We are going to be very honest here. There are times when you shouldn’t hire us to build your website. Seriously!
At Makeway, we work on a wide variety of digital projects, and this definitely includes website building. (Heck, our company used to be called We Make Nice Websites). But we’d like to be honest and helpful enough to say that you may not always need to call in the experts for every website project. Allow us to explain.
As much as we love to work with clients on new websites, the needs and objectives of the project really drive the bus.
If you’re launching a website project, here is where we can deliver the greatest value:
Customization
This is the number one determinant for choosing between an off-the-shelf solution and a website built by Makeway.
Take, for instance, our fully customized HUB for RefleXion. It is an easy-to-use platform for organizing documents, as well as an experience that helps nurture prospective clients. The HUB puts everything in one convenient location. Additionally, RefleXion can leverage notifications and a sophisticated backend that allows the company to automatically notify HUB users of new materials as they become available. Each section has a variety of downloadable assets and provides the ability to easily share assets with colleagues for review—all personalized to their institution. We made it easy for RefleXion to manage the content and have visibility into user actions on the site.
To put it simply, you can’t get this level of customization with an “off-the-shelf” solution like Squarespace, WordPress, or Wix.
Functionality
Functionality comes into play in a variety of ways:
- Data integrations/migrations: these happen a lot in ecommerce sites and websites that have more complex lead-generation funnels. Digital tools can be complex, so many customers hire Makeway to seamlessly tie things together.
- Robust/complex IT infrastructure: Especially in larger companies, there are generally multiple layers of complexity and approvals needed for website projects. Although cumbersome, these are often necessary to ensure security, compliance, and approvals. For our clients, we can jump through the technical hoops and translate jargon if needed.
- Speed and SEO Optimization: Website load times and optimization are a critical component for any website. Most DIY platforms can handle these, but they also rely on you using their website editor tools the right way. Hire Makeway if you need more features than their platform offers or an expert to make sure you’re doing things the right way.
- Easy to use admin: DIY website builders are meant to “do everything,” which can make their editing tools feel overwhelming and clunky. We configure the admin-side of our websites to make updating content as easy as possible with drag-n-drop interfaces, reusable content, and much more.
It can take a lot of time and effort to bend website builders to your will. In the end, your final result might compromise on your original vision. If you are hitting roadblocks or having a hard time making something “feel right,” it’s a good sign that you should give us a call.
Getting it Right
If you want to get your website done right, Makeway is here to help. We know it’s possible to throw together a bare-bones Wix or Squarespace website over a weekend. That’s all well and good, but you will end up having to update your website over and over again.
When you work with Makeway, you are committing to a full-fledged, highly functional website right from the jump. This can take a little time. If you want your website next week, then an off-the-shelf solution might make sense. No matter the task, there are always ways to cut corners and get something done a little more quickly, without the attention to detail. Think of it like this: you can “mow” your lawn with a flamethrower, but is that really getting the job done right?
If Makeway were a landscaping company, we’d be using hand shears to ensure every blade of grass is just how you want it 
If none of these advantages apply to your situation, you might be okay to use an “off-the-shelf” solution. But, if you don’t know where to start or something is just not working right, we are always happy to talk. We’ll review your situation for free and guide you toward the best solution—even if that means not hiring us 
If we need to dig a little deeper than an initial meeting allows, we can also audit your website needs and then apply that to any future project costs you might have. We find this exercise to be incredibly valuable and low risk, both for you and us. It’s a great way to ease into a new relationship and show you that we can walk the talk.
While we are incredibly passionate about solving complex problems with advanced digital solutions, we are willing to admit there are times when you shouldn’t hire us. That’s all part of our role as a digital sherpa: giving you the best guidance possible.
Stay tuned for future installments of our Digital 101 series. You may want to check out the first installment of our Digital 101 series on Why—and How—You Should Invest in Digital.
