Are DIY Web Builders killing SME Web Designers?

[JMI]

Poll: YouTube is plagued with Ads, its everywhere even on national TV, Premier league sponsorship, .. even granny can create a her little 5 page 'brochure' website now using her iPad!

 

[JMI]

I'm surprised at the lack of feedback on this as it directly impacts domainers at the end of the day. I guess it shows how out of touch domainers are with domain use in the "current" real world.

 

[Adam H]

I think the lack of feedback is indicative of the problem. Simply meaning there isnt a problem, it's a non-starter, non-entity.

Those businesses/individuals that choose to use a free/cheap builder are not, in their current stage the target market of the majority of Web designers or agencies.

Those web designers who do seem to think these companies are taking apart of their market share are either pricing up incorrectly and thus being apart of the problem, don't offer enough value in their service or are not diverse enough in their revenue streams to survive long term anyway.

There is huge amounts of work out there, if anything business should be booming for most whom offer value.

 

[dee]

I think there'll always be a need for good designers / developers. Its like music.... modern technology means anyone and their dog can release a record, and do. Good stuff still rises to the top through the noise though.

 

[Admin]

One of the most common frustrations and difficulties I experience with all my clients is their unreliable, slow to respond, low quality web dev's. I don't get it. Good dev's are as rare as rocking horse sh1t it seems. I am always being asked if I can recommend someone, I never can.

 

[lazarus]

People using these builders are going to be at a very high disadvantage against the competition using professional developers / SEO companies.

 

[JMI]

Thanks for your responses but I probably didn't phrase the question in the right way. Of course there is tons of work out there for "proper" devs.

I really meant those small agencies and 1 man bands who provide "low end" web design services, a.k.a your 10 page WP site for the millions of UK sme's, the WP personal blogs etc..this is what I see WiX going after as it's easy meat. I notice people doing sites themselves now in house and the WiX version is very good tbh, perfectly acceptable for what they need.

 

[Adam H]

Thanks for your responses but I probably didn't phrase the question in the right way. Of course there is tons of work out there for "proper" devs.

I really meant those small agencies and 1 man bands who provide "low end" web design services, a.k.a your 10 page WP site for the millions of UK sme's, the WP personal blogs etc..this is what I see WiX going after as it's easy meat. I notice people doing sites themselves now in house and the WiX version is very good tbh, perfectly acceptable for what they need.

Again, not a problem. Different market entirely to what the "10 page WP site" service providers are offering both in long and short term value.

 

[JMI]

Again, not a problem. Different market entirely to what the "10 page WP site" service providers are offering both in long and short term value.

I don't understand what is the different market? So you think there is no threat to Mr 10 page WP from DIY builders like WiX, GoDaddy, SquareSpace, or Shopify for small ecommerce etc, but I'm seeing the exact opposite happen all around me people I know and my own clients I've told them to leave me and binned off to use WiX because they can support themselves.
I just can't believe there will be no impact. I'm not talking about whether WiX is better than WP and SEO.

When someone buys a domain name today they've actually got nearly zero barrier to entry to having a website, fast forward this 5 years imagine how advanced builders will be. I think there are a certain group who are not interested in "doing their own site" and want support for their WP etc and that's fine but they will slowly diminish.

I know "Web Designers" offering WiX/Shopify solutions right now to their customers and that's fine - the customer doesn't even know or care. This is not a criticism of one technology over another, but I can see a big watershed moment taking place at the moment and it includes the slow demise of WP.

My original point is that I feel that there is no emphasis in general from end users on the quality of the domain, its just about regging any old shite and slap a WiX site on it off we go to make our millions! Of course we here believe a good domain is essential to a successful website and can see the market is really separating out now in terms of quality.

 

[Adam H]

I'd stand by my original comment, if people are losing customers to Wix or not gaining business because of them, they are not providing enough value or not making them selves an asset/investment to the client.

As someone who offers that very service of budget websites as a secondary service and as a one man band, and knowing a large amount of web designers/developers and I can say I dont know anyone thats struggling for work and have work for months in advance.

