Is Your DIY Website Costing You Bookings?
You’ve poured your heart into your business—whether it's a charming B&B, a tour experience, or a bustling café. You’re passionate, hardworking, and probably wearing all the hats. So, when it came time to build a website, you did the logical thing: you DIY’d it.
But here’s the truth most people don’t talk about - your DIY website might be costing you bookings.
Let’s break down why that is, and more importantly, what you can do to fix it (without hiring a full-time developer or spending thousands).
1. First Impressions Matter (a lot)
We live in a swipe-right world. Your website is often the first interaction a potential customer has with your business. If it’s slow to load, hard to navigate, or looks like it hasn’t been updated since 2014, chances are they’ll bounce before they even read a word.
DIY Pitfall: Inconsistent branding, outdated design, clunky layout.
The Fix: A professionally designed website or template can give your business instant credibility. Templates are made with modern design best practices in mind—clean, strategic, and beautiful right out of the box.
2. DIY Sites Often Miss What Customers Actually Need
It’s easy to focus on what you think is important—your story, your background, every single detail of your service. But your audience is looking for clarity, ease, and confidence.
DIY Pitfall: Overwhelming copy, unclear navigation, or missing calls-to-action like “Book Now” or “View Availability.”
The Fix: Work with a pro or choose a well-crafted template ot custom site that includes a strategic layout. You want your site to lead people to action—seamlessly.
3. Hidden SEO Mistakes = Missed Traffic
Even the most beautiful website is useless if no one finds it. DIY sites often skip over the back-end details that help your site rank on Google.
DIY Pitfall: No SEO titles or descriptions, oversized images slowing down your site, or not being mobile-friendly.
The Fix: A good template or a custom site (and a little expert guidance) takes SEO into account. Plus, with professional support, you can make sure your site is set up to be found.
4. It’s Taking Too Much of Your Time
Let’s be real - your time is better spent running your business, not Googling how to change the padding on a mobile layout or why your fonts look different on every browser.
DIY Pitfall: Spending hours making updates that never quite look right.
The Fix: Templates or a custom built website take the guesswork out of design and formatting. And when you add in a little expert support to help with setup? Game-changer.
5. You're Undervaluing Your Business
A DIY website can sometimes send the wrong message: “This isn’t a serious business.” And that’s not fair to you—or your brand.
DIY Pitfall: An unpolished website can give off budget or amateur vibes, even if your offering is top-tier.
The Fix: Investing in your online presence is investing in your credibility. A professional template (or support from someone who knows what they’re doing) can elevate your business instantly and help you attract the kind of customers who value what you offer.
So, What Should You Do Instead?
You don’t need to drop thousands on a custom website to make an impact. You do need a website that’s:
Visually aligned with your brand
Easy for customers to navigate
Optimised for mobile and SEO
Designed with conversions in mind
Ready to Level Up?
At Niba Digital, we offer both strategic website templates and custom design options, so whether you want to DIY with a solid foundation or hand it over completely, you’re covered.