Can I build a business website DIY? What small business owners in Wales and Bristol should know
A lot of business owners ask the same thing when money’s tight or they’re just getting going. Can I build a business website DIY? And the honest answer is yes, you absolutely can. There are plenty of tools out there that help you build something quickly. The trouble is what happens after that quick win. Most people discover that the real work begins once the site is supposed to bring in customers, rank on Google and look trustworthy enough that people actually click the phone number.
So this article looks at the most common DIY website builders, the pitfalls that usually catch people out and why so many local businesses eventually move over to WordPress once they outgrow the starter tools. Nothing too salesy, just clear info so you can make your own call.
What’s the best DIY website builder for small businesses?
This is one of the biggest long-tail searches around website building right now. People ask things like:
- What’s the easiest DIY website builder for beginners?
- Is Wix good for small business websites?
- Should I use Squarespace for my service business?
- Is Shopify worth it for tiny online shops?
- Is GoDaddy easy to build website?
- Why does Google not like website builders?
Let’s run through the main platforms business owners usually try, plus what tends to go wrong.
“If you just need something online, DIY is fine. If you need something that brings in money, you’ll want more control than most DIY builders offer.”
Wix for small business websites: quick start, slow results
Wix is often the first place people land. Drag and drop, loads of templates, looks tidy on day one. If you need a quick “something” on the internet, it works fine.
But the issues start once you need more than a digital leaflet.
Common Wix drawbacks for growing businesses
Hard to scale.
People often ask Why is my Wix website slow? and the answer is usually because everything sits inside a closed system. You can’t optimise little chunks of it the way you can with WordPress.
SEO limits creep up fast.
A really common question is Why won’t my Wix website rank on Google? Wix has improved in recent years, but Google still treats heavily built, bloated sites with caution. It struggles with messy code output, and you get far less control over technical SEO like structured data, speed tuning and clean URLs.
Design flexibility hits a wall.
Business owners often message me saying they’ve outgrown their Wix layout but don’t want to rebuild from scratch. Sadly, that’s often the only option.
For small businesses trying to look credible within a competitive market, Wix is usually fine for a starter site but not ideal long term.
Squarespace: gorgeous templates, limited freedom
Squarespace is lovely if you’re a photographer, designer or anyone who wants a pretty portfolio. The templates look clean and modern, and it’s harder to make things look messy. So far so good.
Where things wobble is when the business grows or the SEO requirements get more serious.
Typical Squarespace pitfalls
Restricted customisation.
A lot of business owners wonder Why can’t I customise my Squarespace site the way I want? and it’s because Squarespace keeps everything tightly controlled. Great for consistency, not so great for custom solutions.
SEO flexibility isn’t great.
You can add titles, descriptions and a few bits, but deeper optimisation isn’t really possible. You can’t fine-tune speed settings, remove unnecessary scripts or build lean pages that Google loves.
Template sameness.
This one sounds odd, but it matters. Many businesses ask Why does my Squarespace website look the same as everyone else’s? It’s because the platform encourages you to stick to a style. Nice at first, but then your brand ends up blending in.
Squarespace suits visual businesses, but not those relying heavily on Google search or advanced features.
Shopify for small business eCommerce: brilliant for shops, not great for general websites
If you sell products, Shopify is a beast. No two ways about it. Payments, stock, checkout, all sorted.
But some business owners ask Should I use Shopify for my service business? and the short answer is usually no.
Where Shopify struggles outside eCommerce
Overkill for simple sites.
If you’re not selling physical products, you’ll be fighting a system designed for shops. You end up bending things to fit, which becomes a headache.
Slow pages due to apps.
A very common question is Why is my Shopify website loading so slowly? And the answer is usually apps. You need apps for everything, which pile on code and drag speed down.
SEO restrictions.
Shopify URLs can be awkward. Some structures can’t be changed, and Google prefers cleaner setups. You can work around some issues, but you’ll always be slightly boxed in.
Shopify is brilliant when you’ve got a proper online shop. If you don’t, other platforms tend to work better.
