So you’ve decided to take the do-it-yourself (DIY) approach to creating your organization’s website to save your organization some money?

As nonprofit, NGO, or social enterprise, there’s a lot of pressure to minimize overhead and devote as much of your budgetary resources as possible to your mission. When you’re operating with your mission in mind, at first glance, a DIY approach makes economic sense. After all, there are many low-cost and free software and online website creation tools.

However, without a background in web design and development there are a number of risks you might be taking with the DIY approach.

Your website’s look doesn’t tell your organization’s unique story:

Website creation tools come with a limited number of pre-styled templates. When you consider the sheer number of novice website creators who are using the same limited set of templates, you can bet there are going to be many websites that look alike or similar. You cannot expect your website to stand out and communicate your organization’s unique value proposition if your website looks like another company’s website. Invest in your organization’s value and mission by hiring an experienced web developer. An experienced developer will take the time to understand what your organization is about to create a website unique to your organization.

You’re taking a security risk with your data:

There is a lot more to your website than just its looks. The backend of your website, where a lot of data is stored is equally, if not more, important. DIY website creation tools focus mostly on the visual side of your website. If you’re using your website to take personal contact information, including donor payment information, then it’s imperative to invest in a secure website infrastructure. The decision to save money in the short-term on your website creation can cost you long-term if your organization’s security becomes compromised. Experienced website developers have the capacity to build up both the front-facing side of your website and secure the backend.

You risk losing online visitors:

If you want to use the Web to raise money through direct donation or sales, then it’s best to make this possible through your own website. Sure you can direct online visitors to a third-party site but doing so risks the chance that your audience will fail to return to your website. Free and low-cost website creation tools often do not offer built-in options for processing donations or sales. Typically, those features have to be purchased and integrated into your website separately, which can be complicated. Save the time, expense, and guess-work of adding donation and payment processing your site by hiring experienced professionals who will make this part of the initial development of your website.

Your website is not just another overhead item – it communicates your mission and vision as a social good organization. Invest in your mission by making an investment in your website. To help get you started, here are some questions you need to ask to get the website your organization needs.