online experience and are at the mercy of the respective consultants
Rating: Hardest, most complex and longest with highest risk. If you don't know what you are doing, there is risk in this approach for you and the corporate entity. The more critical the site to the business, the higher the risk. Highly advised to use consultants to manage this risk.
Option 2 - Use a CMS
This option is slighly easier but still can be be less flexible in terms of functionality, design layout and applications. There are numerous paid and free open source content management systems. Joomla, Drupal and Mambo are the most common open source content management systems (CMS). These systems generally work with templates and modules and are flexible within certain limits.
Reasons you would use a CMS:
- Cost
- The specific CMS is applicable you your industry
- Time (much faster than developing)
- Built in processes and security (Depend on the CMS)
Challenges in building:
- Getting the CMS to do what you want it to do from an SEO, design, accessibility, process and functional perspective
- Working within the limits of the CMS
- Quality of the CMS, the developer and available skills to support the CMS and your needs
- Availability of skills ongoing
- If you intend to use a paid CMS, you can get tied into monthly support or access costs from the provider. Not an issue with open source CMS, these are free and developed by a community.
Option 3 - Use an off the shelf solution
This usually entails signing up online and using software to configure what you want. There is generally limited or no access at a server level and functionality is highly limited. These solutions are available in many shapes and forms and may be fine for limited brochureware type websites. Functionality and capability does vary with these solutions these are general comments:
Reasons you would use an off-the shelf solution:
- Cost
- Really simple needs with few visitors
- Functionality and server access not important
- SEO, design and usability requirements low or very basic
- Low skill levels generally required to configure
Challenges
- Generally limited functionality, design options, integration and SEO
- Your site looks similar to many of the other sites from the provider
- Limited scope for hosting, other than in the country of the provider
- Getting tied in to monthly or annual costs from the provider
- Unable to move the code, content or other data away from the site
Option 4 - Buy a website
More on buying a website is included in our how to buy and buying tips area. Depending on the site you buy, it might have the challenges or benefits of the above options. Make sure you do due diligence and take into account the opportunities and challenges listed above for the type of site you intend to purchase. Buying a website however will give you an aged domain name which is good for search engines, existing quality content which can be expensive or timely to develop and existing members or customers and sometimes revenues. There are numerous benefits to buying a website, just make sure you are clear on what you are buying.
