This is such a common question among bloggers. Deciding whether you should DIY your blog design or hire a designer and developer can be tricky, since both can be really great options. During my first few years of blogging, I fully embraced DIYing my blog design. A huge part of my process was learning how to create consistency with my blog design (easier said than done, if you don’t have a strong background in design). But for the most part, figuring out my blog setup and learning to code was fun for me. Little did I know, it would eventually become my job! However, learning to customize my blog on my own was time consuming, and I quickly understood why it isn’t the best route for everyone.
Here are three things to consider when trying to decide whether or not to DIY your blog design.
1. Time
Do you have time to learn the ins and outs of WordPress (or your preferred platform)? While learning how to change up my blog’s look and feel, I spent much less time actually creating content. This wasn’t an issue for me at the time, because I didn’t have a huge audience or an editorial calendar to stick to. If you’re just getting started with blogging, it might be a great time to look into DIYing your blog design. However, if you’re running a business or relying on your blog for income, remember that this might disrupt your schedule a bit.
2. Passion/Skill
Working on your own blog design may not end up being your passion. I know a lot of people who leave their website’s branding and design up to the professionals so that they can focus on what they really love – creating content and building community. Everyone is different, so if you’re not feeling the design part of blogging, remember that there are tons of talented designers out there who would be happy to help.
Also, if you find yourself discontent with your design again and again, it might just not be something you’re skilled at right now. And that’s okay! You can choose to keep working on it and get better, or hire a professional. When I first began blogging, I had no idea how to make my blog look clean and pretty. It was a mess. I’m glad I stuck it out and continued to learn about design, but I know that path isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
3. Money
This is obviously a huge factor. If you’re on a tight budget, you might be able to make time to DIY your blog design even if you’re not necessarily passionate about it. However, if you do have a budget for design work and you want to save time, hiring a designer is the best way to go. Keep in mind that if you’re looking for an extremely customized design, you’ll probably have to hire design and development help.
DIYing my own blog design back in 2010 was an obvious choice for me because to be honest, it was half of what I was excited about when it came to blogging. However, the world of web design has changed a lot since then and amazing outside help is not hard to find.
Think you’re ready to dive into blog design? Check out our top posts for a DIY blog design before you get started. If you’re leaning toward hiring extra help, go over these important questions to ask before hiring a designer.
What are your thoughts on DIYing your blog design vs. hiring a designer?