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Weebly, GoDaddy Builder and other “quick launch” tools: fast today, frustrating next year
Plenty of people look up What’s the cheapest way to build a business website myself? and end up on Weebly or GoDaddy’s website builder. These are fine for a quick landing page or something temporary, but they bring their own limitations.
Things that usually go wrong
- Slow hosting makes Google drop your rankings
- Impossible to customise anything beyond basic blocks
- Limited integration with booking tools, forms, custom pages
- SEO tools feel like checklists rather than proper optimisation
These platforms attract people who want something cheap and simple. The problem is that these sites rarely bring in real business, and that’s when most owners feel stuck.
Why do DIY website builders struggle with SEO?
This question comes up constantly, especially from business owners wondering why their site isn’t ranking.
Here’s the plain answer without the tech jargon.
- Google prefers clean, fast, lightweight sites.
DIY builders pack a lot of code into every page to make the drag and drop stuff work. It’s convenient for you, but Google has to wade through a pile of unnecessary scripts, fonts and layout files. - Sites often load slowly.
Speed is one of the biggest ranking factors for local businesses. If your site takes longer than a couple of seconds to load, visitors bounce. Google sees that and pushes you lower. - Limited control over technical SEO.
Many business owners Google Why can’t I add proper SEO settings? or How do I fix duplicate content on Wix or Squarespace? Often you simply can’t. The system chooses for you. - Template structures aren’t always search friendly.
Header tags, page hierarchy, internal linking, schema. All important for ranking. Most DIY builders hide these or make them hard to edit.
So it’s not that Google hates these builders. It just prefers websites built with clean code, proper structure and better control.
“A good website is less about the pretty pages and more about how well it works behind the scenes. The structure, speed, on page SEO, clear user journey, proper tracking. That’s the stuff that turns a website into a proper business tool.”
Is WordPress better than DIY website builders for small businesses?
People often search Is WordPress the best website platform for small business? or Why do designers recommend WordPress over Wix?
Here’s the honest, non pushy reason.
WordPress gives you control. Full stop. It doesn’t lock you in, it doesn’t hide your settings, and it doesn’t punish you for wanting to grow. You can start simple and expand later without throwing everything away.
Because I build websites for small businesses at Appvalanche in Newport, I’ve seen plenty of people move from DIY platforms to WordPress once their business hits the next stage. Usually they say the same thing to be honest.
“I wish I’d started here. It would’ve saved me loads of time.”
Why small businesses switch to WordPress eventually
- Cleaner, faster code
- Better SEO tools
- Freedom to design anything they want
- Easy to edit pages without breaking the layout
- Integrates with almost every business system
- Can scale from a five page site to a full membership platform
It’s not always the right choice on day one. But once you want to actually rank or grow, it’s usually where you end up.
You can explore more about how I approach WordPress builds here:
👉 https://appvalanche.com/wordpress-web-design/
Or, if you’re interested in something a bit more advanced, you can read about my custom development work here:
👉 https://appvalanche.com/custom-development/
(Again, tell me your real URLs and I will match them.)
If you prefer ongoing support, I offer tidy monthly plans that help you keep everything updated without stress:
👉 https://appvalanche.com/website-maintenance-plans/
I’ve worked with all sorts of businesses, from HR firms to trades to tutors to cleaning companies. The industries vary, but the aim stays the same. Build a tidy, modern website that helps your business grow.
So should you build your business website DIY or hire someone?
This is another big search query. Things like:
- Is it worth building my own business website?
- How do I know when it’s time to hire a web designer?
- Can I build a website that ranks myself?
Here’s the cleanest way to think about it.
If you just need something online, DIY is fine. If you need something that brings in money, you’ll want more control than most DIY builders offer.
A good website is less about the pretty pages and more about how well it works behind the scenes. The structure, speed, on page SEO, clear user journey, proper tracking. That’s the stuff that turns a website into a proper business tool.
DIY builders can get you started. WordPress tends to help you grow.
If you want help deciding what will fit your business best, happy to talk you through it in plain English. No jargon, no pushy nonsense, just a chat to get you sorted.
What’s the best way to get started?
If you want to get the ball rolling, the easiest first step is a quick, friendly chat. Nothing formal. Just a look at what’ll actually help your business grow online.