Wix and others actively approach freelancers and agencies to be supporting bodies in selling Wix web design, they've approached me 4 times this year. I can only assume those that take up the offer either use WiX them selves and therefore believe in the product, or they have an ethical compass of a rat and do it for a quick sale instead of long term retention of a client, recommending something that realistically isnt the best option for the majority of small businesses.

WP isnt dying, Small business web design isnt dying, SEO never died in 2005 and isnt going to die tomorrow...........Services evolve, service providers adjust.

It's exactly the same as the Wordpress eco-system in general, pre-templated themes, page builders, custom themes..........massively diverse budget requirements between all 3, but each have metrits, each has their own target market.

 

[Admin]

I don't understand what is the different market? So you think there is no threat to Mr 10 page WP from DIY builders like WiX, GoDaddy, SquareSpace, or Shopify for small ecommerce etc, but I'm seeing the exact opposite happen all around me people I know and my own clients I've told them to leave me and binned off to use WiX because they can support themselves.
I just can't believe there will be no impact. I'm not talking about whether WiX is better than WP and SEO.

When someone buys a domain name today they've actually got nearly zero barrier to entry to having a website, fast forward this 5 years imagine how advanced builders will be. I think there are a certain group who are not interested in "doing their own site" and want support for their WP etc and that's fine but they will slowly diminish.

I know "Web Designers" offering WiX/Shopify solutions right now to their customers and that's fine - the customer doesn't even know or care. This is not a criticism of one technology over another, but I can see a big watershed moment taking place at the moment and it includes the slow demise of WP.

My original point is that I feel that there is no emphasis in general from end users on the quality of the domain, its just about regging any old shite and slap a WiX site on it off we go to make our millions! Of course we here believe a good domain is essential to a successful website and can see the market is really separating out now in terms of quality.

TBH i see more of a shift from not having a half arsed website at all and to just having a facebook page than any decline in WP interest. That could be because i'm on the continent where online know-how is seriously retarded compared with the UK. I enable my life via FB pages more than the contact forms on small company websites because its more effective and reliable. So many websites are so badly built they dont work properly and contact forms fail etc. Small businesses just need to have a FB page and maybe a GMB listing they keep up to date. I'm not endorsing this, just saying how I see it over here.

 

[dazc]

. So many websites are so badly built they dont work properly and contact forms fail etc.

Little point having a contact form on a Spanish website, even if it works you wont get a response.

 

[dazc]

Poll: YouTube is plagued with Ads, its everywhere even on national TV, Premier league sponsorship, .. even granny can create a her little 5 page 'brochure' website now using her iPad!

There are many more opportunities available as an alternative to providing web design services to people who have little or no budget and often no idea what they actually want. How anyone made a living doing this is beyond me?

 

[peacock]

Most of the designers I know have transitioned to more like UX, UI specialists. Maybe that's just natural though and not indicative of any "problem".

 

[Ben Thomas]

I'd stand by my original comment, if people are losing customers to Wix or not gaining business because of them, they are not providing enough value or not making them selves an asset/investment to the client.

As someone who offers that very service of budget websites as a secondary service and as a one man band, and knowing a large amount of web designers/developers and I can say I dont know anyone thats struggling for work and have work for months in advance.

Wix and others actively approach freelancers and agencies to be supporting bodies in selling Wix web design, they've approached me 4 times this year. I can only assume those that take up the offer either use WiX them selves and therefore believe in the product, or they have an ethical compass of a rat and do it for a quick sale instead of long term retention of a client, recommending something that realistically isnt the best option for the majority of small businesses.

WP isnt dying, Small business web design isnt dying, SEO never died in 2005 and isnt going to die tomorrow...........Services evolve, service providers adjust.

It's exactly the same as the Wordpress eco-system in general, pre-templated themes, page builders, custom themes..........massively diverse budget requirements between all 3, but each have metrits, each has their own target market.

Totally agree. WP is going nowhere and neither are people who want websites designed, developed and maintained.