Website builder vs. a web design agency

When a website builder is the right call

• You're just starting out and need something online quickly.
• Your needs are simple: a few pages, contact details, and a form.
• You enjoy the work, or have someone on the team who does.
• You're comfortable handling updates, fixes, and changes yourself.

There's no shame in starting this way. Plenty of businesses do, and move on when the site starts to matter more.

What builders don't solve

The software is easy; the decisions aren't. Builders don't tell you what to put on each page, how to structure services so search engines understand them, or why visitors aren't calling. And the site still needs someone to keep it current — that someone is you.

Templates are also shared by many businesses. A site that looks like its competitors has a harder time standing out.

When an agency is worth it

• Your website is a main way new customers find and judge you.
• You're competing with businesses that have strong sites.
• Your time is better spent running the business.
• You want a site designed around your brand, not adapted from a template.
• You want someone to call when something breaks, or needs to change.

Questions to ask any agency

• What's included, and what isn't?
• What does it cost after launch, and what does that cover?
• Is the domain registered to me?
• Who updates the site after launch, and how fast?
• What happens to the site if I leave?

An agency that answers these clearly, in writing, is usually one that will be straightforward to work with.

Where Xeaura fits

Xeaura designs custom sites, launches them on your domain, and then manages them every month — so there's no hand-off between a designer and whoever keeps it running. Our prices and terms are published. And for businesses that need more than a website, Enterprise builds custom applications.